Saturday July 2, 1983

 Ally had a good clear out and bagged up old clothes for the local Oxfam shop. I went about with a trowel and re-potted most of our plants in readiness for our departure for Middlesbrough. I also played with the lock on the door. It now opens like a dream. Ally sat outside with an Agatha Christie and moved the chair up and down the tiny garden to follow the sun. We had cheese on toast and watched the tennis. Martina Navratilova beat a young American with braces on her teeth. Dined on chicken with all the works. A hot evening. We sat up late. Watched the late film 'Summer of 42' which was slow and Ally cried off and went to bed. A cat is using our garden as a lavatory. I thought they were supposed to bury it?

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Friday July 1, 1983

 Dominion Day, Canada

Birthday of the Princess of Wales

The Princess of W is 22 today and returning from Canada. At breakfast I arranged to see Ally at lunchtime. Her friends liken us to a pair of doves. On saw me walking her to the bus stop the other day and remarked that no other husband in the whole of Bradford would do such a thing.__________. Shaved and neatly clad I met Ally at lunch and went to the Traveller's Rest. It's a common thing now. Ally has a thing about meat pies. The place was full of students in robes and gowns and I surmise they have been receiving their degrees. I walked her back to the AHA via the maternity wing and we looked at the visiting times (Pamela Nason is in and expecting to deliver on Sept 9). Kisses. At home I watched McEnroe beat Lendl and Chris Lewis of New Zealand beat Curren of South Africa in an excellent match which lasted three hours until 8pm. Lewis is unseeded and 36,000th in the world placings. Phoned Mum to say we will go to Horton next week. Phoned John and then Jill E. Tim is away but they might come here on Thursday. She says Karen's expected date of delivery has been moved from Aug 28 to Sept 19. If she goes on like this we'll be having our Tubby first. Mum says our baby is an 8lb boy with dark hair and blue eyes. Don't all babies start out with blue eyes? 

George Thomas has been created a viscount. He is a bachelor sod it. Viscount Thomas of Tonypandy? Bed after a bath at 10. Ally's Mr Miller has been in touch and we have to go to Bramley next week. We'll do Edna and Nellie at the same time.

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Thursday June 30, 1983

 Cool. Lay in bed a little late. Eggs, &c. Ally to the doctor on Paternoster Lane and I waited for her on a bench in the Methodist churchyard. It's a striking classical building dating back to 1805. Ally seemed to be in for ages and came away having had her blood pressure checked and being weighed. She is 8st 6oz. The doctor pressing her tummy says her uterus is size 11. We walked home together. I have received 2 cheques, giro cheques, from the unemployment people. -- £45. I am going to spend, spend, spend, as Viv Nicholson said. It's the clinic this afternoon where she's having blood tests.

I read in the Telegraph with some surprise and disappointment that Sir Harold Wilson will probably only receive a life peerage. The Earl of Dundee, hereditary standard bearer for Scotland, is dead, and so too is Lord Romilly, who succeeded to the title in 1905 and never uttered one word in the House of Lords. Francis Pym has been prattling on from the back benches and is apparently to be 'Chief Wet'. The PM has nothing at all to worry about as far as I can see. Watched Billie-Jean King at Wimbledon but missed the end. Ally went to the clinic and gave blood then came home, got a bit of grit in her eye crossing the road. Dr Duck says she is 12 weeks but Sister Matthews says she's only 11. Miriam Stoppard dates pregnancy from the first day of a woman's last period.

To bed at 9:30.

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Wednesday June 29, 1983

 We had porridge for breakfast which seems a strange idea for the month of June. I sat down and wrote to the prime minister commending her on the reinstating of the hereditary peerage.  As I bashed at the typewriter in walked Dave B and I gave him a coffee. He was chatty and asked about our training with Sam Smiths. He says that Frances asked her mum: "is Auntie Ally going to have a baby?" When Lynn said 'yes' Frances quipped "Oh I used to be one of them." David went on to a meeting in Oldham and I went out to post my letter. The news reveals that Michael Foot wants 20 new Labour peers. It is customary for the leader of the opposition to get about 6 or 7 in dissolution honours.

I racked wine and tasted most of it. Found it dreadful. Wimbledon on TV. I must admit I find I can watch tennis where I have never been able to do before. McEnroe beat Mayer with no tantrums. Made a cottage pie for Ally's return. The poor girl had spent the afternoon showing the ropes to her replacement.We ate in front of the TV. In two weeks all this will change. So looking forward to life at the Linthorpe. We retired at 10 and I was just opening Jane Eyre when the phone rang. It was Lynn babbling away. Mum and Dad have been down and are at John's for dinner. We're on the agenda next time.

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