Tuesday August 30, 1983

 Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

Ally, Dad and Mum at the Linthorpe.

It is a most beautiful sensation to feel our child moving in its mother's womb. Tiny, pulsating movements. We went down and had one of Jan's breakfasts and then went up again and had a bath in readiness for Mum and Dad's visit. We sat outside on the wall and they got here at about 2. It was so good to see them. We sat in the sun and then in lounge 1. Mum had cherries in her whisky (!!) and took to Dave the barman who was cheeky and pleasant. Joined by Marie and Charlie and Dad frowned at the sight of Marnie behind the bar. She is only 14. The four of us went on to Redcar. Hideous. Like Siberia, only more bleak and desolate. To the Highfield Restaurant at 5:30 for a four hour nosh-up. All on big steaks, though Ally is off them now that she can't eat them rare. Spent £42 on the four, but a good dinner. Back to the Linthorpe. It isn't Mum and Dad's sort of place but we sat in the corridor. I was pissed. We joined Roy and staff in the lounge after closing. Drank Campari sodas. Headache. To bed at 12:30 after coffee in Mum's room.

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Monday August 29, 1983

 Bank Holiday in UK (except Scotland)

Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

Our first Bank Holiday Monday at the other side of a bar. Quiet really. It seems that the good people of Middlesbrough escape to the coast on public holidays. Ally is laying the law down with the boys in the bar sending them for crisps and nuts and crates of diet pils. We did a good deal of laughing. Roy was nowhere to be seen. At 12 Roy emerged with books and files and took us to the dining room where he left us reading up on the licensing laws and Sam Smiths company policy, &c. The sun was blazing down and we observed people drifting in and out from behind the net curtrains. Lots of the women with punk-like leanings look like men in drag. A barbecue lunch again. Old Mags and Charlie squabbled about going home. They came shortly after we did last month with the intention of staying for four days and stayed six weeks. Mags Snr loathes Darlington and says she's lived 32 years there and still the locals shun her as a foreigner. Mum phoned to verify they are coming to see us tomorrow. She first spoke to William who was lolling on the stairs smoking a cigarette. Tonight we sat with Roy again. I went to the vault at 8:30. A quick slurp after and to bed. Ally is now eager to go out into the world and dispense beer.

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Sunday August 28, 1983

 13th Sunday after Trinity

Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

8:30 start on Sunday. So much appreciated. No cook so Ally had to come down and make me scrambled eggs on toast. Sat with Charlie drinking tea. He was a club steward in Darlington in the early '60s and was involved in the 'One Armed Bandit Murder'. Didn't Michael Luvaglio murder Angus Sibbet? It rings a bell ... something like that. Charlie explained how he went about watering down his booze. Old Charlie Poole has had a colourful life. We had a barbecue lunch on the lawn. Ally is really taking the staff in hand and was ordering Jon-Paul and Dave around as though she's been a manageress for years. She doesn't stand any nonsense. I am blessed with a talented, multi-faceted wife.

Wasn't Dickie Mountbatten done to death on this day in 1979, or was it yesterday? No doubt he will have been in the thoughts of those at Balmoral this week. Did I say we had phoned Glynnie when we were home last week?  He was chuffed. They have just buried Garry Barratt's grandfather. I have the feeling that Glynnie thinks we are insane quitting our 'listed' building at Club Street for this hectic life.

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Saturday August 27, 1983

 Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

Sean.

Horribly hungover. No sympathy from Ally. I certainly didn't get any. Downstairs nobody had surfaced and I did all the 'bottling up' and tidied the garden. Like a zombie and really regretting last night. It's fine for that bloody lot. They can stay in bed all day sleeping it off. I have to be up at 7am regardless. I go about effing and blinding all day. Ally, on the other hand, is speedy, efficient and cool. Slept from 2-5:30 and was better by evening. Everyone in the bar laughing at my 'hedgehog' haircut. In Lounge 1 with Ally and Sean. A quiet night and pleasant. Roy enjoys stirring things and told Ally how he attempted over and over again to persuade me to quit the bar and go to bed last night. Much laughter. At 11:30 I went over to the Chinese takeaway and bought food for Ally, William and I. Went up to bed and lay naked eating our supper watching 'American Graffiti'. Switched off. We'd seen it all before. Read 'The Eagle Has Landed' by Jack Higgins. Slept like a log. Ally, you'll be pleased to hear, has forgiven me.

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Friday August 26, 1983

 Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

Back to Middlesbrough. Both of us feeling knackered. Great difficulty keeping awake on the 125MPH high speed London to Edinburgh express. To the Linthorpe for 9:30 and up to our room with cups of tea. A pack of new photos await us. I told Marie we'd visited the Red Lion and she said that from the hundreds of couples who passed through the Linthorpe training only two couples, the Willses being one, have failed to keep contact with them. I thought from the tone of the conversation yesterday that they didn't think much of Roy & Marie. Tonight at 11:30 Ally went up to bed after one drink and I sat at the bar with the mob. Old Mags was in stitches. Discussed genealogy with Peter and Kieran and the fallacy that all commoners are descended from Edward III. Horribly pissed. I couldn't escape from the bar and everyone bought me booze as I tried to escape upstairs. Marie informed me that I am to be left in charge for two days next week. Gulp. Roy was pissed and drinking gin and bitter lemon. We argued about Middlesbrough FC. I know as much about Middlesbrough FC as I do about the genetic construction of the male reproductive cells. When Roy took up the microphone and started singing 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' I knew it was time for bed and went upstairs after falling over the ironing board. Ally was fuming like Mount Etna.

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Thursday August 25, 1983

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Ally's clinic day. She woke me with tea and toast this morning and we sat in our pink, sunny bedroom. We are noy obsessed by 'home' and when we are away we can adapt to any room or rooms with no strain. Home is where we are, if that's not too corny. I have a haircut and come away looking like Shakin' Stevens. Ally had a trim too, and we went and sat in the clinic. But before this we went to the Red Lion at Girlington where Chris and Elaine Wills (who trained at the Linthorpe last Nov-Jan). They showed us the place. It's very pleasant. We'd love it for ourselves. The little woman took Ally upstairs and showed us the flat which is massive. So, back to the clinic. Ally was weighed and the midwife gasped at her increase in weight. She's now 8st 10 and a half lb. All is well. Ally should be feeling slight movement from the baby now. We left reassured. Ally bought a dress from one of those tiny, obscure shops. It's pretty and wide and has a tiger and a sunset across the front. I gave her some black, plastic earrings and put them in a letter. She cried when I made the presentation. She is an emotional old stick lately. Hannah was one on Tuesday. We sent a birthday card, but no gift. A vast liver stew this evening. I weeded the garden and Ally phoned Bessie. Mum phoned us. They are coming to Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Bed. Jack Higgins, &c.

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Wednesday August 24, 1983

 5, Club St, Lidget Green, Bradford

We headed for home at the crack of dawn. Outside at 6am waiting for our taxi. We saw the old cook lumbering up the road like a Beatrix Potter character. Why does she start work in the dark, and so early, when she doesn't get paid until 7? We hid behind a wall laughing as she shouted up to Roy's bedroom asking to be let in. We were home in a flash and went to the market to buy a joint of beef and vegetables for lunch. Home for 11 and had a vast lunch at 12. ally phoned the girls and at 2:30 Pam brought Lynn and the children over. Lynn looks well and is brown and slim (wearing Ally's dress). She recounted to us a weird tale. Elaine (at John's party last week) dashed out into the night and disappeared and told Dave Allinson (her husband) that John and Peter had attempted to ______. How ridiculous. Dave Allinson has fallen out with Dave B about it. Phoned Susan. Daft as ever. Phoned Mum who was cool, but says they'll visit Middlesbrough next week. Marlene and Frank are staying at Horton until the weekend. Dave B came to collect Lynn at 6 and they went off, gaily. Lynn chattered away non stop and was still blabbering away as the car went down the street. The girls are beautiful. Frances is leggy and naughty and Katie divine. So podgy and pink. We were in bed by 9:30. I'm reading Jack Higgins.

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Tuesday August 23, 1983

Full Moon

 Linthorpe Hotel, Middlesbrough

We had a letter from Lynn this morning which contained some very sad news. David Lazenby was found dead in bed last Thursday. He died in his sleep. I do not profess to have known him well but down the years we have come into contact, usually in a drunken state at parties, and it's horrific to think that he's been taken at such a young age. Poor Peter. He will have taken this badly. John & Janette gave a party on Saturday but hardly anyone attended. Lynn and Elaine (Allinson) attended leaving the two Davids babysitting, and later Elaine disappeared into the night after sobbing in the toilets that Peter, our beloved Peter N, had 'propositioned her'. Oh dear. 

Carolyn Herbert.

The funnies reveal that the photos published yesterday of the willowy Diana-look-alike were not of Sophie Birdwood but of the Hon Carolyn Herbert, Lord Porchester's daughter. We are told that Sophie Birdwood has never met Prince Andrew and she returned from holiday yesterday looking peeved. They must have been wetting themselves up at Balmoral. Carolyn Herbert is a friend of the royals. She would be ideal for Andrew. 

Roy and I cleaned the beer lines. I am not too good at this yet. Roy commented dryly that he can tell that my last job went 'at a slower pace'. You can say that again. Ally was closetted with Marie talking about book keeping and how to spot the vodka addicted cleaning lady. She lay upon the bed this afternoon telling me of the ingenius ways Marie has of spotting a 'fiddler'. Both of us in the lounge tonight.

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