Wednesday December 28, 1983

Lord Holderness.

 Stayed in bed until 11. The phone was ringing downstairs. Could it be L. Gledhill to despatch me to a distant tavern at the back of beyond? I let the bloody thing ring. I held my place in bed and slept on. Ally brought me bananas on toast and tea. I was reading Penny Junor's Margaret Thatcher until 1am this morning. What a tremendous year she's had. The first Tory PM since Salisbury to be elected to serve a second term. Miss Junor says that when at Oxford the then Margaret Roberts fell for the second son of an earl who became a luminary in the Conservative party, but doesn't name him. Who could it have been? I say it's Lord Holderness, who, as Richard Wood, was MP for Bridlington. He was at Oxford at the same time as Mrs T. It will all come out in the wash, won't it?

Princess Caroline of Monaco marries an Italian youth tomorrow in a civil ceremony. Let's hope that this one will last. In other news the Pope has visited prison and forgiven the Turk who tried to kill him in May '81. Fool. It's now a green light to terrorists everywhere. Yuri Andropov hasn't been seen in public since June and speculation about the Russian leader's health continues. Most members of the politburo are geriatric. 

Victoria the Great, starring Dame Anna Neagle, was on Channel 4. Lynn and Dave came here for ten minutes at 5 after shopping. Dave ruffled Ally and annoyed her telling her not to sit around waiting for the baby but to be active and go about her usual chores. Cheeky bugger. That is exactly what she is doing. The Bakers friendship with Dave and Elaine Allinson has ended, for ever it seems. Very sad.  ______.

-=-

Tuesday December 27, 1983

 Bank Holiday in the UK & Rep. of Ireland

5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Ally has some horrible, dark stretch marks. _________. I awoke in the top bunk at 10. Mum was downstairs making tea and toast. I have a funny tummy _________. It feels chilled and it's very unlike me to suffer in this area. I had breakfast and a brandy by the fire. In fact breakfast lasted long into the afternoon. I went out to buy a paper and later Ally and Dad sat pulling the epic 'El Cid' to pieces. Later they went off to see Sue and Peter. I slept in the chair by the glimmer of the Christmas tree lights. Well, we aren't having a Christmas baby are we? I didn't fancy the idea of spending Yuletide on a labour ward. 

-=-

Monday December 26, 1983

 Bank Holiday in the UK, Rep. of Ireland and Canada

5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Slept until 10. Got up and made pancakes for tonight's dinner. Mum and Dad came here after 12 and we talked about the baby. Mum says he'll be called Oliver James. Dad and I went out to inspect the metro who continues to take in water. We re-glued the door lining and mopped up the water. A cold day. We listened to Nat King Cole and relaxed. We appreciate the tranquility of home life and idleness after months of smoke-filled boozers. We ate at 5:30 and sat for three hours. Seafood pancakes, roast beef, roast potatoes, broccoli, pineapple, cream, mince pies, &c. We get on so well with Mum and Dad. _________. Dad created a drink, dark rum with double cream floating atop. He calls it a 'rum Bailey'. Mum doesn't drink quite as much as in years gone by. Just a few whiskies. Watched the news. Violet Carson is dead. Another blow for Coronation Street. We ate chocolates and chatted by the fire. Bed at circa 2am.

-=-

Sunday December 25, 1983

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Christmas Day

We got up at about 8am and ran around like excited children. We didn't dress but went down to open presents. We exchanged watches. Ally gave me a Nat King Cole LP (memories of karaoke at the Linnie), a yellow Shetland sweater, and Penny Junor's biography of Margaret Thatcher. Alfred the turkey was washed and placed in the oven, and we sat, feet up, drinking Malibu and pineapple. Mary came over with a gift of tea towels and then went off to cook her mother's lunch. Phoned Mum. She was making Sunday lunch at John's. The children are joining them, but not Hannah. We ate at 1:30 (Ally eating like a horse). We watched the Queen, but Mrs Gandhi seemed to dominate the whole programme. Not HM's best Christmas offering. Frank phoned and Ally spoke to Bessie for half an hour. At 4 we left, most unwillingly, to go to Lynn's, where Thorpefields was crowded and noisy with the cries of exhausted

children. We exchanged more presents here. Christopher was taken home hysterical at 7, and the Baker sisters were bathed and bedded too. All the children have been picking their noses today. We sat until 10 and then returned to Club Street where we sat watching the Marx Brothers. Firefly and Mrs Teasdale.

--=-

Saturday December 24, 1983

 Butcher's Arms, Pudsey

Rain. Back to the Butcher's, lacking in Yuletide atmosphere and quite dismal. Auntie Mabel came in at 2 and sat in a corner drinking brandy, Marlene and Frank joined her at 2:30. Auntie says that if I continue in this business she could quite easily become a alcoholic. Marlene was very merry and full of Christmas cheer. Darling Ally came at 3 and we went to Marlene's on Hough Side Road. We had a couple of drinks and returned home to Club St. This evening we went to John's where Mum and Dad are lodging the night. JPH and Catherine were watching 'Flash Gordon'. Both are so Macdonald to look at. We last saw them both in April, 1982. Catherine showed Dad her ballet positions and footwork. John and Janette went out to the Station Hotel to meet Chris Rat, Peter Mather, Martyn Cole, &c. We sat and drank cloudy beer with Mum and Dad until they came back at 11:30 to open some presents. John gave Mum and Dad a gold carriage clock, and they gave me the new (Rolling) Stones LP. Ally a woolly top. Mum gave me a china mug (of all things), and Ally received a fancy night
gown with pants (?). We sat until after 1 and then came home. 

-=-

Friday December 23, 1983

 Butcher's Arms, Pudsey

Back to the Butcher's Arms at 9 where I 'bottled up' surrounded by yapping dogs. Rob had been up until 2am watching TV. Very busy until 3pm. I opened up at 11 and two staff came in at 12. Pudsey people are, in the main, very tolerant good humoured types. Ally feeling fat and uncomfortable and acting peculiarly. Is this it? Home at 4 and collected the turkey (10lb 4oz) costing £5.00. Spent £43 on booze. Phoned Geoff at the Emmott Arms to say I am ignoring him today and not going over to Rawdon. I also phoned Chris at the 'Lion Rouge'. He tells me almost casually that he is in mourning for his brother, apparently a mentally handicapped Cornish person, living in an institution, who choked to death yesterday on an early Christmas lunch. _______. He and Mrs Wills are going to the funeral on Tuesday/Wednesday and he suggested that I might be called upon to take up the mantle of responsibility at Girlington in his absence. No bloody fear. My phone comes off the hook tomorrow. Ally tearful and 'edgy'. This evening the pub was dead and I stood, glass in hand, until 11:30. Rob drives Ally into a coma. He is such a bore. Kath is a smart, prim little thing, but nicer than I have previously thought.

-=-