Saturday January 14, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Club Street (1984).

Very cold and snow. I was awake at 9:30 without a hangover despite the half dozen pints last night. Bacon for breakfast. Frank full of cold and restless. He said we should go out and so off we went in the red Mercedes and ended up at the Smith's Arms at Beckwithshaw, a Viking Tavern. Snow fell. We had soup and sandwiches. Back home tired at 3 and then to the BRI for 4 to see my wife and son. Joined by John, Janette, Lynn, Dave, Sue and Peter. They all came in to peep at my new found love. Sue was so enthusiastic _____. I have always said that newborn infants are always like poached eggs but my son doesn't fall into that category. He is a masterpiece. Ally looked great but Lynn says she looked 'peaky'. Cruel of her. All back to Club Street except Lynn and David, for gin and tonics. Frank and Bessie really took to Christopher. They all left in a flurry of snow at 6pm. I packed things for Ally and went to see her and Dave Watts at 7:30. Roads like ice. Treacherous. Vehicles were crashing everywhere. I spent three quarters of an hour with my favourite loves and then waited at the hospital until 9:30 for Frank who struggled to reach me in the snow. A slow drive to town. We ate at Giuseppe's Backyard. Steak today instead of veal. I am very relaxed with my in-laws. Who would have thought it? Frank used to terrify me years ago. We spoke about Ally and they both say what a brave little thing she has always been. So independent.

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Friday January 13, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

My first day,  full day, as a grown up Daddy. I retired to bed at 11 last night after having visited Ally at 7:30. Baby had his hair washed and I held him for a full hour. Ally expressed her dissatisfaction with the Chinese ward sister. I have taken great exception by the way Fran O'Brien phoned (last night) telling me I have to go to Middlesbrough today to see a policeman about the September massacre at the Why Not. This morning I went into town with Frank and Bessie and we bought masses of flowers and trailed around the market. Frank was vicious. He has a cold and was in no mood to walk. I went to Samuel's (jewellers, appropriately enough) and bought Ally a gold locket costing £57. Who cares? My God, she's worth it. For lunch we drove to Thornton and sat in a deserted pub. I had scampi. Bessie had a chicken leg, and Frank sat patting a fat poodle. Back home I went to see Annie Whincup and Phyllis Beale. The latter is an old moaner. To the hospital at 4. Just me and the four grandparents. Samuel is very much like his uncle Andrew. He has skin like a peach and the most beautiful black hair. He slept contentedly. Ally was cheerful and bright and so pleased that she can feed him. We all returned here and had gins and tonic and sandwiches. They all chatted away nicely. My misgivings about a possible Dixon/Rhodes clash of personalities passed away. I went to see Ally from 7:30-8:30. Out at 9 to the Red Lion with Dave Watts. We endured the child-like Chris Wills. Elaine was busily bashing on her organ. I am surprised to discover they are both younge than us. Saw Sheryl and little Enid. Home at 12.

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