Tuesday January 17, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Bitterly cold, slushy. I went out to buy some copies of the YP. Samuel's birth is in both papers today. I collected Samuel's Konakion injection from the chemist. Dr Duck wants sister Matthews to administer it. We received a large knitted shawl from Auntie Mabel, and cards from her, from Sarah and Delia, and Auntie Annie, in Colne. I phoned Nellie Rhodes to tell her we have another Samuel (the father of the twins was a Samuel Rhodes, who died in 1928). Nellie says Edna fell last week and broke a leg. Auntie Hilda phoned and spoke to Ally, and I think she was surprised to find her at home and not in hospital. We can now expect a deluge of visitors. I don't mind. It will be great to show Samuel off. 

Useless information: Francis Pym, the ex-foreign secretary was presented with a grandson of the same name born on Jan 11. No important babies have arrived on the same day as Samuel. He is utterly unique. Today he is dressed in blue and as he lays asleep he has a Rhodes look about him. Probably the infant JPH springs to mind. I will have to consult my albums.

Sister Matthews came in a flurry of snow looking like a female Santa Claus and she bathed and weighed Samuel. He wasn't at all disturbed by the water but scowled and frowned when stripped of his nappy. Marita phoned. We have pinched her name. Samuel is on her list of baby names. I went out and bought an EP for the announcement. Other children have such ghastly modern names. The girls are all Leanne Louise and the boys Darren. Hopeless. Very tired tonight. I fried liver and onions, Yorkshire puddings, &c. 'Dallas' was on but we didn't watch. Ally phoned Auntie Mabel, Harry Miller, Gill (who says Philip and Carol are expecting issue in June or July), then Bessie phoned us. She's been buying again. Samuel must be one of the best dressed children in the western world. Bessie believes in spending her money while she can. I hold by that. To bed at 11. Baby was restless. Ally blames her 'faffing' and we didn't sleep before 2. Dirty nappies abound. Samuel howled and only stopped when over my shoulder. I paced the bedroom to give Ally a break.

-=-

Monday January 16, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Blizzard, but thaw later. We had a good night with Samuel (who fed at about 3am I think). He slept then until his 'breakfast' at 8. During the night he vomited some pinkish blood. Sister Matthews came at 11 and said Samuel might have a vitamin K deficiency (one in 10,000 babies is so deficient and it's more prevalent in boys). He may need a jab to reverse this. Sister Matthews sat and chatted amicably for an hour and when she went in walked Dr Duck in heavy boots and talked about the use of contraceptives. (Gynaecological redaction). I walked out to the chemist for something for Ally and slid around in the slush. I phoned the YP and had Samuel's birth placed in the YP and EP tomorrow. Spoke to Sarah who was pleased, but surprised I hadn't phoned sooner. Sue phoned, then Mum, then Auntie Mabel, who says she posted a package today for something for Samuel. I felt exhausted and fell asleep on the settee. Samuel sleeping peacefully in his cot. At 7 Les Gledhill phoned and spoke to Ally. 'When can you start?' he asked. And 'Why Samuel?' It's because we like the name of course. It looks as though we'll be at the Moorhouse Inn very soon. Gill phoned at 9:30.  We went to bed at 10.

-=-

Sunday January 15, 1984

 2nd Sunday after Epiphany

5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Bessie woke me at 9 to say Ally had just phoned to say she can leave the hospital between 10 and 10:30. Elation. I scurried around stripping the double bed and putting the bedding into the washing machine. Bessie ran around with a duster and we sat with tea and toast. Frank's cold continues. He is glum. We sat looking out at the snow and debate whether the car will make it through. If I have to hire a husky and three mountain sherpas I'll see my wife and son at home today so help me. We went at 10 and found Ally looking wonderful packing up the tons of knitwear offerings. I made three trips to the car with the floral offerings. Finally, at 10:30 a nurse carried our son downstairs and we drove home in something of a blizzard. At Club St I carried Samuel from the car and into the house. A splendid, unforgettable moment. We snapped around with the camera and I took lots of shots of Samuel with his Grandma Dixon. Bessie was over the moon. Frank wouldn't touch the baby because of his cold, silly because the poor infant must be breathing in the germs. Soup and sandwiches. Lynn, Dave and the girls arrived at about 2, and Frank and Bessie set off home at 2:30 into the white and oblivion. Poor Bessie hates living so far away. They phoned at 7 to say they were safely home. They have spoiled us since Thursday. Busy afternoon. Sister Matthews came to inspect Ally. Lynn left just after 4. Katie is most definately no longer a baby. If she'd been a boy she would have been Samuel Lawrence.

 (Gynaecological redaction). 

The snow disappeared when they hit Northamptonshire. Mum phoned too. They are coming in the week. Watched The Thorn Birds. Stupid. Ally slept. Saw the news. Prince Edward has glandular fever. Tony Benn is to stand for Chesterfield. Samuel had hiccoughs for the first time and was sick.