Sunday March 4, 1984

 Quinquagesima

Moorhouse Inn, Leeds 11

Ally looked awful all day and was near to collapse. Last night was her first bash at alcohol in almost a year. Whilst I was downstairs 12-2 she created a luncheon - roast beef, &c.We ate and then climbed into bed until after 6. Slept soundly. Samuel later had hysterics and the inside of his nappy looked like an early Picasso. This evening Jane (Tudor) turned up. She is a friend of Alan Oliver, the YP graphic person, who married the singer Ronnie Hilton's daughter in June '81, but who is now divorced. Not a busy night like last Sunday. We collpased back into bed at 12 but Samuel bawled for a couple of hours and wouldn't let us sleep. He joined us in bed.

Lynn and David are going to a flat in Filey this week during their birthday celebrations. Why Filey? All I remember about that God forsaken place was the dog excretia. _____________.

What has become of Mama? Mum and Dad haven't been in touch since they came here a month ago and we only saw them briefly on Monday at Sue's 'do' for Christopher. __________. I really must phone.

Takings: (B) £133.87, (L) £174.45

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Saturday March 3, 1984

Our pine bed: Longleat

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds 11

Ally cleaned the car and Samuel slept in his pram outside. Bessie phoned to talk about Lanzarote. Frank saw (Uncle) John in the Bank of Bilbao. He was signing a cheque, but F didn't like to say anything.

Our pine bed arrived. Our bedroom is now transformed into Longleat. Very grand. Downstairs for lunchtime. Audrey and Margaret were working. Michael and Harold Brown came. Harold is such an old (undecipherable). He spoke of days in the 1920s when he and his brother Arthur would get up on a Saturday and tell their mother they were going out for a mornings drive and then off they would go to Lincolnshire until the following Thursday and then return home to find the Yorkshire puddings still in the oven. Michael told us he had been out for a pint with a certain bishop last week who told him that the Runcies lead separate lives. Mrs Runcie never sleeps at Lambeth Palace.

John, Janette, Sue and Peter came at 7 and John erected the splendid bed. They came downstairs afterwards and watched me work. Ally was down too, and Samuel slept without any trouble.

News: Maria has sold the Corner House Cottage and is moving to Ridgeway (Guiseley) and looking for a house in Otley. It pleases me that my Rhodes niece and nephew will not be Scots. Sue and Pete have sold West End Terrace but the house they desire on Moorland Crescent hasn't gone through yet and so they probably won't take up residence there until the baby comes on May 26. A jolly night after closing. All on liqueurs. A Bols evening, in fact. Peter was very drunk. Upstairs for fish and chips and fond farewells at 2:30am. Quite knackered.

Takings: (B) £184.76, (L) £206.23

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Sunshine and Springtime. I am writing this through the leaves of a large spider plant which sits in the middle of the table. It's like keeping a diary in the jungle. 

Friday March 2, 1984

 New Moon

Moorhouse Inn, Leeds 11

Blustery and early snow. After closing this afternoon Ally and I pushed Samuel over (Hunslet) Moor in his pram and walked along to the shops to buy pork chops and pay our enormous newspaper bill. Bought a 'Private Eye' which says naughty things about the Macmillan peerage. Coming back at 4:30 we called in at the so-called vicarage to see the Rev Terry Munro. He is a pipe cleaner with a beard. He asked us to attend St Peter's on Tuesday evening to discuss the baptism. 

Heath: Earl of Broadstairs?

Had a busy night working with Margaret, a Scot. Ally came down wearing blue and white stripes to lend us a helping hand for the last hour. People made cracks about her stripes and looking like a prop forward.

Will Edward Heath be Earl of Broadstairs or will the PM insult him with a viscountcy? Jim Callaghan will take a life peerage like Uncle Harold Wilson. He doesn't have the cheek to become a hereditary peer and sit on the Labour benches. Sir Keith Joseph will surely become a viscount and so will the bungling Sir Geoffrey Howe, QC, MP, who will succeed Quentin (Hogg) as Lord High Chancellor.

Takings: (B) £236.06, (L) £182.27

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