Sunday June 30, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

4th Sunday after Trinity

John, Sheila, Me & Sam, Dad, Janet, Arnold.

Early start. We got to Horton for 10:30. Dull, overcast. Dad, John, Sheila, Arnold and Janet were having breakfast together. We joined them for coffee laced with whisky. We discussed Ruth Upton's birth certificate. ________. My Uncle John bronzed and handsome as ever. Very 1950s Hollywood. Uncle Arnold is a deep sort of chap, peculiarly likeable. They all refer to him as 'Our Bill' for some reason, The brothers would all make very good MPs. Great orators. We walked to the newsagents and both Dad and John came out with a Sunday Telegraph. At Waltergarth we had lashings of wine and a late dinner, three chickens in fact. It was odd and disconcerting seeing Sheila and Janet pottering in the kitchen with Mum's things. Lynn, David, Thomas and Katie appeared (Frances was at a kid's party). (Uncle) John has always been obsessed with Lynn. He idolises her. Samuel did a lot of showing off. Lynn left at 6, followed by Arnold and Janet at 9. We sat chatting until 11. The wine left me with an enormous headache. (Uncle) John going on the rampage about the British banking system. 

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Saturday June 29, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Mr Humphrey Smith married Miss Julia Gladstone today and we were surprised to receive an invitation from his mother 'Mrs Geoffrey Smith and the Directors of Sam. Smith's' for lunch at the family home at Oxton Hall, Tadcaster, on July 24, to celebrate this great dynastic occurrence. It is so good of the company to do this. That is what is so good about working for a family business. So personal, &c.  Tonight we 'taped' 'Dysentery' (as I call the series Dynasty). It is the last episode until September. Blake Carrington's dad has died in Indonesia. To bed with books. I am plodding through 'George V'. Very entertaining. Didn't phone Dad because he is entertaining his brothers in Settle.

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Friday June 28, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

A man from DER brought us a video machine for us to play with over the weekend. Not that we'll have much chance. We watched our wedding video which was a jolt. Mum's bright "Hello Darling, it's Grannie" (to Catherine) is now the only known recording of her voice. Phoned Dad. He went back to Horton yesterday afternoon. He called at Hanson's, the stonemason, en route. The headstone will take six weeks. John and Sheila have phoned to confirm they will be visiting him tomorrow. Arnold & Janet too. _______.

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Thursday June 27, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Our fourth wedding anniversary. Shock, horror. We exchanged cards in bed. No personal presents were swapped because the plethora of pine and the tv set is going to be our gift to each other. We live in grand surroundings now. Ally wants Laura Ashley festoon blinds hanging in the bedroom, but they'll cost £150 and the things will not transfer from the Moorhouse if and when we leave. Sceptical. Messed around until late. We went to Guiseley at 12 via a florist where we bought Sue a spray. At Thorpe Lane we found them tucking in to lunch. Poor Sue has heavy eyes and looks washed out. She only escaped from hospital at 10am. Lynn and her bronzed infants appeared and we went out into the garden and Grandpa Rhodes provided wheelbarrow rides for a wild, hysterical bunch of children. A make-shift tea party on the lawn followed. Goose pimples galore. Home to the pub exhausted at 8 after a couple of hours at Lynn's.

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Wednesday June 26, 1985

Moorhouse Inn

Susan had a scan at the hospital (Otley?) and as she suspected something is wrong, but it isn't a reappearance of the hydatiform mole. It seems that the tiny baby has died in the womb. Off she went with Dad to the Clarendon Wing this afternoon _________. Peter visited this evening. We are going to Guiseley tomorrow. Benjamin is one. 

St Giles.

A very large TV appeared from DER. We are having it on trial for a few days. We sat watching 'Dallas' open mouthed, wide eyed,  and bushy tailed at the glorious , breath-taking splash of colour. 

Quiet downstairs. Phoned Donna Lea re my cloudy ale. I have nothing to hide. Unlike my ale, my conscience is clear. She will visit and take samples, &c. 

Did I ever mention that Saint Giles was a cripple? Well, he was.

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Tuesday June 25, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

I feel down in the dumps. Worrying about my Old Brewery Bitter. Is it really up to scratch? Colin Black's words are ringing in my ears: "If you are not happy with it for God's sake return it". This I have done, and now my cellar is spartan. 

Dad went back to Guiseley to see Susan. He is going to help out until she has her pregnancy confirmed or quashed. ________. Dad is going to Wales with Lynn and Dave. Two weeks in Tenby isn't my idea of fun. Poor Dad forgot his luggage when he came for the weekend and so he borrowed John's things. Hw went away today wearing one of my old shirts. 

Our chairman (Humphrey Smith) marries on Saturday up in Dumfriesshire. All the managers gave a £1 at the managers meeting for a joint present to the boss and his bride. Leslie Gledhill joked about my suit saying he could have one made from my lapels alone. I set fashion I do not follow it.

Revoltingly quiet this evening. Just Janet. She needs motivating. Ally fumes because the girl stands around, arms folded, doing nowt. But we can only be responsible for that.

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Monday June 24, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Dad came over in the afternoon from Guiseley looking better than he did yesterday. He's so lost though. Mum always provided such gaiety. Will Dad ever get that sparkle back? Dad says Susan isn't at all well and is having a scan on Wednesday. Is it a reappearance of a hydatiform mole? She has been passing blood &c, and describes the discharge as 'stringy'. Dad does worry. We had a few pints and looked at headstones (again). The choice was finally made. 

The Angel & White Horse

We went to Tadcaster at 5:15 leaving Dad to bath Samuel and to put him to bed. At Taddy it was a large gathering of pub managers in the brewery canteen. To our surprise Chris Wills appeared. He accused the brewery of diluting his ale at source before he received it. We are told we are to have a seven per cent pay rise. Can't complain. Afterwards to the Angel (and White Horse). I felt pissed drinking beer. Found myself talking to the landlord of the Norman at Normanton. The brewery wives always look so brassy, you know typical landlady types. My wife is so fresh, young and so very uncommon. Saw LG and C. Black. Very relaxed. To Horsforth afterwards. I was drunk as a skunk. The 'Inside Out' or 'Outside Inn' or whatever you call it was shut. On to Jacomelli's. Steak, &c. Ally not too pleased about the dinner. Home at 11. David was watching Billy Joel on the telly. We have spent our bonus on a tv cabinet (pine), bed for Sam (pine) and a chest of drawers for Sam (pine).

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Sunday June 23, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

3rd Sunday after Trinity

Catherine Elizabeth Mary is 6. Ally woke very grumpy. She gets over tired. I went to get Samuel some breakfast and we played with his toys. I could hear Anne, our aged cleaner, banging away below. I presumed it must be Anne. For all I know it might be Myra Hindley. 

The Sunday Telegraph was smeared in strawberry jam. I suppose it's the price one pays for having children. Samuel's talking is coming along great guns. He can now speak numerous words and will have a go at anything. Mummy is still a difficult one. Dull, overcast sort of day. Over to Menston (to see our niece on her birthday) via the cemetery at 3:30. David has nailed a large name plate into Mum's grave. "N.Rhodes" in large black letters like a car number plate. I muttered a few words to the occupant below. To Leathley Crescent. It was full of children, all the grandchildren except Hannah. Lynn and Dave organised party games - they seem to have a forte for it. I sat in the kitchen thumbing through a catalogue of headstones. How very ghastly and bizarre Lynn and John suggested we 'buy the cheapest', but that was never Mum's idea of how to carry on. I selected one, not too flash, but reasonably priced. We returned home after 5, very jaded. Together my family is a daunting bunch. Dad's eyes were like piss holes in the snow. He'd been out on the tiles with John & Janette last night. Very busy evening. Gary in.

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