Monday January 20, 1986

Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

If I miss the YP for anything it is that daily morning scan of the national newspapers. I do not have time for reading the paper in this caper. I do miss the gossip and dear Nigel Dempster, &. I would love to know exactly how Sarah Ferguson descends from Charles II. No titled Fergusons fit. Sarah's mother is Mrs Susan Barrantes, wife of Hector Barrantes, an Argentinian from Buenos Aires. Dear me. Prince Andrew won't like the Argie connection I do suppose.

Dorothy & Lynn.

Ally has brightened considerably. I did some heavy ironing at 12. Watched Mrs T on the TV news with Francois Mitterrand in Lille discussing the Channel Tunnel. A twin rail by 1993 and a motorway by 2379, when I'll be fossilized. I am unsure about this business. What's wrong with flying, for God's sake? Let us stay an island, please. No, on second thoughts give Mr Heseltine a shovel and set him to work at Dover.

Phoned Dad tonight. He came home from Arnold's at 5pm. He filled me in on the Holland wedding. Guy is a barrister in Hong Kong as is his wife. The bridesmaid, he says, wore a bowler hat. My cousin Robert is a doctor working in London for the Wellcome organisation and is married to a doctor (Alison) who works for Beecham's. They have a joint income of £48,000. Dad stayed with Dorothy on Saturday night, just ten minutes from the lapping blue waters on Blackpool beach. He and Leslie were pissed up on whisky and poor L was cast from the marital bed into a broom cupboard for the night. Dorothy, says Dad, is more like Lynn than Lynn, if that makes sense. Carmel Corcoran though having some links with Australia denies any links with the MP of that name.

-=-

Sunday January 19, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

2nd Sunday after Epiphany

Samuel much better and Ally much worse. I 'bottled up' and then worked downstairs with Chris and then roasted a chicken with all the trimmings, Yorkshire puddings, &c. I had wine from downstairs. _______.

Bernard Manning: farted.

Margaret worked tonight. I the pub I did a testicle survey. Dad says that Christopher, at 4, already has large balls. Surely this is unusual? I asked guys downstairs, as I pulled the pints, whether they had balls at 4, and received some classic looks and answers. Most people cannot remember all that much before puberty. The TV went on at 10:15 for the last bit of 'Spitting Images'. It ended with Sir Alastair Burnet announcing that Mr Bernard Manning, the comedian, has farted. He was 55. It happened on the stage of his Manchester club and anyone with relatives at the performance are asked to ring Fartline 061-837-1674. So very amusing. The News of the World says that the Princess of Wales had a 'nose job' in 1982.

-=-

Saturday January 18, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

After a bad night with Samuel we got up at 9am. It was dawn before he fell asleep you see, and then slept late. I phoned Dr Sykes and we took Sam to see him at 9:30. He was full of fever and complaining about his eyes. I do worry. The doc took a listen at the boy's chest and declared he has an infection and prescribed some new tablets which Sam can chew. We felt easier after seeing the doc. Back at the Moorhouse Ally and Sam went to bed and I was up and down . Margaret worked 12-3:30 and Chris pm. Poor Ally worn out and low spirited. Baby has taken everything out of her and 'bump' is becoming very obvious.  A fight in the pub. A yob attacked Gary Rhodes, who can also be something of a bother causer. I dragged the lad outside and he bled all over my new shirt. I stood around, arms folded, looking suitably vicious, with my clothes dripping, reminiscent of President Kennedy in Dallas. Some customers think I am incapable of violence but they saw the tough side of me tonight. It did some good.

-=-

Friday January 17, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

A funny, low day. I phoned Dad at 11:15 because I remembered he was setting off to Arnold's this afternoon to attend Guy's wedding. He was just about to leave and discussed Mum's jewelry, and the disposing of it, which I found out of place. He somehow gets a topic in his head and it sticks. He asked me whether I can remember what happened to Mum's watch. _______. He is now puzzled and frustrated by his early eagerness to remove all Mum's possessions from Waltergarth. He went to his neighbours Frances and Brian for whisky last night. ___________. A very busy evening. Liz and Chris in. A swarming tap room. Madge and Frank, &c. Samuel isn't well and is warm and sweaty, and he came int our bed later on. For some reason our curtains give him nightmares.

-=-

Thursday January 16, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Club Street.

Over to Bradford this afternoon with our medical cards to transfer back to Dr B.E. Duck, but the apple-eating viper on the reception desk booked us in to see a doctor next Wednesday. The receptionist recognised Ally and a sick grin spread over her over-painted features. They better not become awkward with us because we have every right to health care in Bradford 7. Whatever happens we are not having junior in St James's. ______. Later, to Linfood where Samuel explored and did his Ben Hur routine in a trolley. On to Ash Tree Cottage, so warm and homely. Found a pile of Christmas cards behind the door. We had fish and chips and drank tea watching the tiny black and white telly. Home for 7:30. Audrey had opened up. News: Leon Brittan has survived Admiral Lygo's whopping fibs. The naughty, deceitful sea dog. I'd clap him in irons.

-=-

Wednesday January 15, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

Samuel slept in his bed as opposed to the cot, and was very good and didn't fall out or attempt to escape, until 8am. We lounged in bed with newspapers and cups of tea. Ally had her compulsory cornflakes to ward off the nausea. She is 14 weeks pregnant today and phoned Dr Sykes and went to see him at 3:40. He told her she has lost weight, which is ridiculous, but later he changed his mind. He also told her that she must be 16 weeks. This is also impossible. Our dates are spot on. This was her last visit to the Beeston Hill centre as we plan to transfer back to Bradford tomorrow when we nip over to Club Street. 

If the Daily Star has its way Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will have a double wedding this year. Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, daughter of Major Ronnie Ferguson, the polo player, and a direct descendant of King Charles II, then Edward and Eleanor Weightman, daughter of an ICI executive, living in a £130,000 red-brick bungalow close to the Jodrell Bank Observatory. At least this news is more fun than the Westland saga, which grows more and more out of proportion with each passing day. A full-scale debate today. Mrs Thatcher, quite rightly, is playing the whole thing down. Michael Heseltine has lost his marbles. Goodbye Tarzan. 

-=-

Tuesday January 14, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

Winds at 92MPH. Biting cold too. Dad left via Guiseley at 1pm. We had a good food lunchtime and took £22 which was quite staggering. LG appeared at 12:30 and I had been warned by Rob, who phoned me from the Butcher's, Pudsey. LG came upstairs to see Ally and was affable and inoffensive. He looked at the cellar without any adverse comment. Next time, maybe. He made a passing reference to the baby, and joked about our holiday suggesting it was the cause of the pregnancy. "William" was of course conceived here in late October. Our holidays for the whole of '86 have been approved by Ken Gilbertson, and we have 10 days booked provisionally from July 17. 

Tregonning Hill House.

The DT obits. reveal that Lydia Quiller Collick has died at Helston, aged 75. We stayed with the big Mrs Q-C for two idyllic summers in 1970-71 with Hilda and Tony. Tregonning Hill House will forever remind me of very hot, lazy days, the last days of my childhood. Later I phoned Tony to tell him the news.

Quiet night. Margaret worked. I sat upstairs (Ally was in bed at 9pm) and watched "I, Claudius" on BBC2. A repeat of the old series from '77 or '78. Excellent. I am always game for a Roman orgy. The (Westland) helicopter furore is now getting out of hand. They are now saying that Leon Brittan may have to go. Heseltine is positively potty. We debated this in the pub with much hilarity.

-=-

Monday January 13, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

A raging thirst all night. Bloody Hell, I feel like Richard Burton. I was up in the dead of night swigging pop and creeping around the flat like a venomous creature. Ultra relief pills saw off the heavy head. By breakfast I was conscious, but docile. Dog tired all day, and so was Ally, who didn't touch a drop. But you know how children's parties can weary one. Ally had a dreadful conversation with Lynn yesterday, on the subject of Mum. She says the nightmares persist. ________. I told her to try and think of Mum as she was living and cast the haunting skeletons aside. Surely, Mum is a spirit, large and warm, untouched by decay? Tonight after Sam retired Ally and I went on a pub crawl. The Harewood Arms, the Radcliffe Arms at Follifoot, the Crown at Wetherby, the Fox & Hounds at Boston Spa. A very pleasurable, relaxing evening. The Crown was a tip, which surprised us. We bought some Chinese food in Leeds and took some back for Dad, who had nipped down to the bar for a few pints. Maureen and Chris had worked.

-=-

Sunday January 12, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

1st Sunday after Epiphany

Sam: flaxen haired

Our lovely son is two. Flaxen haired, sweet natured and a God send. He climbed into our bed at 8am to open presents and cards. His face a joy to see. Magic moments. He loved his toy record player and carried it around all day looking like Nigel Lawson on budget day. Dad's card was touching. He gave Sam a fiver. He says it isn't much, but he does have a dozen grandchildren to buy for. We had a 'full-English' and prepared a gaily coloured table for Sam's party. We moved furniture and hid priceless china. Filled vol au vents and inflated balloons. Dad came at 10. I worked 12-2pm with Margaret. Ally brought Sam down to the pub at 2:30 - he was in his new grey velvet suit and bow tie. People came at 2:30. John, Janette, JPH, Catherine, Charlotte Nora, Sue, Pete, Chris, Ben, Lynn, Dave, Thomas, Frances, Katie, Karen, Steve, Hayley, Tim, Jill, Thomas John. A full jolly household. All very well behaved with party games, &c. Lynn is always good at organising things like pass the parcel, &c. We drank much vino and the party disbanded at 6 o'clock or thereabouts, with the exception of Karen, Steve, and Hayley. Downstairs at 7 with Steve for a few pints, and they stayed until after 9. Later, bacon sandwiches with Dad upstairs. A late finish.

-=-