Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
The Queen's Official Birthday.
Twooping the Colour. Sunshine. That old horse called Burmese. Fergie. What joy. Ian MacGregor is knighted. Bill Deedes of Private Eye's 'Dear Bill' is a peer. Thank God Dad was here. Samuel is devoted to his grandad and off they went to the park. Fergie on the front page of the DT watching the tennis at Queen's Club where Boris Becker was beaten 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, by Tim Mayotte.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
Hectic. A retirement buffet at 12:15 for 50 folk or so. Very successful. Kenmar came and removed the fruit machines and in came Bell Fruit. The papers are full of Olivia Channon. Sex and drugs and rock and roll. Dad stayed today and was invaluable. He is staying on tomorrow when Margaret Young's 21st bash will dominate our tap room.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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| Fox & Hounds, Starbotton. |
Ally to the clinic and me to Dr York re my allergies. He is not happy about the effectiveness of injections (50/50) and yet he is sending me to the BRI to see a specialist. Once allergic to animals, always allergic to animals, he says. We spent the morning at Club Street. At lunchtime we went to Starbotton, where the pub is for sale for £160,000. Dad phoned from the Moorhouse where he had landed on impulse and was in the bar nattering with Audrey and Ann (Wilkinson). We came back to join him and had a few drinks together.
Olivia Channon, daughter of Paul Channon and a Guinness heiress, has been found dead at university. Her step-brother recently became engaged to a Rivett-Carnac from Martyr Worthy.
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The Bakers flew to Majorca yesterday for 2 weeks. Here: World Cup - England 3 v. Poland 0.
The Duke of Edinburgh became an OAP yesterday. Bus pass, &c. And on June 9 the Queen Mother attained the great age of 85 years and 304 days, and became the oldest lady to have been the Queen Consort, and indeed she is already older than our oldest sovereign (Queen Vic) by 4 years. The Queen Mother has now surpassed Queen Mary in age.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Beverley Wilson, 19 today, called in at 3pm in response to the birthday card I despatched to her. She is to have her job back. She has argued with Peter _____________. Oh dear. She starts on Sunday. LG came in 8 to 8:30 and was joviality itself. Poor Samuel still sick. It is announced that Bob Geldof is to become KBE, but won't be 'Sir Bob' because of his Éire nationality. Over the top, I think, but a popular gesture. It will please the masses.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Took Samuel at 12 to see a doctor who didn't seem worried and sent us away with some powder for his tummy. Poor little mite. He is so rarely ill and has been knocked for a six. John and Janette came back at 8 looking subdued after the events on Saturday night. They say that Jayne Waite will now provide the wedding buffet even before I had the chance to cancel the buffet here. John had £600 in his wallet intended for me. _________. John had Jack Collett in hysterics discussing John's plans for a four-day orgy in Majorca for the stag party.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
2nd Sunday after Trinity
Over to Guiseley this afternoon to sit in the garden with Lynn and Sue. Discuss the events of last night. ______. We left hurriedly at tea time when Samuel was taken violently ill. Vomit everywhere. Poor boy. Ally had a terrible night with him. Vomit all over his bed, &c.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
New Moon
Ally went to her dentist at Shipley for 10am taking Samuel along. He sat as quiet as a mouse in the room as the white coated Mr Roberts (?) probed around in his mother's mouth. It was a shameful evening. Janette phoned to say they would be coming across to discuss the forthcoming wedding and Ally and I waited all night. Sure enough John and Janette came in with George and Jayne at 10:30. After closing we sat in the tap room where the plan emerged that they want 70 guests here for champagne and smoked salmon, guests including ________________. We blew up. No way am I entertaining that cow in my home. I explained it wasn't the done thing.
(The evening ended in chaos and ill -will. I say things about living people not suitable for publication).
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Poor Ally. What a dreadful time she has had with this baby. For months now I have been up before her, often grumpily and grudgingly to bring her some morsel of food to bed to try and quel her nausea. She is large, and stretched. My God, the things we inflict upon our loved ones.
Lt.-Col. Sir Peter Farquhar, 6th Baronet, has kicked the bucket along with David Colville (see Colville of Culross), a brother of Sir John Colville, whose 1939-55 diaries I am desperate to read. I believe Ally has ordered the volume from our book club.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
I am very worried about my appearance. The FLAB, it hangs over my trousers in a disgusting paunch. It is the sort of thing I laughed at in others in my more slim-line years but now I am a leading candidate in the Cyril Smith stakes. My face is round too, hideously so that my chin has now merged into my neck. Oh God. See in the Daily Telegraph that speculation is rife re the forthcoming honour for Bob Geldof. They suggest the OBE. Jimmy Savile received this award for raising £10m for Stoke Mandeville hospital ten years or so ago. We'll see.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
No staff. England played Portugal. It's the World Cup, you know. Mother loved football. Fish and Chips at 11pm.
Earth shattering news: Dame Anna Neagle keeled over and died today, aged 81. "Victoria the Great" and all that.
Anna Neagle,
Doyen of the West End stage,
In your prime you were all the rage,
Your name wasn't really Neagle,
It was Marjorie Robertson,
But Neagle rhymes with seagull.
Oh yes. One of the 'Norfolk Broads' Lady Mary Fitzalan Howard has married Anthony Mumford. She is forty at least and a lady-in-waiting to Princess Alexandra, and 'heiress'
to the Herries lordship.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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| Temple Newsam: Jacobean erection. |
Todays news: Princess Margaret is fully recovered. Lord Apsley has married Miss Hilary George. The royal wedding souvenir programme has been launched by Lord Airlie. Lord Borthwick has successfully claimed the right to his ancient Scottish peerage. Deceased: Lord Willoughby de Broke, Lord Hothfield, Sir Brooke Boothby, Bt.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
1st Sunday after Trinity
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| Alan, Frank & Bernie. |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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| Denise and Marita. |
To market at dawn. Brisket for lunch. Ally sleepy. The Daily Telegraph says this spring has been the coldest since 1979. (see attached). It was a busy night when at 9:30 in walked MM, Marita, Denise, Tony Barker, &c. My first encounter with TB, a personable bloke. Denise very sleek. I spent the whole night until 3am demolishing the character of __________, whom Denise worships. Denise defends him to the last. ___________.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
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| Chernobyl. |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Today is Oak Apple Day - the anniversary of the restoration of Charles II in 1660. It's also the anniversary of the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Swaziland's new teenage King Mswati III has dissolved parliament in Liqoqo. No reason was given. That's teenagers for you.
The Hon Colin Orr-Ewing has married. Borislav Milić, the Yugoslav chess player has shuffled off his mortal coil.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Back to the Moorhouse where we have a £60 surplus, after last weeks £80 deficit. The relief manager Tiny Tim went off in a hurry leaving me with cloudy ale long faces in the bar. I immediately phoned LG to disassociate myself from the contents of my cellar. He thinks I am going over the top but after last years carry on naturally I'm wary. Tonight, Geoff, Alan, Terry (cockney) and Karin and self went to the Station pub on Hillidge Rd, Hunslet, for the quiz. What an earnest person John, the incumbent landlord, is. Horribly pissed and home crossing the moor with Alan. Earnest John believes in drinking after time.
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5 Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford BD7 2PB
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Waltergarth Station Rd, Horton-in-Ribblesdale BD24 OHH
Bank Holiday in UK
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| Samuel at Club St. |
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5 Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradord BD7 2PB
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| Ally at Kettlewell. |
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5 Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford BD7 2PB
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| Lister Park, Manningham. |
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A day near home. To the Prune Park Inn, not a nice place, and so we moved on to the Gaping Goose Inn, which was quiet, but we arrived in the midst of a crisis, and we sat gawping over lunch, watching the manager being sacked. The place was crawling with personnel from Webster's brewery. Onwards at 2:30 to MM and Marita's shop where we sat all afternoon. Very relaxing company they are. Home to Bradford wilting. The joys of home life.
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5 Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford BD7 2PB
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5 Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford BD7 2PB
My own precious Ally Pig is 28 today. Rain. We went to York after breakfast in our little haven and walked around the shops, much to Sam's chagrin. He becomes quite evil in shopping precincts. Ally, all bulbous and blue, was well wrapped against the damp. Home at tea time exhausted. The fresh air has floored her. Laze around. Ate chocolate and watched a re-run of 'Edward and Mrs Simpson' on ITV. Dreadful.
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5 Club St, Bradford BD7 2PB
Hip Hip Hurray. Hols here. The holiday stocktake left us £80 down but we went to Club Street unmoved and unconcerned. I have given up with stock takers. Our relief manager is a Tim Suttenstall, or something. We went to Club St in a state of mental and physical exhaustion. Fish and chips. A new book as arrived from our book club. Debrett's Book of the Royal Engagement. Fascinating. Fergie isn't my cup of tea, but her pedigree is something else. I'm no snob, of course. I do love lineage. She can trace 14 generations back in the female line, daughter to mother, to grandmother, &c, compared with five or six for the Princess of Wales and a similar number in the direct female lineage of HM the Queen. To Sainsbury's. Sam was horribly behaved in the shop. Torrential rain.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Sunshine. At 2:30 I accidentally buggered up the till locking all the money inside and incapacitating the business of my public house. I phoned Yorkshire Cash Registers who sent someone out to get us up and running again at 5:30. A slight panic.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Whit Sunday
Sue is fine. They operated, found nothing and so stuck her together again. That's what they have told us. A day filled with horrible memories. To the cemetery this morning with a bag of peat and a spade. Tidied around. The flowers there are all spectacular and the little corner looked beautiful. To Club St in the afternoon. Dad stayed up at Horton. He told Lynn he didn't see today as an anniversary to go to the grave, as it was a day of no importance to him or to Mum in the years before.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
I opened up at 11. Lynn phoned to say Sue is back in hospital. A wet day. We arranged with Lynn to go to Club Street at 3. We met there and David installed the festoon blind in Sam's room. They are going on to see Sue this evening and we handed over some presents - just chocs, magazines and some wilting daffs. Dad is very worried.________.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Susan is poorly. __________. We phoned and she was stoic as ever. A little brick.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Zara Phillips is 5. Lady Joanna du Breuil (sic) daughter of Countess Mountbatten of Burma has named her infant daughter after the Caribbean island owned by the Knatchbulls. I've forgotten the name. It's a good job she wasn't brought into the world in Scunthorpe. Ally suggests that the child must have been conceived on the island. Lady Pamela (Hicks) named her daughter India in honour of Dickie's viceroy connection.
Ally to the clinic.
( The Caribbean island is Eleuthera)
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
We are in a quandary about the name of our unborn child if male. A girl will be Clementine Nora Levinyer Rhodes ..... but, a boy ....? George, Frederick, William, and yes old Joshua has re-emerged after three years on the list. Joshua Michael Albert perhaps. Ally will not even consider it (the name) and has asked for a delay. I like to have these things nicely tied up beforehand.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Club Street. Mother's cousin Elsie Basham died at the end of Feb. Have I already informed you of this? Please delete where applicable. I have been on the bathroom scales and quivering in horror at my reflection. I weigh 13 stones. My eyes droop with heavy bags. I stoop. I look mid-thirties and (indecipherable) . Gone is that buoyant, zestful youth. And to think you have have watched my decline here without even a word of warning. I thought you were my friends.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Coronation Day 1937. I suppose that now only the Queen Mother can remember this.
We are in the week of that awful anniversary. God knows how we've all lived through the 12 months without her. She had that magical exuberance that dominated every gathering.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Sunday after Ascension
Mother's Day USA & Canada
We went over to Club Street to continue decorating. John and Janette came late with JPH and Charlotte (Catherine is at a party). They had lunched at Mother Hubbard's and the bath panel for us on John's roof rack had snapped on Hollins Hill. John and I upstairs. Downstairs Janette told Ally that she had recently squabbled with Lynn. Dad being the topic of the argument. ___________.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Karen and Steve appeared tonight, at 7pm. Steve never changes. We expected a pregnancy announcement but were told the opposite.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Two parliamentary by-election misses for the government. I am not in the least bit surprised. Re the royal wedding. Have I become somewhat lethargic on this topic? Pages and bridesmaids have been announced, &c, and following the precedent of the 1981 wedding all are godchildren or infants.
Peter & Zara Phillips, Lady Rosanagh Innes-Ker, Andrew Ferguson, Alice Ferguson, Seamus Makim, Laura Fellowes and Prince William of Wales, himself. Lady Rosanagh is a daughter of the Roxburghes, of Floors Castle, where Prince Andrew allegedly got down on one knee in February to propose to Miss F. The Duchess of Roxburghe was a Grosvenor.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Ascension Day
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| Horse & Jockey. |
Back to the Horse and Jockey at Ossett to return the Diet Pils. Ally weary. It was polling day in Leeds. This afternoon Samuel and I walked over to the school where we went behind the screen together to and made a cross on the ballot paper for the ill-fated double barrelled Tory candidate. Ally stayed home with her feet up and she asked me to vote on her behalf. I explained that the rudiments of our democracy prevents this.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Rain. The Princess of Wales fainted somewhere in the colonies and everyone on Fleet Street say that a). she is pregnant, or b). she is dying over exhaustion caused by over work, or c). the anorexia nervosa is back. It is almost silly season. The Daily Star of course says she is a, b and c.
Afternoon off 3 until 7. Watched "Eye of the Needle" with Donald Sutherland. We saw it years ago with Lynn and Dave. No staff. Just Pet and myself.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Edward VII died in 1910, and Princess Margaret married that little photographer named after a Welsh peak, 1960 &c. Warm. A day off of sorts. The rush yesterday means we have to go to Tadcaster today for beer. Samuel's dream came true and for a few hours he was a drayman. On to Club St - decorating. Sam, still in drayman mode, spilled a tin of white emulsion over our green carpet and for a few minutes it was like Hell on earth. Ally, heavily laden, on all fours scooping up hand fulls of paint. John, sombre, came to tile the bathroom. Lord Shinwell is about to die.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Rain. Bank Holiday. To Guiseley this afternoon to see Susie and Samantha who is only to have the one forename. She is following the precedent set by mother who gave the boys two names and the girls only one. The boys all fell upon her with bear hugs and kisses. The poor little bugger (Samantha) will have to grow tough or die. Like the boy named Sue in the song by Johnny Cash.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Rogation Sunday
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| Yorke Arms. |
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Moorhouse Inn Leeds LS11 5NQ
Overcast. To Ossett for a nine gallon of pils from the Horse & Jockey. They are supping with a vengeance here. Frank took us in his car. Later to the Harewood Arms for a pub lunch. Samuel looked angelic and the waitress addressed him as a little girl 18 times, even after we'd said he is a boy called Samuel. Silly cow. A passable meal. On to Otley to see Susan and the baby. She is so tiny and unlike the others. Dad was there and in the Doldrums. David and I took the vast gathering of children into the grounds. He confided in me that he is still fertile and despite the vasectomy he continues to fire live ammunition. I almost fell over an ambulance. Salmon sandwiches and Agatha Christie tonight. Cosy.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
The phone trilled at 7:30am. It was Sue to say she had been delivered of a daughter, Samantha, at 6:40am. We are thrilled, and a little peeved that Dad or Lynn hadn't bothered to tell us she had gone into Otley hospital yesterday. Thank God they have had a daughter at long last. It was a perfectly normal birth. We can go over to see them tomorrow. Hot. Busy pub. Frank and Bessie arrived here at 8pm laden with gifts. We all had a gin and tonic and Samuel stayed up to see them and was deliciously well behaved plodding around in his pyjamas. Our lager supply is going to run out, and I will have to get an emergency supply from somewhere. I got a one and a half litre of Dry Martini from the Junction.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
May Day. Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones is 22. Carol Johnson (who?) is 33. The lads from the Craven Gate came here. Pool Knockout. They linger over every shot like some of the boring professional snooker millionaires. How serious these sportsmen are. They played until 11:30. Ally took to her bed before the thrilling sporting climax.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Leslie Gledhill came this evening to moan about our takings. The slump in barrelage, &c. "Do you want a move?" he asked. Is it perhaps our personalities that have turned our tap room into a mausoleum? We mentioned that we liked the Menston Arms and he raised his eyes to the heavens. The pub will be much sought after next year and will not be handed to us on a plate. We opened and up and I think said too much. Other less aesthetic managers would have told LG to fuck off. Tonight the quiz team from the Albion at Wakefield came here. Unbelievably, we won. Of course I was in the quiz team.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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| Queen Mother: winsome smile. |
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Dad came here at lunchtime looking quite chirpy, but wearing such drab clothes. Mum would have called them his 'playing out' clothes and she wouldn't have been happy to see him visiting us wearing such apparel. Upstairs when just about to go down who should walk in but Marlene and Frank. They haven't been for ages. They are taking Mabel up to Horton for a few days on Wednesday. I do hope it won't be all doom and gloom and Biblical. The dear Harwoods left at 2 and we splashed in the bath and clad ourselves in posh gear and went to Bramley - the Raynville Hotel - for our quarterly slap on the wrists and kick in the shins from L. Gledhill . We went after Samuel's tea at 5:30.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
4th Sunday after Easter
Day off. To Club St. I spent the day undercoating, rubbing down, scratching and sweating. All a change from pulling beer. Ally made a corned beef hash. Bev worked this afternoon with Mags and at 6pm, very tired and weak, I called at Margaret's for the pub keys. Feel frozen and shivery. Not a soddin' cold, surely? Hot bath. Slumbered on the settee with Miss Marple and Mastermind on the TV. Went down at about 9:30 to see Uncle Peter and Jean. Karin and Bev worked. Poor Jean was told by a doc on Monday to stop smoking completely otherwise he might have no alternative but to amputate her legs! This seems a little drastic. We decided, midst laughter, that perhaps she should cut down to about 20 cigs a day and just have one leg off! Oh dear.
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Moorhouse Inn Leeds LS11 5NQ
Busy and warm. the outside tables come out. Karin worked lunch alone. V. capable. Jacq and Ian came with the proofs of their wedding photos and had a few drinks. Majorca was balmy. A warm Spring afternoon. At 4 we went over to Guiseley and placed a few pansies on Mum's grave. The daffodils are up and bobbing around all over the cemetery. It's almost a year now. I am rendered quite speechless and with a burning anger. It's never a feeling of sadness. Just bloody anger. Margaret in tonight. Stone dead. Jim Precious has a rash. Where's my surgical mask?
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Great quarrels in the pub about the Duchess of Windsor. Some sneer at the hypocrisy of letting the old girl rest at Windsor when, for 50 years, she was denied sanctuary within the castle walls. Utter rubbish. Others go so far as to say that in death she should be created HRH. What hypocrisy is that? Clever people at Burke's Peerage say that being the wife of HRH The Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor she was from 1936 HRH The Princess Edward, Duchess of Windsor anyway. Not so. The King, fount of all honour, can do anything and he denied this style to the Duchess and no amount of legal banter and letters to the editor can detract from this. Sarah Ferguson will become an HRH in July because the sovereign so wishes it.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
St George's Day
Stocktake. The bearded twit came and gave us a £40 deficit but we don't worry. It is 40 days since the last stocktake. What's £1 a day?
Recent stiffs: Glubb Pasha; the Earl of Haddington, KT; Sir William and Lady Fellowes; Dickie Henderson, OBE; Morecambe and Wise, OBE; John Lennon, MBE. Oh, go away, Michael.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
The Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II
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| Waltergarth. |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
3rd Sunday after Easter
Very quiet. Bev worked 12-2. Later we took Bev to Pudsey dropping her off on Richardshaw Lane, and then went on to Guiseley. Looked at Lynn's festoon blinds. Called on Sue and in a flash decided to go up to Horton taking her with us tomorrow - with the children of course. It might be her last chance of seeing Waltergarth before young Samantha/Joseph appears.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Peter, Jean and Penny came at lunch after shopping in town and we went upstairs where they played with Samuel. Wilsons have a way with children. The new girl Karin worked tonight. It was deathly quiet. Ally and I stood with Mavis Adams talking about books which was interesting. We left Karin to get on with it. She seems quite good and doesn't need 'standing over'. Harold is right though. She does have a nervous twitch, and interestingly a small hyper-active son aged 7 who is a chorister at Leeds Parish Church.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Not feeling ill, which is miraculous. Up at 8. So strange and quiet without Samuel. We went early to Hilda's. Samuel was playing with Hayley. Hilda is a brick. We returned to the pub via Fulneck. What is this Moravian denomination? Do they avoid pork and blood transfusions, &c? Susan Bottomley came in for a sandwich and half of lager, and was horrified when I recognised her. She puzzled over me for ages. Have I changed so much in thirteen years? June has been married to an accountant, called Brook, for 8 years and lives off Cemetery Road, Yeadon, and has two sons. "Wait until I tell her I've seen you?" said Sue. Ally went out for bread and accidentally locked me in the flat!
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Ally to the clinic. Furious that she still isn't booked in to to the BRI. She has no intention of going to St Luke's. Tonight we went to Scorpio's Taverna. Meeting at the Pig & Whistle. John, Janette, Lynn, David, Sue, Peter, George & Jayne, and a whole company from our lounge bar. A good evening, but I sat next to Janette who is so faddy and left a perfectly good steak. John and I shared a meze (£12 each) which was gigantic. Ally looked beautiful in blue. Had a good dance but felt terribly out of shape. I used to dance all night. Home at 2:30am.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Dad and Bessie phoned re their letters. Both were touched. Phoned (Auntie) Hilda who is having Samuel tomorrow. She is always willing to help. "It's what your mother would have done", she said.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
Very wet day. President Reagan has bombed Tripoli, much to the chagrin of the world with the exception of the UK. Planes from US bases here launched the attack and for some reason the yellow-bellied Lefty bastards are up in arms about it. We really should have flattened Libya in 1984 when they murdered that poor London WPC. Samuel and I wrote letters to Dad, Bessie and cousins Matthew and Simon. All on Postman Pat writing paper. Children should be encouraged to write. The telephone is a rotten invention. This area has some good independent schools. Leeds Grammar, Bradford Grammar, and Fulneck.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Pool Knockout Night. A dead loss. Thank God for Pakistanis. Ours is Karma. Or is Karma an Indian? Cold. We are seriously thinking about independent schooling for Samuel. I'm no snob but I'll be damned if I'm going to send him to a left state school where 18 people share one battered text book and a portrait of Lenin adorns the headmaster's study. In my day it was Leslie Hore-Belisha, or Disraeli. Where the money for this venture will come from God only knows.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
2nd Sunday after Easter
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| Cousin Bev. |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Staff shake-up. Chris walked in here bold as brass on Thursday and I told him to be on his way. He then asked for a 'black and tan' without so much as a flinch. Oh no. MLR will not be shit upon. He went away threatening to re-style my facial features. I will never give in to terrorism and will continue to go walkabout whenever I can. My cousin Beverley phoned me and asked whether I would ever employ a relative, and I was very pleased by the sound of her voice. She is coming here tomorrow evening to give it a bash. If I remember correctly she is a shy, bonnie, imposing girl. We interviewed from 6pm. Nobody spectacular. The first was a Karin Ireland, a friend of Gerry & Mary. Phoned Hilda re having Samuel on Thursday.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Poor Dad is becoming quite loopy, elusive and erratic. He has made it plain he is sick of his B & B existence and yet when we press him to come here for a few days he backs off. We have seen him only briefly in a month now and his grandchildren no longer seem to have the pull that they did. In fact the sight of them all together quite turns him off. At Thomas's christening he was horribly morose. The noise and the hubhub irritates and no longer does he frolic on the floor. Let us hope and pray that this is only a temporary thing. Our new pool team played here but I fell out with Norman Wilson, who stormed off in a cloud of abuse taking everyone with him. Oh dear.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
New Moon
Maureen worked tonight. Her first session since her vein op. She caused chaos and mayhem when spraying polish on the till and in the process dislodged a wire and brought the business of this establishment to a standstill. I had to go upstairs for Ally whose expertise with electrical faults is legendary. Needless to say she had fixed it by 10pm. We had been keeping a list of items to ring in and the bar back was piled high with notes and copper. Ally like a small hillside in a tracksuit raised gasps from the punters. And she has three months to go before baby comes! I have sent a begging letter to the YP. Where is my money for the Fergie revelations, shock horror? And do they want a family tree showing all the Dukes of York? The last two recipients of this honour received the peerage in the birthday honours of 1892 and 1920. We shall see. Fergie will not be Princess Andrew.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
John is a cool customer but with a heart of gold. Ally asks him to do anything in the house and he gets on with it without ceremony or palaver. He is going to tile the bathroom too before we take up residence in May. We will never get any sense out of John and Janette. Such a volatile couple. Almost theatrical at times. ____________. Uncle Arnold has asked Dad to go to an apartment in Lanzarote with him in the summer. But Dad needs money. He turned Lynn down when she suggested a similar venture and I do hope no ill will be incurred.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
To Club St later this afternoon to light the gas pilot light. What fun. We almost cremated the piano. Ally was very tetchy about this. Samuel loves Club St. He went to bed with Ally while I attempted to strip the beams in the spare room. A rea pig it was. John and Janette came at 8pm both dressed like manual labourers, and he put 'browning' on the walls and did a good job. Janette helped mixing the plaster. Ally got up at 9 and we had tea. Janette says she and John are getting engaged very shortly. _________. We discussed the family tree. John would like a copy. Back to the Moorhouse at 12. Fagged out.
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| Julie Baker, Lynn & Tom, Self and Frances. |
Snow today. We went to Guiseley and to Thorpefields where Lynn has prepared a party. Poor Dad was being organised like a four year-old by Lynn, &c. We went to collect Sue after a ticking off from David about our parking on the muddy grass verge. Ally stuck to her guns, defiantly I thought, and wouldn't budge. Her resolute jaw was set. We collected Sue, Pete and the boys and went to Esholt for 2:45. Awful. 'Emmerdale Farm mania'. Japanese and other Orientals crawling everywhere with zoom lens cameras. A packed church. Two christenings. One Thomas David (ours) and one Thomas William (theres). Lynn was furious because the church was packed and she was expecting a quiet, personal family service. A good attendance from the family. Dad seemed odd and strangely distant. I cannot put my finger on it, but in recent times he has changed. Audrey Baker was very pleasant and seemed fit, and joined in all the fun and games back at the house party. And of course Frances is 5 today. Thomas stood up on the side of the font to be anointed. (I passed him to the care of the vicar), and he yelled his head off at his 'wetting'. A good buffet later. Wine, fun and pandemonium. Back here for 7.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Today I am 31. Ally, God bless her, made it a special day with her munificence. Samuel came in early singing 'happy birthday to you' and the three of us sat in bed opening cards and presents. Ally bought me two shirts from 'Paris', at Rawdon. Exquisite. A tie rack, and a beautiful tie with a miniature elephant reclining. Two books. "Claudius the God" by Graves and "Les Misérables" by Victor Hugo. Thorntons chocolates. Breakfast in bed. The girls and Dad all phoned before 9am. It was touching to hear Dad. Lunch. Drink downstairs. Ally and Sam to bed. I had a lager with Margaret and Audrey and they formed a plot and gave me a 'German special' one of the concoctions favoured by our Gestapo clientele. I was slightly 'tight' by 4pm. Upstairs we had rump steak, sauteed mushrooms, white wine, &c. We then lay upon cushions on the floor like Roman patricians. I failed to win the pub 'flutter' on the Grand National. Chris phoned to say he cannot work tonight and so I axed him from my front bench team. Ally very beautifully said she would do his shift. Janette phoned to say they are coming. We went down at 7 and sat sozzled in a corner. We were joined by Uncle Peter, Auntie Jean, John, Janette, George W and Jayne. A quiet night really. You have to be reasonably quiet at 31. Bed at 12:30. No high jinx. No stoppybacks. No 21 gun salute.
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Moorhouse Inn Leeds LS11 5NQ
Uncle Peter is 57 today. We haven't seen him since Christmas. One of my customers makes me feel like vomiting. Joan Shelton, 58, has just been savaging the poor prime minister. "I was never out of work until she got in". And there she is (Joan) supping gallons of mild every week and living a life of Riley. She expects something for nothing. Bloody parasite. Ally went to bed early and I went down to the bar for social intercourse. A drunk, tippling whisky in the tap room, upset me at 11:30 and I physically ejected him midst the breaking of glass and furniture. My remaining customers filed out in an orderly fashion. I went to bed covered in blood and sweat.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Ally to Dr Duck at 9:50. ________. Believe it or not Ally has yet to be confirmed as being definitely booked in to the BRI for baby's birth. St Luke's is the designated place and whenever Ally brings up the topic with Dr Duck she says "Oh don't worry. We'll have you at the BRI. It's where you went last time." It will mean war if we are thwarted this time. A home birth in fact. Ally has a wicked look on her face. She and Samuel are in collusion over my birthday presents, and by the look of things my wife has gone mad on the plastic again. On Saturday morning all will be revealed.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Lynn and the children came over this afternoon for high jinx and high tea. Ally laid on an old fashioned nursery spread and the little ones greatly appreciated it. Katie had never seen a doughnut before and sat wide eyed but refusing to touch one. Samuel was covered in jam. Little Thomas moves around like a badger and refuses to walk. David came and picked them up at 6. Lynn made a comment about the Moorhouse: "It's a typical town pub". Snobby somewhat. She perhaps should visit some of the pubs in town.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
We went over to Bradford this morning to meet Sue and Pete at Club Street where Peter installed a new kitchen sink and did the plumbing. I am very pleased with him really. Susan isn't the enormous mountain as in previous pregnancies and I pray she has a daughter. Surely not another uproarious boy? The children played well together considering the confined space. Ally went to the fish and chip shop and queued for almost an hour and returned with cold and greasy fayre. I do worry about all this work I am making for myself at Club St. It's two rooms stripped bare now and in six or seven weeks I am expected to have finished the lot. Oh dear.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Bank Holiday in the UK (except Scotland)
Ally in a mood because she feels bilious and bloated and out of sorts and lay in bed with Samuel until the afternoon. Jill phoned to say they would be here at 4, but didn't arrive until 5 and so we missed out on food. I was just about to tuck into a turkey leg when they appeared. ________. They left when I opened up at 7 o'clock. A quiet night. Chris worked, or perhaps I should say he showed his face. We had an extension until 11:30 but shouldn't have bothered taking it. People go away to caravans at Morecambe and such places at Easter - for some reason.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Easter Day
We roasted a turkey for Easter Day Sunday lunch. A lot of hard work and sweat for nothing. Ally didn't appreciate the big lunch, and the washing up went on and on. Samuel liked the candle on the table. Bessie and Frank phoned in the middle of the lunch and I sat eating alone for ages. Played on the floor with Samuel afterwards. We played at beds. I had to lay on the floor on a cushion sucking my thumb and play the baby. I am actually a baby. Frenzied night. Just Liz and I working. She shapes like a 'wet hen' as they say in Colne.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
My life is probably at its lowest ebb. Utter dejection and misery. Depression has set in and everything seems bloody futile. Easter Saturday. Just Ally and I tonight. No festivities. Someone asked me why we've given the annual 'Easter Bonnet Parade' a miss. Stuff Easter altogether.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Good Friday. The 50th birthday of Auntie Hilda, who has gone off to Norfolk to see Ruby & Arthur for Easter. Poor H. She has now caught up with Mum. Mum will be forever 50, forever young, whilst we all grow steadily more older and more legless. Sunday hours in the pub today. Which came first? The Crucifixion, or Sunday hours in pubs on Good Friday? Did the pubs close early for the spectacle in Calgary perhaps? I won't be going up to Heaven, if I pursue this. Last Good Friday we were at Club St with poor Mum. It's all something of a blur now. Walking out to the bakery for hot cross buns. Dad's sad face. Mum's despair &c. Dad is now back at Horton taking in guests and cooking breakfasts and evening meals. Making beds, &c. Wouldn't Mum be proud of him?
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
An awful day. Ally was in such a mood and threatened to retire into private life at Club Street which sent me into paroxysms of remorse and self-loathing. What a puking beast I really am. So bloody childish, &c. Everyone else looked so sober whilst I grovelled around in a red-eyed stupor. "Michael. You are almost 31 for God's Sake." Alcohol has always got the better of me. The Royal Wedding is to be at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday July 23, at 11:30am. This shatters any ideas we have of a 'street party' and revelries here because we should, God permitting, be at Bradford with our baby George/Clemmie. Who knows though? No doubt the bride will be attended by half-brother Andrew and half-sister Alice, and not forgetting Prince William of Wales. It seems I wasn't the only casualty last night. Alan was dreadfully sick in a Leeds street after exiting Hollywood Days/Nights. That pub has such a silly name.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
I have a minor attack of the runs. Not to worry. It's the quiz thing at Hollywood Days & Nights. I went down with Alan and Jennie in the pouring rain leaving Ally upstairs and in bed. I promised not to over do things and to return home before dawn with my faculties intact. Obviously, promises I cannot seem to keep. In town we found Karma, his friend, and Geoff, Phyllis, Terry, Doreen, Garry Rhodes, &c. George Bailey, of Hollywood Days was in his team which is annoying because LG said I couldn't be in mine. We lost, but by ony two or three points. Had I been playing we would have won. Daft questions such as 'to whom was Lauren Bacall married?' 'What is Margaret Thatcher's maiden name?' All silly, easy answers. Stayed on afterwards with George and his dreadfully common mistress, who replaced Debbie, who has left him. They want to stay on and keep the licence but he is now in contravention of his contract of employment. The regulars are talking of sending a petition to the brewery, but it will be quite wrong and futile. Home very drunk at God knows what time. Rendered speechless in the taxi. Lay in bed with the room furiously revolving. Ally quite annoyed.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
This bloody problem with the car door is annoying. Appleyard's valued the the damage for insurance purposes at £100 but Frank says it isn't worth losing our no claims bonus and so Ally took the car around the corner to a little man with glasses and prodigious memory who said "Hello, Mrs Rhodes" - and he hadn't seen her since the Metro was bumped (June '85). The little man put the damage at £35 and the car is booked in for treatment on April 8-9. Sarah Collis phoned me last Friday. I didn't have room to say anything then. Bright and bubbly as usual. She had missed my TV appearance and was chatty and said she was hoping to come see us with Delia. Pigs might fly. We haven't seen Sarah for 2 years.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
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| Queen Mary. |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
Palm Sunday
Up early, reasonably fit. Cannot understand the general sober condition of us all last night. Lynn was perhaps the most intoxicated - stealing the 'Constance Spry' flower arrangements as she did later on. Dad was quiet with an air of urgency about him. He left at 10 for Horton to receive his guests, saying he may miss the christening if he takes bookings. Very peculiar, but there you are. Lynn and Dave came to collect Thomas, who has been as good as gold, giving Samuel odd looks when he threw a wobbler over his scrambled eggs. We showed them our wedding video (which they had never seen before) and Lynn got upset seeing Mum boldly marching around Esholt churchyard. They left at 11. We lunched on roast chicken and watched 'Dallas' and 'The Colby's' when Samuel had his nap. I attempted to look at the Sunday papers. We have been so busy this week and have seen no news, other than Andrew and Fergie, of course. I plan to do a 'tree' for the YP showing all the Dukes of York together. It shouldn't be too complex. Worked tonight with Chris. Uneventful. Bed at 12:30.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
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| Trixie: Tomorrow the World |
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Dear Joy Critoph came here for lunch with Terry, her boyfriend, and they stayed until after 4 o'clock. She is quite unchanged in the eight or nine years since I last saw her, and still a Sandie Shaw look-alike. Terry is a bearded, bespectacled Londoner. Possibly 35. We were hungover and frantically busy and so Ally didn't go over to collect Samuel from Hilda's until 2pm. She has enjoyed having him, saying he is so well behaved. When we left he called his great-aunt "sweetheart". He came bounding into the pub to meet Joy, and was very shy. Joy is Jacq's bridesmaid tomorrow and her dress she says is 'shocking mauve'. We threaten to giggle in church. Dad came here tonight. In the bar Jack Speight was the victim of a 'coppergram' and was 'arrested' by a naughty, nubile stripper in the guise of a WPC who stripped down to her undies. A jovial evening. Copies of my family tree did the rounds. Much Diet Pils. A hooligan attempted to spoil things, but out he went.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
LG phoned to ask how I am coping with fame. Some good publicity after the recent 'piss in the beer' saga of recent weeks. My Andrew/Fergie family tree is in today's YP. I have a love of genealogical tables second to none. High winds. We went to town and on opening the door the wind almost took it off its hinges. A man at Appleyard's garage but the damage at £100. Ally and I were out tonight, separately of course, to Jacq and Ian's bachelor night parties. To the Town Hall Tavern and then the Vic and then Ritzes. Pete Sate is a giggle. I became hopelessly pissed. I got home at 2 and Ally was out until 3. I sat eating scampi and watching myself on the telly. So good for ones ego. Ally came back having done the Crown at Yeadon, Beau Brummells, &c. She says Lynn is very much back on form.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Bright. Breakfast TV is saturated with Fergie and we sat with bated breath. The YP carries my Sarah Ferguson/New Grange Hall connection and Helen Scott phoned me from the EP followed by Andrew Sheldon from 'Calendar'. I rattled on about Andrew becoming Duke of York on his marriage and he was beside himself with glee and asked me to go across to YTV at 5pm. Fame at last. Ally was just going out at 10:30 when she heard on the car radio of the royal betrothal and she came scampering back in. We videoed everything. The couple were interviewed at Buckingham Palace. They want a summer wedding, and seem besotted. Sarah Margaret Ferguson is a boisterous red-headed freckled type that I would have thought the prince would have steered clear of, but thankfully no. They will, says the court correspondent at the BBC, be known as Prince and Princess Andrew, but the lad will be created Duke of York and Earl of Inverness before the wedding, if you ask me. Since the beginning of February I have been confident of the union, and her lineage is impeccable. She is no shy virgin. The arrival of princes Willian and Henry have made it possible for Prince Andrew to marry Sarah. She wouldn't have done for Charles. She has had two lovers at least, and one old enough to be her father. Ally is ecstatic and she phoned LG to warn of my emerging TV stardom. By taxi to YTV at 5 where I sat in an ante room with the weather forecaster and two tarts. Lashings of coffee, &c. At 5:45 in came Richard Whiteley and we watched the ITN news together. He laughed and ejaculated throughout and obviously has republican sentiments. Cynical ____. We went on air at 6pm and I attempted to keep cool. He said most of the things I wanted to say in his intro leaving me almost high and dry, but in fact I didn't dry up. "Surely we are all related to each other way back" he interjected, unhelpfully. The whole of the news programme was based on my information. They showed old film of the previous Duke and Duchess of York at Fountains Abbey in 1932. At the climax of the programme Whiteley said that as a county we do not do too well for royal connections. I jumped in with the late Princess Royal and Earl of Harewood, and of course the Duchess of Kent. Stardom over. Back to the pub at 8 after and hour in the bar at the YTV with Andrew Sheldon and S. Benedic (?). Taxi home. My TV appearance has been good for publicity. Jack Collett was speechless.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
It was just like old times today. A royal engagement is looming. Mike Brown phoned. It's his day off but he says he has contacted Jill Parkin re Sarah Ferguson's connection to New Grange Hall, Headingley, and sure enough she phoned with breathless fascination. I gave her the details and then later she phoned asking for my family tree showing the prince and Sarah's descent from King James VI & I. Jill is the daughter of ___ Parkin, who was a big noise at the EP and probably still is. The piece will be in the YP tomorrow. I do hope that my brewery connection gets a mention because Sam Smiths have had some very bad publicity in recent days. A gang from the Cambridge at Middlesbrough recently visited the brewery and whilst visiting the fermenting tanks some tattooed yobs pissed in the vat despoiling £7,000 worth of ale. Future brewery visits are now in jeopardy. Even the Daily Mirror picked up on this. "Two Pee On Beer" was the ghastly headline.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
St Patrick's Day
Bank Holiday in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
St Patrick's Day. What rubbish. For some reason Bill Gilmore got completely blotto, and he isn't remotely Irish. Maureen has gone into hospital to ger her legs 'done'. You know, varicose veins, &c. Anne (Wilkinson) is covering her with the cleaning here. The old girl dotes on Sam. She was in today and as she was mopping she casually announced that according to Radio Aire Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are getting engaged today. Ally went to the BRI for a scan and she phoned me at 11 to say that we are only expecting one baby, and probably has more fluid than normal. We are not disappointed and expected this result. The silly GP has cocked up the dates. Sent a postcard to Mike Brown re Prince Andrew & SF, mentioning New Grange Hall and the Leeds family connection. Will the YP be interested?
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
5th Sunday in Lent
British Summer Time begins
This volume declares that BST begins today when in fact it doesn't. That is coming on Easter Day, according to the radio. Wet and dismal. We went out after breakfast to Hilda's where we found her pale and encased in bandages after falling down the stairs and twisting her ankle. Tony and Hayley were in the garden and Thomas John in his pram. We had a coffee and a grovel to ask H to have Samuel on Tuesday so that we can go to the Cawood stag do at Beau Brummels. Later we went to Susan's where Samuel went wild with his raucous cousins. He is sometimes cruel with little Benjamin. Sue says that another son will be Joseph Lawrence. Excellent. Peter laughed. The sink we made enquiries about costs £175. No thanks. We will make do with the shells and dolphins and spend £17. We had a tea party and came back to the pub at 7. I am totally knackered. Spent time making the books balance, and then for relief I took to my genealogical table of Andrew & Fergie. That other romance here between Chris Mawson and Vicky Pearson is thankfully off due to family pressure, he says.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
To Menston this afternoon at 4pm and found Janette in bed. She peeped out at us from behind her bedroom curtains. John was working. Charlotte Nora is a pink, bulky thing. We had a good conference - Janette in her dressing gown - after which Ally felt happy and confident that the Moorhouse can site a wedding reception. We will have a buffet upstairs for immediate kith and kin, and then have friends and distant relatives pm. Janette wants nothing as common as pork pies, and no expense is to be spared. Salmon mousse was even discussed. The girl has everything worked out in her mind. Janette clearly trusts our judgement. We will not let the happy couple down. We came back to the pub happier.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Ally doesn't think we can cope with a wedding reception for John and Janette in the pub. Lots of obstacles need to be overcome before we can see one taking place. Dad left with his ears ringing with Ally's words on the coming nuptials and she is strongly suggesting another wedding venue. We need to see John and Janette before we can formulate a plan. Whatever happens it cannot be a 'free do'. Mum paid us almost £100 in 1984 for their Pearl wedding extravaganza. Sausage rolls do not grow on trees. Dad's car is 107. Later, Madge & Frank's pre-nuptial booze up here. Silly really.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Ten years ago today John married _______________. It was a very misty, cold day if I recall. I have a funny feeling that I shouldn't be John's 'best man' for the second time. It didn't bring him much luck the first time around. Dad and Sam walked up Dewsbury Rd. Papa does fret about his financial situation. Mum had confidence and bravado and never lost sleep over money but now that he's alone he finds himself with a dwindling cash flow, or lack of it. We sent off for John's birth certificate.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Dad came but very late and we had been in a mood of expectancy all day. He appeared as we were preparing to go to Bradford and so he came with us in our car. Straight to it. We stripped the bedroom and Dad smashed off the old black plaster. Ally, Sam and I went to get our hair cut. These communal haircuts are a success. Later, Sam helped us strip off old flowery wallpaper, and Ally made a lasagne. Dad suggests that the original wallpaper dates back to the Boer War. Later as we sat and ate Dad and I gave each other long "should we go out to the pub" looks, but nothing came of it. We returned to the Moorhouse later on. Poor Dad. I must bore you, but have to say he is so very brave. He has asked about borrowing my collection of Dickens books. Evidently, Arnold is into Dickens in a big way. ________.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
Phoned Dad. He's coming here tomorrow for a couple of nights. We plan to go to Club St and knock damp plaster off Sam's bedroom wall and so he will be able to assist. Phoned Leeds Register Office to enquire about John's birth certificate. A cheque for £5 and a stamped addressed envelope should see us right. Will it interest you to know that I am almost 13st? Today I accidentally stood on the bathroom scales and gasped in horror. Surely, I was only 11 and a half stone at the last weigh in? But when was that? I'm too bloody busy to do anything. Taking a bath is a luxury. Michael Rhodes is almost 31.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
I was startled at 11pm GMT to receive a call from Janette who announced that she and John are to marry without pomp at Bradford Register Office on September 6, 1986, with Ally and I as the principal witnesses. Dumbfounded. I asked if John was aware of this decision and she gave one of her withering sighs. John phoned Dad last night, she says, to make it all official. The proposal took place on Saturday night after they dined with the Bakers, and Janette says she was completely taken aback. Janette wants a reception here for about 40 people, but we don't know how it will be possible. Our baby will be six weeks old. John needs a copy of his birth certificate and asks if I can find one for him. They have decided that Maria must have destroyed the original. I phoned Leeds Register Office and they asked me to forward a £5 postal order. We'd like to see John first before we are entirely satisfied that things are going to go ahead.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
Mothering Sunday. Felt low. A wet and cold day. To Guiseley at 10. Me at the wheel. Took pots of primroses and crocuses to Mum's grave. Very muddy, but we left it looking pretty. Samuel said: "Bye bye, Granny", when we left. To Lynn's for a sherry. John & Janette dined with them last night for David's birthday. We were in the dark about this and feel a little let down. We gave Dave a marble cheese board. Back here at 12 feeling atrociously grumpy.
At 3 we went to (Auntie) Mabel's. She was with Connie and looked podgy. Samuel in his velvet suit and bow tie became quite paranoid about the snake-like draught excluder at her door and he paraded around the tiny flat saying "don't like it", and yet he couldn't put it down. Mabel told me that Mum's cousin Elsie Basham died aged 68 at the end of last month (daughter of my great-aunt Harriet Basham, née Wilson). Elsie was renowned for attending every family funeral, no matter how distant or remote was the family member. Uncle Albert used to say that the elbows of her black overcoat were always covered in the grease from the numerous boiled ham funeral teas. Elsie has an only son, Peter Hawkridge (?) who is about 38 or 39. A huge tea. Chicken salad, &c. Mabel was very complementary about Ally saying how much she admired how she can run a public house and be a mother. I said that I am of the very same opinion. Samuel followed Mabel into her kitchen and called her 'granny'. He is a very good little boy and Mabel loves him.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ
David B is 30. I am no longer the only one of the family at this revered, august age. I have been terribly lazy of late and this journal is suffering.
Up at 7 when Samuel came skipping in. He is sweet and talkative but with a hideous, running, green nose. We endured Postman Pat before breakfast and then went over to Bradford at 9 with me at the wheel. Steve O'Connor's been doing some 'pointing'. Saw poor old Jack O'Brien in his garden and we expressed our condolences. Words are quite meaningless at such times. Poor Mary (Moore) is on sticks after six weeks in hospital and looks shocking. We measured up Sam's bedroom for festoon blinds. Sometimes I think that Ally thinks I am the Duke of Westminster. Back to Leeds for 11. Ally called upon her doctor for a prescription. _________. Samuel urinated in the car park.
A fresh spring-like day. Bev Pirie came in with Audrey. Uncomfortable. Ally ironing. 12:30 saw the arrival of John, Janette and Charlotte Nora. We sat upstairs with drinks and I nursed the baby who is a replica of Catherine at the same age. JPH now has four sisters. Maria gave birth to another daughter recently. She's called Heather. John came down to the bar with me and I thought he might mention the possibility of a forthcoming wedding, but he didn't. They left at 3. Baby is beautiful.
Tonight: Margaret came in for a drink ________. Later, watched the film 'Poor Cow'.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ
The video repair man came back again and replaced our troublesome Fisher appliance. Good now. Almost a warm day. We argued in the pub about British Summertime. Some diaries say it begins on March 16 and others say March 30, but the latter is Easter Day, and I feel sure it isn't Christian to tamper with the clocks on such a feast. We'll see. Didn't phone Dad today. He has been so distant of late, and preoccupied. Ally says it is money issues. Phoned Mabel and booked ourselves in for Sunday tea. She is 67 tomorrow. She was at Marlene's washing her hair. To town at 4 for an hour. Bought Ally two blank video cassettes for Mothering Sunday. Samuel had tantrums in all the shops. It's a funny age. Phoned Sue (Samuel inserting the coins) and told her of Ally's scan and the possibility of twins. I do like getting them all going. Ally was furious for some reason. Poor Sue's sinuses are in turmoil and she's been consigned to wearing dark glasses though how that helps with catarrh God knows. The Nasons have been brought to near bankruptcy by the new patio doors and bunk beds. An extremely busy night though I didn't go down until 9:30 (I opened up 6-7). Ally went to bed early. I recorded 'The Colby's', and a film 'Poor Cow'. I will never have time to view them of course.
