Monday March 16, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Tony.

The 40th birthday of Anthony Ronald Brotherwood. Bev came at 6 much to Samuel's delight, and after a minor drama when the hairdryer conked out, we escaped at 7:30 to the Old Red Lion, where we chatted with the new landlord [serving his three customers]. He says he took £34 this afternoon. We have never been so quiet or as bad as that. On to the Penny Fun in Moortown for 8. As usual John and Janette were an hour late. "We don't want to go to Tony's too early", said John, and so we were there until about 10. On to Ringwood Avenue. _______. The place was packed. I didn't get much chance to speak to Tony or his ____ wife Margaret, but I chatted to Michelle [ex WH Smiths] , Chris, Pete M, &c. John and Janette were strangely quiet and left at about midnight. The Coles were there. I consumed much gin and became my usual silly self. Quite OTT splashing wine everywhere, doing handstands and ________. Wow. The modern mid-twenties single girl does come across as tarty, over-painted, over confident and quite frightening. Picking girls up in clubs must be quite awful nowadays. Tony managed to get rid of us at about 3am with the words "you can't carry on like this and at this hour on a Monday. _____. Last out with us were the Coles, Chris, Pete, Michelle and three of her friends.

The Sunday Telegraph reveals, much to my relief, that the great Victoria had little time for Victorian values because she was far too busy enjoying sex, pouring whisky in her tea, and swapping saucy pictures with Prince Albert. Thank God that at least one author intends to paint a less sombre picture of Her Majesty, even if it has to come from an American biographer.

Sunday March 15, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

2nd Sunday in Lent

Temple Newsam.

We phoned Susan early on and told her we would take the Nasons out for the afternoon. She didn't enthuse but we insisted. Over to see Mum's grave and then to Sue's for 12 with every intention of taking them to the Royalty for a few drinks and a roll in the mud but she was snappy and insisted we stay for a stew and Yorkshire puddings. At one point I looked at my watch and she screamed: "For God's sake, go to the bloody pub. I don't care." Is this the Sue we know and love? However, after our lunch we all did go to the Royalty for a drink and then on in the direction of Temple Newsam, where we looked at the farm and strolled around the park. The children loved it but Sue just wasn't herself at all. Stress must be the thing. She is so irritable with everyone. Surely, Peter cannot be all that bad? On to John's for 10 minutes at 5 o'clock. We arranged to meet at the Penny Fun, at Sainsbury's at Moortown tomorrow at 8. Just Ally and I worked this evening.

The former SDP leader Roy Jenkins received the consolation prize of a lifetime yesterday when he was elected  the new Chancellor of Oxford University, succeeding the late Lord Stockton. An unprecedented turnout of 8,309 Oxford graduates gave Mr Jenkins victory, with historian Lord Blake, Provost of Queen's College in second place and Mr Edward Heath third. The Midlands GP Dr Mark Payne received just 38 votes.

One of the finest collection of clocks in private hands goes on permanent show at Lyme Park, in Cheshire, early next month when the National Trust opens the house for the summer season. It was formed by Sir Francis Legh, who died in 1984. A private secretary to the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, he shared a passion for clocks with his elder brother the present Lord Newton. Among the treasures in the collection are three by Tompion and one by Fromanteel. Francis was the last Legh to be christened in the chapel at Lyme, his family home for six centuries. Like so many other second sons he conceived a particular love for a property that could never be his. The collection will be handed over to Lyme on April 3, by Legh's two children Nicholas, a banker, and Laura, married to Lord Weinstock's son, Simon.

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Saturday March 14, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

We are such abnormal little people. Who else but we, the Rhodeses of the Moorhouse, would breakfast together, the father dressed as a jungle dweller in a ladies wig and green Wellington boots labelleld L and R, and then go along en masse, to a religious bookshop at Middleton, where I, the father, administered a large kiss and read a sickly poem to a poor 40 year-old with a familiar face [It transpires she works on the check-outs at Morrison's]. Poor Ally and the children sat in the heavily populated shop - strangely heavily populated with giggling housewives of no apparent religious leanings, call it what you will. I did my bit with a powerful delivery and the earnest Caroline was beside herself with glee and excitement. I think she set me up for this Tarzan event purely for her own pleasure. She is _____ a female Uriah Heap. She then said she had another friend who is also celebrating. I felt somewhat exploited when I was asked to do a double and give a 50 year-old dancing class instructor the surprise of her life too. Prostitution must feel quite similar. Back at the Moorhouse for 11am where Mum looked bemused. Margaret R phoned to say she couldn't get here for 12. Well, it was Margaret's 'pimp' who phoned. You know, Bill, or 'Our Billy'. This is the end of Margaret R. Maureen worked instead. The reign of Miss Rushton is over. Ally sends for the girls P45. Fin.

Cases of Aids reported around the world have risen by 1,766 during the past month, reaching 42,704 in 91 countries, the World Health Organisation said yesterday. There are now 686 cases in Britain, a rise of 48, and 31,036 in the United States, a rise of 1,500. - Reuter.

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