Monday March 17, 1986

 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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Sunday March 16, 1986

 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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Saturday March 15, 1986

 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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Friday March 14, 1986

 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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Thursday March 13, 1986

 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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Wednesday March 12, 1986

 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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Tuesday March 11, 1986

 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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