Friday March 27, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Friday. A quiet day. Samuel has developed a broad Yorkshire accent, broader than mine picked up, according to Ally, from Stephen Ayres. Spoke to Janette on the phone.

Sir Mstislav.

The Kinnocks have celebrated 20 years of marriage this week, and the leader of the opposition has had a disastrous trip to see Ron [Reagan] in Washington, where the fading president failed to recognise Mr Healey, and thought that Acland, our ambassador to the USA, was Mr Kinnock's sidekick. Healey and Acland of course have huge, bushy eyebrows. Mrs T goes to see Mr Gorbachev at the weekend to show how visits really should successfully be done.

The Prince of Wales is to spend four days trekking in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana, with his friend, Sir Laurens van der Post, at the end of a three-nation African tour which begins today.

A Frankfurt confectioner has sold out his stock of Easter bunnies containing condoms in a 'safe sex' promotion. The 3-inch high chocolate rabbits cost £1.70 each.

Mstislav Rostropovich, cellist, conductor and Russian-in-exile has been appointed a Honorary Knight Commander of the British Empire for his services to British music, the Foreign Office announced yesterday. 

Thursday March 26, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Clemmie.

A miracle has occurred. No, I haven't encountered the Virgin Mary on the local refuse tip, and I haven't suddenly found the ability to turn water into Old Brewery Bitter - but Clemmie has slept from 6:30pm last night until this morning. Samuel woke me at 7am and that was my first call to consciousness since 12:30am. Felt pounds better for a good nights sleep and I splashed around in the bath singing "La donna è mobile" at full throttle. Our darling Clemmie has given us eight months of sleeplessness. Ally insists that Samuel had a similar sleep pattern, but I do not remember quite so much sleeplessness.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is here on a State Visit. No booze at the royal banquet and so poor Denis Thatcher had to drink from his Queen Mother-style hip flask. I do wish that the PM would ask the King to confer an earldom upon her husband to celebrate the '87 victory. Disraeli ennobled his wife, and so we do have a precedent.

From the Telegraph: A restored figurehead, identified by the Prince of Wales as being of the young Queen Victoria, was unveiled yesterday by the Duke of Kent at the Royal Naval Engineering College, Manadon, Plymouth. The carved figure was always believed to be of Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV, until Prince Charles visited the college and pointed out that it could not be a consort queen because it had the orb and sceptre which denoted monarchy. Researchers from him right.

Dorothea, Viscountess Head, who has died aged 79, was a brilliant portrait painter, far above amateur status. While she excelled at painting children, perhaps her most remarkable portraits were of eminent citizens of Nigeria (where her husband the 1st Viscount Head was High Commissioner in the early 1960s), notably the charismatic Sir Abudakar Tafawa Balewa, the "golden voice of Africa", of whom she was especially fond.

Wednesday March 25, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

King Fahd.

I do hope that after the Tory victory - in June/October - that Norman Tebbit will not go to the Lords and thereby emasculate his leadership ambitions. He is an obvious successor to the Blessed Margaret, who will retire in a blaze of glory in 1989 after ten years as premier. As you can see I have had my crystal balls out. The dear PM is heading for Moscow at the weekend to see Mr Gorbachev. What a stateswoman she is. Her face is known throughout the world.

A Quiet night. Alan brought a musical quiz which had everyone subdued.

King Fahd of Saudi Arabia arrived in London today on a State Visit to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. King Fahd arrived at Gatwick Airport. The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by His Excellency the Saudi Arabian Ambassador, welcomed King Fahd on behalf of the Queen. The party travelled by the Royal Train to Victoria Railway Station. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh with the Duke and Duchess of York, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester met King Fahd at the station.

Point failure: From the Telegraph. An announcement on the crowded Central Line platform at Liverpool Street yesterday: "The next train will arrive in five minutes, we are sorry for the delay which is due to the late running of the train."

Tuesday March 24, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

with Marita.

Tonight after a hectic day of culinary activity we threw a sumptuous dinner for MM and Marita, who came at about 8 o'clock. Marita was 'floral' and attractive. We dined on seafood vol au vent, Swiss veal in wine sauce, ratatouille, new potatoes, chocolate profiteroles with cream. Sumptuous. Ally is quite a cook. We chatted afterwards until almost 2am. Clemmie woke as we were retiring and we had a rough passage.

A Bill to replace the May Day Bank Holiday with a public holiday on or near May 10 commemorating Sir Winston Churchill was introduced in the Commons and given a formal first reading.

Princess Anne, patron of the Scottish Rugby Union, was at the Scotland v Wales match at Murrayfield on Saturday. Her son, Master Peter Phillips, was heard to say that he had bet one Mars bar to 12 Mars bars on a Scottish win. He has my sympathies if he is now not feeling too well.

Monday March 23, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Uncle Arnold's birthday. It says so on my calendar. He would have been 55. Dad will be especially miserable today. Graham and Gill phoned and invited themselves here next weekend. We do not mind one bit. They have been wed for 6 years on Saturday, and Sunday is Mother's Day. Graham says that Carol Reed had a daughter this morning at 6 - to be named Amy. At the mention of that name I think of the lady who married by peculiar grandfather. A day of furious activity. MM and Marita come tomorrow for dinner, and we haven't had anyone here for dinner since Mum and Dad. How I miss those cosy, intimate meals with poor Mum. Almost 2 horrible years.

Kensington Palace refused to comment yesterday on speculation that the Duchess of York, 27, may be taking the fertility drug Clomid even though it could cause multiple birth. Harley Street specialist Mr Anthony Kenney, whom she has visited, also declined to comment. The Duchess and Prince Andrew are said to be eager for a family now that they have their own home, Chideock Manor, Dorset.

-=-

Sunday March 22, 1987

 Moorhouse Inn, LS11 5NQ

3rd Sunday in Lent

A morning and afternoon off. A 'full-English' breakfast followed by decisions as to our curriculum for the escape from the pub. We decided to go on a mystery tour and ended up doing Harrogate, Otley and Guiseley, where we presented Peter with a batch of socks and handkerchiefs. It seems that everyone has bought him socks. He is 29. Janette claims that Peter has shares in British Telecom, British Gas, British Airways, and Guinness, &c. 

Oh yes, Margaret Rushton came in for her golden handshake yesterday and had a toastie and collected her P45 but with no animosity. Despite everything I do like Mrs Rushton. Ally was totally turned off by her and I know she is probably untrustworthy. Ally's instincts are invariably correct. Mrs R brought some cheer _____. We returned to the Moorhouse for our evening labours. The children suitably knackered. Carole Gosling , the stewardess at the club (Canning St) committed suicide on Saturday. She was 40. ________.

Robert Preston, who starred in more than 30 films but whose biggest success was "The Music Man" on Broadway, died in Santa Barbara on Saturday. He was 68 and had been battling against lung cancer for several months. In a statement issued from Camp David , President Reagan said: "He was a friend who will be missed."

From the Telegraph: 'Undeterred by his décolleté encounter last week, David Steel seems to be developing delusions of grandeur, judging by the invitations he has been issuing  for his 'official' birthday party next month. Despite his real birthday being on March 31, guests are invited to join him on April 8 for what, according to the invitation, "may be your last chance to have a drink with David Steel before he becomes Prime Minister."