Sunday December 14, 1975

3rd in Advent. Up at 7.30am. Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you. I was up at 7.30 and at Carole's for 8.30.

At home I first had a boiled egg for breakfast and got myself well wrapped up for the great ordeal ahead of me. By 8.30 I was at Carole's and by 9 o'clock we'd roused the entire household.

After sitting for an hour listening to Mrs P's reminiscences of her Bermudan childhood, we set off for the bus stop. The prospect of walking to Ilkley proved unbearable and so we decided to go the idle way. We have a laugh in the garden centre in Menston and end up walking miles anyway because the buses only run once every hour on the Sabbath.

Get to Ilkley for 11.30 and immediately buy fish and chips, which are putrifying. A tour of the antique shops concludes the visit and we return to Guiseley for luncheon.

I'm in no writing mood today. I feel listless.

-==-

Tuesday October 14, 1975

Yet another day at the office. Kathleen is back at work after nursing her sick family all last week.

Very little in the news and the papers are quite boring.

This morning I bought two tickets for Thursday's London trip. Pete will give me his £5.60 on Wednesday, so I'll be moderately wealthy before the weekend is upon us. Still no word from John & Sheila, but the postal system isn't what it might be, and so they won't be in recepit of my damn letter until the New Year!

On the subject of not hearing anything we have yet to hear from Bass Charrington about the Station pub at Ilkley. If we don't get a pub this time I think poor Mum will go into seclusion. Anyone would think that they (Mum and Dad that is) have something wrong with them because the way they have been refused is really too bad.

Go to Carole's after she rang me to say she'd made a spectacular recovery! John hurries me down the lane in the car and I find her looking absolutely ravishing. The three of us go to the Hare & Hounds and we find it in the midst of being decorated. John leaves us to it after one drink, and we sit in a corner - arm in arm.

Carole is beautiful and sexy. Lynne Mather comes a close second.

-==-

Thursday October 9, 1975

I don't go to see Carole tonight because for one thing the weather was an absolute sod, and for the other thing I was rather tired and shagged out after a hard day at work. Mrs P rang me at 9pm to see if I was going down but I told her I was just about to 'hit the sack'.

Mum and Dad have an interview for the Station pub in Ilkley tomorrow morning, and they went down tonight to give it the old 'once over'. They came back with tales of wonder, and I realise now that it's probably a blessing that they never laid possession of the New Inn. I only hope that they have some success.

Yesterday at the Hare I had a bet with Helen that Princess Anne will not have a child until 1977. Next year of course is out of the question (see Sept 22, 1975), and the spring or summer of 1977 is the first opportunity for the royal pair to give the Queen a bouncing grandchild. I have placed a pound on it anyway, which makes it a very serious proposition indeed.


-==-

Friday March 28, 1975

Good Friday. No work - just pure, unadulterated bone-idleness. At 12.30 on a beautifully sunny, but cold afternoon Dave, Lynn, Helen and I gather in the Hare & Hounds, Menston, Yorkshire, for a little drink before departing, in Mr Baker's car, to Woodhouse Moor Fair for the afternoon. Prior to embarking on the afternoon of childish entertainment, the four of us satisfied our refreshment buds in the Hyde Park public house, upon which I'd rather not pass comment at this moment in time and feel that the comments I would surely be called upon to make are unfit to languish on the page for this holy day.

Spend all afternoon in the fairground and return with fish and chips to Helen's at about 4.30. Home after 5 where Mummmy makes us yet another tea. Mum and Dad walked from our house to Ilkley this morning in just two hours and then came back on the bus.

Down to the Hare & Hounds where Miss Christine Mary Dacre-Braithwaite joins us unaccompanied. Pass a pleasant few hours and plan to go to Wikis, but alas and alack, Gary comes in at about 10.0 o'clock. Blast and Damn him! However, still set on the idea of going to Wikis, John, Gillian and I depart thereunto. Kicked out at 12.30 - Sunday licensing on Good Fridays - bah - and back to Gillian's to see a film. I tried to have sex with her without much success.

-=-

Sunday March 10, 1974

2nd in Lent. Edward VII married Alexandra, 1863. Prince Edward born 1964. Wake up at 8.20 on the sofa in the dining quarters of a strange house. The mother of my host thrusts a weak, milky coffee onto my lap and laughs at my apparent lack of awareness of time, place, month or year. Vic piles me into a car and at 8.45 and I am standing in the bleak bus station at Ilkley. One of Andy's pals joins me on a 63 and I stagger home to be in time for breakfast. Mum thinks I am mad and Dad simply laughs at my obvious vitality.


'Jealous Mind' Alvin Stardust.

-==-

Saturday February 23, 1974

Up at the unearthly hour of 7. John is also venturing out into the great occupational work force this morning - his first Saturday morning for many months.

Sarah, Janice and me, not forgetting Anne, are in the Library this morning. Nothing much of any importance occurred.

Meet Denny at 12.15 near Lewis's. Have a very nice afternoon. Go to the Wayfinder in the Merrion Centre for a few drinks - and what a revolting pub it is too. But it proves to be a good laugh. Denny buys a pair of shoes, and all I do is advise - spending absolutely nothing whatsoever. Get a 35 to Guiseley, walking over the Fieldhead playing fields and thus home. Truly a brilliant day - sunny and warm. Totally 'unwintery'. Denny stays to tea, and goes with John and self to Ilkley at 8. Meet the delectible Linda in the Rose and Crown. All the gang slowly gathers. At closing time we all sneak back to the College of Education, ravaging Linda's new flat. Denny says that it's the worst party she's ever experienced, but when Denny gets into one of her miserable moods nothing can remedy it at all. Peter brings us home after 2.

-==-

Monday January 21, 1974

Miss Went is a very tiresome person. I'll be glad when she's gone. At lunchtime she bought the presents with the £50 we had raised. A silver tray and a watch. My lunch is spent in the reference library. I am disillusioned to discover that the Right Hon William Lawies Jackson was later 1st Baron Allerton, of Chapel Allerton in the county of York. No one from the Wilson family could possibly have married a peer of the Realm. However, my genealogical studies into the roots of the Jackson family are far from over. Come home at 6.30 expecting a peaceful evening, but these dreams are shattered when Andy phones. By 8.30 John, Andy and myself are in the Rose and Crown at Ilkley with Linda and a multitude of college bods. The place is a bit of a tip, with a large reproduction map of 17th century Middlesex in pride of place on the central wall. The wallpaper is made up of completely senseless colours simply hanging in place surrounded by the minimum of furnishings. Philip C and Ray (Bond) come in at 9. At 10.30 a few of us walk to the college, breathing in the sweet moorland air. Ilkley is such a wonderful place. The college is what I expected it to be. Totally institutionalised - like a hospital - lacking in any signs of homely comfort. Thousands pile into Linda and Mary's room. We drink hot, insipid coffee until 12. Philip brings us home - and I'd rather not comment on the journey. Bed 12.30. -==-

Saturday January 19, 1974

Dad wakes me at 6.30. Feel absolutely gone to the world. Deaths door seems very near. Have a shower and listen to a dreadful BBC2 programme. Wake Sue at 7.45 and go for my train at 8. Work is absolutely fabulous. Whilst discussing old people I recall something old Auntie Mary (born 1878) told me about being related to somebody called Jackson who was Lord Mayor of Leeds. On researching this I discover that a William Jackson was Lord Mayor in 1895-6. Knowing Auntie Mary is a reliable source I am enraptured. Jackson went on to become a Member of Parliament. I am the great-great-nephew of a Conservative MP! If I mention this publicly I'll probably be lynched, what with the Three Day Week and the toilet paper shortage. 

 Frank and Marlene and the kids come for tea.Mark brought his Formula One racing cars. 

Frank makes Dad mad by referring to him as 'Uncle Lawrie'. He's only a decade younger than Dad. 

 At 8 John and I go to the Hare and Hounds. Denny and I have a laugh about pretending to be engaged. 

All the mob gathers in honour of the 19th birthday of Linda which takes place on Monday. At 10.30 I go in Philip Cartwright's car to the Cow & Calf. Dance until 2am. The college girls are great fun and we joke about cottage cheese manufacturing! Everyone piles into different cars, and poor Christine W and myself are left in the back of Pete's van. Home at 2.30. Wait in the garage until John comes home with the door key at some later hour. Well, 20 minutes later actually.

 -==-

Saturday January 5, 1974

Nearly noon when I awoke, feeling very much improved. No blocked up feeeling at all. Have no breakfast and leap into the bath at 1.30. Try to have a shower but something is wrong with the warm water.

During lunch Denny rings and I tell her that everyone is going to the Cow and Calf tonight - she is overjoyed. I suppose we'll get a lift with Pete Mather.

After lunch I sit with a Guinness in front of the tv. By 4.30 the light is nearly gone completely and the night is once again upon us.

Hear from Chris at 6.30 who intends going to the Emmotts for 8. John and I arrive at 7.50. Sit with Ivy who is in very high spirits. Chris and Pete come in at about 8.15. Andy, of course, has been propping up the bar since 7.30. Dear Denny, wearing a beautiful coat, sits on the other side of Ivy. At 9.30 we go to the Red Lion in Burley-in-Wharfedale. Dave Lawson left John without a lift after going out of his way to offer him one. Subsequently, about six of us had to pile into Pete's car. At 10.30 we go onto to the moor to the Cow & Calf. Denny and I take turns in buying drinks for one another. We have a couple of tremendous dances. 'Dance with the Devil' by Cozy Powell is the greatest record I've heard this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhR5EDH-rMo

However, I feel too self-conscious when dancing with Denny because she is such a good dancer - perfect in fact.

Pete brings us home in dense fog at 2.0am. Singing all the way.

-==-

Friday December 7, 1973

Busy day at the YP. I made photostat copies of all the family births, marriages and death certificates.

A very pleasant evening. Chris, Peter Mather, Laura and her friend Maggie, Andy, Philip Cartwright and myself all went to the Cow & Calf which is now 'Samantha's' - really beautiful now, but the memories of the old place will always linger. Dance until 2.0. Peter brings me home to the door. It is a cold, rainy night. Christmas is only 3 weeks away - not likely to be a white one either.

-==-

Saturday September 29, 1973

Wake up at 7 o'clock and go back to sleep until 11. My cold is somewhat better, and even if I have pneumonia I am going out tonight in order to celebrate David's last pre-college Saturday. Stay in the lounge all day. See a Liz Taylor film: 'The Last Time I Saw Paris' which was quite good. Mum and Dad go to the shops at 4.30 and she buys some liquid to put up my nose. It works wonders. By 5 o'clock I can breath again. Lynn and Sue come back from Bradford with another LP for John - who is at work - Tamla Volume III. John and Dad go out driving and Sue and Lynn go to have tea with Al Dixon. Mother and me watch Bruce Forsyth's 'Generation Game'. At 6.30 I go change, now feeling greatly improved. Andy rings at 7 and I say I'll meet him near Shires at 7.45. However, John and Dad don't get back until 7.30 and John and me are subsequently late. We buy 12 pints of beer and go to Dave's where Philip and Christine are listening to records - Philip is unusually very quiet. MM, Christine W and Linda S arrive later, followed by Chris and Marita. By 11 Andy and myself are quite drunk - especially Andy who added Bacardi to his pints of Newcastle Brown. What a laugh - everyone imitating everyone elses dancing styles. When Mr & Mrs Lawson arrive home we pile into Dave and Marita's cars and go to the Intercon at the Cow & Calf at Ilkley. Christine ignored Philip all night long. See Denny who, strangely enough, ignores Chris. Home at 2.30. --==--

Saturday September 1, 1973

Get up at 11.55. Christine rang at 12.0. It tell her that at 4 o'clock this morning Dave and I flattened the battery of his car due to parking on the moor with the headlights on full beam in a sorry attempt to locate her bracelet. I assured C that we revived the car successfully.

At 1.0 I went to Leeds to be photographed for the college of education bods. The photos look groggy. Home by 3.0 after buying the 'Amateur Photographer' which contained royal photos of, and by, the Royal Family. See film - 'The Barretts of Wimpole Street'. Beef for dinner.

Later: John, who is now very attached to Christine White, accompanies me to the Queen's, where we are joined by her, Philip, Christine, Mick and Lynne. They stay until 10.0. John, Christine W, and I go home on the 10.30 bus. After depositing C at Yeadon, John and I go on to the nicest fish and chip shop in Guiseley. Walk home with Dobby - an old friend of Johns. Home by 12 o'clock. Seee a rather thrilling film. Bed for 1.15. An early start tomorrow.

Christine was very amused at last night. Thank Goodness, because she was so upset at the time.

--==--

Friday August 31, 1973

Woke at 8.15 with the terrible realisation that I had overslept again. But it all fits my plans admirably. I decide to stay at home until 10.0 when I go into school with Christine and MM to see Groves.

Have a little breakfast and read my book about the Duchess of Portsmouth.

Arrive at Benton simultaneously with MM and Christine. They bring the new cups for the 6th form. Don't see Groves until 12.0. He advies me to wait until I have heard from the college, but to go into school until I do. Term starts on Monday. Go back to see Bill and tell him I'm going back. He wishes me good luck - again. Mess about with the bus shelters until 4.30.

Later: Dave picks John and me up and we go to the Fleece. Christine and Philip are saving seats for us. MM and Linda Smith arrive later. We go to the Intercon at the Cow and Calf at 10.30. Christine, in answer to the call of nature, visits Pine Tops for the first time. She thinks it's extremely cosy. Andy and I make attempts to get very drunk - successfully. Poor Philip went through £8. A very bizarre occurrence took place at 2.30am on Saturday morning. Dave and Christine decided to go for a walk on Ilkley Moor whilst Philip and I slept in his car. Ten minutes later I'm awakened by Dave laughing but minus Christine. To my horror we find Christine unconscious in a four-foot pot hole in the heather. I thought at first that she was dead. After a ten minute struggle we have her back in the car - bruised but alive. Alas, she had lost her bracelet, and in her drunken state, she began to cry. Philip slept on. We take her to Pine Tops for a strong coffee. At 3.35 Dave and I take C home and then return to Ilkley Moor in search of the precious bracelet - sadly, to no avail. Bed by 4.35am.

--==--

Sunday July 1, 1973

2nd after Trinity. Dominion Day, Canada. June is still away with Christine and John. So I'm spending a bachelor night out with Dave, John, Philip and Christine.

Another beautiful day. Get up at 10.0am. Have meagre breakfast - sit on the back lawn from 11 till 1.30. Too overpowering. Go read Mabell Airlie's memoirs in a darkened lounge. Lynn goes red as a lobster in the direct sunlight. Even John now gives the impression of being permanently embarrassed. Dave rings. I then ring Philip at 3.45. Speak to Christine - promise to meet at Yeadon at 7.30pm.

Dave collects us at 7.25. Mama and Papa go off to Wakefield Theatre Club with Joe and Anne Grunwell to see Fame and Price - return at 2am rather disappointed. Collect Philip and Christine at 7.40. Go to the Tudor Bar, Burley. Have a pint and then go to the Stony Lea - where I walk out with pint glasses - do the same with two glasses at the Vesper Gate at Kirkstall Rd, Leeds. A very enjoyable evening. Christine was on vodka and blackcurrant. Philip is great to get on with. Arrive home 11.05 very intoxicated. Dave is very amused by my predicament. Dale rings at 11.30 with some message for Kim Dean about Mondays cricket match - pupils v. staff. Bed at 12.

--==--

Thursday May 24, 1973

It's the Profumo Affair all over again! Yes, Mr Heath's government is falling down about his head. Yesterday, Lord Lambton, the former Earl of Durham, resigned from the Defence ministry after admitting to drugs charges and do's with prostitutes. If this isn't enough, the 55 year-old Leader of the House of Lords, and Lord Prvy Seal, Earl Jellicoe, a godson of George V, today also resigned after being cited in the prostitute thing with Lambton. The news on tv has been really juicy these past two days!
The main question is, have they been forced, through blackmail, into leaking government secrets? Especially Lambton at the Ministry of Defence. Very, very embarrassing for Heath.

A really beautiful day. June and I really looking forward to tonight. June goes home at 3 to wash her hair. Dave goes home for his gear because he has to stay the night at Willie's in order to let W do the driving - him not having past his test yet. Go down to the employment exchange and get my passport - nearly leaving my birth certificate on the counter.

Willie brings me to Guiseley and then drives on with Christine, Elke, Dave, and Dietrich to Addingham where they have tea with Cowie. Dave and Willie pick John and I up at 8.0 we go on and pick up June, Hursty and Dale. Go to the Midland Hotel, Ilkley, and then do all the pubs going up the hill towards the Cow and Calf. Arrive at the Cow and Calf at 10. Christine not well at all. Have whisky with ice. June looks irresistible. Go to the Intercon. John dances until 2 without once leaving the floor. A fantastic evening. Come home in two trips. Christine and I do a silly dance whilst waiting for Willie from the 1st journey. Such a hysterical hour it really was.

--==--

Thursday May 17, 1973

What a day! Got up late and get to school at 9.30. Do Lord Liverpool and Liberal Toryism until 11.45. June and I sit together until nearly 12.30.

Christine tells Dave and me that the Germans and the usual mob are going on a pub crawl round Horsforth tonight. How can I refuse such an invitation! However, June says she doesn't want to go. I feel terrible. But the dear Darling insists that I go alone. Alone, and without June with me for the first time in about 3 and a half months! A final fling before the 'A' levels as it were (or at least one of the last!)

John and I go to Dave's at 7.30. Cowie and his German penfriend Ulrich arrive later. Dave takes us up to the Fleece at Horsforth. Christine, Philip, Phil, Willie, Dietrich, Dale, Wolfgang, Helga, and Dave, Cowie, Ulrich and myself spent 2 and a half hours going round the pubs in Horsforth Town Street. I was 'pissed up to the armpits'. Too hysterical for words. Christine's Philip is great fun.

We decide to move on the the Intercon at Ilkley. Dave has to make two trips. A great night. Sober up at about 12.30. Every time the music breaks we shout "Rod Stewart" - the disc jockey laughs. He plays 'Cindy Incidentally' and 'Maggie' about 10 times. Dale is sloshed. Christine and Philip are a great couple. Finish at 2 o'clock.

Dave takes everyone home in the 1st trip except John, Phil and myself. We walk for four miles until almost 3am. Dave didn't half look hilarious driving off over Ilkley Moor with seven in the back seat. Have you ever heard a car full of Germans singing 'God Save the Queen', 'Four and Twenty Virgins' and 'On Ilkla Moor Bah't at'? Home after 3. Mum not pleased.

--==--