Thursday April 12, 1973

Awoke at 8.30. Mum bids me goodbye and goes to work. I sit with the Daily Mail and a coffee until 9.15. Have a hot bath. Prepare a urine sample for my medical - pissing into a bottle. I sit laughing to myself at the latest crisis occurring in the Rhodes family since we cut off diplomatic relations last September. It seems that my Auntie Dorothy fell down an open man-hole at work, and a poor hospital worker was impailed on the end of her boot. She suffered severe damage to one of her feet. Her husband has contracted his imaginary rash again. He uses this in a variety of excuses. This time it was used to get rid of Grandad Rhodes. Aunt is now undergoing treatment at her home in Crawshaw something or other in Pudsey. My grandfather is now sponging on the hospitality of Uncle Harry at Wakefield - much to Harry's annoyance. My Grandad tore one of Uncle Harry's best white shirts to bits in order to create a dish cloth. I can see he won't last there for very long. Cousin Sam broke out of his cell on Mother's Day and went to make Auntie Mavis her breakfast in bed. While he was downstairs rolling up newspaper for the fire, Auntie Mavis was quietly dialling the police who arrived on the scene with a strait jacket. Sam - "Dr Jekyll" went without force. What a family the Rhodeses are.

At 9.45 go with my urine sample to see Dr Murdoch in Guiseley. After 15 minutes he says that my x-ray was perfect and the remainder of me is in absolutely great form. Come home rejoicing at 10.45. Write a letter to June. Mum comes home at 12.30 with lunch. After lunch Sue plays the Supremes LP whilst I made some attempt to start my Economics essay. At 3.30 Mum, Dad and I went up to Hawksworth School to vote. Because it is a secret ballot I am not obliged to write down for whom I voted. But I suppose you can guess. Had a nice tea. Then watched television until 7.15. Set off for work where Sue and I had a set to with the greasy cooker and cupboards. I also accepted the proposal to de-grease the kitchen on Wednesday for £3. I am going to be a wealthy man in my own right before the year is up. Came home at 11.30. Browsed over my Economics essay until 12.45. Retired to bed after smoking a cig.

--==--

Tuesday April 10, 1973

Go to school on the 8.30 bus. Go straight into the corner booth and continue with my Napoleon III essay and do not move until 11.45. June keeps making fleeting appearances but is otherwise kept busy by Mrs Telford in the FE Department. At 11.30 after finishing 20 sides of Napoleon III I begin my Suez esssay which I finish precisely at 11.45 - how's that for knocking on! Mrs Lane comes across and goes through my essays. I am the only one to have completed the two. She likes them both but thinks that I am too kind to Napoleon III. She doesn't believe he did anything for the working classes, but I rather think he was a hard-working bloke, not as mysterious as Napoleon I. Go down to lunch at 12.30. At 1.50 Mrs Lane begins once again on my essays. She laughed at the comment made by Randolph Churchill that no aspect of the Suez Crisis can be considered until one remembers that "Sir Anthony Eden was a very sick man at the time." We also argued that Eden did not "fall" as Churchill says in his "Rise and Fall of Sir Anthony Eden". Eden never fell. He simply resigned his post as Premier. June gave me a wonderful photograph of herself taken by her brother-in-law. She looks really terrific. Mum says she looks serene and Sue said she was the image of Queen Victoria in her youth. June wouldn't like to hear that. What an insult to a rabid Marxist. Went to work at 7.30. Quite busy. Sue asks me to work on Thursday. I said I would. I must be raving mad! -==-

Tuesday March 27, 1973

Yes, still no change in the weather! What a beautiful year, weather wise, and in every other way, it is going to be. Got up at nearly 8 and postponed by bus ride until 9. June arrived almost simultaneously and instead of sitting with me, she went over to sit near the record player with Vilma Crosfield. She must have started her 'isolationist at school' thing. It was only yesterday that she said I must be growing bored with her because we are seeing too much of each other. Christine almost bit my head off when I happened to comment that June was ignoring me. (I was simply worried). "You can't bloody expect her to follow you around like a bloody dog", she said. She made me realise I am being childish.

Today we continued our argument on personal opinions. I made some attempt to disagree with abortion but June quashed it with shouts of: "Male chauvenist Pig!" and "horrible fascist". We then ventured onto the subject of the Royal Family, and believe it or not Benita and Linda agreed that the Queen does a very fine job. Linda goes on to say that Her Majesty is "lovely and graceful", an unusual remark from a 16-year-old girl. Despite her provoking, June was really delightful today.

Came home at 5 o'clock. The evening was very pleasant. I walked down to work at 6.50. For some unknown reason I was listless and bored. At 11.30 when everyone had gone, a couple of Sue and Toffer's friends came in. We played records and sang until nearly 3. Toffer used to have a disco and he has about 500 discs from the 1960s. They didn't half call to mind some old memories. Came home after 3. Ate 6 pikelets and fell into bed.

--==--

Saturday March 10, 1973

The Queen's youngest child, Prince Edward, is 9 years old today. A very beautiful, clear, crisp, bird-singing, lung clearing morning! Got up at 10.10. Dad went to work at 11. I decided to go with John to see Leeds United play Everton at Elland Road. John couldn't believe it. I've only been 3 times before with him.

I spent an hour in the garden pruning the roses and then had lunch at 12 which consisted of pancakes which I should have devoured last Tuesday, but Mum had forgotten it was Shrove Tuesday.

At 12.30 Mum and Susan went down the lane to meet Lynn from work and go straight to Bradford for a shopping spree. At 1.15 John I went down to Silverdale Rd to get a lift to Leeds from Geoff Saxton - and we sat with Kathryn and Margaret until he was ready to go at 1.50.
John and I went into the cheap stand at Leeds Utd paying 50p each - phew! I thoroughly enjoyed the match, Leeds winning 2-1. I stood next to a drunk who was shouting: "West Brom for Kings!" If would not have been so funny if Leeds had not been playing Everton! We were home at 5.40 just in time to see 'Dr Who'. Mum and the girls came in ten minutes later. There had been a bomb scare in Darley Street and they had been evacuated out of a shop. Mum came home with something for a change.

At 6.45 set off to work. It was not really busy until 9.30. What a rush! Pauline seems to have recovered from her mad passion for me which is a great relief. We sat with a couple of beers each until nearly 1.30. Toffer brought me home. Everyone asleep in bed. Good night all! Excuse the blob! (Splodge of ink between paragraphs above).

--==--

Friday March 9, 1973

John woke me at 7.20 when he was getting ready for work. But I was quite pleased to be up in good time. Had a little breakfast and came to school on the 8.30 bus. Benita was the only other person there. Christine Braithwaite arrived shortly after and she helped me put the finishing touches to my 'demand and suppy' essay - the mathematical bit. Ughh! She went out last night and didn't manage to start her essay (Monopoly) until 12 - finishing it at 2.30am! I'd have still been scribbling at 4.30 if I'd gone out first. Double Economics was quite enjoyable - believe it or not, and Groves must have told Mr Ayling of my acceptance into college - because he suggested that I do extra economics, much to the amusement of all the others.

At lunchtime June and I went for a walk in the park. Very romantic. The weather is absolutely beautiful. Spring is with us at last. We walked hand in hand back to school. Saw Chid.

In the afternoon Christine and Maggie Edwards gave one of their OAP orgies. June and I were doing nothing for the first lesson and we therfor decided to entertain the old dears. Anyway, it was a good excuse to knock back a few cups of tea. Louise and I were then dragged off to Biology by Mrs Stancliffe. It was a great 2 lessons! We did a question on heredity and disease and the haemophiliac line of the Royal Family. I knew more on this than Mrs Stancliffe did! It was very interesting and made a change from the usual clap-trap about plants and gas.

June and I walked hand in hand to the bus stop at 4.50. I will not be seeing her until Sunday! How awful!

Back to work at 7.30. A terribly long night. Even Sue R admitted that she had never known a night drag on so long. She has asked me to work on Tuesday nights as well as Friday and Saturday - pushing my weekly wage up to £5. They were very pleased to hear I had got into college - so I therefor gave them 4 months notice! Toffer brought me home at 12.15. Watched the end of a film and came to bed at 12.40.

--=--

Sunday March 4, 1973

Quinquagesima. Dad woke me up at 10.30 whilst making Mum her morning cup of tea, but I went back to bed for another hour. Got up at 11.30 to a fashion parade of girls dresses which Muriel Rawnsley had brought round from her Grattan's catalogue orders. Lynn and Sue are certainly preparing for Italy. Went upstairs to dress. Mum was making lunch and smell of roast chicken drifted around the house.

Toffer gave me £4 last night, an extra 50p - for commendable service on Friday night. I was most chuffed. However the extra 50p will not be put to use by me because Lynn celebrates her 15th birthday on Tuesday and I have promised to put 50p in the birthday kitty. Tuesday will also be a very important day politically because Mr Barber, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presents his Budget to parliament in good time for the introduction of VAT on April 1. The Budget is usually near my birthday.

After a superb lunch we all went into the lounge and watched TV. I had a bath - soaked for an hour - and then came downstairs to press my trousers for tonights liaison at the Emmotts.

Tea was upon is once again and I ate it whilst listening to Tom Brown's Top 60 show on the radio. At 7.30 I headed down to the bus stop and was most surprised to see that all the broken windows had been replaced. Got the 8 o'clock 55 and was at the Emmotts by 8.25. June and Janet and June's twin sister Susan were waiting inside. I had quite forgotten what Susan Bottomley looked like. A pleasant evening together. Chris, Christine, Andy and Linda Smith came up at about 10 and then Keith Harrison arrived. Within 20 minutes we had Susan B and Keith "off together". June and I then left them alone and we walked down to the bottom road. June said that Susan hated Keith - having been out with him before. We sat on the seat waiting for the damnable bus. At about 10.55 Chris and Andy and girlfriends came marching past - Chris was all cheesy grins. Susan and Keith followed. They didn't half look funny together. But Susan is such a nice girl, and if I had never met June then she would have made an admirable substitute.
Ah but nobody can replace June.

June's 33 bus came at 11. We bade farewell. Chris was also on board. Keith was over the moon! He's such a fan of Sue Bottomley. Keith and I walked into Horsforth (?) with Dave Pearson, a black chap. I continued to walk home realising I'd missed the last bus. It only took 30 minutes. Arrived home at 11.45. Mum and Dad had just gone to bed. I had some supper and went to bed at 12.20. A delightful evening.

--==--

Friday March 2, 1973

Got up at 7.35. Not at all nervous about my coming interview at Middleton St George. In fact I've grown quite accustomed to having these interviews now. Put on my interview suit, and got a lift into Guiseley with Mum and Dad at 9. I boarded the 55 bus and got into Leeds for 9.50. Looked into a few shops and went to the station at 10.30. My ticket to Darlington cost £1.55. The train left for York at 11.15. Changed at York at 11.55 and got into Darlington at 12.55. My first impression of the college was not a good one. In fact I had doubts I'd come to the right place. The college dates from 1970 and was previously a RAF camp - it still looks like one. What else could it be situated slap bang in the middle of Teesside airport. We began at about 2. The interviewees were separated into 2 groups. Half going to interviews and the other half doing a written test. I started with the test. What a stinker! It lasted 45 minutes. My first interview lasted 35 minutes and was conducted by some sort of college idiot - a decent bloke really. We got talking about family histories and went into length about the Wilson family. He seemed to enjoy it. My second interview was with the head of the History department - a fidgetty, intent, little Welsh chap. He also went on about family history and suggested me doing it for a project if I was accepted at the college. I left at 4.25 and caught a train back to Darlington. After chopping and changing I arrived in Leeds at 6.20. I rang Mum and told her to ring Sue and Toffer to let them know I'd be late. I got home at 7.30. Auntie Hilda, Uncle Tony, Karen, Jill and Diane arrived simultaneously. I had my dinner and Uncle T kindly gave me a lift to the Chuck Wagon at 8.
I have never known it to be so busy. Sue R was almost crying with the deluge of orders which Toffer kept bringing in. On adding up the orders at the end Sue said that they had taken £60 in the one night! You can imagine how I felt at 12.30 - up to my eyes in dirty, greasy dinner plates. At about 1am we all collapsed into the empty restaurant and drank off our exhaustion. Worthington hasn't half grown since our last meeting - his legs especially. Toffer brought me home. Mum and Dad had only just gone to bed. The Gadsbys had left at 12.45. I was utterly exhausted after chasing round all day. To bed.

--==--

Saturday February 10, 1973

Philip Knowles is 17 today. On this day in 1840 Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. Got up at 11.30 the cold winter sun was shining brilliantly. After a small but adequate breakfast I drifted into the lounge and played all the records until nearly 2 o'clock. Mum, who had been at the hairdressers, brought fish and chips home for luncheon. After lunch Mum suggested that Sue, Dad, me and herself should drive down into Otley to do a bit of shopping. However, I put forward the idea that Dad and I could drop Mum and Sue in Otley, and I could then go off for a driving lesson with Dad. All agreed to these suggestions and we set off at 3. I had a most enjoyable lesson and made only one major fault - whilst going up a steep hill on the Harewood road I quite forgot to change gear and stalled the car. However, after an hour in the beautiful countryside Dad could happily say that I had improved greatly on last time - which was sometime in November. I would love to take my test before my 18th birthday. After all, not everyone can say they have passed while they were only 17 years-old.
Home at 5. Had a good tea and watched TV until 6.45. Walked down to the Chuck Wagon at 6.50. Pauline arrived at 7.15. Sue and Toffer were in very good moods all evening, which was the most quiet Saturday I have experienced. Alas, at 10 o'clock the place began to fill up, and bloody drunks - greedy drunks at that - were pouring in at 11.30pm. Pauline was feeling unwell at 11.30 - reduced to tears with a cronic stomach ache. However, by 1am she had recovered quite satisfactorily. At 1am we sat down at the usual table. I had my usual beers (3 in all) and Sue played Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture on the stereo. At the same time Toffer was chopping T_bone steaks to the rhythm of the music. Sue also played the Warsaw Concerto, Dream of Olwen, Cornish Raphsody, and Murder on 10th Avenue. I received my usual £3.50. and retired home in the back seat of Toffer's comfortable car. Mum and Dad arrived home simultaneously from Mum's works orgy at the Troutbeck Hotel, Ilkley. They had enjoyed it very much. They went straight up to bed leaving me alone in the kitchen to make an adequate supper for myself.
I settled on cheese and biscuits and a cup of tea. I sat in the lounge eating my long-awaited supper and reading my Queen Victoria book. I rang Bradford Library this morning in order to renew my books. They were unable to trace my tickets, and told me to bring the books in next week cancelling the fine.

--==--

Saturday February 3, 1973

Susan woke me at noon. The television was at full volume. I made Mum and Dad a cup of tea and when I walked in their bedroom I was momentarily stunned. I had forgotten Mum had changed her hair colour, and the sight of an auburn haired doll in the bed with Dad was something to behold. After lunch of "winter salad" I collapsed in front of the TV.

The paper says that Princess Anne and Mark Phillips are to have an Easter engagement. I doubt very much whether it will be so. Royal marriages usually occur following a very long relationship with a separation endurance test thrown in for good measure. After all, Princess Alexandra and Angus Ogilvy, and the Duke of Kent and Katharine Worsley - were all subject to several years separation. Is it not therefor a surprise that Lieutenant Phillips is being sent to Germany with his regiment until 1975. The Princess however, seems to be a headstrong girl and I doubt whether she'd allow the Queen and Prince Philip to dictate to her.

Things didn't half drag at the CW. Time seemed to stand still until 11.30. But it was very busy. Sue told Pauline that she was being stupid having only the one boyfriend at her age. I quite agree. It's wrong to be tied down with someone at only 16. After this lecture Pauline began chatting me up and making eyes at me. I am unable to fancy her. She is totally sexless, and she talks far too much. Sue found P's attitude most amusing. She kept telling Toffer that Pauline was doing her best to chat me up. June was never out of my thoughts all evening.

Arrived home at 1.30. Supper of cheese and wine, retiring to bed one hour later.

I intend putting £2 from my wage into the Post Office on Monday morning, leaving me with £1.50 on which to go wild with tomorrow. I will most likely need a loan for next week.

--==--

Saturday January 20, 1973

Boring day. John and I went to Leeds in the afternoon. I intended buying a coat, but was unable to find any suitable ones. John bought a pair of Oxford bags for £3.50 - not a bad price. Mine cost £5.50. 

After having lunch in Leeds we browsed around until 3.30. 33 bus back to Guiseley for 4.10. A couple of cars had bumped in the snow on Hawksworth Lane and Dad (who was on duty) invited a couple of the victims to take refuge in our house. When I left for the Chuck Wagon it looked like a refugee camp. Distraught ladies were using our phone to ring garages, etc. 

Approx. 50 people dined at the Chuck Wagon - not bad going. Worthy grows that little bit more every time I see him. Florence has now settled down with him. He was just the same when Webster was a pup. At 1am Pauline, Toffer and myself decided to have a mad half hour in the snow - snowball fight outside the CW. I think Toffer scored the most hits. Me and Pauline did lousy. On arriving home at 1.30 Toffer shoved the stuffed dogs head out of the car window and barked like a dog, at which P and I broke into hysterics. Mum and Dad came to the door in curiosity at the noise we were making. Came to bed at 2am. Hope to revise in the afternoon.

-

Saturday January 13, 1973

Awoke and had breakfast at 11.30am. Had a lazy day listening to records until lunchtime, Watched the television in the afternoon and I especially enjoyed "Dr Who" - one of my favourites since the age of 6. After tea I walked down Thorpe Lane arriving at the Chuck Wagon at 7.30. Things went very busily until 1am. You can imagine how tired we all felt. A couple of drunks kept us waiting until nearly 2am, but at least we had a laugh. Little Worthington is the most pretty dog I have ever seen. Sue is attached to Webster, but I am always absorbed by cute puppies. Sue did not mind in the least when I told her I was having next Friday off. I had told Toffer last night but he had forgotten to tell Sue. He has a memory like a sieve. Arrived home at 2.30am. John was asleep in the chair. I had to awaken him to let me in. Poor boy. He had to sit up all night simply because I did not take my key with me. Susan and Lynn are staying the night with Alison, and Mum and Dad are at Geoff and Lorna Saxton's annual rave-up. They probably won't be home until 4. Mum distinctly told me not to wait up. All Hell will be let loose if I happen to be sitting here when she walks in. I will do a bit of writing before going to bed which rules out the chances of my getting up early in the morning.


=

Saturday January 6, 1973

Epiphany. Mum woke me at 9am with the long awaited letter from Darlington College of Education. They want me to attend an interview on Jan 11th at 9.20. Check the train times and I can't be there until 9.31. I write a letter explaining this trouble.

Denise was in the Airedale and Wharfedale Observer this morning with picture - learning the art of boomerang throwing. I enclose the picture here for posterity. After lunch I went to Bradford Library and the history section and arrived home at 5.15.

Went down to work at 7 and was busy for a solid 2 and a half hours. The evening didn't half drag though. Sue and Toffer were in usual cheery mood as was Pauline, the "sexy" waitress. Incidentally, she's bringing a pack of cards next Saturday so that she, Toffer and I will be able to play a few hands of strip pontoon. Sue says she won't bother because of the difficulties involved in cooking in the nude. I well understand her predicament. Saw little Worthington once again - he tried to tackle a T-bone - he certainly has the right idea. Didn't finish work until 1am. Toffer took Pauline and me home.

==

Friday January 5, 1973

Went to school as usual. Ayling, the economics tutor, was absent again leaving me with a free double lesson. Denise and I went to the chippie at 12.20 and spent £1.06. If that aint inflation I don't know what is. We also went to a shoe shop and I helped Denise choose a pair which she is collecting on Monday. Before his 'absentness' occurred Mr Ayling booked Friday afternoon for the upper and lower sixth to pay a visit to Barclays Bank in Leeds - only the economics group that is. After a fairly interesting afternoon we arrived back at school, Dave and myself that is, where Garth was playing snooker and chatting with Mrs Capstan-Fullstrength. After missing several buses I arrived home at 6.45pm. Went to the Chuck Wagon (restaurant at White Cross) at 7.45. Toffer was knocking back the Bacardis. Only four people were in. Sue (the owner) came down from the flat very excited and told me they had got little Worthington at last. Went upstairs to see him. He's just like Webster. Beagles are the cutest dogs. It wasn't a good night for business - but 4 had to come in at 11.25. That delayed my departure until 12.15. Sue retired at 11.25 and Toffer and I looked after things until closing time. Lynn and Susan were watching a horrible film and I sat with a whisky and soda until it ended. Came to bed at 1am.
Read in the paper that a brawling rabble of anti-marketeers jeered the poor Queen as she arrived at Covent Garden yesterday. Why blame her? It's the MPs who want jeering, not her.

-