Wednesday October 6, 1982

 I am resolved to take the day off. Ally phoned the AHA to say she was having the day off as a strike day [today is a TUC day of action]. She phoned Sarah to say I wouldn't be in because I have a cold. I have really landed the YP in it. It will be Hell. Carol J is off, and of course Margo is in Paros with her lover. 

Steve O'Connor, a roofing contractor, came and climbed around on the roof. He says he can make repairs for £12 a square yard instead of the usual £20, and says a new roof, which is needed, will cost us £500. 'Why not apply for a council grant?' he says. Ally phoned and they say we could possbibly have a 90 per cent grant but that there is a long waiting list. We'll wait. Painted the front door. St David, the patron saint of central heating boiler systems, paid a visit and dispelled our fears. He didn't think the system needed draining and came back at 7 with Jean [Watts], and made a poultice [is that sic?]. He says Ally is a born worrier. He is quite right of course. We looked at impressive photographs of Switzerland. I am also taking tomorrow off too to supervise the laying of the new carpet.

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Tuesday October 5, 1982

 Awakened at 6:35am by a loud and irritating knocking at the door. Threw on a pullover and staggered downstairs to find the postman with a parcel, which proves to be a chunk of Frank and Bessie's Pearl Wedding cake. Ally was fuming. This put her in a black mood. I went down and boiled eggs, leaving her boiling in the bath.

Karen is 23 today. MM will also be celebrating in his furniture shop. The day that began badly grew steadily worse. Mum and Dad arrived this evening and while putting back a radiator we discovered yet another leak. We have rain which pours in through the roof too. Life here resembles the Poseidon adventure. Mum isn't well and has a burning sore throat which got steadily worse as the night went on. Dad and I took up the lounge carpet and fit it upstairs in the small bedroom. My heart and soul wasn't in it. They left at 12:30.

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Monday October 4, 1982

 Wet beginning, warm middle, and sunny end. My bus was full of tarts, and has been so for over a week. Five of them on the back seat were talking very loudly about mens bottoms, and having sex in public conveniences. Most disturbing. Young, but with coughs like old women, with dyed hair. What has become of the English rose?

Sat with The Times. Another KG has died. The premier English baronet Sir Edmund Bacon. That is three vacancies now. 

Phoned David Middleton at 10. He came at 6 and to our relief he immediately said he would replace the cracked sink. I have been blaming myself.

The Queen has sailed off to some South Pacific islands, the last bits of the Commonwealth yet to be visited by Her Majesty. She's doing the closing of the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane first. No monarch in the history of the world has travelled as extensively as the present Queen.

Prince Claus, husband of the Queen of Holland, has lost his marbles, and has been locked in an asylum. He's due here next month for a State visit, or perhaps a Strait visit [i.e. strait jackets, etc] Aren't I a wit?

Chicken. Ally ironing. Bed after 11. We are staying up too late. Phoned Mummy and sugegsted a visit to Stockport on Oct 12.

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Sunday October 3, 1982

 17th Sunday after Trinity     Full Moon

Opened my eyes expecting to feel ill, but didn't. Painted in the kitchen all day. Lynn, David and Frances called in for coffee on the way to Richard and Mandy's. Ally was annoyed because they are always on their way somewhere when they visit us. _________. Frances, in a knitted suit looked very 'Bakery', yet sweet. She has big teeth. Laid cushion floor covering in the kitchen. Chicken at 8:30. Hung pictures. Watched Olivier's 'Three Sisters' by Chekhov, and felt stupid because I couldn't understand it. Bed after 12.

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Saturday October 2, 1982

Definitely feel 'off it'. Hot, sweaty, and getting a cold as sure as God makes little apples. Struggled in to town with sweet Ally. The curtains were not ready. Bought wallpaper and my last tin of apple white matt. Home at 2 and papered the kitchen until 6. Ally screamed in horror. The sink, not eight weeks old, has cracked. I could commit murder. Seven thousand pounds for a knackered old kitchen sink. Depression. Fish pie. Stayed up late. Ally baked cakes and buns. Watched Olivier in 'Rebecca'. Bed. Unwell.

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Friday October 1, 1982

 Cold, even frosty. Margo went off at 4 on a 2-week holiday with a mystery friend. Sarah and Carol were almost purple with inquisitiveness. That is if in fact inquisitiveness does make one purple. Mauve perhaps. 

Corn on the cob and a luscious lasagne. [Ah, but first we walked to Comet, in our matching plum coloured jackets, to look at freezers, without actually buying one]. Felt tired. Watched TV. Bruce Forsyth either dyes his hair or wears a hideous wig. 

Have I told you about Andrew? _________________.

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Thursday September 30, 1982

 John P.H. is six today, God Bless him. Mum and Dad came home from Scotland and phoned this evening. Baby Hannah is beautiful, but add little else. Maria bumped into Janette in Stranraer _____________.

Ally was slumped upon the settee looking very weak. Ate fish and chips. Brewed beer. She made a cushion cover from an old skirt. Looks good. I shouldn't refer to her as 'she'.  Watched Robert Powell in the film 'The 39 Steps' - poor. Give me Robert Donat any day. Life is so busy. I love this journal but do not think I am giving it my all. No time, you see.

At 10 the phone rang and I thought it was Papa but no it was his brother, John, in Lanzarote. [Sheila too was on the extension]. They asked Ally and I to go stay with them. All we need is a flight. It was so good hearing him. He has fond memories of my visits to Windsor, and I have the same. It's ten years since the Duke of Windsor was lying-in-state and I paid my first visit to Clewer Fields. To bed excited. I'm sure Ally will love them.

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Wednesday September 29, 1982

 Sunny, yet blustery. Refused to climb out of bed. Ally did. Odd how we take turns 'lying in'.My bus to Leeds was full of trendy students and it irked me having to queue to get on. YP brisk and efficient. Said very little and packed in at 12.

Was Lady Mary Lygon a friend of Evelyn Waugh? She's dead anyway. 

Home for 12:40. The traffic lights had failed all over Bradford. Ate a bit of cheese and spent the afternoon 'glossing' the radiator and skirting board. I'm unhappy about it. I was distracted by the ghastly Labour party conference from Blackpool, on BBC2. As I daubed paint I spat with rage at the likes of Dame Judith Hart and Arthur Scargill. The conference is a complete and utter farce, and to think they seriously believe they will form the next government. Ally phoned and we agreed about nothing. She came home at 6 and we ate dreaded macaroni cheese. A gas man came and cut off our non-approved gas fire. It's leaking somewhere. It will cost us £15 to have it mended. Mary Moore, over the road, was having a Tupperware party, and later we watched old ladies doing a conga dance down the street.

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Tuesday September 28, 1982

 What you want is good solid details of Yorkshire life in 1982, but I cannot remember anything worthwhile to record today. A cosy, pleasant evening with my precious wife. Watched an Agatha Christie play on ITV and supped cocoa.

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Monday September 27, 1982

 Up and out leaving John and Janette in bed. Phoned Mum. _________________. They are going up to Scotland in the morning. ___________. 

Sunday September 26, 1982

 Bacon and eggs for breakfast. Didn't feel too bad considering. Over to Burley in W in John's gleaming car and had drinks with Lynn and Dave at the Malt Shovel. Janette is too quiet, but sweet.  _________.

Wine at Lawn Rd, and then back to Bradford at 4. John went to bed and Janette sat with Ally and I talking. She told us that Maria is furiously saving to marry Alec, and that the wedding will take place in the garden at Corner House Cottage, if a licence can be obtained. Janette is of course Alec's niece. __________.

Out at 8 to the Old Ball at Horsforth, full of posers. On to the Black Bull, and then the Fire Brigade. We left at 9:30, as Ally was exhausted. Sweet and sour king prawn. Bed.

Graham phoned at 11. I was a bit pissed and thought Gill must have delivered.

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