Friday October 28, 1983

Janette.

 Sunny. The return of the stocktaker. Ron, the scruff, came at 8:30. Hes says he drove from Tadcaster in half an hour. He spent a few hours with us and then went to do the Eston Hotel returning at 1pm to conclude. His microcomputer, which adds the lot up on site, was on the blink but before he left at 3 he said we probably have a slight surplus. A great relief. Ally feels down in the dumps and now wants to go home. Our stay here is now a strain for her. She brightened at the arrival of Frank and Barbara Makin with Fiona, who stayed a couple of hours in a corner listening to the cursing, the effing and blinding. Barbara was most concerned and commented how brave we must be. Our little bridesmaid is now a great, big, strapping woman wearing eye make-up. Doesn't time fly? Maurice came in wearing the full Mackenzie tartan gear and bored the pants off everyone. Frank seemed to know more about Scotland. Ally went off to Thornaby after Frank and Barbara's departure (they went to Stainton for lunch) and I stood supervising the hideous ______, who no doubt has her hand in the till at every available opportunity. She has a six year-old son, Robert, who wears an earring. This evening Janette phoned to say thy wanted to come up and sure enough they walked in at 9 o'clock. We sat after time in the empty lounge and sipped exotic drinks at £3 a round. ___________. They recently went back to Lochans and visited the children at Corner House Cottage. John says JPH is like me, and Catherine like her mother, but that Hannah is the image of our dear Papa. Maria now has long, permed hair and works in an asylum. Janette asked to see the wedding album. Libby is to marry a man with a degree from Shrewsbury. To bed exhausted at 1am.

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Thursday October 27, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Merde alors, what a place. Thursday evening is here once again and the usual 'electric' atmosphere hangs over the place. Very sinister. A man called Maurice Mackenzie has asked me to join the freemasons. He says he shook hands with the Queen at Middlesbrough Railway station when she was only a girl. Taffy says Maurice is a 'Walter Mitty'. You name it and he's done it. Tommy Harker says Maurice isn't really a Scot and that he's really one Maurice Pepper, who changed his name by deed poll, and went out and bought the full Scottish national gear for £20. Last year he was arrested for 'flashing' at schoolgirls. Tommy, clearly, is vindictive. Ally, fed up with Maurice, went upstairs after 10, after a few pineapple drinks. Tommy had been reading her palm and told her that she would only ever have one child, a daughter. Silly old fool. The staff are so miserable, and the atmosphere far from jovial.  Roll on November 7.

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Wednesday October 26, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Hungover. A dreadful lapse on my part ________.

Mum and Dad were up at 9. We went to the bank at Thornaby leaving them reading yesterdays newspapers and basking in the morning sun which floods through the upper bay window. The Americans have invaded Grenada, where the Marxist PM was recently done in. Grenada is a sovereign state in the Commonwealth and HM is head of state and because of this the Queen has been dragged into the furore. Another blow for Mrs T and her team. Sir Geoffrey Howe strikes me as being something of a lightweight. Ronald Reagan has really 'muckied his ticket'. The ghastly Margaret MacMahon came in. We kissed Mum and Dad goodbye and off they went to Guiseley to see Sue and Lynn. We will go to Horton next month when our tenure here expires. Now that we know we are leaving it cannot come soon enough for either of us. The very thought of Christmas at the Why Not sends paroxysms of horror through my being. I'd sooner spend Christmas in Beirut or Kabul. Mum and Dad went off after 11. I am now sitting watching the builders at work on the Barratt's housing estate across the road. When will all this useless building cease? Surely Britain has enough houses without having to fill up all the remaining green fields? __________. Goodnight.

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Tuesday October 25, 1983

Rudd's Arms, Marton.

Why Not, Hemlington

We plunged and in the bath. Prepared for Mum and Dad's arrival. Sue Benton was working this morning and we left her to her own devices in the bar. The pub was deserted early on with only the simple window cleaner, Derek, drinking. Mum and Dad came just after 12 looking fit and well. We sat in a corner whispering them the news of recent events. They see the brewery as a big, wicked organisation and that we should 'tell them where to go'. They are both pleased and relieved that we will be back in Bradford soon and view Sam Smith's very suspiciously. Mother's motto is 'Trust Nobody' and they even view Roy Barnes as a brewery spy. We sat until evening and then decided to go to the Rudd's Arms for a steak. We went at 6:30 to Marton in Mandy Metro. We found a pleasant corner and had large dinner. Mum and Dad are thrilled about Sue. That's grandchildren number seven and eight in the pipeline. The Bakers haven't been to Horton since July _______. 

Dad and I drank too much and Ally was worried that I was going to be legless back at the Why Not. Back at the pub it was very quiet. Some of the customers seeing me entertain my parents suggest that it might be a crime to be drinking in my own public house. Mum, Dad and Ally went upstairs and I joined them at 11:15 after ridding the pub of the opinionated, moronic idiots. Why are are all the customers in the back bar toothless? Some of the lower classes are despicable, and although I am only working class myself I certainly don't class myself with the lowest of the low. We all sat together in the bedroom and drank cocoa. Dad slumbered in an armchair and I pegged out on the bed.

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Monday October 24, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Up early. Phoned Tadcaster. Fran O'Brien is on holiday and I spoke to a brisk David Tyne and made an appointment to see him at 4:30. Ally and I worked from 11 till 3 with no staff. Brenda agrees to open up for us at 6 whilst we are seeing the chief. To Tadcaster at 3:30 ten minutes late. Found Tyne in consultation with Les Gledhill, who is clutching our Cheshire Midland letter. They are both astounded that we should want to take on a pub at this stage of Ally's pregnancy and both agree that we haven't thought it through properly. Tyne brushed aside the stock problem saying it is the least of our worries. He rushed off to another meeting saying he'll discuss it further. However, it does look as though we'll be laid off from November 7 until after the baby is here. Gledhill is appalled by Fran O'Brien's letter and says it isn't the sort of letter that he, or any other area manager should send. He says we need help and not hinderance. Les was genuinely infuriated at F.O'B. I asked both men whether it would be bye bye and good riddance from November 7 and they both said that the company is a caring one and that we have done a good job at the Why Not and will not be cast aside. We will have to wait and see what happens in the New Year. So, it looks like the solitude of Club Street until the Spring. Whatever happens we are determined to have a pub eventually. Home for 7:15. Phoned Sue. Yes, she's pregnant and expects in late May. She is seeing Dr Glass next week and Peter won't be happy until then. Mum phoned to say they are coming tomorrow to cheer us up. We went to bed entirely happy.

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Sunday October 23, 1983

 21st Sunday after Trinity

British Summer Time ends

The Why Not, Hemlington

Winter is upon us. We lay abed and discussed our problems. Even if we pay the ultimate price because of the stocktakes it will have been well worth it. We have now experienced enough to tackle anything. We have not lost out. We had breakfast in a brighter mood. _______. Sunday is always a pleasant day in the pub. The afternoon was especially relaxed. We made a corned beef hash and phoned our mothers. Frank and Barbara Makin are at Winchester and they all went to Coleford yesterday. Matthew is blond with curls and almost toddling. Phoned Horton. Dad is better and back to his normal self. My cousin Stephen was married yesterday. All Mum's brothers and sisters were present. __________. Sue, Pete, Christopher, Jim and Margaret, John & Janette are at Waltergarth for a luncheon party and I spoke to Sue who was whispering and giggling. She is seeing a doctor tomorrow and may have some good news. Dr Glass told them not to try for another baby until Christmas. Have they waited long enough?  She sounded thrilled. Spoke to John. He's starting in business tomorrow with his friend Steve as Rhodes and Ettenfield. He'll have a Rolls Royce yet. You wait and see. Busy night. Bed.

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Saturday October 22, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Marie is stunned by the way the brewery have failed to support us . Margaret MacMahon should have gone because without her disruptive influence the others would have obeyed us. Frost. We awoke to a crisp frost and an equally frosty letter from Fran O'Brien telling us to correct our stock deficiency and asking us to contact him should we require any assistance. This was posted yesterday when we were in the middle of the staff crisis and he knew then that were attempting, on his advice, to solve the problem. It proved too much for Ally who sat propped up in bed crying with the crumpled letter upon her baby bump. I was white with rage and threatening to resign before suffering such a blow again. F.O'B now goes off on holiday for a week and so we decide to phone David Tyne on Monday to seek an audience of him to tell him our problems. We worked alone 11-3:30. We drove to Linthorpe for fish and chips and ate them in Mandy. We took a loaf of bread with us to make sandwiches. Called on Roy at 5:30 who gave us tea and a lecture. He asked us to play it cool and to resign before they have the opportunity to sack us, should it come to it. He was very good. We bought change from him for the bar. As we left he looked at Ally and called 'a proud little thing'.

Hemlington really is a God forsaken place.

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Friday October 21, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

We arranged a staff meeting to which all our pathetic bar staff came to disrupt and create chaos. The meeting began at 10:30, and as we suspected Cath C withdrew her resignation and was sacked. Others followed and within minutes we had no staff and I was left to work alone in a busy bar. The girls, looking every inch like Leyland activists, arranged a meeting in the lounge bar and phoned the press. They were all outside posing for a press photograph beneath the Why Not sign. Ally was upstairs handing out dismissal notices like Margaret Thatcher & when she came downstairs she looked taut and washed out. We then barred all our former staff from the premises and took the phone off the hook to prevent them speaking to the News of the World. 

Shock. Horror. Fran O'Brien phoned like a timid New Zealand White rabbit saying they, the powers that be at the brewery, have had a re-think and 'can you please re-instate all those who have been sacked.' A complete U-turn, and we have only ever acted on the advice of Sam Smith's. I went down the road to see Brenda who was wailing on her settee. Ally phoned Chris Potton, where all the others were gathered for a war council, and the cheers went up as they took victory. This evening they were all back and we were thoroughly humiliated and feeling very let down by the brewery.

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Thursday October 20, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Ally phoned the brewery to enquire about the procedure for sacking staff. She got through to David Tyne who, in the absence of Fran O'Brien, put her on to a Mr Brown in personnel. He said he would ring back, but didn't, and therefor our viper arrived for work this evening and we did nothing. Ally gave Cath C a warning and she immediately said she will tend her resignation tomorrow. Good. The little Welsh punter Taffy (ex army?) chatted about large spiders in the desert. Apparently he's eaten snake stew. He gave me some Wilbur Smith novels. A horrible atmosphere of suspicion and hate hangs over the place. The place was electric. Ally went to see Dr Ruffett and all is going extremely well. No high blood pressure. Baby is in the correct position and is the correct size. Ally remains under 9st. She made another appointment for next month, but just where we'll be  I shall not hazard a guess.

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Wednesday October 19, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Wet, but bright. Late last night a large paving stone was hurled through the lounge window. Fortunately, it came through the glass panel that was cracked in the last serious fracas, and the brewery had it fixed today. A strong wind blew. We phoned Marie who came at 10 to discuss the staff/stock. Our bad apple is obviously ________. Marie agreed to come back at 2pm and spy on the staff whilst we go to Thornaby and the bank. This she did. However, both she and Mags were recognised by Dave the baker, who told Margaret MacMahon, and it created a terrible, dismal atmosphere. All eyes were fixed on Marie and her large Bacardi. We came back to find a busy pub, an angry barmaid, and a builder putting in a new window. Sat with Marie and Mags afterwards and M advised us to sack Margaret tomorrow before she starts work and rouses the others to disaffection. _______. More warnings were given out tonight.

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Tuesday October 18, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Alison has taken to giggling hopelessly and helplessly like I've never heard or seen before. It must be a combination of the pregnancy and this mad house. So charming to see her throbbing on top of the bed like a hippopotamus. Our cheerfulness was quashed by Fran O'Brien this afternoon who, having heard of our stock result, phoned and asked us what we are going to do about it. I told him we'd give the staff the hard word and this evening as they arrived Ally took them aside and gave each one a verbal warning. Margaret MacMahon flew into a temper, Brenda Brook appeared baffled and expressed sorrow to us, and Christine Potton was her usual blank self. I'm trying to work out which one Agatha Christie would make the villain. Ally always good in these instances. Later I brawled with a drunken Irishman who tried to floor me, unsuccessfully.

# Brenda, Chris and Margaret - verbal warnings.

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