Thursday July 12, 1984

 Bank Holiday in N. Ireland

Moorhouse Inn

Disgusting hangover at dawn. We woke at 6:30 when the cook banged on the door of our old room (No. 8). Bless her, she cooked us a breakfast of salty bacon and rubbery eggs. We ate alone and I passed everything on to Ally's plate. Felt ghastly. Left at 7 without seeing anyone. The dear Linnie - what memories. However, in the early hours I had gone up to bed, almost in tears, about Roy avoiding me. Or so I told Ally. I blame the brandy. Dancing with Marie to 'Two Tribes' by Frankie Goes to Hollywood was great fun. Back in Leeds for 8:30. My eyes like cherries. Felt awful all day. Serving food was a torture. I spewed up at 2:45 and went down with carrots in my hair to call last orders. Really shocking. Ally was angered and upset at my inability to fight off my hangover. She buzzed around as if we hadn't been up all night. Just Karen tonight. Margaret has gone to her brother's wedding in Kent. Not to chaotic.

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Wednesday July 11, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

The Linthorpe.

To the Linthorpe Hotel this afternoon. We thought it had all been planned but we arrived at 4pm to find Roy in bed and Marie watching the racing on TV with a look of great surprise upon her face. She put the blame on the dog. Saxon, the ageing, vicious alsatian, is dying of a liver complaint, and William Barnes, the vicious, juvenile son, is on the loose again after assaulting Charlie. Roy came in wearing his vest and we had tea and biscuits and gossiped about LG and F.O'B. Samuel sat wide-eyed. We are told that Mags and Michael Gaskin are unofficially betrothed. We had drinks in the garden and then in the lounge. Crowded with revellers. Became quite legless. Lager and brandy do not mix. Giggled with Marie and Mags and did my usual dead miner lying on the picket line routine. Sore elbows. Ally slept with Samuel from about 11. To bed pissed after 2am. Depressed for some reason.

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Tuesday July 10, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

Koo Stark.

Koo Stark is engaged to the Green Shield Stamps tycoon. She looks like a little _____, and I heave a sigh of relief that Prince Andrew didn't go too bananas and marry her. The gutter press says that Prince Philip put paid to Andrew's aspiration for Miss Stark's hand. Norman Parkinson's chatty wife says that the Duke of Edinburgh's 'Germanic' upbringing is the cause of the Andrew-Koo split.  Oh dear.

Jane again. Westminster Abbey is still standing, -- but watch this space.

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Monday July 9, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

York Minster has burned down early today. - No doubt an act of God following the consecration of David Jenkins as Bishop of Durham in that fine old erection last week. The place will now be covered in scaffolding for the next 300 years. On the news we saw Dr Runcie, in a tin helmet, knee deep in debris.

Liver and onions. Busy. Ally came down to the bar at 10 o'clock. Jane seemed happier but I tell Ally we'll be saying goodbye to Miss Tudor soon. 

Sammy sits on his own - his sturdy back bolt upright.  He also holds his own spoon and rubs apricot mush into his face.

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Sunday July 8, 1984

 3rd Sunday after Trinity

Moorhouse Inn, Leeds

An afternoon at Club Street. Went to see Annie Whincup in her garden and then to Mary's. She's 70 tomorrow. Samuel sat farting upon her settee. Dog tired. Our little house looked well. We phoned people. Bessie was much happier than last week. _____. Graham has been promoted to the London area and wants to commute from Basingstoke. At least they'll be closer to Bessie. Phoned Mama and then Susie. They leave West End Terrace this week. Peter was watching Wimbledon - Connors v. McEnroe. 

Tonight: Jane was morose.

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Saturday July 7, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds

Hot. They (the mad punters) were all out in force. Didn't go downstairs in the afternoon and Audrey and Margaret ran around like idiots. Our busiest night tonight. 

News: The miners strike goes on. Matthew Dixon (the alcoholic Scot who hails from Blairgowrie) says that Scargill is ordered by Russia to disrupt British industry. He (Scargill) won't get the better of Mrs T, I'm sure. Dixon says he was the 'under gardener' for Lady Fitzwilliam but resigned in a fit of boredom. 

Deceased: Lord Adam Granville Gordon, KCVO.

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Friday July 6, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

Too hot. Worked flat out all day and in the tiny gaps in between we sat panting upstairs. A girl posing as a police woman, we've seen her before, came in tonight causing trouble. Undoubtedly a lesbian. Fisticuffs on the moor, &c. She will have to go.

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Thursday July 5, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds

Excessive heat. Stocktake by Ronnie. We have a £41 surplus, but Ronnie says it should be more now that we have the smaller pint glasses. Samuel screamed all day and we were frantic with lunches. The kitchen was like an inferno. Our customers were all sat around naked outside. The grass on Hunslet moor is all dead, &c. We read of drought and famine in the Daily Telegraph. Ronnie the stocktaker doubled as a babysitter during the mad furore over the lunch period. He says that the brawl last week is now common knowldege at brewery, and that both will be reprimanded. Oliver (Smith) has been informed. He thinks I will come out of it badly because I know too much, but Ally disagrees. FO'B was 'nice as pie' at the meeting at the brewery on Monday. We shall see. 

To the dentist at Rawdon at 4. No treatment necessary again. Yippee. On to Sue's afterwards to discuss Lanzarote. She was very agreeable. Benjamin, overdressed, was sweltering in his pram. Lynn and Dave go to Wales tomorrow with Chris and Julie. Home at 6:30 Busy. Karen phoned in sick. Ally came down to work too. Samuel flat out after yesterdays nightmare.

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Wednesday July 4, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

John & Sheila.

Hot. To Horton we go this afternoon to see Mama, Papa, John & Sheila. They are the same as ever, but Mum was in a queer mood, and antagonistic at times. No amount of persuasion will make Mum fly. Sheila tells us she'll be 47 on August 16. We told them we want to go (to Lanzarote) in January and John says he has a good villa near the beach at Puerto Del Carmen. How about January 17? Dad went into his 'clown mode' which entertained his brother, but annoyed mother. He isn't a clown by nature, and really should be an MP instead. It's Charlotte (Smith) birthday and of course American Independence Day. Think of Ios in '81. We dined at 8 after an afternoon in the garden. Chicken salad and meringue with strawberries. Hikers staying at Waltergarth were watching TV and I pretended that they were disturbing me. Sheila says that I am sensitive. Home very late. Samuel was disturbed and refused to sleep, and was awake until dawn.

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Tuesday July 3, 1984

 Moorhouse Inn

LG phoned again to discuss the incident of last Thursday. He says he has every confidence in me and that we could do the job standing on our heads. I told him that I regret losing him. He says we will meet again. Very Vera-Lynnesque. 

Completely dead. The pub that is. Jane is a miserable little tart. Can't think why we ever employed her. Big Brian was in. Frank refers to him as a 'shit-pusher', which I take to mean homosexual. Come to think of it Brian is always in with spiky haired youths barely out of school. It's been very hot, but obviously not hot enough to give the buggers a thirst.

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Monday July 2, 1984

 Bank Holiday in Canada

Moorhouse Inn

Very hot. Brewery meeting. I decided to keep a low profile and despatched Ally instead. Ordinarily I'd have gone with Rob (Piper) but he's in Portugal. Ally went off at 5 and came back at 9:30. It was the usual event. Ally was placed between Colin Black and Fran (O'Brien). She says F.O'B was disgustingly cheerful. No sign of LG. We are blessed with a pay rise. I now get £7,440 per annum. The group adjourned to the Angel and White Horse where Ally was stuck with Pirie and Chris Wills. She was back at 9:30 cheerful and 'full of it'.

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