Tuesday November 13, 1984

 Waltergarth, Station Rd, Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Mum stayed in the precincts of Waltergarth leaving Papa to take us to Settle on a shopping expedition. It was of course Settle market day. Mum is very self-conscious about her colour and thinks that Settle is not yet ready for her yellow skin. She is far too soft about illness and doctors. She phoned her quack today for results of a blood test and he told her bugger all, and she has fretted about what he might say for days. It's cruel of them. I have the blackest fears. I am illogical and pessimistic. I blame the twentieth century and the pressures that modern times have imposed on us simpletons. Two hundred years ago I would have been toddling around in a ploughed field without a care in the world and not fretting about gall bladders. Collapsed by the fire tonight. Rest, perfect rest.

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Monday November 12, 1984

 5, Club Street, Lidget Green, Bradford

Veteran's Day Holiday, USA

A wet morning. We pottered about on Duckworth Lane taking money from the Provincial Building Society. Ally was tetchy because a cheque had 'bounced'. We went to Horton-in-Ribblesdale via settle taking three litres of Laski Riesling in a box and chocolates for Mummy. At Horton we were shocked by Mum's appearance. She is very yellow, even to the whites of her eyes, and much thinner. Poor oriental mummy. Dad, dotty as ever, still wearing mum's specs, and magnetic as ever to children. They all adore him. Mum says Lynn has told them that grandparents are absolutely no good for children and that they only disrupt everything that the parents have instilled in them. __________. An evening in front of the TV. Samuel has captivated them and was so jolly this afternoon. That boy will sleep anywhere.

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Sunday November 11, 1984

 5, Club St, Lidget Green, Bradford

21st Sunday after Trinity

Remembrance Sunday

After breakfast we looked in on the Cenotaph. The usual Nimrod, Flowers of the Forest, and parading geriatric veterans of the Somme, &c. It is so touching. Ashamed I haven't bought a poppy this year. 

Phoned Mum again and she was bright and cheerful and insisted we should carry on as normal. She has spoken to her doctor who assured her that Samuel will be in no danger as he is breast-fed. If the doctor is happy then so am I. We have decided to go in the morning. 

My ex-sister-in-law Maria was delivered of a daughter, Sarah Jane, on Guy Fawkes night.

This evening I went and bought a curry take-away bur from the Chinese, and a bottle of Emva Cream sherry from the off-license, and we demolished this ghastly concoction with rellish. To bed tipsy, yet happy.

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Saturday November 10, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

Frank took me to Winchester in the Merc to get me a radio aerial for the car. I was set back £7. F didn't get out of the car at the garage because he was in his work overalls, like Churchill. He is quiet, but so well-meaning. Ally has been infuriated by his behaviour this week. She feels that Samuel has not been fussed over enough. ____________. We cleaned the car, packed and left. Home for 5:45. Phoned Horton to finalise next weeks little venture only to hear that Mum is ill with jaundice and doesn't know whether we should allow Samuel to come into contact with her little, yellow skin. Obviously, the orgy planned for next week is now terminated. Mum was cheerful and connects this latest illness to the gall-bladder trouble of two years ago. We took no time to deliberate, and decide to go see them.

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Friday November 9, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

To soggy Winchester. Took Ally to have her hair done. Outside the trendy music-filled hairdresser she stood, knees knocking, trembling with fear, for some reason. Bessie went off with Samuel and I held Ally's hand as she went inside. They gave her a coffee and I sat watching, reading last Christmas's Vogue. We emerged after an hour. Ally looking like a glamour girl. _________. Tonight we had a drink with F & B and watched a documentary on the life of Billie Holiday, the black jazz singer. What an exxceptionally dreary voice she had.

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Thursday November 8, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

Full Moon

_____________. To Basingstoke of all places. Bloody concrete. Bought a few more presents include Johnny Mathis's awful biography for mummy. 

(Large redaction).

Tonight at 9 Ally and I went to the Bush at Ovington where we cringed at the prices. A pint of Stella Artois is £1.06. A fog from the river. Home at 11. Supper with F & B.

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Wednesday November 7, 1984

Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

We were up at 7am. Ally splashing violently in the bath. I lay in bed listening to the news of President Reagan's much predicted victory. My knowledge of US politics is nil though with my temperament I tend to side with the sitting chief executive of whatever political colour. I do not feel comfortable with upheaval.

Rack & Manger.

After breakfast we took Bessie to Bournemouth where Samuel had his first view of the sea. He didn't enthuse.We then headed for the shops buying Christmas presents from 10am until 3. Samuel was an angel sitting in the seething restaurant of the British Home Stores, large eyes, feet straight out in front, watching shoppers devouring fish and chips at £1.49. Bessie did very well on her padding around on her feet for so long. After all, she is 62.

At home tonight we put the Bear to bed and decided to go out for a drink. Ally in a very wicked mood. We went to the Rack & Manger at Crawley, where the lager was warm and then we drove around the country lanes in search of a pub for half an hour without success. Villages with pretty thatched cottages, but no pubs. Home after one at the Plough.

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Tuesday November 6, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

Election Day, USA

We went into Winchester for an hour to give Samuel his constitutional and came back to view the State Opening of Parliament on TV. Nothing drastic announced from the throne. Buses are to be privatised. Out again after Samuel's lunch. Bessie went to her art class. We bought F & B a pot hare at Border Fine Arts for £28 as a joint Yuletide offering. Samuel howled and insisted on being carried. He is such a smiler. We went home for toasted tea cakes and more regurgitated episodes of 'Dallas'. You have no idea what this mundane domesticity is bringing us. Margaret Hillier came in with Bessie. She is 6ft and dark. Samuel went hysterical. We dined on an enormous dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding - the three of us. Frank came in at 8 in a jolly mood. 90,000,000 Americans go to the polls today to re-elect President Reagan. I do hope so.

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Monday November 5, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

Sunshine. Graham and Gill were up and off at 9. Gill to the Isle of Wight and Graham to Wimbledon and his latest suspended ceiling project.  

Salisbury Cathedral.

After hours of deliberation we went to Salisbury to show Sammy that fine ecclesiastical erection, but he slept throughout. The shops are the same as in Winchester, only fewer. Back for afternoon tea and 'Dallas' repeats on the telly. Received a cheque for £200 from John for the Lanzarote holiday. Good. I sent him a cheque back for £36.50. We sat tonight and ate stew with Bessie. Frank is on business in Guernsey until tomorrow. Ally's mood is better, thank God.

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Sunday November 4, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

20th Sunday after Trinity

Ally is angry about her Mum and Dad's attitude. It seems that they make such a fuss over visitors from France and Frank's associates, but when family turn up they carry on almost as if we are invisible. Frank spends a lot of time in his office. I try helping by saying this is the way they are, but it doesn't really pacify her. Graham and Gill, I think a bit tetchy that the dog has been banished, went off to see Michael Lynn. I sat sneezing and gasping on the sofa reading the Sunday papers. 

Lady Joanna Knatchbull married her French baron yesterday in the presence of HM and Prince Edward. Recently, the Hon Michael-John Knatchbull, son of the Brabournes, became engaged to Melissa Owen, a judge's daughter.

Graham and Gill came back later. They went to join Michael Lynn at the Baker's Arms, but we didn't join them and were in bed by 10:30. 

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Saturday November 3, 1984

 Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas

The River Itchen.

A rotten day. Bright, but nippy. Up at dawn because Samuel hadn't slept soundly and instead of lounging in front of the TV watching Mrs Gandhi's funeral pyre Ally decided we should go in to Winchester. I tried to stress that a world leader is not cremated in public every Saturday morning. She just sniffed her indifference. To town we went leaving Samuel in the capable hands of Grandmama. We went and bought Matthew a pullover and returned to see the smoke engulfing the VIPs in Delhi. The PM and Princess Anne sat together. Much maligned women, they are. Out in the sun with Samuel. We pushed him down to the river, walked through Easton and back to Chillandham Cross. Graham and Gill arrived after 12 and I was immediately incapacitated by Tara the dog and went into a bronchil attack which lasted for the duration. I was so bad that by 3pm I took paracetamol and took to my bed. The poor dog was banished to the utility room. We dined on turkey, which I didn't enjoy, and went to the Plough afterwards where I wheezed and gasped over everyone. Drank brandy alternating with pints of lager. Saw Neil. We haven't laid eyes upon him since he crashed through the garden fence after a surfeit of pernod in 1979. He is a rugby player. Today is Graham's birthday, but you wouldn't think so. Very low key.

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