Moorhouse Inn
Busiest ever luncheon. Cleaned the beer lines. Phoned Glynnie. Spoke to Mum at Pudsey. She seemed cheerful. Tony's cousin, a Mr Tunnicliffe, has been killed in a hit and run incident in Stanningley. They looked in on the crash scene, in glorious technicolour, on YTV's 'Calendar'. It ruined luncheon, no doubt.
And so, January has ended.
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Moorhouse Inn
I will be brief because time is running out. Mum and Dad went to Hilda and Tony's for a few days, and Samuel went back into his own room, and we had a good night sleep for once. The boy must object to our snoring. Margaret worked instead of Andy, who worked last night with Maureen. A dead night.
Mum is back in the house where she was born 50 years ago.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds
The snow goes. We went to Tadcaster leaving Mum and Dad babysitting. No sign of Rob and Kath. Donna (Lea) says Kath is in hospital with blood pressure. All the Sam Smiths managers assembled in the sub-zero brewery canteen. The new 'flexi-time' was the main item on the agenda, and we watched a promotional film on a tiny TV set. We then went shivering to the Angel & White Horse. A sycophantic bunch. C__W took the award for the manager with the brownest tongue (re arse licking). David Tyne came to Ally's side and Fran O'Brien suggested suitable restaurants for our supper. We spent some time with Don Whitfield - a nice man. We left at 9:30 and went to Jacomelli's, yet again, and found the place to ourselves, but for a fat, homely waitress called Doris. I got the hiccoughs so badly that the crockery rattled. Pissed as a fart. Home. Samuel had been angelic. To bed.
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Moorhouse Inn
3rd Sunday after epiphany
Snow fell. John came with JPH and Catherine. Janette was at home abed. John had been out at Beau Brummels until 3am. Naughty. Mum was frail. She cannot enjoy children as she once did. Catherine is a wonderful bubbling character and giggles at everything. Mum went to bed and I fell asleep on the settee snoring like a pig ( so I'm told). Later, after John's departure we had lamb and Lynn spoiled things by phoning to say that the roads in Guiseley were bad and that we should not attempt to drive over there this evening. Minutes later Lynn phoned back and said she was only having a panic and that the soiree was still on. Over we went and gathered around the TV set (Lynn refused to switch off). The booze was sparse and we came away at 11 o'clock quite gloomy. ______. Janette looked pale. Fish & chips at Westfield.
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Moorhouse Inn
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| Horton-in-Ribblesdale |
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Moorhouse Inn
My Rhodes grandfather was born on this day in 1901. We had a dreadful day. Mum was very low and remained in bed for the whole day shunning Dad. We felt quite useless. We were very busy and ignored her for most of the time. At 4 we went to Morrison's and did a 'big shop' and I had my hair cut. We came back for a stew but Mum stubbornly refused all food. I went and sat with her and she wept in despair saying she had hoped to see her grandchildren grow up and marry, and then pointing to the door she said referring to Dad: "It's all right for him in there ... he can soon begin a new life .. I have no future." I told her I loved her and held her thin hand but could be of little comfort.
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Moorhouse Inn
Snow. We had a dreadful night. Samuel refused to sleep and took to trampolining upon his bed ________.
Frosty inside and out. At 2pm Ally took to her bed and I didn't see her again. Mum decided that Ally's absence was because she is tired of looking at her weepy, yellow mother-in-law. This is not so. Dad bathed Samuel and I snoozed on the settee through 'Top of the Pops'. Went down at 8 and stood with Audrey and Ann. Margaret and Andy did the bar. I did the till at 11:30 and Ally woke to a crab sandwich. She was still crabby too.
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Moorhouse Inn
Sunshine. Almost spring-like. We didn't get out of bed until 8:45. Ally went to the door to admit Maureen and I dressed Samuel and gave him a Weetabix. Mum stayed in bed, bathed in sunshine, and breakfasted on grilled sausage and tomatoes. Ally opened up at 11 and Dad took Samuel off across the moor and up to Grandways to buy pre-packed boiled ham and sweet and sour sauce (for Mum). Later, Mum broke down finding it impossible to climb out of the bath unaided ____________. Later she spoke of visiting Hilda and Tony for a couple of days next week. Good news because she hasn't wanted to visit anyone since leaving hospital.
Allt took Samuel to his clinic at 3 for his measles inoculation. She was out for hours. Poor Mum agonises over what to eat and at 3 I made her scampi on rice, covered in sweet and sour sauce. She took one mouthful and left the rest. She wept at putting us to so much trouble because Dad had been up Dewsbury Road twice in search of the offensive instant sauce mix.
Watched a slice of history. The (House of) Lords was televised for the first time from 2:30 until 7pm. The TV simmered throughout. Old Lord Stockton made a good speech. I do not know whether I approve. Should TV cameras be everywhere?
Scenes reminiscent of the French Revolution tonight. A tattooed yobbo attempted to assault me but was halted in mid-swing by his girlfriend's father, known only as Jimmy, and known to our own Maureen McNicol. A fight ensued outside, blood everywhere, and at 11pm I was swilling buckets of hot water down the path. Audrey found it great fun. I think she would be delighted to see me on the receiving end of somebody's fist. I seem to avoid personal attacks and have done remarkably well this year.
Moorhouse Inn
Cold and quiet. Dave Glynn phoned tonight but Ally and I were in the cellar, and when we phoned back Lily said that David has some bad news. He came on the blower to tell us that his grandfather died in the early hours of yesterday morning. He'd been right as rain on Sunday and had cooked breakfast as he always did. Dave heard grandad go to the loo after midnight (Dave was watching American football). Lily couldn't wake him in the morning and Dave went in to see him and found him with a smile upon his face, and very much at sleep. That's the way to go. The funeral is on Monday.
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Moorhouse Inn
New Moon
Dad went to Horton leaving Mum at Sue's for the day. We had a stocktake. It was Rob. It is two weeks since the last one. We are £12 down and the loss is in the Old Brewery Bitter. I tip too much away, and certainly cannot return all the spillages to the barrel. Ron stayed to lunch and had the steak and kidney. Discussed 'flexi-hours' which we are going to have pushed down our throats at the coming managers' meeting. The Scottish experiment has been a success. Before becoming a pub landlord I found the licensing laws totally ludicrous for the 20th century, but now I am at the other side of the bar I am undecided. Mum and Dad came back after 8. Mum laughed that it was the latest she's been out since her 'operation'. Mum is worried about Sue's gynaecological problems. She is awaiting a letter from Charing Cross Hospital. It is Lynn's opinion that Susan should have no further children. Pub quiet. Dull pool match. Ally drove Maureen home. I watched Ronald Reagan being sworn in for a further four years. It was an indoor job because of the weather.
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Moorhouse Inn
2nd Sunday after Epiphany
One of those days where we were all tetchy, plans were adrift, tempers flew, &c. To Menston and John's, but didn't get away until after 1pm. We left Mum in bed. Dad looking forlorn with the Sunday Telegraph on his knees. John's new house is filthy. He was very Churchillian in his boiler suit demolishing the kitchen. A podgy JPH was dismantling a spacecraft and watching 'Top of the Pops' videos. I joined him. Apparently, I'd arrived too late to do any work, but had a guided tour. Janette came back from the shops with a giggling Catherine, and Ally played with her on the floor. I sat, almost in a coma, with my coat pulled over my ears, looking out at the snow-capped roofs of Menston. Then on to Lynn's. Had a whisky and watched a Doris Day film. Frances was smacked and put to bed for naughtiness. Poor Katie was flinching and covering her eyes expecting to be similarly punished. At home at 5 Mum and Dad were 'frosty' to say the least and must have had a bad day together. They didn't speak for the rest of the evening, and when they don't speak neither do we. We dined on pork chops. Watched the TV series 'By the Sword Divided'. Not a pleasant evening. Samuel refused to sleep and screeched at regular intervals. Ally was too tired to prepare the food for the pub lunches and went to bed at 10:30. T stayed up bottling and did the till.
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Moorhouse Inn Sunshine. Dad went to Horton to meet a carpet cleaner and telephone engineer. It was a pleasant surprise when Mum appeared in...
