Sunday April 28, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

3rd Sunday after Easter

Bacon, eggs. I enjoy Sunday mornings. At 3pm we took Samuel to Pudsey where Hilda and Jill looked after him whilst Ally and I went to Airedale (Hospital) to see Mum.  He wasn't upset when we left and was very interested in Pepper (the Yorkshire terrier). Driving rain and cold.

Mum was asleep and the TV was silent but for the occasional clicking of snooker balls - Steve Davis is at it again. She was soon awake and smiling. Poor Dad looked very forlorn. Mum is uncomfortable and the dripping wound in her tummy doesn't help. She says that in this stay in hospital she has been a coward, and depressed. She seems to think she can return home tomorrow, but it doesn't look likely. She asked to go back to Club Street for some peace, and that the pub 'saw me through the winter'. She added that the bustle, activity, and smells would be too much to endure now. Someone had done her make-up and it looked awful. She looked smudged and dazzling. We left and went back to Hilda's for 6 and on to the Moorhouse. 

Gary worked. Not too busy.

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Saturday April 27, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Samuel's peals of morning chatter woke me at 8 and I left Ally asleep and created a sumptuous breakfast for my boy. We both sat in the kitchen eating bacon, eggs, and fried black pudding. My head was pounding. I did the tills and Samuel played with his toys. Dad phoned at 9am. Mum feels poorly and in some discomfort from the meddling. I worried all day. Samuel and I went into the cellar to look at the bottles. My wife stayed in bed until 3pm. By this time I had also provided my son with lunch - fish. What a little housewife I am. It was a subdued afternoon downstairs. People with red eyes kept coming in and giggling. 

Mum phoned me at 6:30 feeling better. She said she is phoning us all because she doesn't want us to worry. Auntie Hilda phoned them this morning but Mum was too ill to have any conversation, and Hilda came away very upset fearing the worst. It was good to hear Mum's voice.

We both went downstairs at 7. It was Gary Booth's first appearance behind the bar. He did very well. Competent. 21. No trouble. Exhausted tonight. Quiet in the bars. A steady initiation for Gary. Bed at 12.

Gossip: The Hon Carolyn Herbert has become engaged to a bloodstock agent called Warren. She could so easily have become Duchess of York. How very sad. I do suppose that Prince Andrew's future wife is now a podgy 13 year-old schoolgirl at Roedean.

Friday April 26, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Dad phoned this morning to say they arrived safely at Airedale Hospital after a bumpy ride over the tops. Mum was put in room 5 but then moved to room 4 because the TV is better there. They got straight down to it and drew off three pints of fluid from Mum's tummy. He said she was very tired and sleeping. Lynn and Sue are visiting this evening, and we'll have a further report then. Poor Mum. How brave she is. We didn't go out after lunch thinking someone might phone with a bulletin. How depressing. 

Phyllis's thighs: like a Rubens painting.

We went down at 8 and sat with the Egans. Ally phoned Lynn at 11 to be told Dad was all alone at Club Street. I was drinking pints and at 11:30 I bolted the doors and informed all those who were fortunate enough to be on the inside remained inside until the crowing of the dawn cock. The wild orgy of merrymakers consisted of us, Ally and I, Audrey, Maureen, Jean, Margaret, Dougie, David Howard, Geoff, Phyllis, Jerry, Mary, &c. Audrey sneaked out after 5 minutes but everyone else were soon pissed as arseholes. I did my usual stuntman impersonation. Clambering around on the furniture and 'sky diving'  - writhing on the floor with Phyllis, &c. Mounds of naked thigh, like one of those paintings by Titian or Peter Paul Rubens. I really went to town. My pyramid proved highly popular. 

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Thursday April 25, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Very cold. A morning off. Up to Horsforth where we sat in the back of MJM Furnishings with MJM himself supping coffee. Marita came in at 11. They have been looking at hotels in Scarborough. Dropped in on Denise too who is unchanged. She says I am fatter. I am probably 2st heavier since we last met.  On to the Butcher's at 12:30 for lunch. Sam was well behaved and sat with us eating chips. Joined by Ronnie the stock-taker. Rob was in a bit of a dream and we didn't really see him. We went upstairs to see Kath and the baby. He is a bonnie baby - for a change. Recent babies have looked so E.T-like.

To Club St for an hour. Dad took Sam for a walk and I sat with Mum. She was brighter and not in the least frightened about going into Airedale (Hospital). Dad phoned me tonight to say that they are going by ambulance at 9:30 in the morning. I go about my business in a kind of dream world.___________.

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Wednesday April 24, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Sunshine again. Samuel has been cutting some back teeth and is ill tempered and violent. His little red face contorted with rage. I soothed him rubbing whisky on his hard gums, and he was more pleasant afterwards. They must go through such agony. I took him out in his pushchair at 10. I withdrew £50 from the bank to buy various things for the pub lunches. 

See in the DT that Baron von Reibnitz has been cleared of any Nazi atrocities, and was more or less a honorary member of the Waffen-SS. All that fuss for nothing. 

Stocktake. Someone answering to the name Crump came late at 10:45 without our (illegible) and went away at 12 promising to phone us with our stock result this afternoon. He did so. We have a £21 surplus which is good after the £60 deficit incurred by the silly jogging relief (manager). 

At 3:30 we walked up to the local sports centre and took Samuel for his first dip in a swimming pool. He took to the water really well and kicked his tiny legs, but didn't enjoy getting a mouthful of water. A squalid pool really. Dirty and sweaty with open changing rooms. I flash my private little pieces for no one. 

Back at 5 for fish pie. Dad phoned me. Mum is going into Airedale Hospital (Ward 19 again) on Friday. He didn't know how long they might keep her in. We must go to see her tomorrow.

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Tuesday April 23, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Very blustery. Bright though. St George. Lord Carrington and the Marquis of Normanby have got the Garter.Dray came at 9. We shopped until 10. The girl on the counter in the bank is the most moody cow imaginable. Mavis phoned at 10:45 to give her notice. I accepted it. Since meeting 'lover boy' her heart just hasn't been in it. __________. Ally has kept the names and addresses of the people we interviewed last month and at 5:30 I phoned one Gary Booth, and he snapped up my offer of a job. He starts on Saturday. 

(Phoned Dad. Mum has been brighter - but no food).

Our pool team played the Gemini pub tonight and we won. Much of the zest in the squad has gone since Archie's passing. Jim Precious is still very cut up about it. Andy Bowden and Co. came in. We had a quiz. I am quite good and startle the others at my ability to answer silly questions. Such as: Who died in HMS Hampshire in 1916? Kitchener, of course. Name the tallest cathedral spire in England. Salisbury. We really should have a quiz team. Pool is so bloody dull. To bed at 11:30 with a plate of sandwiches.

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Monday April 22, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Samuel was up at 4am squealing and rubbing his gums. His teeth. A letter arrived saying we have a stocktake on Wednesday. Ally and Sam went off at 2 to town to collect my new suit - £70. Not bad, eh? Later I gave a fashion parade - very Prince of Wales - double-breasted.

Went to drive with Karen H at 9. Good. Armitage visited Mum at Club St at 8:30pm. I phoned them at 9:30pm. Armitage told Mum to take water tablets until the weekend and then if the swelling on her tummy hasn't gone down she will have to go into Airedale (Hospital) to have it drained. He, Armitage, bore sad tidings. The surgeon, Mr Hall, who operated on Mum in December, died yesterday. Probably his ticker. Mum took this very bad. Dad repeats how weak she is. I am sure he is expecting the end. I'm blank to it all. ___________.

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Sunday April 21, 1985

 2nd Sunday after Easter

Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II

Moorhouse Inn

The good lady - the Sovereign is 59 years old today. She is celebrating at Badminton House, where the horse trials are in full swing. Horrible anti-blood sport yobbos attempted to disrupt the tranquility of HM's Gloucestershire weekend break. She turned a blind eye to the demo. Good old sov.

Ally is dead to the world. Yet another late night has bumped her off. I was downstairs at lunch and she and Sammy snuggled together in bed. Chicken later. A minor snooze afterwards. 

Phoned Club St. Hilda and Tony visited them this evening._____. 

Mavis's obsession with her strange moustachioed paramour reached its heady climax, and at 11pm instead of washing glasses, she was writhing around the walls in a mad passionate grip. Like a scene from 'Caligula'. Needless to say I had a few sharp words with her about this lapse, and she went away sulking. _________.

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Saturday April 20, 1985

 New Moon

Moorhouse Inn

New Moon? Well, I suppose it will make a change from the old one. I cannot wait to see it. Ally and I were up and out to Bradford and to Linfood, and then she dropped us at Club St and went to the dentist. I sat with Mum and Dad played with Samuel. He is so good at the moment and tries to talk. He points at everything and everything according to Sam is 'dirty'. Mum was attempting to swallow Paracetamol tablets but couldn't get them down and was sick. She is so very weak. Dad attempted to prop her up, and she started to cry. Samuel couldn't understand this and he joined in and wept too, which upset Mum all the more. Dad made me kippers for a late breakfast. ________. To Guiseley at 4. Saw Sue and Co. and then went on to Lynn's for half an hour. I haven't been there since early February. How remiss. 

PM: John, Janette, Jill, Tim, Karen, & Steve appeared. We wanted a quiet night. They all stayed until after midnight. Janette says the baby will be surnamed Rhodes.

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Friday April 19, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

As we suspected cousin Sam has contacted Gt-Aunt Ann, and has, as I also suspected, almost scared her to death. It was wrong of me to pass on to Sam the Kirk's address in the first place and I do feel very guilty. Sam has sent Dad a lengthy, garbled letter mentioning the police force, General Galtieri and the Marquis de Sade. Sounds grim. I suppose I should sent Auntie Ann a grovelling apology. My cousin is expected back here soon to collect a print of a Grandma Rhodes photo. Ally was dead to the world all day. Blame the wine. 

The Waleses have left for Italy - a 17-day extravaganza including an audience with the Pontiff. They are taking a cruise afterwards in Britannia with Princes William and Harry going along too. We are told that Diana is taking 34 new creations on the jaunt. The princess has appointed Viscountess Campden, a RC, to be an extra lady-in-waiting.

I stayed upstairs until 10:45pm. Had fish and chips. Ally, who says she's too fat, demolished a salad.

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Thursday April 18, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn

Audrey and Margaret worked at lunchtime and so we escaped to look at the shops in town. I ordered 'George V' by Kenneth Rose from Austick's. To Royce, who are closing down, where Ally bought me a new grey suit and pullover knocked down from £30 to £15. Samuel appreciates these excursions to Leeds and he waves frantically at all the passing buses and pedestrians. 

Tonight was a late one. We sat with Janet (barmaid) . Ally supped wine with gay abandon. We talked about holidays. Dear Ios. Janet's family come from Jamaica but she refuses to go visit because of the creepy crawly things. 1am finish. To bed pissed. Ally made pie and peas and we left them, festering, on the bedroom floor. Don't Cry For me, Ethiopia.

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