Wednesday August 20, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds

August 1986:

Back to the pub in early August totally exhausted and yes depressed despite the arrival of our beautiful daughter. Over-tired, over-worked, under-paid, &c. We saw Leslie Gledhill at the brewery (Aug 11) and got it into our heads that the Menston Arms was ours. I visited the BRI regarding my allergies and we lunched several times at the Menston Arms. Samuel was accepted at nursery (on Hunslet Hall Rd) and Dermot visited us (Aug 27).

-=-

Tuesday August 19, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

This journal is now closing down until next year, I wish all my readers a comfortable and prosperous year.

Goodnight.

National Anthem.

Monday August 18, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Sam and Clemmie.

Cold and wet. I went out after breakfast to do the banking and some shopping but forgot the cash and had to come back for it. No bloody petrol in the car either. Samuel was delivering a hell-fire ultimatum to old Anne (the cleaner). His favourite expressions at the moment are "boggerts" no doubt a derivation of bollocks and buggers, and "sod" remains a particular favourite. We think it perhaps best to ignore these gross acts of anti-social naughtiness. He was particularly abusive in Sainsbury's on Saturday, much to Ally's embarrassment. We received a letter from Uncle Bert saying he will be at John's wedding, bringing his grandson Richard, aged 3.

-=-

Sunday August 17, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

12th Sunday after Trinity

Sunshine. Ally went out over the moor with Samuel and a perambulated Clementine to soak up some warmth. They returned at 12 and we sat in the car park with a christening party from St Peter's. Clementine is so big and hungry. She cannot be awake without feeding. Karin says she is like me but she only had the slightest of glances and baby was laying on her side in a deep pram and wearing a frilly bonnet. Tonight we composed a long and splendid letter to LG asking for the Menston Arms. Surely, no other interviewee can have penned a more eloquent epistle. It is the sort of thing Leslie Gledhill appreciates. Very crawling, but basically sincere. Watched a film, the one with Jimmy Cagney crying en route to the electric chair. You know the one.

-=-

Saturday August 16, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

Prince Alfred, second son of Victoria and Albert, was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Kent and Earl of Ulster, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, May 24, 1866. He succeeded his uncle Ernest II as Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, the reigning duke of that principality, August 22, 1893. He died at Schloss Rosenau,  30 July, 1900, when his peerages became extinct. He was succeeded as Duke of Saxe-Coburg by his nephew, the Duke of Albany, son of Prince Leopold, Queen Victoria's youngest son.

-=-

Friday August 15, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

'Princess Michael of Kent' by Peter Lane arrived from our book club. Interesting that the book has no photographs of the Princess prior to her engagement in May 1978. A few painful errors too. A chapter on the 'House of Kent' reveals that Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, became Duke of Kent in 1866, and went on at length to discuss Alfie's life and times. Prince Alfred was in fact Duke of Edinburgh and EARL of Kent, and later succeeded as Duke of Saxe-Coburg & Gotha on the cessation of the then Prince of Wales. Sloppy writing makes my blood boil.

-=-

Thursday August 14, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, &c

A letter arrived from the brewery saying our Wellington Inn application has been cancelled. A postcard from Lynn in Gourock. Samuel went to the nursery for an hour 2-3. Exhaustion and lethargy. Bessie phoned.

(My sister and her husband David were temporarily living in Scotland to test the waters and see if they could actually go live there with David's work)

-=-

Wednesday August 13, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Quiet and wet. The White Rose Choir came in with a Teddy for Clementine which we have christened Elvis because he has a button and when pressed it sings 'Love Me Tender', a melodious old tune much warbled by that old thigh shaker, the late Mr Presley. Clemmie weighs 9lb 14 oz.

Graham and ? (unknown) came from the Raynville for an hour with a couple from Farsley Working Mens' Club who are fancying taking on the Yorkshire Cobble at Redcar. 

Sandra Woodcock (nee Collett) had her portrait sketched by Mick (who signs 'Mik') from Tempest Rd. Another superb likeness.

-=-

Tuesday August 12, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

An evening of collapse. Ally watched 'The Thorn Birds', a terribly long, drawn out and far-fetched tale. I wrote a long, boring letter to Lynn. My powers have gone. My fluency is waning.

-=-

Monday August 11, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, LS11 5NQ

We were interviewed by Leslie Gledhill for the Wellington Inn at Knaresborough, but we switched our choice of pubs on arrival to the Menston Arms - which he expected us to do. We took Clemmie with us leaving Samuel at Guiseley.

-=-

Sunday August 10, 1986

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, &c

11th Sunday after Trinity

Post wedding blues.