Wednesday December 26, 1979

_. Bank Holiday in England, Ireland & Wales

JPH woke me at 1:30pm. Downstairs John and Sue were entertaining Janet Simon and her boyfriend, Robert. Watched Keith Michell playing Henry VIII which is always a pleasure. Mum and Dad are out, as is traditional on Boxing Day. I made a buffet for the guests [a selection of poultry and lettuce leaves]. Afterwards John and JPH returned to Ridgeway. JPH was on his bicycle, which looked massive, but he has already discovered the process of pedalling. Ally and I sat reading 'Charles Prince of Wales' by Anthony Holden, which Mum and Dad bought me for Christmas. An excellent publication and very well written.

Out at 8pm with Ally to Dave L's. The gang there included Sue, Pete, who came when the pubs closed, along with MM, Marita, Carole P, John, Maria, Jimmy Macdonald, Karim, Chris Rat, Pete Mather, Martyn C, &c. Dave and I had a head start, and so by 10:30 were were pissed. Drank whisky. The party ended at 1:30am when Albert and Joan L returned. Everyone looked pained at the early finish. Home to Pine Tops. Vomit.

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Tuesday December 25, 1979

_. Christmas Day

Up at 10:30. Ally gave me a bottle of Aramis Devin. Terrible, because under our agreement of last week we decided not to exchange presents. Oh dear. Mum, Dad, Ally, Sue and I sat around the tree tearing open our gifts. Lynn and Dave joined us. Later on, John, Maria and the children came, but that wasn't until 3. In the excitement which followed we missed the Queen's speech, and her voice was muffled beneath the sound of tearing wrapping paper and the squeaking of cuddly toys. The number of gifts JPH received was ridiculous. Catherine made giggly noises and grinned beautifully at everyone. We dined at 7:30. A sumptuous Christmas dinner, as usual. Later saw a bit of TV but nothing spectacular. 'Cabaret' with Liza Minelli.

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Monday December 24, 1979

_. Left home at 6:30am to have breakfast with Sarah at Ivory Towers. To the office feeling atrocious. Did minimal work until 11 and then we moved behind the filing cabinets to have a few drinks and exchange gifts in the age old tradition.

At 12:30 I met Ally and we went to Parker's. It wasn't busy considering that today is the most alcoholic day in the piss-artist's calendar. We were joined by Sarah, Carol and a pregnant Eileen. On to the abominable Regent at Chapel Allerton, where Sarah and Carol did a disappearing act. The Regent is always full of painted whores. Back to Guiseley at 3pm with the top down on the spitfire. I hailed 'happy Christmas' to bemused pedestrians.

A full house at home. JPH was glued to the TV. I collapsed in a chair and slipped in and out of consciousness until I gave in at 10:30 and went to bed leaving Ally with Mum, Dad and John.

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Sunday December 23, 1979

_. 4th in Advent

Ally moved in for the duration of the Yuletide festival.

Lynn and Dave had a party tonight at Burley. By combining the families [Bakers and Rhodeses] none of us enjoyed it quite as much as we should. _____. John and Maria appeared but M got a lift home with Chris Baker, leaving John in the bossom of his family. John can drink whisky at a phenomenal pace. We all stood in the kitchen exchanging jokes and various stories at which Jim Nason was a central figure. Back at Pine Tops Ally and I sat up until dawm.

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Saturday December 22, 1979

_. Ally and I were in Bradford all day concluding the Christmas shopping horror. The whole day was a nightmare, like a scene from 'War and Peace'.

Lynn, Dave, Sue and Peter came for dinner to Club St, at 8. A few drinks around the record player. Nothing outrageous occurred and they all left at about 12. We sat up until after 3.

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Friday December 21, 1979

_. Ally did some Chrissie shopping in Leeds and collected me at 4:30. We went to Guiseley and found Mum and Dad sat by the light of the Christmas tree hand in hand. Dad was very emotional on the subject of Uncle Albert [Wilson], who died 10 years ago on Dec 29. At 9:30 Ally and I went to the White Cross where Peter and Jim and a few work mates are coming to the end of a 12 hour drinking session. Jim and Peter came back to Pine Tops.

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Thursday December 20, 1979

_. Up and out to the YP early to avoid Dad. I phoned Mum at Burley but she didn't answer. I then phoned Lynn. ____. At 7pm Mum phoned me, then Dave came here to collect Dad to take him to Burley for a 'reunion'. Ally came at 8:30 and we went to the Drop. Some hideous Carol singers came in. I could have strangled them. On to Oakwood. Got thoroughly sozzled. Found a wheel trim and brought it home for Dad, at 3am. I stole into Susan's room and she informed me that Mum & Dad are once again under the same roof.  Such a relief. My silly parents - behaving like Rod Stewart and Britt Ekland.

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