Monday December 31, 1979

_. Worked until about 1pm and then the library staff polished off the Yuletide whisky and had a couple of games of cards. Home at 2:30 to find John walking on the lane with the children. At home no one was in and so John and I sat drinking coffee and playing with the babies like a pair of nannies. He bundled them off home at about 4 o'clock.

Out to the White Cross tonight and then to Margaret and Jim's. Just Mum, Dad, Lynn, Dave, Sue, Pete, Pamela N, Julie N. Ally phoned her parents at midnight to be told that Graham and Gill had announced their engagement. We partied until gone 4.

So, that's the end of another year, and decade, folks. Who knows what the next decade has in store. Will the 1980s see me make that fateful move down the aisle? Will 1980 see the heir to the throne take similar steps? Will Russia invade Pakistan, India and the USA? Will President Carter march on Moscow in the steps of Napoleon and Adolf Hitler? Will I end up in the armed forces? Can I be of assistance to NATO? Am I field marshal material?

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Sunday December 30, 1979

_.

1st Sunday after Christmas

Brilliant sunshine with a layer of crisp snow. Ally and I went on a long walk over Bradford Golf Course and across the 'moor' behind Hawksworth Hall. On the hills above Dibbs farm it looked like a scene of a Swiss kind. Who needs Klosters when one has Guiseley?

Back at Pine Tops Dad and Dave 'worked' on the car. Grotesque nostalgia on the telly. Ivor Novello's 'The Dancing Years'.

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Saturday December 29, 1979

_. Susan went horribly pale this morning and almost collapsed, and so took to her bed. Watched two Elizabeth Taylor films back to back. Ally was home from Itchen Abbas by 7 and went off to change into her party gear. To Pudsey with Mum & Dad in the Toyota. Hilda, Tony, Karen, Steve, Jim, Tim, Diane, Paul Edwards, Lynn, Dave, Jim, Margaret, &c.

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Friday December 28, 1979

_. Slept in and didn't arrive at the YP until almost 11. Kathleen was furious and in a screaming rage about my performance with the honours list, and went off on a tangent for the rest of the day.

I was determined to say at home by my own fireside this evening. A rare thing for me. Watched Richard Chamberlain in a TV film of 'The Man in the Iron Mask'.

Uncle Albert died 10 years ago tomorrow at exactly 2:30am. Tomorrow night we'll be at 6, St James's Crescent, scene of his demise. He was a lovely man.

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Thursday December 27, 1979

_. Ally went off at lunchtime to Itchen Abbas. She intends returning on Saturday to attend Auntie Hilda's party. 

To the office at 5pm, supposedly to study the New Year's Honours list. It was a waste of time and a boring list. Peerages for a McAlpine and the boss of Marks & Sparks, and a knighthood for John Sainsbury. Margaret Thatcher does her shopping there no doubt. Cliff Richard is OBE. Dick Hern, the Queen's racehorse trainer is CVO, and so is Sir Ian Moncreiffe of that Ilk. I am disappointed that no hereditary peerages have been created because the prime minister has hinted at the imminent revival of such honours. The only hereditary element I can foresee in the future are the peerages given to members of the Royal family. Prince Andrew will be Duke of York and Prince Edward will be Duke of Sussex, or in the event of the death of the Marquess of Cambridge, the dukedom of Cambridge could be revived. Prince Edward's great-great-great grandfather was Duke of Cambridge.

Home at 11. Read Charles Prince of Wales for a couple of hours.

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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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