_. Visitors: Marlene, Frank, Debbie, Karen, Steve, Diane and Paul came over to Pine Tops this evening bearing wedding presents. Marlene & Frank were the first to arrive. She looked shocking, hay fever. The others brought pans and trinkets, and stayed for drinks until 12. Afterwards Ally and I returned to Club Street. Tempers between us had been fraught in telephone exchanges this afternoon. It's nerves kicking in.
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_. 1st Sunday after Trinity. ~ Father's Day
A day at Ash Tree Cottage. Surprised to see 'Britt' as we affectionately call her, our next door neighbour [in fact Mrs Ethel Greenwood]. She made a rare appearance in her garden, and she reprimanded us for never visiting her. The sweet old lady was born on July 15, 1888, and she tells us it rained 'cats and dogs' on the day of her birth, St Swithun's Day. She says her grandson 'Our Graham', a Bradford policeman, interviewed Peter Sutcliffe. She says the Ripper is a 'plausible liar'.
On to Pine Tops at 5:30 with sausages and beefburgers. Lynn, Dave B, Frances, Sue [looking bright] and Pete arrived at 6:30. We frolicked on the lawn, barbecuing steaks, &c. Haven't seem Mama laugh so much in ages. By 10:30 we were still outside wrapped in blankets and coats, shrouded in the dense all consuming charcoal smog.
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. Dull, overcast, and very wet later. Feel hideous. Climbed out of bed at 11 and was violently sick, just in time for breakfast of scrambled eggs on toast.
At 1pm Ally, Dave G and I went to Bramhope to observe the wedding of Christopher Baker and Julie Harris at St Giles's Church. The vicar, I thought, made a ghastly gaffe going on and on about the breakdown of marriage and the perils of divorce. Dave G looked at me and whispered loudly that the vicar was instructing the couple to 'bleedin' well not bother'.
At 2 we returned to the Woolpack for a couple of pints before waving a sad goodbye to Master Glynn. He has to be back on duty at dawn tomorrow at Stockport Hospital.
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| The Vintage restaurant. |
To Guiseley. Slept in a chair until 7pm. Then to Lidget Green to get changed. The two of us went to dinner at the Vintage Steak Bar in Bradford. The T-bone steaks were £5.40 each, and were deplorable, disappointing. We laughed though, and made small talk. I know it's wrong but we had a bottle of Liebfraumilch with our red meat. The bill came to £18 which we can ill afford.
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_. Mum and Dad's 27th wedding anniversary. I made an appearance at the marital bedroom at 7:30 and gave them a card and a present ~ a dish [Royal Albert] bearing a charming likeness of Lady Diana midst the roses.
The YP was glum. I made good my escape at noon. Ally met me on Wellington Street and we went to the railway station and met Dave G. We had a drink at the Central - hideous, and more alcohol at the Bank where I bought Ally a quiche salad. The latter watering hole was packed with estate agents and solicitors drinking gin and lusting after their secretaries. Then on to Jacomelli's, on Boar Lane.
To Guiseley via Bradford where we had fish and chips with Mum and Dad. Ally went off to Burley to bake with Lynn and no doubt discuss last night. They started off at Burley Gates and then went to the dear old Il Trovatore. I am told that Ally did her party piece and vomitted in the taxi.
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Dave L suggested that we should perhaps mug someone in the gents toilets so that he could swap shoes with the victim. He made several attempts but failed to find a candidate with his size of shoe. It was a bit like a modern day Cinderella re-worked. After 1am Dave L, in his offending footwear, drove Dave G and I to the Elmer in Shipley, and the others continued to Guiseley. The rest is lost. I remember nothing. Hideously pissed.
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_. Hot day. At the office Sarah ahd Shazzo were howling with laughter about something. Shazzo asks me to ask her what she did yesterday. I obliged, and was told that at 11am she had married her Turkish boyfriend at Leeds Register Office after a courtship of ten days. What's more, the new Mrs Shahid Koc [pronounced 'Koch'] is being carried off to Turkey is two weeks time. We will have seen the last of Shazzo. All day people made the usual sneering remarks about the Turks. Our general view of these eastern gentleman hasn't been entirely favourable since one of their race attempted to slay the dear Pope last month. Sharon handed in her notice amidst a general office breakdown. Comments ranged from 'Coo. It's like a fairy tale' to 'she must be bloody crackers'. It proved all too much for Carol J. She took a half-day.
Kathleen went out at lunchtime and bought me a teapot, not my cup of tea, but never mind.
It is Ally's 'hen night'. She came here in her yellow shorts and t-shirt. Susie didn't appear, because of a heavy cold, and neither does she want to consume vast quantities of alcohol on a pregnant stomach, and so it was just Ally and Lynn, and off she went to meet her at 8.
I sat in on one of Mum's 'Jim and Margaret nights'. Utterly boring.
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_. Full Moon.
I am detecting a dryness in my throat and a blockage in the nasal cavity. Going down with a cold. Shit and buggery, I'm getting married next week.
An 'Ally-less' night. We had several conversations. Auntie Mabel had been on the phone to her talking about the rug she's buying us. Bless her. We must call and see her at the weekend.
Shazzo Cohen was missing from the office today. No doubt on her way to Ankara with her new love. Can't say that I blame her. The YP library is no place for an adventure seeking, sex-crazed 20 year-old.
A letter in the Times reports that the forename Zara is very common in Arab countries. The author goes on to say that it is something of a coincidence that Miss Phillips should be given an Arab name when King Khalid of Saudi Arabia is about to arrive in London. What a startling coincidence, not.
The Prince of Wales is in New York leaving Lady Diana alone at Royal Ascot. She is looking stunning. A definite style is emerging.
Sue has been to see a doctor. She should know for certain by Friday. In other news, Frances now weights 11 pounds.
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_. A fun-packed day at the office. All squabbling about holidays. Wendy Newton is quitting the library night staff, and once again we are in the doldrums. Sharon is behaving mysteriously. Ten days ago she met a Turk in the Intime Club in town and he has asked her to accompany him back to Istanbul next week. Is this the end of the ample Miss Cohen?
Didn't see Ally this evening but we spoke a couple of times. Garry has sent a response to Frank & Bessie. No, he won't be coming to the wedding. God knows why.
Ally went for some sun-ray treatment and then to a hairdresser, who fiddled around with her hair in various styles for the wedding.
Sue is reporting feeling tired, sick and dizzy. It's a good sign, isn't it?
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| Battle Cruiser Zara. |
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