Monday July 27, 1981

 _. Back to the YP. Sarah, it seems, lost the 'royal wedding ballot' and is working on Wednesday. She isn't all that bothered about looking in on the royal nuptials.

Ash Tree Cottage this evening almost buzzed with activity. After eating I bottled almost 20 bottles of lager, then brewed another gallon. One never knows when cousin Steve might drop in for a slurp.

Watched 'Far from the Madding Crowd' starring Julie Christie and Peter Finch. Such a depressing take of woe. Thomas Hardy's books always have an aura of melancholy which is quite unique.

Crowds on the Mall.

Royal wedding fever is getting to everyone now. Crowds are already gathering on the streets of London. Old ladies lagged in the Union flag, encamped on the Mall. A gang of punk rockers, would-be rioters, waving plastic flags with gusto outside Clarence House. The Queen Mother, ill with a leg ulcer, has the press convinced that she will miss the ceremony. I do not suppose that the Her Majesty would miss the event even if it meant being wheeled into St Paul's in an oxygen tent. I do wish that the press would desist repeating that Lady Diana will be the first English Princess of Wales since the Plantagenet era. Mary of Teck might sound foreign, but she was born at Kensington Palace to an English princess mother
.

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Sunday July 26, 1981

 _. 6th Sunday after Trinity

Warm. A morning in bed with the sunlight hurtling in through the curtains. We took a leisurely breakfast.

Slumped on the settee watching a John Mills film Ally remarked upon my indolence. Taking this as a hint I took up a bucket of hot, soapy water and gave the car a good clean. It cannot have been touched since the Spring.

We lunched on lamb chops, cauliflower cheese and new potatoes. Absolutely delicious.

Sue & Pete: anniversary.

Royal stuff on the news. The Prince of Wales and his team playing polo at Windsor v. Spain. Lady Diana, like a frightened rabbit, was at the back of the royal box and refused to come out. The poor Queen was entertaining Nancy Reagan, but the 'First Lady' left the match early surrounded by secret service and CIA agents. 

To Pine Tops at 7, first calling at Sue and Pete's with an anniversary card. It's their first today. John, Maria and the children were with Mum and Dad. Catherine was eating a banana like a tiny chimpanzee. Maria was complaining about her throat - another case of tonsilitis. 

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Saturday July 25, 1981

Diana: tears.

 _. Ally made me go shopping with her. I was opposed to the idea. We stamped around John Street Market buying lamb chops and bunches of grapes, but without enthusiasm. We were home at 4. Ally concocted a lasagne, but we didn't eat until 9. We have arranged to go to Mum's tomorrow evening. To avoid the Royal International Horse Show on the telly we switched over to BBC2 and Boris Karloff.

Royal wedding trivia: Poor Lady Diana is giving in to her nerves in these final, gruelling days before the royal nuptials. At a polo match in Hampshire she burst into tears following a harrowing experience with ardent photographers and she was led away, quite desolate, by Lord and Lady Romsey. She didn't stay long enough to see the Prince of Wales strike a ball. Obviously, news coverage of the event are taking the angle that the bride is about to call off the greatest royal event since the restoration of King Charles II.

Bed followed the lasagne.

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Friday July 24, 1981

 _. At 10am I went to the office and collected my wage packet, snatched the money and left for Bradford straight afterwards. Back there for 12. Having a relapse. Felt hot, clammy. Met Ally in 'Sir Jasper's' wine bar, but felt diabolical and didn't finish my drink. 

Garter for Diana?

At home I slumped on the settee watching Sid James and Hattie Jacques in 'Carry On Cabby' [1963]. I must have fallen asleep because Ally woke me at 5:30. I continued to lay in a semi recumbent posture for the duration of the evening, which aroused nothing but sympathy and love from my dear wife.

At 9:30 she crossed the road and bought me fish and chips, and afterwards we took to our bed. My recovery is very slow, don't you think?

Royal news: It is rumoured that Lady Diana Spencer is to become a Lady of the Garter after the wedding on Wednesday. Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh were both appointed to the order on the eve of their wedding in November, 1947, and so a precedent does exist. However, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother didn't receive the Garter until they became Queen Consort.

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Thursday July 23, 1981

 _. Rained all day. Lounging with a book. 

Diana: a little flat.

Ally came in at 12:30 weighed down with 'just a few things' of shopping to the value of £9. Money goes nowhere these days.

Ally was home at 5. We had sandwiches and watched the news. Bryan Organ's portrait of Lady Diana Spencer, the first official one, was unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery today. It's a little flat, or lifeless, if you know what I mean. Certainly, Peter Paul Rubens wouldn't rate it.

To Pine Tops tonight to see Mum, Dad, Jim, and Margaret. Joined by Sue for a couple of hours. She has been back to the doctor. He says he's 'made a mistake' in his calculations and that baby 'Jason' is due on December 28. Pete was of course out with the lads. Hot. Didn't drink too much. Home after 11.

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Wednesday July 22, 1981

 _. Another hot, sweaty night but my throat has eased. Poor Ally didn't want to get out of bed today, and clung to her pillows. Boiled eggs and coffee, then she was gone until 12:15. She returned skipping like a Spring lamb. 

I made several phone calls this afternoon. Phoned Mum, spoke to Dad, and Lynn. Jacq and Paul are dining at Burley tonight. Mum is feeling slightly better. It's her nerves, you know. The deadline for the Stonehouse is just two weeks away.

Read 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd'. I first read it years ago. One of Agatha's best. It's quite eerie how Agatha can make one suspicious of grey haired old ladies behind lace curtains. Old Miss Whincup over the road was peering at me from behind her nets this afternoon. A Miss Marple sort of thing.

Petal came home at 5. We had corn on the cob, and fried fish and chips, then made pancakes from the left over batter, soaked with lemon juice and sugar. We do eat very well.

Royal wedding fever grips the TV news. This Gibraltar furore is a shame. We don't want diplomatic incidents at this joyous time. The Prince of Wales had a 'stag party' tonight at White's Club. He and 12 friends noshing from 8 until 12, swilling Bollinger champagne [his favourite]. The royal wedding postage stamps went on sale today too. But, alas, the Queen Mother is in bed with a temperature, they say, after a leg infection.

After our sumptious dinner we sat reading until 11.

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Tuesday July 21, 1981

 Susie Nason, my baby sister and mother-to-be, is 22 today. I phoned her this evening. She and Pete are entertaining Lynn and Dave tonight.

I lay in bed, burning up. After Ally left for work I phoned the doctor. Ally took an early lunch and drove me to the surgery. The doc took one look and proclaimed: 'Ugh. Tonsilitis'. He told me to go home to bed for the week, and packed me off with enough medication to see me through until 2067.

Ally went out looking at washing machines. The day in nearing when Ally's smalls will be a spinnin' and a tumblin' in our little kitchen. She has survived without this 20th century invention since 1979.

Tomato soup for lunch. I sat reading Agatha Christie's 'Nemesis'. 'Sleeping Death', which I read in Ios was excellent. This isn't up to standard. My medication has had an immediate effect. My throat is relieved.

Mama remains in bed with her tummy problem.

News: The King of Spain is to boycott the royal wedding because the Prince of Wales and his bride are starting their honeymoon on Britannia sailing into Gibraltar. Stupid sod [The King of Spain that is].

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