Wrote to John and Sheila and sent off a cheque for £200 to Quest Travel. Signed, sealed and delivered.
YP: Sarah is back. The SOGAT rep wants to see us on Wednesday.
Lynn and Dave are selling their house at Burley-in-Wharfedale and moving to Thorpe Lane, Guiseley [selling for £22,500 and buying for £36,000]. Why didn't they buy Pine Tops for God's sake?
We went to bed early after a steaming shepherd's pie. Fanny Hill and snores. This John Cleland chappie must have been a lad.
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19th Sunday after Trinity New Moon
Slightly hungover. Up at 9. Bath. Poached eggs. Frank and Uncle Jim came from Colne for Andrew at 10:15, and sat with a coffee. Ally, still in her dressing gown, packed up some apples for Frank to pass on to Auntie Annie. Cooking apples. Uncle Jim asked about Lanzarote and my rich relations. They said nothing about Auntie Hilda, and we didn't like to ask. They left at 10:30. Mum and Dad came at 11. Mum with a nice bunch of vermillion flowers for Ally. They have photographs of baby Hannah, very much like Catherine. JPH is such a big boy now. ________. They talked about the Grunwells.
By 12:15 we were at the Hollywood. Lily related to Dad the hilarious stories of the attempted burglaries at the pub. Joined by Steve, Billy, and Garry [who started work on Monday cutting up foam, ten months after being made redundant]. Joined by Old Anne from the Robin Hood and young Anne with the brown legs and bungalow set in its own rolling acres. The plan is to marry her off to Steve. At 2 we went into the snug and ate chicken legs and sandwiches and drank until after 5. Billy left early to look after his elderly mother. We sat with Dave G and Lily until after 7. I bought grandad a whisky. Lily says that since his son's death he wants to die too. We left at 8. Home to Rue Club for coffee. Ally to bed.
I watched Lord Olivier talking to Melvin Bragg.
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We sat in a pub 'The Smithy' and had one drink. A Woody Allen film was playing on the video in the bar - hilarious. Bought meat and veg, &c. Frank arrived with Andrew at 4 o'clock and after having a cup of tea went off to Colne. We drank home brewed ale and watched TV. Then had fried steak and chips and played records, loudly, until after 8. Phoned Jill and Tim and they came over at 9 and we went to the Fire Brigade. We were too tanked up to enjoy the night properly, and Andrew couldn't face his Tetley's. Home for coffee. The Elmers left at 11:30 and I went and bought fish and chips. They were cold. Watched Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Bed late.
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Wet. Went out at lunch time and bought a stout pack and a demijohn.
Home to Sweet Kitten. We are cheerful tonight after the ridiculous squabbling last night. Our fall outs are rare. Sat with a coffee after dinner the phone rang and it was Frank saying that Bessie has been in Colne since yesterday with her sister, Hilda, who is dying of cancer. This put a wet blanket on the evening. Frank will bring Andrew here tomorrow and then go on to Colne and see what can be done. I did warn Ally that the end might be near. Poor Auntie Hilda must only be 50.
Our Oasis quilt cover came in the post. Susie was seen by Dr Glass today and he told her she can go home on Monday if there is no change. She hasn't had a scan but is probably 8 to 10 weeks pregnant.
John has gone to Scotland for the weekend. No doubt he'll be staying with Janette. _______.
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Splashed in the bath before breakfast. Ally and I kissed goodbye on the doorstep and she asked me not to enjoy myself too much with Diane.
Busy day. Sarah went home at 12 with a cold. Won't be seeing her again this week. Went at 1:30 and stood outside the Ostlers waiting for Diane who was ten minutes late, and only met me because she was passing on her way to Marks and Spencer's. She was surprised that I remembered we had an appointment. I had a couple of pints and she Britvic orange. She cannot drink when working [she's at Nat West]. I told her about Susie. Paul [Edwards] is living at St James's Crescent while Hilda and Tony are away in Spain. _________.
Home at 6. Laid the carpet in the bedroom and dismantled the bunk beds, which were close to collapse. I blame John & Janette. Ally and I squabbled. She is driven to distraction by my lack of pracical mindedness.
Read Fanny Hill.
Dark morning. To Leeds after boiled eggs for breakfast and a few snatches of conversation with Ally. We are buying books on the scale of a major city library. I want the diaries of Harold Nicolson, Evelyn Waugh, Noel Coward, Beatrice Webb, &c. I have been in Austick's looking at published diaries. Diarists always come across as pompous, and nearly all are shatteringly world famous. Is it silly of me to keep a journal? OK, I don't take lunch at my club with the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, or dine with the Duchess of Windsor at Maxim's, but I do make a contribution, don't I?
Mum phoned. Dr Glass saw Susan. ____________. The Stockport trip is still on , but it doesn't look good. Ally phoned me this afternoon. Quest Travel cannot give us a flight to Lanzarote on Dec 2, but can do one for the same price on Nov 18. £115 each isn't bad.
Home to Ally and mince and dumplings.
Prince Andrew flew back from Mustique [illegible] very much like the Queen as he left the plane. That same fixed, nervous expression. Koo [Stark] has gone on to St Lucia. It is reported that HM paid for the tickets and is very aware of Miss Stark's naughty films. Our sovereign is very broad minded. I bet she's been watching 'Emily' on the little cinema at Sandringham.
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Fog at first. Mum phoned at 11:30 to say Sue is unwell, feeling dizzy. They went down to look after Christopher and found Sue in bed having had a visit from the doctor who had examined her and said she is probably 16 weeks pregnant. She was later taken away by ambulance to Roundhay. Poor Sue had no idea.
Busy at the office. The girls overheard my calamitous conversation.
Fish again. The dinner was hideously salty and we drank water all night. Mum phoned again this evening to say Peter had visited Sue in hospital was she was 'cheerful'. Her doctor won't be looking at her until the morning.
I looked at Fanny Hill. Bed at 10.
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Chillandham Cross, Itchen Abbas SO21 1AS Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day on Sea. We left early and went to Bournemouth, but had a drive through ...
