Thursday May 5, 1983

 Ally phoned Patricia and had breakfast in bed.  We went down to the school to vote in the local elections. The Conservative lady got my cross. Hand in hand we went to post our quarterly rates bill (£19.87) and then decided to go to Guiseley to see Lynn and Dave and the Baker sisters. Over to Thorpefields for 1pm and spent five hours with Lynn and the delightful girls. Frances, David's double, was a little shy at first (she had just got out of bed) but chatted away in a broad Yorkshire accent. Katie smiles beautifully and doesn't seem to object to Frances who jostles her with great vigour. She (Katie) drank from a bottle for the first time, and didn't enthuse about the experience. We left at 6 and at the end of Thorpe Lane instead of turning towards Bradford we went to Menston for a T-bone steak at the Fox, a Beefeater restaurant. Ally had a well-done steak just to be on the safe side because rare meat can damage a foetus - if any. Prawn cocktails, steaks, ice-cream, cheese, &c. All for £15. However, I dislodged a filling. The waitress was so revoltingly humble I was almost sick. We got a bus from there and was home for 9:30. Watched the beginning of News at 10 but nodded off. To bed with water. Restless sleep.

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Wednesday May 4, 1983

 Ally stayed in bed until lunchtime with Wilkie Collins not daring to move. Steve O'Connor went up onto the roof throwing the stones down upon the daffodils. Ally emerged at lunchtime and we had tomato soup (again) and sandwiches. We sat looking at our finances this afternoon and drinking oceans of tea. When should she see a doctor? We are quite ignorant on this topic. It's like living in a goldfish bowl with the roofing chaps peering in on us. Eventually Ally sat with her back to the window, booked pressed against her nose. I kept carrying pots of tea outside for the grateful roofers who had had a shandy over at the Second West. Thirsty work.

We debate about what to do for the remainder of the week. Should she phone Derek? Phoned Susan to wish her luck at hospital tomorrow. Christopher's operation takes place on Friday.

Coronation Street, Dallas and the news. I went to bed with The Three Musketeers. The night was warm and the bedrooom hot, like the hot house at Kew. 

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Tuesday May 3, 1983

 I was awakened at 5am by Ally who was in the bathroom threatening to faint. I went to assist. She was sick and wobbly and went back to bed. I phoned Patricia at the AHA and she wasn't convinced. These people never are. I have a cheque in the post to the value of £34 from my YP pension scheme. Ally got up at noon and sat with her feet up sipping tomato soup and pushing in tiny pieces of toast. Will I be a father in January? A pregnancy lasts 274-280 days. From April 7 this takes us through to January 6, 1984 - Epiphany.

Watched the lunchtime news on TV. An earthquake in California, but only one person killed. Watch this space. The quake of 1906 (or was it 1913?) must surely soon be repeated. Steve O'Connor's lackey came to say that the rain is preventing work on the roof, but by lunchtime the rain had stopped and we had a dry afternoon which is more than can be said for Steve O'Connor over in the Second West reminiscing with his friend George at the bar.

Ally sat with her book, a glass of milk, and Wilkie Collins. We watched TV. To bed after 'Minder'.

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Monday May 2, 1983

 A foul wet Monday. I was in the bath at 11 and Janette phoned Ally to say they are coming over. They came at 1:20.

Susan phoned. Christopher is having his operation on Friday. She left midst conversation because the boy fell over and impaled himself on the telephone stand. 

John and Janette are like Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. They make a very fiery couple. ________.She isn't 19 until August 3. We went to the Bod which was very rough and full of heavily tattooed Bradfordians with haircuts like Mohican tribesmen. We left hurriedly. To the Fire Brigade pub which was equally rough. We sat giggling ridiculously next to a couple of building labourers who had fallen asleep over their bottles of pils lager. And again it was hard to see flesh for all the tattoos. John told us, at Janette's prompting, of his affair with his nurse neighbour, Janet, who had taken away his bed sheets after a two night romp and never given them back. Janette says she may go home tomorrow, but adds with a smile, that she will return. John says it's been 'a long five days' referring to her arrival in Yorkshire on January 8. We came home at 11 and I bought fish and chips for us all. J & J left at 12 still in pouring rain. I presented the departing Janette with two daffodils __________.

I phoned Mum at 6:30. My first contact with them since April 20. Most odd.

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Sunday May 1, 1983

 4th Sunday after Easter

William and nanny.

Woke up at 10 to the sound of rain splashing. Toast and coffee. Lynn phoned just for a chat and says John is probably going to be made redundant in a couple of weeks. Sue is having a check up on Thursday _________. John and Janette were at Waltergarth yesterday, and she is blobbing today instead of selling caravans. Ally reading 'Cold Comfort Farm', which she finished and then began 'Moonstone', by Wilkie Collins.

Royal news: Watched the BBC and ITV coverage of the royal tour of New Zealand. Saw Prince William arriving at Gatwick with his nanny. The boy is always barefoot.

Roasted a chicken and the usual oddments and we ate at 7. An evening of continuing idleness. Watched 'Brideshead Revisited' on Channel 4 which was amusing. The drunk scenes are exceptional. Saw Glenda Jackson (a future Dame Glenda) and Walter Matthau in a romantic film which was good.

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Saturday April 30, 1983

 We stayed in bed until about 9:30 when we heard Steve O'Connor's ladder banging against the wall and then heard him up upon the roof. We breakfasted on eggs and bacon and lashings of coffee. I went out and bought a Daily Telegraph but it contained nothing of great worth. 

True: Spandau Ballet

Edward Heath is reported to be annoyed at being held up in the traffic in Westminster recently when a car carrying the Queen Mother caused a traffic jam and she received priority and because of it he missed a vote in the Commons chamber. The Express report that Heath has complained that MPs should have precedence over members of the royal family in the surrounds of the Palace of Westminster. Ted denies that he has said this, but then he would, wouldn't he?

Ally says what a beautiful evening we had last night. I had a trout and she a piece of veal in a mushroom sauce, but washed down with a wine not as good as the wine we 'brew'. The dinner cost a mere £13 and we came away happy and relaxed. 

We walked to town and bought food and the Spandau Ballet LP 'True'. Excellent. Later: Terry Wogan, 'Dynasty', and five minutes of the film 'Shaft'. Went to bed and found sleep almost immediately.

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Friday April 29, 1983

 Steve O'Connor was here for a few hours and then succumbed to the call of the Second West. I suppose he spent some time looking down on that establishment from the lofty heights of our roof. A temptation that would weaken even the most strong willed person. Later the fitters came from Kitchen Studios and replaced our sink - the third in six months. The enamel is now banished and replaced by a stainless steel sink which doesn't look bad and will not chip or scratch. I took down an old book, which I don't recall looking at previously, of the Plantagenet monarchs from Richard II. This era is all very vague to me and I am ashamed to say I cannot tell you which order the different Edwards and Henrys came. I am OK from Edward IV onwards.

Royal News: The royal tour of Australia ended today and the Prince and Princess of Wales have gone on to the Bahamas to holiday for 10 days with the Romseys, I suspect. It's been a triumph for the princess and the shyness and pink flushes have gone. Ally and I both agree that the princess will return to London pregnant, and another infant prince will be born by next February. On the subject of progency I do hope to give myself an heir shortly. You, dear reader, have waited very patiently for almost two years and I have said very little on the subject, but be assured we have been trying. The signs are that this is it.

We went out at 8 and dined at Mama Mia's Pizzeria on Manningham Lane.

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