Wednesday October 19, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Wet, but bright. Late last night a large paving stone was hurled through the lounge window. Fortunately, it came through the glass panel that was cracked in the last serious fracas, and the brewery had it fixed today. A strong wind blew. We phoned Marie who came at 10 to discuss the staff/stock. Our bad apple is obviously ________. Marie agreed to come back at 2pm and spy on the staff whilst we go to Thornaby and the bank. This she did. However, both she and Mags were recognised by Dave the baker, who told Margaret MacMahon, and it created a terrible, dismal atmosphere. All eyes were fixed on Marie and her large Bacardi. We came back to find a busy pub, an angry barmaid, and a builder putting in a new window. Sat with Marie and Mags afterwards and M advised us to sack Margaret tomorrow before she starts work and rouses the others to disaffection. _______. More warnings were given out tonight.

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Tuesday October 18, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Alison has taken to giggling hopelessly and helplessly like I've never heard or seen before. It must be a combination of the pregnancy and this mad house. So charming to see her throbbing on top of the bed like a hippopotamus. Our cheerfulness was quashed by Fran O'Brien this afternoon who, having heard of our stock result, phoned and asked us what we are going to do about it. I told him we'd give the staff the hard word and this evening as they arrived Ally took them aside and gave each one a verbal warning. Margaret MacMahon flew into a temper, Brenda Brook appeared baffled and expressed sorrow to us, and Christine Potton was her usual blank self. I'm trying to work out which one Agatha Christie would make the villain. Ally always good in these instances. Later I brawled with a drunken Irishman who tried to floor me, unsuccessfully.

# Brenda, Chris and Margaret - verbal warnings.

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Monday October 17, 1983

The Linthorpe.

 Phoned Roy at breakfast time and arranged to go to the Linthorpe at 10:15 for my first managers liaison committee meeting. Fran O'Brien presided. Those present included Roy, lowering the tone of the place, Jim Brown , big and bear-like from the Cambridge, a bearded young man from Eston's who is Roy's trainee, and a youth who has the Brunton Arms. Talked about sanatizing the post-mix and the showers in managers accommodation, &c. All good fun. Tim didn't come from the Master Cooper because of his stocktake. I didn't let the stocktake today stop me. Ally collected me at 12:30 and the stocktaker was waiting for us with grim news. We have a £140 defecit since the last stocktake - obviously due to theft. Our future with Sam Smith's is now at stake. Such a bloody shame. A holding relief in a good, little pub would have set us right. We refuse to be depressed though. Ally very angry that we are being fiddled so.

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Sunday October 16, 1983

 20th Sunday after Trinity

The Why Not, Hemlington

The sabbath. We cleaned the beer lines and had buckets everywhere. Ally looking like a giant baby in her red dungarees. We put out cheese and biscuits on the bar on Sundays. We stood at the bar watching our thieving staff at work. Who should walk in but Rose Skitt, Peter Broom and Ron Perry. I said someone must have dared them to come here from the Linthorpe. They stood with us furtively eyeing the mob who now seem quite tame to us. Are we sinking to the level of our customers without knowing? The staff had gone by 2:30 and we sat in a corner and had a small 'stoppy back'. They left at 5. Later, a chicken roast.  Ally went to bed after dinner and remained in that horizontal posture for the duration. Busy in the pub tonight. Taffy likens the Cecil Parkinson situation to Lloyd George, but was LG ever found out?

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Saturday October 15, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

The Daily Telegraph is full of the Parkinson Affair. Mrs T should not have back him so. It shows a lack of judgement. People won't stand for the top brass getting involved in sexual scrapes. It's perfectly acceptable for the local social worker or college lecturer to be caught trousers down, but it's simply not on when you're the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Send L. Gledhill a creeping letter asking to be given the Cheshire Midland. We now have to wait and see. Ally went off in driving rain to post the letter. We are very surprised that Fran O'Brien hasn't phoned about the stocktake. Perhaps he is letting us stew for a while. Ray Davis sneaked in again and I had him ejected by the law. (I have been told to always phone the police at the slightest sign of trouble. It's such a well known, violent hostelry). As Davis was leaving he informed the uniformed constable that nobody beneath the rank of inspector had the right to remove a citizen from a public house. Otherwise, a quiet night.

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Friday October 14, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Phoned Les Gledhill and told him we are interested in the Cheshire Midland. He told me to put something in writing . He is a soft spoken individual. Phoned Horton and told Mum and Dad about our visit to Hale. Auntie Mabel was there with them and I had a quick word with her too. It is really awful that the police found it necessary to contact the brewery. It is now a black mark against our name and coupled with the disastrous stocktake it paints a gloomy picture. Ally is furious about the defecit and until another stocktake is carried out (Monday) we cannot tell whether it really is as bad as it seems to be. Phoned Roy to let him know the Hale situation. He says the stocktake result is 'the last thing' we need. I hope it doesn't go against us with L. Gledhill. News: the awful, foolish Cecil Parkinson has thrown in the towel and resigned. This is good. I saw him as a possible future PM but this Sara Keays incident has put paid to that. We are a Puritan nation.

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Thursday October 13, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Dismal day. The result of last weeks stocktake has arrived showing a defecit of £136.49. This is hideous. We have a viper in the nest and now have to take action accordingly. The very idea that someone comes behind our bar and gives away, privately sells, and steals our stock sends me into paroxysms of rage. I have very great doubts about two members of staff. They do a lot of whispering with the roughnecks. Fran O'Brien phoned to say Emmerson has spoken to him about the poor way I run the Why Not. We called the police again tonight when an estranged wife found her hubby in the bar and smashed a pint of lager over his shiny, bald head. He dragged her out by the hair, in true caveman style and attempted to drown her in a puddle in the car park. Ally watched from an upstairs window as the aggrieved husband dragged the screaming woman into the housing estate.

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