Thursday October 24, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn Leeds LS11 5NQ

United Nations Day

Margaret: 40

Busy. The 40th birthday celebrations of Margaret Milne though the auspicious anniversary doesn't actually fall until tomorrow. Margaret and a group of friends filled the lounge tonight, hitting the hard stuff. Joined by Audrey and Maureen, &c. They chattered about our lack of staff and suggested possible candidates, i.e. Margaret's niece, Ann. (Our staff hours are of course ruled by the brewery). John and Janette appeared at 9pm with George and Jayne Waite. Janette giggled and asked whether I'd seen the item of news on 'Calendar' about George's joinery business burning down. The expression on George's face revealed all. _______. (sensitive redaction). All the Scots stayed on afterwards 'for one'. Charlotte Nora is to be christened at Esholt and I am to be the godfather. Deeply flattered and pleased. John was puzzled. It was the first he'd heard of it.

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Wednesday October 23, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Susie.

To a piano shop in Kirkstall where we saw a battered old thing for £189 which might please LG. I think it would go down well in our back bar. On to Guiseley. We haven't seen Susie for yonks. She looked very well and frequent scans reveal a healthy, kicking embryo. The kids, as usual, went berserk. Even Samuel looks possessed after only ten minutes with the bouncing Christopher. Sue is really hoping for a girl.

Tonight: Gary Booth came in and gave his notice. He has sold his house and is now a man of some means. We sat the bar waiting for LG, who didn't materialise. I sampled the Diet Pils and had six and a half pints. Fell about pissed. Everything is blank.

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Tuesday October 22, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Nothing much to report. It was the usual mausoleum in the bar downstairs this lunchtime punctuated only by the arrival of Uncle Peter in his overalls. I gave him a pork pie and we stood leaning on the bar. He recently bumped into Hilda in ASDA. He can be very naughty about our relations. Beverley, he says, wants to be a policewoman but failed the test by three points but can re-apply in 6 months. Late dray delivery. The saga of our sensitive 'Skivvy' glass washing machine continues. I tried to get hold of Les Gledhill without success, but eventually Ally succeeded. He was out of sorts and grumpy and said he would come to inspect the barrel of OBB tomorrow, which is our evening off. Never mind.

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Monday October 21, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Ally and I are back on a peaceful ship on a calm sea after several stormy weeks. Don't get me wrong. It was nothing serious. We sometimes have disagreements. My wife can become inflamed so very easily and can make a squabble out of anything:- Tomatoes, the price of fish, an untidy room, a misplaced newspaper, &c. Very wound up. I wish she could unwind more. Yesterdays royal interview was well received in the Press. Good egg. I have a rotten barrel of Old Brewery Bitter to return (36 gallons). Pity. I have had so much look with the 18 gallon casks. Phoned Horton. Lynn and the girls and Thomas are staying with Papa. Picnics, &c. I think she said today they'd been to Hardraw Scar. Our barmaid Marjorie Murphy has left to work at a greeting cards shop in Leeds Market. Poor buggers.

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Sunday October 20, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

20th Sunday after Trinity

Bitterly cold. Auntie Mabel phoned as I was emerging from the cellar for breakfast. She has been on holiday. Somewhere south, and visited Windsor. A pleasant day at home. Off from 2:30. I sat with a Cornish pastie and tuned into a ghastly John Wayne film. What an incredibly boring actor he was. Samuel has been leaving puddles everywhere. We have a soggy carpet.

Read the Sunday Telegraph. Nancy Mitford's harrowing end. Hodgkinson's disease (sic). Or is it Hodgkin's? Or Patrick Jenkin disease? Oh, I don't know. 

The Waleses with Burnet.

This evening Sir Alastair Burnet interviewed the Waleses at Kensington Palace. Diana came over excellently and seemed self-confident though she hasn't shaken off that shy look. The prince fought off the rubbish about vegetarianism, spiritualism and all the other uncomfortable 'isms', but on the whole I think it was the princess who did the best. Saw the children assaulting a piano. It was followed by a play 'Trelawny of the Wells' by Arthur Wing Pinero. Excellent. Ally giggled. To bed.

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Saturday October 19, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn, Leeds LS11 5NQ

Thomas John.

Merde Alors! The vacuum cleaner has exploded. Ally's world has come crashing down. The vacuum cleaner - what a foul contraption. We are resolved to throw another 'party night' on Nov 16 before our next holiday. I must see Les Gledhill about half price whisky.  A quiet lunch. I phoned Tim at Pudsey and invited ourselves over there. We went at 4pm calling at Woolworth's to buy an offering for Thomas John. To Valley Rd to view my half cousin who I have decided is very much like Timothy. The baby is to be baptised at Pudsey on Nov 3. Pepper, the dog, is visiting there whilst Hilda and Tony are in Norfolk and the thing was yapping like hell behind a glass door. Samuel spent an hour tormenting the Yorkshire terrier. He can be naughty in confined spaces. We would love another baby, and soon. Busy evening. No staff after last nights cock up when we had two.

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Friday October 18, 1985

 Moorhouse Inn LS11 5NQ

That bloody stupid stock-taker came at 10:30 and mucked around supposedly taking stock. We laughed at his tie. At least eight inches in width, and brown velvet to boot. My God, what a pillock. He was all finished within an hour and off he tootled leaving us with a £20 surplus. Phoned Lynn and asked them to come here tonight (we have 2 staff). They came at 8:30 and we stood in a corner. Lynn told me of David's vasectomy and seemed to think I'd show some disapproval. Does she perhaps think I'm the Pope? David's snip is no concern of mine. We had a very enjoyable evening but it passed too quickly. They didn't stay late and used Dad babysitting as an excuse to leave. Lynn pulled her horrible Tranmere friends to pieces and says none of them know how to bring up children, &c. A reunion with the Allinsons seems likely. To bed pissed. Samuel woke and was troublesome.

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