Friday January 12, 1973

Mum sent off the deposits for the holiday this evening. I spoke to Denise and David whilst Mum was carrying out this historical spectacle at the Post Office. School was a big laugh. A Professor Corbett came to give us a lecture on humanities. It was the most boring one and a half hours I have ever experienced at school. Cowie (Graham Cowburn), Andy (Graham), and myself were sitting behind Pee-Wee, Dave and Dale (Elkington) - tormenting them by kicking the bottom of their chairs - causing them to bounce through the lecture. 

It happened at last. Chris fancies Fat Louise. I can't see why. However, she's the most nympomaniacal woman in Bramhope. They are off to the Emmott's tonight - and a damned bloody soddin' nice evening they'll have whilst I slog my guts out down at the Chuck Wagon. 

Went to the denist at 4.15 - 15 minutes late. The receptionist was bloody wild with rage, but all the same I received a filling in one of my upper teeth. The numbness from the injection in my face was still evident at 9pm. My next appointment is May 4. And that isn't too far away for my liking. Went down to the Chuck Wagon at 7.30. Busy all evening. Told Toffer I was having next Friday off to go to Tim Wallis and Liz Richardson's engagement party. I can't wait for it. However, Tim and Liz aren't the type to spend the next 50-odd years together so I don't know why they're bothering getting engaged because I'd eat my hat if they got married. It's now 1.15 am. Retiring to bed after a hot beverage, i.e. coffee...

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Thursday January 11, 1973

Got up at 6.30 - nervous and tired. Arrived at Guiseley train station at 6.50. The Leeds train arrived 9 minutes later. On arrival at Leeds my Darlington ticket cost £1.75 - remarkably cheap for British Rail. Caught the train at 7.48 and arrived at 9.31am. Found my way easily to the college - which seemed very impressive in its Victorian splendour. At college I was immediately pushed into a room where several girls and a boy were writing an essay under exam. conditions. I did the same. It was a comprehension on Tolstoy's teachings. After three paragraphs I finished and joined the others for a good laugh (to hide the nervousness). My interview with the History man went down quite well for both os us - and I left after 20 minutes feeling rather pleased. I was somewhat less confident when I was interviewed by the deputy principal (who incidentally was the double of the Duchess of Windsor). By 12 it was all over and I was invited to lunch by two of the interviewees - both public schoolgirls. One of them had a nice car. We were all friends by the end of the lunch and we parted at 1.30 not knowing if any of us would meet again. But we promised to "meet in September" - a rather optimistic view. I made my way back to the station and departed for York at 2.50. At York I changed trains and went to Leeds. Home at 6.30. Mum tells me of the new holiday arrangements. We are now going to the Adriatic for 15 days. "Stuff the cost" attitude by Mum has worried Dad slightly - but one can always rely on Mum to manage affairs of monetary principle. We start hols on July 13, the very day that Dave I leave Benton Park. Looking forward to school tomorrow. It will be a change to have a laugh, in fact all we ever do in that place is get from one laugh to another without giving ourselves hernias, etc. --

Wednesday January 10, 1973

Things moved at a phenomenal pace today. Mum instructed me to solve the holiday question before the day was out. At school I hear that Chris has asked Louise, MM, and Liz Richardson to join us on holiday. At 11.15 I decided to take £2 to Rawdon Post Office to put in the savings bank for my hols. Passing Rigg's Butchers I notice the window cleaner working busily, and merrily whistling. I proceeded to the P.O. within 2 minutes I emerged back onto the high street and to my horror found the said window cleaner had collapsed and died on the pavement outside the butchers. Mr Rigg had covered him with a sack. Enquiring at home Dad says he (the window cleaner) was 78. So it's hardly a bad way to go is it? Back at school I was treated for the rest of the day as if I was suffereing from a severe case of shock. Mrs Harris offered to fetch me a brandy from the staffroom - how very touching. Dave and Denise came up at 8 and we decided on a 10-day visit to the Venetian riviera - phew! They remained until 11. Retired to bed at 11.30. Going to Darlington tomorrow - looking forward to it. Everyone wished me luck as I went to bed. I have to be up at 5.45.


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Tuesday January 9, 1973

One of those days doomed to failure from the start. David and Denise said they'd come to Pine Tops tonight. Chris also decided to come. Mum prepared a get-together over holiday brochures and suggested that D and D should join the family on our Continental holiday - an admirable idea from all points of view. David rang at 7.30pm and said we should go up to Denise's instead - Mum and John were furious at the change of plan. I left in a lousy temper. Arrived at Arthington at 8.45 and we discussed everything except holidays until David's Dad collected us at 11.15. The topics ranged from sex before marriage to abortions, marriage and divorce, and God and the Bible. Nobody had any objections to our going to one of the Italian Rivieras, and we made haste to get home -



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Monday January 8, 1973

My head is heavy with cold. A horrid fog has shrouded the nation since before Xmas. My throat, eyes and ears are all made up with water. Have done bugger all at school. Exams begin on Jan 22. It's about time I began revising seriously. Old Mr Appleyard died at the weekend - a nice old chap really - but he seemed much older than 64. Mum's been in the travel agents again. John definately wants to do Italy in July. Dave L and myself will do Italy, Austria or Switzerland. Mum, Lynn and Sue fancy Austria. Denise was on the telly tonight - throwing a boomerang on Calendar. She looked very nice. We all sat in silence for about 2 minutes. Had a bath at 10.45.


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Sunday January 7, 1973

1st Sunday after Epiphany. Woke up at 1.20pm. I absolutely hate sleeping-in until this uncivilised hour. After lunch I rang Shelley (Masterson) at Menston - - haven't seen her since May. Watched the telly all afternoon and listened to the top 20 on Radio 1. Sunday is the most boring day of the week. One day I'll go to church on a Sunday morning. Chris phoned and said that Louise and MM went down to Denise's babysitters last night to see if Chris and D. were doing anything they shouldn't be doing - Geddit! It'll certainly be a laugh at school tomorrow. John and I are going down to Dave's on Tuesday to look at brochures for the '73 holiday. I have to save £70 for July. Not a very pleasant thought. John, being a working man is able to save a small fortune by July - he fancies going to Norway, but I'd prefer Austria or Switzerland.

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Saturday January 6, 1973

Epiphany. Mum woke me at 9am with the long awaited letter from Darlington College of Education. They want me to attend an interview on Jan 11th at 9.20. Check the train times and I can't be there until 9.31. I write a letter explaining this trouble.

Denise was in the Airedale and Wharfedale Observer this morning with picture - learning the art of boomerang throwing. I enclose the picture here for posterity. After lunch I went to Bradford Library and the history section and arrived home at 5.15.

Went down to work at 7 and was busy for a solid 2 and a half hours. The evening didn't half drag though. Sue and Toffer were in usual cheery mood as was Pauline, the "sexy" waitress. Incidentally, she's bringing a pack of cards next Saturday so that she, Toffer and I will be able to play a few hands of strip pontoon. Sue says she won't bother because of the difficulties involved in cooking in the nude. I well understand her predicament. Saw little Worthington once again - he tried to tackle a T-bone - he certainly has the right idea. Didn't finish work until 1am. Toffer took Pauline and me home.

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Friday January 5, 1973

Went to school as usual. Ayling, the economics tutor, was absent again leaving me with a free double lesson. Denise and I went to the chippie at 12.20 and spent £1.06. If that aint inflation I don't know what is. We also went to a shoe shop and I helped Denise choose a pair which she is collecting on Monday. Before his 'absentness' occurred Mr Ayling booked Friday afternoon for the upper and lower sixth to pay a visit to Barclays Bank in Leeds - only the economics group that is. After a fairly interesting afternoon we arrived back at school, Dave and myself that is, where Garth was playing snooker and chatting with Mrs Capstan-Fullstrength. After missing several buses I arrived home at 6.45pm. Went to the Chuck Wagon (restaurant at White Cross) at 7.45. Toffer was knocking back the Bacardis. Only four people were in. Sue (the owner) came down from the flat very excited and told me they had got little Worthington at last. Went upstairs to see him. He's just like Webster. Beagles are the cutest dogs. It wasn't a good night for business - but 4 had to come in at 11.25. That delayed my departure until 12.15. Sue retired at 11.25 and Toffer and I looked after things until closing time. Lynn and Susan were watching a horrible film and I sat with a whisky and soda until it ended. Came to bed at 1am.
Read in the paper that a brawling rabble of anti-marketeers jeered the poor Queen as she arrived at Covent Garden yesterday. Why blame her? It's the MPs who want jeering, not her.

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Thursday January 4, 1973

A look at yesterdays events in the cold light of day certainly changes the situation. I have come to the conclusion that last night's party was all part of a plot by Chris R to push Denise and I together. After me knocking back almost the whole of a bottle of whisky it is hardly surprising that he imagined it to have worked. I feel stupid now. All it has done is make poor Denise confused. I fell into a ditch last night and this morning am covered in scratches. The alcohol in my blood deadened the pain. For the greater part of the day I felt as if I'd drunk a bottle of disinfectant. School was uneventful and I returned home at 4.45. Uncle Harry had just arrived, boasting he'd been drunk since New Year's Eve. He brought a massive quantity of drink with him and he left for a nightclub in York at 6.15. He must be dreadfully lonely. By 9pm I couldn't keep my eyes open. The Christmas tree and decs came down today.


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Wednesday January 3, 1973

Several of the morning newspapers contain stories of a romance between Princess Anne and Mark Phillips. The Sun says they're engaged. Mum says he's a good looking chap and hopes they're in love. I'd prefer HRH to marry some titled chap. We can't have the daughter of the Queen going round calling herself Mrs Phillips. Princess Margaret married a Mr Jones - but HM soon put a stop to that (i.e. Lord Snowdon).
1st day back at school since Dec 19, 1972. Dave, Denise and Chris and I are all going to somebodys party at Dunkeswick. I don't know the girl throwing the party and have never heard of Dunkeswick - supposedly a village near Bramhope or Otley.
We arrived at about 9.30. The venue was a tiny cottage. Excuse me if the writing is horrible but it's now 12.30 and I'm awfully drunk. Several wealthy girls were there, including someone called Debbie, daughter of a millionaire. I drank almost a full bottle of whisky - which accounts for the deterioration of the handwriting. I am in love with Denise.



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Tuesday January 2, 1973

I awoke at 12 lunchtime. It's Mum and Dad's birthday today. They're 38 and 39 respectively. We haven't bought them a present yet. Lynn is hiding the money somewhere - and besides - it's half day closing down in Guiseley. In the afternoon I went to Bradford Library and took out a book on the Spanish Civil War 1936-39. Arrived home on the 6 o'clock bus. Rushed up the lane to find the family sitting around in their splendour waiting to go for tea to Harry Ramsden's. I've lived on Harry's doorstep for 5 years and this is my first visit. Dad says people come from Australia simply to eat "one of each" and a carton of mushy peas. It's hardly worth the journey I can assure you. In the evening (7.45-10.45) I did my history essay entitled: "Why did Germany and Italy involve themselves in the Spanish Civil War and what were the consequences of this war". Mum and Dad went up to the Albert at Yeadon for a drink - coming home at 10.45. I had supper and retired to bed at midnight. Back to school tomorrow - History, economics and current affairs all in quick succession - yuk. Mum and Dad are playing romantic love songs downstairs. They've had a happy birthday.
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