Tuesday March 6, 1973

Got up at 7.30. Left on the 8.30 bus to Rawdon. June came at about 9.30 wearing a very fetching black cardigan-type-jumper thing. Mrs Lane gave me some very shocking news adressing me by my staffroom name - 'Ravishing Rhodes'. She had been in the staffroom and my name had been mentioned. She said she thought she was well-up on the latest gossip but was shocked to hear that I had had " three girlfriends since Louise". I replied: "I have never had, nor wanted, Louise!"

Lynn is 15 years old today and it actually snowed at about 8 this morning, the only time that Mum can remember it snowing on March 6 since the very day that Lynn was born in 1958, when it was a very wintry day.

June and I went out again to Hinchcliffe's in Rawdon. She promised to wait for me until 10 to 5 tonight in case Ayling makes us watch the Budget in any great detail.

We began with the Budget at about 3. Jacko and I went to the main school to collect the television and took it to the library. Both upper 6th and lower 6th economic groups were herded in Ayling's class to watch it - most enjoyable!!

The Budget itself has been described as the Childrens' Budget or Lollipop Budget because the chancellor didn't put VAT on childrens' clothing, etc. He also removed the tax on potato crisps, ice cream, sweets and other childrens eatables. VAT was set at 10 per cent, a mark which the majority of people expected. Dave voted for 7 and a half per cent. The pensioners got a £1 rise (however, it's not payable until Oct 1, 1973). No doubt Mr Barber expects a lot of them to be dead by then due to the industrial action of the gas workers and electricity men. Dad says the Budget is a typical Tory one. The Tories have given more increases to the pensioners than the Labour government ever did between 1964-69. And Dad can't argue about that.

Mum made a lovely tea for Lynn - cream cakes, etc. Ayling let us out at 4.30, enabling me to enjoy a walk to the bus stop with June and untaxed Cadbury's Cream Eggs.

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Monday March 5, 1973

Awoke at 7.35 - my throat was inflamed and feeling very dry. Made a little breakfast and went on the 8.30 bus to Benton Park. In general, the day was far from satisfactory. June was much too apologetic about bringing her sister along yesterday. Why does she apologise for something which is not at all wrong? After this and all day long she had the idea that I was trying to finish with her! How totally senseless. I cannot imagine why she thought this. God! I hope we are not cooling off! I could not last without her affection!

At lunchtime June and I went down to Hinchcliffe's for a couple of rum truffles and just to be contradictory I made her go without her coat. We walked slowly back to school hand-in-hand. Martin V-B made some snide remark about it but we ignored him.

The afternoon was really a shocking bore. I think that June and I see too much of each other. The thought of me saying that a month ago would have been unthinkable. But quite seriously it can get a bit monotonous being with one another every bit of the day. However, at the bus stop we made up entirely, buying our usual cream eggs. June helped me pick a birthday card for Lynn, who is 15 tomorrow. We waved goodbye until she disappeared from view.

On the news I see the terrible news that a plane with 45 Britons on board coming from Majorca crashed in France killing them all. Linda W was coming home from Majorca either today or tomorrow! I was most worried. June and Cowie will be having eggs tonight.

Went to bed early feeling tired. Tomorrow is Budget Day. I wonder what the Chancellor will do? He had better do something for the pensioners because they are poorly underpaid at the moment. We're watching the budget with Mr Ayling. Lynn is also 15 and the celebrations will begin at tea time.

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Sunday March 4, 1973

Quinquagesima. Dad woke me up at 10.30 whilst making Mum her morning cup of tea, but I went back to bed for another hour. Got up at 11.30 to a fashion parade of girls dresses which Muriel Rawnsley had brought round from her Grattan's catalogue orders. Lynn and Sue are certainly preparing for Italy. Went upstairs to dress. Mum was making lunch and smell of roast chicken drifted around the house.

Toffer gave me £4 last night, an extra 50p - for commendable service on Friday night. I was most chuffed. However the extra 50p will not be put to use by me because Lynn celebrates her 15th birthday on Tuesday and I have promised to put 50p in the birthday kitty. Tuesday will also be a very important day politically because Mr Barber, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presents his Budget to parliament in good time for the introduction of VAT on April 1. The Budget is usually near my birthday.

After a superb lunch we all went into the lounge and watched TV. I had a bath - soaked for an hour - and then came downstairs to press my trousers for tonights liaison at the Emmotts.

Tea was upon is once again and I ate it whilst listening to Tom Brown's Top 60 show on the radio. At 7.30 I headed down to the bus stop and was most surprised to see that all the broken windows had been replaced. Got the 8 o'clock 55 and was at the Emmotts by 8.25. June and Janet and June's twin sister Susan were waiting inside. I had quite forgotten what Susan Bottomley looked like. A pleasant evening together. Chris, Christine, Andy and Linda Smith came up at about 10 and then Keith Harrison arrived. Within 20 minutes we had Susan B and Keith "off together". June and I then left them alone and we walked down to the bottom road. June said that Susan hated Keith - having been out with him before. We sat on the seat waiting for the damnable bus. At about 10.55 Chris and Andy and girlfriends came marching past - Chris was all cheesy grins. Susan and Keith followed. They didn't half look funny together. But Susan is such a nice girl, and if I had never met June then she would have made an admirable substitute.
Ah but nobody can replace June.

June's 33 bus came at 11. We bade farewell. Chris was also on board. Keith was over the moon! He's such a fan of Sue Bottomley. Keith and I walked into Horsforth (?) with Dave Pearson, a black chap. I continued to walk home realising I'd missed the last bus. It only took 30 minutes. Arrived home at 11.45. Mum and Dad had just gone to bed. I had some supper and went to bed at 12.20. A delightful evening.

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Saturday March 3, 1973

Got up at 11.30. Had breakfast with Mum, Dad and Sue. John and Lynn were both at work. I played John's Supremes greatest hits record - it's a bit dated. In the middle of lunch Stuart Little, Mum's 5 year-old godson came to see us, and stayed until nearly 6. The weather was warm and sunny and they decided to go with him for a drive to make the most it. I remained at home for a lazy afternoon. I played records and watched a chronic film on the telly until 4.30 when John arrived home from work - we watched the football results together - how delightfully interesting!
Mum, Dad, Sue and Stuart came home at about 5. I had dinner - which consisted of some kind of curried beef creation - very tasty, and then proceeded to watch 'Dr Who'. Lynn came back from Leeds in a terrible state. After work she had gone to Leeds with Alison to do some shopping - to spend her birthday money -Well, whilst going around Leeds she caught her foot in the turn-ups of her Oxford Bags and fell heavily onto the pavement - her arm is awfully bruised, probably broken.

Went down to the Chuck Wagon at 7. We were moderately busy all evening. Pauline begged me not to sit too long with my drink after my work is done. She wants to get off home, but seems to forget that she is finished at 11.30 and is able to sit supping for a hour and a half before I get the chance to have even one. Came home at 1. Had a couple of boiled eggs and came to bed at 2 after sitting with a coffee.

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Friday March 2, 1973

Got up at 7.35. Not at all nervous about my coming interview at Middleton St George. In fact I've grown quite accustomed to having these interviews now. Put on my interview suit, and got a lift into Guiseley with Mum and Dad at 9. I boarded the 55 bus and got into Leeds for 9.50. Looked into a few shops and went to the station at 10.30. My ticket to Darlington cost £1.55. The train left for York at 11.15. Changed at York at 11.55 and got into Darlington at 12.55. My first impression of the college was not a good one. In fact I had doubts I'd come to the right place. The college dates from 1970 and was previously a RAF camp - it still looks like one. What else could it be situated slap bang in the middle of Teesside airport. We began at about 2. The interviewees were separated into 2 groups. Half going to interviews and the other half doing a written test. I started with the test. What a stinker! It lasted 45 minutes. My first interview lasted 35 minutes and was conducted by some sort of college idiot - a decent bloke really. We got talking about family histories and went into length about the Wilson family. He seemed to enjoy it. My second interview was with the head of the History department - a fidgetty, intent, little Welsh chap. He also went on about family history and suggested me doing it for a project if I was accepted at the college. I left at 4.25 and caught a train back to Darlington. After chopping and changing I arrived in Leeds at 6.20. I rang Mum and told her to ring Sue and Toffer to let them know I'd be late. I got home at 7.30. Auntie Hilda, Uncle Tony, Karen, Jill and Diane arrived simultaneously. I had my dinner and Uncle T kindly gave me a lift to the Chuck Wagon at 8.
I have never known it to be so busy. Sue R was almost crying with the deluge of orders which Toffer kept bringing in. On adding up the orders at the end Sue said that they had taken £60 in the one night! You can imagine how I felt at 12.30 - up to my eyes in dirty, greasy dinner plates. At about 1am we all collapsed into the empty restaurant and drank off our exhaustion. Worthington hasn't half grown since our last meeting - his legs especially. Toffer brought me home. Mum and Dad had only just gone to bed. The Gadsbys had left at 12.45. I was utterly exhausted after chasing round all day. To bed.

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Thursday March 1, 1973

Our first month together!!! June and I began this historic day by playing several rounds of cheat quite alone in the common room. I won both games much to her annoyance. She says I do it too well. Groves came in and advised us to stop playing cards as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools was coming round - "somehow", said Groves, "the sight of you gambling might not go down too well". June had a busy timetable for the day I didn't see her until lunchtime.

Sadly we finished the History Syllabus today - and the rest is up to us! The 'A' level comes in the second week in June - three short, hard months to go.

Calamity and disaster! A photograph fell from my wallet and into June's hands. Yes, it was one of Barbara, dated February 18, 1971 inscribed: "To Michael. Much Love. Barbara xxx". June wanted to know all the sordid details. I cannot actually recall why we finished going out together - it must have been around the middle of May last year. It would have been a lot better if June had never seen the photo, but what does it matter. It's not as if I'm two timing her.

In the afternoon high farce indeed. Christine Braithwaite set fire to my Economics essay! I told her to be careful but the thing got out of control and the smouldering essay fell to the floor, burning one of the tiles. That's one of the reasons why I voted against a new carpet.

Linda was not at school today. She is preparing for her holiday tomorrow - she's going to Spain for 5 days. Lucky kid!

We had our usual bus stop liaison, and you've guessed it .....Cadbury creme eggs. My bus came early. Rushed home and had dinner then climbed into the bath and washed my hair. Was suitably spruced up for 7.15 when I set off back to Rawdon. Just June and I at the Emmotts. I arrived at 7.50 and she at 8.10. A quiet night. Sue Crosby and Liz Peddie came in but only came across to say hello. Saw old Ivy, a sweet old girl, but she ceases to be amusing after the first 2 hours. At 10.30 it was back to the bus stop but Peter Hurst came and so June and I decided to wait for the next No. 55 at 11.20. Very romantic. We walked down to the bottom road and sat on the uncomfortable seat. We kisses farewell. I got the 33 Ilkley bus to Guiseley and was home for midnight. Mum and Dad were watching the Lincoln by-election results. Evidently, Dick Taverne, the Democratic Labour candidate won! He was kicked out of the Labour party in October for placing his loyalties with the pro-Common Market men. I bet Harold Wilson is choked. I had my money on Jonathan Guinness, the Conservative.

(The offending photo of Barbara Woodhead is published above)

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Wednesday February 28, 1973

Got up at 7.30 and went to school at 8.30. Mr Rawnsley saw me down the lane and gave me a lift to Rawdon. On arriving at school Linda said June was unwell and would not be coming to school. I was horror struck! How could I go through a day without the company of June? Happily, she arrived later looking beautiful as usual. Groves informed me that I had an interview with Mr Gaunt for 10. I dread going to see him. He's such a ridiculous burke. I went up with Denise and 10. He didn't have anything to say except to wish me luck for Friday's interview. Mrs Lane's lesson was rather interesting: Suez Crisis, and the rise of Harold Macmillan 1957-63, etc. At lunchtime June and I went down to the shops for a couple of Cadbury Creme Eggs and a pound of sugar for the servery. June went without her coat and looked really cold. She laughs when I say she'll catch cold. June has been delightful today. She tells me that she's going for tea with her sister Christine, in Guiseley. On Ings Lane to be precise. She was ready and waiting to leave at 4, but somehow the whole thing slipped my mind and we didn't leave until nearly 4.30 - she had been sitting silently in her duffle coat watching me chatting, instead of pulling me away. A romantic journey together on the same bus for once! --==--