Bank Holiday Monday. The good old Duke of Windsor died one year ago today. Brings to mind my trek down to see his lying-in-state.
Lynn is working in my stead on Saturday when we go down to London. She intends taking over from me in September.
At 1 o'clock go to CW. Work until 6.25. Quite busy. Sue pays me £2. Come home and watch a film of the Coronation, 1953. Have a bath at 9. Bed at 10.30. How's that for an early night!
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20090419
Sunday May 27, 1973
A real scorcher. Mum, Lynn, Sue, John and myself sit from 11 till 2 on the lawn. Mum has too much sun and feels unwell. Make an attempt to read Adolf Hitler. Mum, reading the paper, tells me of a trip from Leeds to the Trooping of the Colour on Saturday. I immediately ring and book 2 seats for John and myself. At lunch I think about June and whether she would like to come with us? She rings at 4 and I tell her of the trip - she agrees immediately to come with us. Fantastic! June and myself actually going to see the Queen!
Have tea. Dave rings at 7. We decide to go out. He comes in the car at 8 - and go to see June at Horsforth. No one is in at her house. Go back to Dave's and then collect John. Go back again to June's. Her mother and father are in. Fabulous people. Mr Bottomley is an artist. He offers me a cigarette and I complement him on his artistic capabilities. Mrs B is a real homely sort. Leave 10 minutes later. The Emmotts is packed out. Beautiful evening. Ivy doesn't have her coat on - the weather must be good. Pick up Peter Hurst and go to the Fleece. Chris and MM are in. Linda, Glenn and Julian Bolton are in a corner. Dave and I sit with them. Reminisce with Julian about old times at Fieldhead. Evidently, I gave him four old pence to pinch the school subuteo soccer pitch - but he sold it to somebody else for a few pence more! I never got my brass back!
Dave brings us home at 11.30. Everyone is on way to bed.
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Have tea. Dave rings at 7. We decide to go out. He comes in the car at 8 - and go to see June at Horsforth. No one is in at her house. Go back to Dave's and then collect John. Go back again to June's. Her mother and father are in. Fabulous people. Mr Bottomley is an artist. He offers me a cigarette and I complement him on his artistic capabilities. Mrs B is a real homely sort. Leave 10 minutes later. The Emmotts is packed out. Beautiful evening. Ivy doesn't have her coat on - the weather must be good. Pick up Peter Hurst and go to the Fleece. Chris and MM are in. Linda, Glenn and Julian Bolton are in a corner. Dave and I sit with them. Reminisce with Julian about old times at Fieldhead. Evidently, I gave him four old pence to pinch the school subuteo soccer pitch - but he sold it to somebody else for a few pence more! I never got my brass back!
Dave brings us home at 11.30. Everyone is on way to bed.
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20090417
Saturday May 26, 1973
Revise Napoleon (the 1st) all day. Do an essay entitled: "Enough was never enough", is this a fair judgement of Napoleon I?" Read AJP Taylor's essay on the thing. I hate Taylor. It was he, last year on tv, who said that he wouldn't even have employed Queen Victoria as a cook! The dirty, republican swine!
Fairly warm day. Go to CW at 7 o'clock. Exceedingly busy. Sue gets a bit flustered but, after all, it's understandable. Home by 2 o'clock.
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Fairly warm day. Go to CW at 7 o'clock. Exceedingly busy. Sue gets a bit flustered but, after all, it's understandable. Home by 2 o'clock.
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Friday May 25, 1973
Do Economics homework until nearly 4.0 this morning then go to bed until 8. Go on the 8.30 bus to Benton. Christine very tired. June, bless her, stays in bed until 11, having no lessons until 11.45. We do Economics. Christine and I are too tired - can hardly read our finance books. Surely, the most boring book ever written. Mr Ayling was in good humour. We laugh about last night - mine and Christine's jig caused a sensation.
June arrives for lunch. We stay at school at lunchtime and sit out in the red-hot sun. June does English in the afternoon. Dave, Christine and Holmes played chess. I revised with Carol Bailey. At 4 we pinch Tiff's shoe - and chase about until 5.30. Christine and I have such a good laugh. Go home after seeing June off. Not going out again until after the 'A' levels - or at least we aren't going to make a serious move to go out.
Go to the CW. Sue and Toffer in very jovial mood. Come home at 1 o'clock in the morning.
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June arrives for lunch. We stay at school at lunchtime and sit out in the red-hot sun. June does English in the afternoon. Dave, Christine and Holmes played chess. I revised with Carol Bailey. At 4 we pinch Tiff's shoe - and chase about until 5.30. Christine and I have such a good laugh. Go home after seeing June off. Not going out again until after the 'A' levels - or at least we aren't going to make a serious move to go out.
Go to the CW. Sue and Toffer in very jovial mood. Come home at 1 o'clock in the morning.
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Thursday May 24, 1973
It's the Profumo Affair all over again! Yes, Mr Heath's government is falling down about his head. Yesterday, Lord Lambton, the former Earl of Durham, resigned from the Defence ministry after admitting to drugs charges and do's with prostitutes. If this isn't enough, the 55 year-old Leader of the House of Lords, and Lord Prvy Seal, Earl Jellicoe, a godson of George V, today also resigned after being cited in the prostitute thing with Lambton. The news on tv has been really juicy these past two days!
The main question is, have they been forced, through blackmail, into leaking government secrets? Especially Lambton at the Ministry of Defence. Very, very embarrassing for Heath.
A really beautiful day. June and I really looking forward to tonight. June goes home at 3 to wash her hair. Dave goes home for his gear because he has to stay the night at Willie's in order to let W do the driving - him not having past his test yet. Go down to the employment exchange and get my passport - nearly leaving my birth certificate on the counter.
Willie brings me to Guiseley and then drives on with Christine, Elke, Dave, and Dietrich to Addingham where they have tea with Cowie. Dave and Willie pick John and I up at 8.0 we go on and pick up June, Hursty and Dale. Go to the Midland Hotel, Ilkley, and then do all the pubs going up the hill towards the Cow and Calf. Arrive at the Cow and Calf at 10. Christine not well at all. Have whisky with ice. June looks irresistible. Go to the Intercon. John dances until 2 without once leaving the floor. A fantastic evening. Come home in two trips. Christine and I do a silly dance whilst waiting for Willie from the 1st journey. Such a hysterical hour it really was.
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The main question is, have they been forced, through blackmail, into leaking government secrets? Especially Lambton at the Ministry of Defence. Very, very embarrassing for Heath.
A really beautiful day. June and I really looking forward to tonight. June goes home at 3 to wash her hair. Dave goes home for his gear because he has to stay the night at Willie's in order to let W do the driving - him not having past his test yet. Go down to the employment exchange and get my passport - nearly leaving my birth certificate on the counter.
Willie brings me to Guiseley and then drives on with Christine, Elke, Dave, and Dietrich to Addingham where they have tea with Cowie. Dave and Willie pick John and I up at 8.0 we go on and pick up June, Hursty and Dale. Go to the Midland Hotel, Ilkley, and then do all the pubs going up the hill towards the Cow and Calf. Arrive at the Cow and Calf at 10. Christine not well at all. Have whisky with ice. June looks irresistible. Go to the Intercon. John dances until 2 without once leaving the floor. A fantastic evening. Come home in two trips. Christine and I do a silly dance whilst waiting for Willie from the 1st journey. Such a hysterical hour it really was.
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Wednesday May 23, 1973
Get up at nearly 8 o'clock. Have a grapefruit. Mouth still very painful. Go to the dentist at 9 and sit reading Lord Liverpool in the waiting room until 9.30 when the receptionist comes in and says my appointment is at 4.30. Rush out back to school. The test begins at 9.45. A scorcher! Just my type. "How far was the Tory government 1822-30 Liberal?" Mrs Lane liked it, but she went into a cold sweat when I happened to mention that the 'A' levels are only three weeks away.
Do Economics. Ayling goes into raptures about the attitude of mind which we (the lower 6th) are taking re the 'O' levels. Ayling is however a terrible snob and he gets up my nose.
Revise in the afternoon lessons. Go to the bus stop with June. Uncle Harry arrives at 4.30. Believe it or not, he is not drunk today. He stays with us for tea (crab salad). Later, Mum, Dad and Uncle Harry go see Mum's cousin Dorothy in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where she's landlady of the White Horse pub. They come home at 1.0 - drinking after hours! Come to bed at 2 after quarrelling with Uncle H about Granddad. Mum gets really furious. But we are all friends by the time he sets off for home.
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Do Economics. Ayling goes into raptures about the attitude of mind which we (the lower 6th) are taking re the 'O' levels. Ayling is however a terrible snob and he gets up my nose.
Revise in the afternoon lessons. Go to the bus stop with June. Uncle Harry arrives at 4.30. Believe it or not, he is not drunk today. He stays with us for tea (crab salad). Later, Mum, Dad and Uncle Harry go see Mum's cousin Dorothy in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where she's landlady of the White Horse pub. They come home at 1.0 - drinking after hours! Come to bed at 2 after quarrelling with Uncle H about Granddad. Mum gets really furious. But we are all friends by the time he sets off for home.
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Tuesday May 22, 1973
Revise all day. The 'Liberal Tory' administration, 1822-1827. Hardly a thing to go into raptures over. Anyway, I have to save everything I know about Lord Liverpool until tomorrow morning.
Go down to work at 7.30. Sue still knitting for baby. No one comes in until about 11.15 - a party of six! Sue was really furious. Toffer brought me home at 1. Had a cup of Horlicks and came to bed.
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Go down to work at 7.30. Sue still knitting for baby. No one comes in until about 11.15 - a party of six! Sue was really furious. Toffer brought me home at 1. Had a cup of Horlicks and came to bed.
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Monday May 21, 1973
Get up at 8. Decide to go to Bradford Library and pay my fine once and for all. However, I cannot find Harold Nicolson's diaries and letters and realise, with horror, it's in June's locker at the 6th form. Go to school at 10 o'clock. Sort out the book business. June is not at school. Sit doing Lord Liverpool until 11.30.
Go to Bradford Library at 11.45. Spend an hour in the library. Reading in The Times I discover that Elizabeth, Countess of Scarbrough gave birth to a son and heir on Friday. He takes his father's courtesy title, 'Ld. Lumley'. That's another earldom saved from extinction. The earl is 42.
Go back to Benton. See June who is going into Guiseley about a holiday job. Go to Dave's house and do "the political influence of Queen Victoria". Mrs Lawson gives me £47.50 for Dave's holiday. At 4.20 Dave drives me home - Mum gets the money.
Carrying on with Victoria. Have dinner. Watch a play on tv - "Cider with Rosie" - quite good. Watch tv until 12.30. Have coffee and come to bed.
I'm taking June out on Thursday to the Ilkley Intercon - if she'll let me.
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Go to Bradford Library at 11.45. Spend an hour in the library. Reading in The Times I discover that Elizabeth, Countess of Scarbrough gave birth to a son and heir on Friday. He takes his father's courtesy title, 'Ld. Lumley'. That's another earldom saved from extinction. The earl is 42.
Go back to Benton. See June who is going into Guiseley about a holiday job. Go to Dave's house and do "the political influence of Queen Victoria". Mrs Lawson gives me £47.50 for Dave's holiday. At 4.20 Dave drives me home - Mum gets the money.
Carrying on with Victoria. Have dinner. Watch a play on tv - "Cider with Rosie" - quite good. Watch tv until 12.30. Have coffee and come to bed.
I'm taking June out on Thursday to the Ilkley Intercon - if she'll let me.
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Sunday May 20, 1973
Got up at about 11 oclock. Had grapefruit for breakfast.Read Sunday papers. Did you realise you could still be hanged in the UK? To murder or conspire to murder the Queen or Lord Chancellor; to blow up a battleship or harbour? And many more. It's only theoretical of course. If someone were to kill Her Majesty I do suppose that the sod would only do six years, or spend a couple of years with a good probabtion officer. The penal system in this country has gone to pot anyway and I do suppose that murderers do not even consider the consequences. What fear does a Butlin's holiday camp type prison hold? Free meals, good wine list, persian carpets, etc, etc.
Go to the Emmotts with June at 8.30. MM and Chris and several of "other" Germans arrive. The manager asks a German whether he's 18 or not. He says: "Ja, Mein Herr." Such a laugh. June has new white shoes. Very nice. Come home in rain at 11.10. Got to bed after Lynn was being sick everywhere - she got drunk at Christine Dibb's. Mother very upset.
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Go to the Emmotts with June at 8.30. MM and Chris and several of "other" Germans arrive. The manager asks a German whether he's 18 or not. He says: "Ja, Mein Herr." Such a laugh. June has new white shoes. Very nice. Come home in rain at 11.10. Got to bed after Lynn was being sick everywhere - she got drunk at Christine Dibb's. Mother very upset.
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20090416
Saturday May 19, 1973
Get up at 11.45. Disgraceful aint it? Have a very sore throat. Go to Morrison's with Mum and Dad. See one of the bods who goes to the Emmotts with Tim Wallis's mother and father - say hullo. Come home and have a nice sirloin with mushrooms.
Go to Waite's of Guiseley to be photographed at 2 o'clock. Buy about 3 boxes of different throat pastiles. Come home and have a black coffee. Mum goes into Major Smith's next door. They leave for Germany on Wednesday to stay with her mother and he is paying me £1 to cut his lawns - which can't be bad.
At about 3.30 whilst listening to Radio 1 I hear a news flash saying that the Royal Navy has entered Icelandic waters to protect fleets of British trawlers. The Queen signed Orders in Council this morning to despatch the navy. Yet another burst of good old Imperial policy. Lord Palmerston would certainly be proud of todays British government.
Watch 'Dr Who'. Go to CW at 7. Pauline is thrilled at Sue's news. A very slow evening. Sue goes to bed at 11.30 but comes back 1 hr later - after having a nice hot bath. I have a beer and help make Sue scrambled eggs on toast for herself. Toffer brings us home at 1.30. Have cheese, egg on toast and come to bed at 2.30 after glancing at the latest 'Economist'.
--==--
Go to Waite's of Guiseley to be photographed at 2 o'clock. Buy about 3 boxes of different throat pastiles. Come home and have a black coffee. Mum goes into Major Smith's next door. They leave for Germany on Wednesday to stay with her mother and he is paying me £1 to cut his lawns - which can't be bad.
At about 3.30 whilst listening to Radio 1 I hear a news flash saying that the Royal Navy has entered Icelandic waters to protect fleets of British trawlers. The Queen signed Orders in Council this morning to despatch the navy. Yet another burst of good old Imperial policy. Lord Palmerston would certainly be proud of todays British government.
Watch 'Dr Who'. Go to CW at 7. Pauline is thrilled at Sue's news. A very slow evening. Sue goes to bed at 11.30 but comes back 1 hr later - after having a nice hot bath. I have a beer and help make Sue scrambled eggs on toast for herself. Toffer brings us home at 1.30. Have cheese, egg on toast and come to bed at 2.30 after glancing at the latest 'Economist'.
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Friday May 18, 1973
Sue is pregnant! (Not my sister of course, but Sue of CW fame!) I said on Tuesday that I'd go down today and find her knitting. She can hardly believe it. The little bundle of joy is due on Christmas Eve - what a fabulous little Christmas present that will be!
Got to school at 8.30. Cowie and Ulrich are flat out with hangovers. I feel fine. Christine arrives 10 minutes later. They go off to York at 9.30 - another pub crawl - poor devils!
June and I go to the park at lunchtime. A beautiful sunny day. She says that she will never marry me - but not talking seriously. When I say that I'll have to marry her twin instead she changes her tune and says she'll have to marry me because she couldn't tolerate me as a brother-in-law.
Louise and I do Biology in the afternoon. Reproduction in plants! We laugh at the thought of geraniums copulating in a sweaty heap on the greenhouse floor!
Arrive home at 5.10 after waiting with June at the bus stop. We are meeting on Sunday at the local.
Got to CW at 7.30 - Sue is knitting! I immediately understand what this means - call Toffer "Dad" all night. They are both overjoyed. Home at 12.30 after a quiet evening.
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Got to school at 8.30. Cowie and Ulrich are flat out with hangovers. I feel fine. Christine arrives 10 minutes later. They go off to York at 9.30 - another pub crawl - poor devils!
June and I go to the park at lunchtime. A beautiful sunny day. She says that she will never marry me - but not talking seriously. When I say that I'll have to marry her twin instead she changes her tune and says she'll have to marry me because she couldn't tolerate me as a brother-in-law.
Louise and I do Biology in the afternoon. Reproduction in plants! We laugh at the thought of geraniums copulating in a sweaty heap on the greenhouse floor!
Arrive home at 5.10 after waiting with June at the bus stop. We are meeting on Sunday at the local.
Got to CW at 7.30 - Sue is knitting! I immediately understand what this means - call Toffer "Dad" all night. They are both overjoyed. Home at 12.30 after a quiet evening.
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