Monday August 26, 1974

Denny wakes me at 10.30. We have toast and lark around. Chris brings John and I home at 12.15. Lunch with Mum, Dad and Lynn who is bored sick of staying at home but she cannot come out with us this afternoon because she expects a social call from Miss Dibb.

The papers are full once again with stories of a romance concerning the Prince of Wales. The young lady in question is Miss Davina Sheffield, daughter of a dead colonel. I have given up hope of ever seeing the heir to England's domains walk down the aisle with his bride by his side. Somehow, I thought she (the bride) would be Lady Jane Wellesley, but I cannot see the future King marrying a convicted drunkard.

Chris picks John and I up at nearly 2. Carol is with him. We go to Dnny's where Dave B sits in an armchair looking horribly pale, and he continues to look ill for the remainder of the day. We go to the Dyneley Arms where we meet Andy and Philip Cartwright. At 3 move on to Harrogate and the fair. Thunderstorm there. Get a thorough soaking. Have an enjoyable time. Stay until 6. On to the Travellers Rest for sandwiches and a few drinks and a game of darts. Home at 8 and decide to stay in. Feel very tired. See the end of the film: 'It's a Mad, Mad World'. Bed after 12.

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Sunday August 25, 1974

Up at about 10.30 for breakfast. Miss Dibb joins us for toast and marmalade, etc. Worried about Dave B I ring Andy where I learn from Mrs Graham that Dave spent he night in Otley Hospital. At least they'll be able to deal with his injuries, which certainly needed some medical treatment. Ring Denny who asks if anything exciting will be taking place tomorrow, then ring Chris, where Mrs Ratcliffe informs me that his lordship is still asleep in his bed.

John drives me to Guiseley Railway Station at about 5 o'clock - in pouring rain - and I have a nasty experience with Dave B's umberella, which completely collapsed about my head. Arrive work at 5.30. Shortly afterwards Denny rings and invites me to her house, where by all accounts a party will be commencing from 10.30 onwards this evening. Go to the Central with Tony K from 9 till 10. Taxi to Denny's at midnight - it only takes 15 minutes. Andy, Carol, Peter M, Chris, John and Denny are the sole party attenders. The girls are busy making chips. Before 2 everyone goes except Chris, John and myself and we argue about what we intend doing for the day tomorrow. I think we shoud go to the seaside, but everyone says I'm mad, and shout abuse concerning traffic jams and other such rubbish.

Denny and I sit in her lounge drinking Dry Martini until after 4am. We then both go our separate ways to bed. I sit reading 'The Betsy' by Harold Robbins, which I've read before, and also glance at an autobiography of a one-time Hell's Angel. Daylight by the time I eventually go to sleep.

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Saturday August 24, 1974

Believe it or not I think now that I could quite easily have any girl I wanted. Even Sarah isn't such a fantastic possibility as I would have thought only a week ago. God! Stop me if I become vain, arrogant and big-headed.

One year ago today Miss Bottomley finished with me. obviously, you are all sick of hearing about this infantile relationship, but it had an extremely deep impact upon my life, which I cannot ignore. I'd have thought that it occurred two years ago. These past 12 months certainly have dragged by.

Get up at 10. Do nothing all morning other than go for my first car ride with John. We go to collect Sue from the hairdressers.

Chris calls on us at about 3pm and we sit in front of the TV watching 'Blithe Spirit', the brilliant film adapted from the play of the same name by Noel Coward.

John took the car out on his own for the first time and we experienced something horrific. Going to the Hare and Hounds at 9 everyone decided to move on to the Commercial & we all departed. On the road to Esholt Dave missed the bend in the road and crashed. He went through his windscreen - wrecking the car but only slightly injuring himself. He could quite easily have been killed. We are all shaken up. From around 9.20 to 10.30 we hang round the car whilst Dave cleans himself up in the Commercial. Poor Carol was shaken.

See TV. Christine Dibb is staying the night and we all retire at about 1am.

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Friday August 23, 1974

Warm day. Climb out of bed at 10am and have a little breakfast. Susan is the only other member of the clan at home. Play records till after 11 when something possesses me to ring Marita. I do so, and we arrange to meet in Leeds at 12.30. I miss several buses and arrive 15 minutes late. We go to the Wellesley, where she devours a salad sandwich and several lagers, and I a cottage pie and a few pints. She leaves me to return o work at 1.30 after pouring out all her troubles to me about what will happen when MM goes to Sheffield in October. I sit on my own in the Wellesley until 2 before scooting off in search of a hairdresser clutching a pack of twenty cigarettes. Go into WH Smiths to look at a few dirty books & feeling quite intoxicated. Whilst rumaging through ther dirty magazines I feel a sharp poke in the back, swinging round I see dear Sarah standing before me brandishing an umbrella. Quite a surprise. She gets a couple of books and then we go to Whitelocks for a few drinks. Sit talking with her until 3, then she goes for her bus home. I madly search round Leeds for a toilet - six pints of beer becomes quite a torrential possibility after three hours of solid supping. Look around, after relieving myself, for something of interest and end up in Leeds Reference Library looking at peerage books until nearly 5. 

To work where Kathleen asks me whether I'll work Sunday night and have Tuesday off. I say yes. Work uneventful, and feel drowsy from the ale. Go with Tony Kelly to the Wellesley at 9 and return at 9.45. Intend goint to Wikis but Mama rings me to say John is already home by 11.20. Dad's been offered a new job in the CID but he doesn't know whether to do it. Come home by taxi for 12.15 & feel really tired - glad I didn't go to Wikis after all. Bed immediately.

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Thursday August 22, 1974

Cloudy, overcast day but really enjoyable. Sarah, Carol J, and I go to Whitelocks, a charming 18th century pub in Leeds centre. We get somewhat sloshed before staggering back to the YP at 1 o'clock. Sarah really is too gorgeous when she's sloshed - a pity she can't always be that way.

Katleen isn't at all nice about our boozing excursion, though she lets us out for 4.30. The three of us, Sarah, Carol and I decide to have a night out next week so that we can really let ourselves go.

Today, Sarah confimed that Janice is pregnant, and says that Janice has never told me because she's too shy to do so. Not characteristic of Mrs Beaumont. Come home on the same bus as Sarah, who is too fanciable for words.

Do nothing in the evening except see 'Top of the Pops' and sit with Susan and Peter listening to records.

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Wednesday August 21, 1974

Yes, my eye is much better this morning, thank you. Bright, clear day. Both Phyllis Whitethighs and Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret celebrate birthdays today.

To the Hare & Hounds at 8.15 with Lynn and John. Lynn wears her new Marilyn Monroe-style pullover. All the crowd are within by 8.30. I go home with David B to collect some records which he lent me when we were at his place two weeks ago, then we come back to the Hare. Denny brings me a new single 'Queen of Clubs' by KC and the Sunshine Band and lends me a James Brown LP. MM and Marita come in and ____. Denny seeks refuge in the charms of Graham Pease, who takes her to distant places. Don't really know why Denny and ____.

Phyllis drinks approximately ten shorts before landing flat on her face in the Hare's car park. A frantic departure and Andy, Linda, Carol and Phyllis go home - the remainder coming back to Pine Tops for a coffee. David B is quite attached to Lynn and I harbour secret hopes of a future romance. Bed at midnight. Good day really.

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Tuesday August 20, 1974

Very warm day but bloody lousy from my point of view. To the YP at 9am - Janice and Carol are both off leaving Kathleen, Sarah and myself. Quite busy.

Going to lunch at 1 o'clock I get something in my eye which iritates me. By 2 the pain is unbearable, and having puchased a £9 postal order I return to the YP and go to the medical room where the little man there gives me an eye-bath - which proves unsuccessful. At 3 I go back to see the little man and he repeats the treatment - which, again, is unsuccessful. Kathleen finally decides to allow me to go to the hospital and I stagger to Leeds Infirmary. A doctor plays around with my eye and pulls out a piece of grit, relieving me of great agonies. I stagger to the bus station where I find consolation in the shape of Susan Bottomley, who joins me on the 35 bus. We discuss nothing in paticular but she tells that June passed her 'A' level and is going to college for certain.

My eye continues to be very painful and I don't intend straining myself any more this evening. I'm about to climb into a hot bath and hope to retire early tonight.

The whole family have been very sympathetic about my tragic disposition and Mama expressed relief I hadn't rung her beforehand because she'd hav been worried sick.

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