Monday September 2, 1974

Lousy day with constant rain and drizzle throughout. Nothing much doing at the YP and I don't get out at lunchtime because of the weather, sitting looking at cuttings on the death of George VI instead. Kathleen goes at 4 leaving Sarah and I quite alone for the last hour. Peter Chapman comes in to see us and we laugh at his escapades in love. He's a childish sod. Home at 6 for tea. Feel like going to see Marita tonight to look at the Appletreewick photos, which should be fantastic if they come out like we intended. Give her a ring at 6.30 and she says they are fine. Tell her about Fridays camping expedition to Grassington and she promises to ask MM whether they can go or not. She certainly fancies th idea but cannot answer for her espoused. At about 7 Mama suggests that John and I take her to Pudsey to see Auntie Hilda, who doesn't know about John's little 1100. Papa is working until 10 so we leap at the opportunity. Arrive at the Gadsby residece at about 7.30 and we sit with dear Auntie H and Uncle Tony and the girls drinking home made wine commenting on how revolting it all is (the wine that is). Call in at Westfield fish and chip shop on the way home. Home at 10.30. Dad looks rather pale tonight. -==-

Sunday September 1, 1974

Up at midday. Andy rings and we decide once and for all to go to Rufforth. John takes Chris and I, and Denny of course. But before leaving we have to push Dad's car out of the drive in order to move John's - these old cars really are shocking. Quite a large body of neighbours came to assist. Mum was annoyed with John when he kept broadcasting the fact hat Dad's car has no handbrake. When sods like Harry Monkman overhear such titbits they never let it drop.

To the Station Inn in Yeadon at about 1pm where we meet Andy. Drink Campari and soda - an excellent drink which makes a change from bitter. Collect Linda and Carol at 1.30 and we take Carol with us. Andy has acquired a new rally car to sell - it's up for sale at £350 - and he hopes to get rid of it at Rufforh this afternoon.

At Rufforth for 2. Pleasant afternoon but I become very easily bored by the racing. Eat my head off all afternoon. The beer tent was full of wasps which kept me away for most of the time. At 5 a lage black cloud came over and we piled into the cars, parked close to the track. I fall asleep in front of the 1100. Home for 7 and chicken for tea. Ring Dave L, whom we pick up at 8.30 - then ring Marita who spent the whole day in bed, brooding over the fact that she has six free tickets for Rufforth but no one to go with. I console he and tell her to come to the Fleece tonight.

To the Fleece with John and Dave L at 8.30. Move on to the Stansfield Arms after a few camparis. Don't like the Stansfield at all and glad to get out at 10.30. Dave is now coming camping with us next Friday - should be a tremendous laugh. Home by 11. Bed at 11.30.

-==-

Saturday August 31, 1974

Up at 7.30. Feeling terrible. I had far too much to drink last night.

All day, till 4, at the YP. Give Sarah a lesson on the monarchy. She thought that a monarch did not succeed to the throne until he/she had been crowned. I insist that the succssion takes place at the exact moment when the late sovereign has passed on. She has lived under the false impression that the throne was vacant at the time of her birth in November 1952, nine months after the death of George VI and seven months before the Coronation of Elizabeth II. What the hell do you say to an apparently intelligent 21-year old when they ask why the Duke of Edinburgh isn't King when his wife is the Queen? Pathetic it all is.

Finish work at 4. Home for tea at 5. Salad with Mum and Dad. Everyone else at work. To the Hare & Hounds at 8.30, but do not stay long. Linda and Phyllis are back from Gt Yarmouth, but don't talk too much about it. Move on to the Red Lion at Burley-in-Wharfedale, then Denny, Chris, Christine W, John and I move on to the Queen's Head, leaving the loving couples Andy and Linda and Peter and Carol. Have fish and chips which are exceptional before leaving for Guiseley. Denny and I go to Wikis. Very strange being the only two from the crowd. Stay till 2. Don't drink much. Just a couple of pernods each. She comes back to Pine Tops at 3 and stays in Lynn's bed. She's out at a party with Christine Dibb for the night.

-==-

Friday August 30, 1974

Good day altogether. YP as per usual - where I hear from Sarah that's she had been dreaming about me last night - which can't be bad at all. Evidently, I'd gone into the office with a serious amount of gelignite on my person and terrified everyone to death. Strange dreams some people have. I had hoped it would have have been something sexy - but it was not to be. Unless of course the gelignite is representative of my sexuality - a bomb waiting to go off. Sarah could be a real raver with a few gins and tonics down her.

John goes from work to Donald's with the new car - and stays till about 10.30 doing odd jobs on it, etc. At about 8.30 I walk to the Hare with the new umberella for Dave B which only cost a quid and a half. Keith comes down and together we get merry, or perhaps I should say pissed. Carol is now going out with Peter, & Dave is recovered from last Saturday's accident. This is all the latest news. And, oh yes, Keith hasn't seen Helen for about a week. See Laura, who accompanies us to the Commercial. On to Wikis at 10.30 where we stay until about 1.30. Got the hiccoughs and had to make myself sick to cure them. Keith kept trying to help by punching me in the stomach, but this drastic plan failed miserably. Home and sit in the toilet reading Arabella Buckley's 'History of England' - very old, but fascinating.

-==-

Thursday August 29, 1974

Warm day but somewhat cloudy. Nothing much of importance at the YP. It is disappointing that Sarah and Carol do not want to go on the weekly pub crawl which we agreed would be held every Thursday from now to eternity. Draw £30 cash from my Barclaycard which I give to John towards his car fund. £195 is rather a lot for a 17year-old boy to fork out. You must understand that I haven't given him the £30 and he must pay it back at a date yet to be decided by my solicitors. Mum tells me that Denny rang at ablout 5 o'clock to ask if I am working tomorrow. She'll be disappointed. I have to work all day Saturday too. I would like to alter the style of my diary which, since its beginning in January 1973, has been boring and monotonous. Can't imagine why I ever bother to write it, but no doubt it will be worthwhile in 100 years time. Princess Anne and Capt Phillips are staying in Yorkshire this week for the Bramham Horse trials, which are held at the home of Colonel Francis Lane Fox, a relation by marriage, of the YPs beloved chairman, Sir Kenneth Parkinson. It's about time the princess got herself pregnant. The Queen should be a young granny. But before then I hope to see Capt Phillips ennobled with a dukedom or marquisate. -==-

Wednesday August 28, 1974

I hate using biro at any time, but especially in my diary which I consider to be a sacred document. However, it happens that I have used up all my blue ink and so I have now to stoop to this cheap form of writing until I lay my hands on a new bottle of Quink.

Quite a warm day though not a good one at the YP. Sarah is not in a very good mood.

The man who is 28th in line of succession to the British throne, Mr Haakon Lorentzen, was seriously injured by a thug in a Newcastle pub yesterday, Mr Lorentzen is a son of Princess Ragnhild of Norway, and a grandson of King Olav, making him a great-grandson of Queen Maud, and thus a great-great-grandson of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom of Gt Britain, etc. A sign of the times when royal scions cannot refrain from the plebian vices of hooliganism and brawling.

Mum, Dad and John go car hunting at 7.30 and I ring Marita only to discover that she is out. Keep ringing for an hour without any success. Talked to Kathleen about the next General Election. She says it will be next year and not in October like Michael Foot keeps suggesting. It could be October 3, 10, 17, 24 or 31. Just to be on the safe side!

Sorry about this but I've found a supply of ink - Lynn's I think. Well, have done nothing all evening except inspect John's NEW CAR. Yes, I can't really believe any of it either. An 1100 - white with red interior. Surely, this is a historic day for us all.

-==-

Tuesday August 27, 1974

Lynn wakes me at 10.30 saying Denny is on the phone. I stagger downstairs. Denny says she can get a weekend trip to London for two - completely free - this weekend. I say I think I'm working on Saturday but just to be certain I ring the YP. Carol informs me that I am on all day on Saturday which puts paid to to all possibility of a weekend in our glorious capital city. Denny isn't too bothered and says she'll ring me later this evening. Lynn departs to work at 10.45.

At lunch Dad says he is to take the job with the CID after all. I don't know when he takes up the appointment, but we are all very pleased he's taken it.

At 2 I go into Guiseley with my library book 'Queen Mary' which was due back last month. The library however is closed for Bank Holiday.

Go to Bradford where I see that the Barbra Streisand's film 'For Pete's Sake' is on at the Odeon and make my mind up to see it tonight. Call in to see poor Denny, who is mad about the London weekend, but she says she'll go to the cinema with me. Then go see Lynn, working busily at the British Home Stores - she says she'll also come to the flicks, but then changes her mind because of a pre-arranged date with Ronnie._____. Go to the Wimpey Bar with Denny for a greasy cup of tea- at 49p each. To the Odeon at 5.30 - both films are excellent, but 'For Pete's Sake' is great and Denny enjoyed it especially. Both get the 55 at about 10.30 - and Denny goes to Yeadon, where she intends getting a taxi. Home by 11. Hear from Lynn that Marita rang.

-==-