Friday July 30, 1976

Peter Mather's 21st. Wake up at 11.15. Lynne is on the phone from Burley-in-Wharfedale. She wants to know if I fancy meeting her for lunch at the Red Lion. I say no because I want to to Leeds, but then change my mind after five minutes and ring her back. Mum comes home at 12.30 and she takes me down to the White Cross where I get a bus to Burley. I sit in the Red Lion and have a pint on my own until Lynne comes out of work. It is a nice, warm, sunny day and we sit outside watching the world go by. I have a gin and tonic for a change. Set off to Leeds at about 2.30.

Get my hair cut in that place in the Empire Arcade and then go buy Peter the 'Fly, Robin Fly' LP which he used to rave about in Ibiza. I also got Maria a perfume spray for her birthday - it's called 'Stevie B' or something.

Tiger Baby by Silver Convention

I feel like Tommy Steele with my haircut. Not too sure about the style, but I suppose it will 'grow on me' to coin a phrase. Into the YP just in time at 5pm and work until 11 o'clock.

Lynne comes to collect me and we debate which residence to go to. Eventually decide on Pine Tops and we sally forth in a homeward direction. We listen to a few LP tracks and sup coffee but somehow I feel bloody tired ands listless. What happened to that youthful exuberance! Knackered at 21. Oh, it's more than I can bear. Give me that gun. BANG BANG. Ugh, I think I'm dead. (It took two shots. Did the first one miss?)


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Thursday July 29, 1976

Another session with good old Hough, my dentist. The waiting is the worst part about visits to the tooth repair man, because sitting in the chair with your head back is quite a mild experience to say the least. I have always posed the question 'Why do dentists always have bad breath?' But with the wisdom of my 21 years I have drawn the conclusion that everybody must have bad breath, but it's not that everyone gets as close to your face as the good old denist is it? Am I correct? Why am I asking you questions? I'm never going to get an audible answer out of you.

Out with Lynne to the Red Lion and then the Black Bull in Otley. She really is a career girl and thinks a lot about her job. I admire her for it but don't share in the delight of the thought of sitting about behind a desk from 9 until 5.

Back to the Mather residence (Ty Gwyn) where we look at photographs. Peter comes in alone and I have the suspicion that Carole and Denise are outside in the car with Chris and would have come in if it hadn't been for my presence. Peter enquires: "Aren't you coming with us, Michael?" and when I shrug and say "coming where?" he says "to the Canary Islands with me and Chris, of course". Yeah right. I'm going to say yes just like that when I've never been consulted about the destination, time, month, cost, &c. The two of them have had this coming holiday planned all year. Devious buggers.

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Wednesday July 28, 1976

Work all day and spend a very uneventful evening in the confines of my own home. What more can I say? Very little really other than I hope all this is making pleasant reading for you and it isn't keeping you from doing anything more important and vital.

I don't know about Lynne.__________________.

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Tuesday July 27, 1976

Go away...... alright if you insist ......

Monday July 26, 1976

A warm, overcast day. Maria's 18th birthday. She always looks and behaves much older though and this is probably a good thing - her being in her present condition. Nothing looks more pathetic than a child expectant mother. Janice Beaumont always looked ridiculously infantile and I winced each and every time I saw her.

Work was busy. Eileen is away on holiday for a couple of weeks.

The Royal Family returned from Canada today. It was the first time that all the family had been abroad together - that is the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and four offspring. Prince Andrew has caused something of a sensation. Women everywhere are saying he's the most handsome bit of royalty they have ever seen. Even the unbending Sue Bradley on the EP thinks he's ravishing. She's old enough to be his mother.

Meanwhile: that night:- After tea with Mum, Dad, Lynn, Sue and Julie Nason, Peter's sister, I rang Maria to congratulate her on her birthday. She says John bought her a handbag, a purse, wallet, necklace and apron! For a guy who detests shopping he seems to have done rermarkably well. Lynn and Mum also have a word with her.

The bloody Olympic Games dominates the TV all night and at 10.30 after everyone had retired to bed (Dad started work at 10pm) I watched a western film until midnight.

By the way. I spoke to Delia Collis this afternoon.

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Sunday July 25, 1976

6th after Trinity. Do not see the light of day until 2pm. The day is warm and sunny and I go straight out into the garden and sit with Mum, Dad and Lynn until 3 o'clock when we have a Chinese meal for luncheon. Back sitting in the sun until 7.30. Laugh listening to Lynn and Mum pulling relations and loved ones to pieces. They do this every so often just to clear the air. Mum and Dad go off for a drive shortly afterwards and Lynn and I go inside with glasses of apricot wine & listen to records. She tells me that David cleared off in a temper last night and that he probably won't be coming round tonight but as she is talking the door opens and in he walks. I leave the room and go get ready to go out but hear nothing coming from downstairs. I eventually have to join them in the lounge and we sit watching a Bogart/Audrey Hepburn film (surely, Katherine Hepburn?). Lynn & Dave don't speak at all and I'm relieved when Lynne comes in at 9.30 to break the silence. The two of us go to the Commercial.

Lynne asks me if I regret ever going out with Carole and when I say "yes" she responds that one should never regret anything. I expected her to burst into an Edith Piaf impersonation, but thankfully she held off. It would be very nice to go through life with no regrets, but it just doesn't turn out that way does it? Lynne's attitude to life is very philosophical almost as if it's been formed by things she's read in books. One day she'll learn that very often people make ghastly errors and regretable events do occurr.

Mum and Dad came in at 11.30. Dad looked a bit pissed.

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Saturday July 24, 1976

Wake up on Peter's floor at 8.30 and Mrs Mather makes me scrambled eggs on toast before Lynne drops me off at home at 9.30. Go into Guiseley this morning with Mum & Dad again. I buy a Yorkshire Post to see if Fred Manby had used the story I suggested to him about Lord David Dundas yesterday, and see that he has. How many times does the son of a marquess appear on 'Top of the Pops'?

See John and Maria who stand with us and chat for 10 minutes or so.

Later: John, Maria, David, Peter, Lynne, &c, gather for a sherry at Pine Tops. Lynne drives Sue, Peter and myself to a pub just outside Ripon where we stop for a drink. Lynne and Dave travelled together of course, and John & Maria go with Mum & Dad. After a drink in this horribly snobby pub John & Maria come with me and Lynne to show us the way to Wath. Alas, David's car broke down 2 miles from Wath but managed to get the car there after about half an hour. The spitfire's been nothing but trouble since John purchased it about 14 months ago.

The dinner was marvellous and the ten of us had a really good laugh. I told a sick joke about poor Lesley Whittle (a girl kidnapped and murdered by the notorious Black Panther) which was received with little pleasure, but otherwise it was a great success. Dinner was only £3.50 per head, and although I paid for Lynne's I still think it was well worth it. Set for home at nearly 12 o'clock after dancing about in the shadows of the George & Dragon car park. Maria and I were penguins, and David did a very good impersonation of an elephant. David abandoned his car near Ripon on the way back and Dad dropped him off at the Dyneley (Arms). Back to Pine Tops for handing over presents and cards to Maria. I promise to buy her something next week and she doesn't seem to mind the delay.

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