Wednesday July 4, 1979

_. Independence Day, USA.

Praise be to God. I've found my fountain pen. June bought it for me in April, 1973, and I've used it every day since. That was until I mislaid it last week.

What can have befallen the sweet June Bottomley? She became engaged to a large, flabby accountant and has probably disappeared into Shadwell and obscurity with two delightful children and a £9,500 mortgage. No doubt they have a caravan and go whenever possible to the Lake District. June will be dabbling in French at night school and attempting dressmaking because children's clothes are such a price these days, aren't they? And Horace, the husband, whatever his name is, will smoke ready rubbed tobacco, wear baggy Arran sweaters. Early in the relationship he bought a few Pink Floyd LPs but now he's into James Last and his Orchestra. "Oh, we saw him live in Manchester last Christmas. He's absolutely fantastic...."

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Tuesday July 3, 1979

_. Had little or no conversation at work and escaped at 4:30. Tonight Ally, Sue, Pete and I went to Burley with a large bunch of flowers for Lynn. Audrey and Henry Baker were there. Lynn has been told not to try for another baby for at least six months. She flustered about making coffee ignoring commands to 'sit down Lynn'.

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Monday July 2, 1979

_. Phoned Auntie Hilda and Auntie Mabel. Mum, Dad and Maria came in a 3pm. Mum, very tanned, sat in silence listening to all the details, and then phoned David, burst into tears, and soaked a couple of large handkerchiefs.

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Sunday July 1, 1979

_. 3rdSunday after Trinity. Dominion Day, Canada.

A nightmare of a day. Poor Lynn lost her baby this evening, and to say we are all distraught is an understatement.

This morning Ally and I went to Chippy's to collect our records and afterwards went on to Burley where Lynn and Dave were looking after JPH for the day. We took JPH to the park for an hour.

Lynn was clearly unwell. An ambulance came, lights flashing, and took her and Dave off to Airedale (Hospital) and we heard nothing more until Dave phoned at 9:45 pm asking for a lift. Pete took Sue, Ally and I to the hospital where we collected a distraught David. He told us the worst.

Back at home we phoned Dad, now in Scotland. He was stunned,

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Saturday June 30, 1979

_. Chippy's 21st birthday part at 2, Walker Road, Menston. I'd done nothing all day but collect my air tickets from Smiths. We ate fish and chips in the restaurant at Harry Ramsden's.

We met at the Shoulder and went to Chippy's at 9pm. Ally was out of it but soon perked up with the punch. We stood with Chris Baker and Julie Harris all night. Tetley's hand pumped bitter from a barrel in the garage was a success. The proceedings were marred somewhat when a dispute flared up between Mrs Ash and Dave Sanderson, Pete's cousin. A street brawl followed and the Nason contingent withdrew from the festivities. __________. It did not deter us from  staying until the cold, ghastly dawn.

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Friday June 29, 1979

_. Ally and I were quite unfit for work and decided to forgo our daily labours and stayed between the sheets. Susan was displeased, not with our decision but at being disturbed in the small hours. I fell back to sleep to be awakened at 9:30 by Sarah C on the telephone. I told that I could not possibly get into the office today. She slammed down the phone saying I was impossible and it was about time I grew up. Goodbye Sarah.

Slept all day. Delia phoned and laughed about her daughter. Up at 6:30pm. Peter was watching Wimbledon. We stayed home until 10 and then went down to the White Cross. We intended coming home at a reasonable hour but Helen Scott's party lured, and Ally and I went to Hyde Park (Leeds) and drank gallons of wine, which I simply couldn't keep down. Vomit and 3am and back to Guiseley. It was a weird party.

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Thursday June 28, 1979

_. A drunken session. Ally and I had an evening meal together and then watched TV. Sue was at Janet Simon's and so we were alone. I arranged to go out with Pete & Chippy. Ally wanted an early night. Pete arrived from a drunken afternoon session, fell into a drunken heap on the sofa, and snored through 'Top of the Pops'. Chippy and Dave W rolled in at 8:30, and we left Pete asleep, and went to the Shoulder for the night. Joined by Flu, Sean, John Sumpton, &c. Chippy was so pissed that when a Labrador dog walked across the pub car park in insisted it was an 'Albrador'. Either a cross between a Labrador and an Alsatian or an Albatross.  Afterwards we went to Oakwood in the usual alcoholic cloud of lusty, coarse energy that sweeps over the metropolis on Thursday nights. Met Sarah (not Collis) and we drank Campari and soda together for what might be our last meeting. She says she's going off to Liverpool next week and may never return. Obviously, people seldom return from Liverpool once trapped there. Never make the mistake of venturing to Merseyside. The natives of that primitive place are cannibalistic, so I've heard. I planted a long lingering kiss upon her lips and left her for ever. Home to Pine Tops with Chippy and Flu. (It was Chippy's birthday yesterday).

Ally had the stereo bashing out tuneful ballads. Susan was upstairs with the Lone Ranger, and we saw nothing at all. Flu and I smoked like chimneys. We had fun with an exploding bottle of ginger beer. Susan peeped from her bedroom window and reminded us that small, red-faced children slept only feet away next door. At dawn Ally drove Chippy and Flu to Menston in Peter's car and then she returned and we crashed out upon my bed.

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Wednesday June 27, 1979

_. Catherine's birth announcement was in the YP. Molly flew to Stranraer on Saturday. ____________.

Tonight Ally, Sue, Pete and I went to inspect a house on Victoria Road which is selling for £9,000. Afterwards, with our lungs full of damp and mildew, we had a quick drink at the Station on Henshaw Lane and then returned home via the fish and chip shop for me, and the Chinese take-away for them. Ate like pigs. I really should stick to a diet where I do not exceed 12 stones because Cyril Smith, MP is hardly a cult figure.

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Tuesday June 26, 1979

_.I phoned Auntie Mabel to tell the news about Catherine's birth.

Tonight JPH came to tea and stayed until 8:30. He refused to touch his fish fingers and chips, and only wanted biscuits and could hardly contain himself when he eventually had his way. His little head peeping over the table with his cheeks bulging. Afterwards he played football in the garden, and filled his toy digger with soil. We went over to the park and did a circular tour. I pointed out a large, fat blackbird, and he asked: "should we kill him?" Ally and I took him back to Ridgeway and then went on to Lynn and David's to get a run down on Christine & Graham's wedding. ___________.

Ally and I returned from Burley entertained, but under the impression that nobody is without criticism tonight. Lynn complained about everyone and everything. I, according to my sisters, have no feelings whatsoever. Bless her.

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Monday June 25, 1979

_. After the YP I went over to Carol J's house of ill-repute for three hours of wallpaper hanging in her bathroom. More or less finishing off the work I started in March. The tatty, smelly flat is filled with our feline playmates of the cat variety. Four of them in fact. The place resembles a low class safari park. Home at 9.

I am staggered at the cheek of Mr Eamonn Burke. He phoned Sarah to ask for Ally's phone number in Bradford, and then asked for my home phone number. He cannot now fit Ally into his diary for this week. ___________.

Sunday June 24, 1979

To bed at breakfast time. Slept until I was rudely awakened by the phone at 2pm. Unfortunately I couldn't get to pick up in time and so the identity of the caller remains a mystery. Both Ally and I are hideously hung over and in no fit state to receive visitors, but this is what is inflicted upon us in the shape of Martyn and Therese. He brought my ring back, now embellished with one solitary garnet for which I paid him £5. __________. It was a very uncomfortable visit. The blinding pain in my head didn't help. I wanted some Anadin pills, but the child lock on the bottle got the better of me.

John phoned. He says the baby looks like a Macdonald, has long legs, and no eye brows. She is to be called Catherine Elizabeth Mary. Maria's Mum, Molly, is really Mary Catherine, and Maria's sister is Elizabeth, and so there you have the connection. Jim and Molly have travelled up to Dumfries, taking JPH with them.

At 10:15 Maria phoned me from her hospital bed. She chatted for a while and sounded fine. She told Sue that she wants to be back in Stranraer next week. To bed at 1am after seeing a Peter Lorre film from 1930 about a Berlin child-killer. Quite boring really. Ally is quite adamant that she's going out with Eammon Burke on Tuesday. I am bloody furious.

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