_. Spent the day at the YP discussing Dame Edna with some of the survivors. Stephanie Ferguson thought it was the funniest thing ever. Our banter persuaded Sarah to book for her and Richard [Burke] on Saturday, and then Carol J got tickets too.
Looking forward to our weekend in Martyr Worthy with Lynn and Dave.
To bed with Adolf Hitler, but only managed about three pages before I was out cold.
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20200331
Tuesday November 27, 1979
_. To the Grand Theatre, Leeds, tonight with Ally, Dave L and Marita. A thrilling performance by Barry Humphries. Dame Edna is now my number one lady. I cannot recall ever seeing anything so hilarious in the whole of my life. Dame Edna's wicked and witty tongue had us all falling about. Ally was crying with laughter, and I could hear David and Marita wheezing behind. The performance lasted from 8pm until eleven and it included a 'gladioli throwing' episode and an appearance by the grotesque Sir Les Patterson, the Australian Cultural Attache to the Court of St James's. He spat and blubbered all over the first three rows, scratched his balls, picked his nose and swore like a trooper. The dialogue was brilliant, but some people did walk out of the theatre, apparently in disgust.
Afterwards it was too late to go for a drink and so we bid our farewells to Dave and Marita and went on to Guiseley. Marita invited us to a gathering on December 5, at the Albert in Yeadon, to celebrate her nuptials with Mr Matthews. Marita always has to be different, having a stag party for her male acquaintances.
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Afterwards it was too late to go for a drink and so we bid our farewells to Dave and Marita and went on to Guiseley. Marita invited us to a gathering on December 5, at the Albert in Yeadon, to celebrate her nuptials with Mr Matthews. Marita always has to be different, having a stag party for her male acquaintances.
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Monday November 26, 1979
_. Mum and Dad returned from Lochans with tales of John and Catherine. The other day JPH, aged 3, called his mother a 'stupid bitch', not to her face but when her back was turned, and then when Mum and Dad were taking their leave this morning he stood on the steps of the caravan, smiling sweetly, and exclaimed: 'goodbye, you silly swines.' What an hoot, and sorry I cannot help smiling.
Phoned Dave L this afternoon to remind him of our date tomorrow at the Grand Theatre with Dame Edna. It will be my first sighting of Marita in years. I also phoned Ally who is excited about tomorrow too.
The Sun newspaper got itself all worked up this morning on the topic of the Prince of Wales and Lady Amanda Knatchbull, his cousin. The paper says that the prince and Lady A have met secretly in Kent and that an engagement is definitely in the offing. I have said it before and will say it again that the Knatchbull ladies are too closely related to HRH for any serious marriage chatter, and that the girls are no beauties, a very important point.
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Phoned Dave L this afternoon to remind him of our date tomorrow at the Grand Theatre with Dame Edna. It will be my first sighting of Marita in years. I also phoned Ally who is excited about tomorrow too.
The Sun newspaper got itself all worked up this morning on the topic of the Prince of Wales and Lady Amanda Knatchbull, his cousin. The paper says that the prince and Lady A have met secretly in Kent and that an engagement is definitely in the offing. I have said it before and will say it again that the Knatchbull ladies are too closely related to HRH for any serious marriage chatter, and that the girls are no beauties, a very important point.
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Sunday November 25, 1979
_. Last Sunday after Trinity
Drizzle. Ally, Lynn and I went to the Queen's [again], leaving Dave hacking away at a piece of wood in his garage. Lunch at Lawn Road at 2pm and then an afternoon by the fireside. Chris and Julie called in and Lynn made them tea. Lynn always shows a lack of patience with Julie, who I think is a really pleasant girl. Saw a play on TV 'Suez '56'. Michael Gough played Sir Anthony Eden. The whole thing was quite excellent. Home at 10:30.
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Drizzle. Ally, Lynn and I went to the Queen's [again], leaving Dave hacking away at a piece of wood in his garage. Lunch at Lawn Road at 2pm and then an afternoon by the fireside. Chris and Julie called in and Lynn made them tea. Lynn always shows a lack of patience with Julie, who I think is a really pleasant girl. Saw a play on TV 'Suez '56'. Michael Gough played Sir Anthony Eden. The whole thing was quite excellent. Home at 10:30.
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Saturday November 24, 1979
_. Up at 10:30. Lynn and David were in the bathroom singing Gilbert and Sullivan numbers. After toast and coffee off they dashed to Burley in Wharfedale to play 'happy married couples' and Ally and I went into Bradford and spent an hour in WH Smith's reading royal books. The Queen Mother and the Prince of Wales are the main subjects of royal biographies these days.
Ally and I fought all day, but the proceedings are not worth recording. She was very successful in antagonising and infuriating me. She actually stated that she is allergic to me. I came home and had a bath and then washed the car. On to Burley in W for dinner and on to the Queen's Arms which, for some odd reason, Dave finds pleasurable. Ally was miserable. It would have been more fun drinking with the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Back at the house we watched the Marx Brothers.
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Ally and I fought all day, but the proceedings are not worth recording. She was very successful in antagonising and infuriating me. She actually stated that she is allergic to me. I came home and had a bath and then washed the car. On to Burley in W for dinner and on to the Queen's Arms which, for some odd reason, Dave finds pleasurable. Ally was miserable. It would have been more fun drinking with the Ayatollah Khomeini.
Back at the house we watched the Marx Brothers.
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Friday November 23, 1979
_. Up at 6:30. Drank black coffee with Ally. She drove me into Bradford at 8 and I got a bus into Leeds which got me to the office for 8:30. I felt quite healthy taking all things into consideration.
Dave B met me in the mini at 5:30 and on we went to Bradford and met Ally and Lynn at the Norfolk Gardens Hotel. They were drinking very expensive lager and devouring peanuts and little cheese biscuits. On we went to the cinema to see a couple of Peter Sellers 'Pink Panther' epics, 'The Revenge of the Pink Panther' and 'The Return of the Pink Panther'. Excellent viewing. On to Lidget Green at 10:30 for a couple of drinks and fish and chips. Bed at 12:30. Ally couldn't sleep and drifted downstairs reading Evelyn Waugh and drinking milk.
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Dave B met me in the mini at 5:30 and on we went to Bradford and met Ally and Lynn at the Norfolk Gardens Hotel. They were drinking very expensive lager and devouring peanuts and little cheese biscuits. On we went to the cinema to see a couple of Peter Sellers 'Pink Panther' epics, 'The Revenge of the Pink Panther' and 'The Return of the Pink Panther'. Excellent viewing. On to Lidget Green at 10:30 for a couple of drinks and fish and chips. Bed at 12:30. Ally couldn't sleep and drifted downstairs reading Evelyn Waugh and drinking milk.
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Thursday November 22, 1979
_. Thanksgiving Day, USA
Late to the YP again, which is now becoming a regular thing. Kathleen now looks upon me with narrow eyes, which drift to the clock and become fixed there as I enter the office. Sod her, anyway.
Out at 9pm with Ally. We went up to the petrol station near Aireborough Grammar School where the pumps are self service. Something went wrong and Ally only got half a gallon of fuel but had to pay £2.98 because the bandit at the counter said we'd taken more fuel. After a long squabble I had to pay up. On we went to the Drop. I persuaded Ally to go on to Oakwood. We discussed the holiday '80. On to Club Street at 2am.
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Late to the YP again, which is now becoming a regular thing. Kathleen now looks upon me with narrow eyes, which drift to the clock and become fixed there as I enter the office. Sod her, anyway.
Out at 9pm with Ally. We went up to the petrol station near Aireborough Grammar School where the pumps are self service. Something went wrong and Ally only got half a gallon of fuel but had to pay £2.98 because the bandit at the counter said we'd taken more fuel. After a long squabble I had to pay up. On we went to the Drop. I persuaded Ally to go on to Oakwood. We discussed the holiday '80. On to Club Street at 2am.
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20200330
Wednesday November 21, 1979
_. The weather continues nauseating. Blunt, Blunt, Blunt, and more Blunt, and even more Blunt. Blunt in the morning, Blunt in the evening and Blunt at supper time. It's the poor Queen I feel sorry for. She has been used disgracefully by Cabinet ministers down the years. They asked her to retain Prof Blunt after his confession. She really ought to have Sir J. Hobson [Attorney-General in 1964] exhumed and hanged at Tyburn.
The Press pursuit of Sabrina Guinness seems to have died down. As if we were ever going to see Queen Sabrina anyway. Reading Anthony Holden's biography of the P of Wales, serialised in the Sunday Times. I do feel sorry for the future King. He leads a lonely and aloof existence. Just to dine with his mother he has to arrange the meeting three weeks beforehand, and this is with them both living under the same roof at Buckingham Palace. Before visiting Charles in his palace suite the Queen always telephones first to make an appointment.
Bed with Adolf again. The war is now blazing and Dunkirk is in full swing.
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The Press pursuit of Sabrina Guinness seems to have died down. As if we were ever going to see Queen Sabrina anyway. Reading Anthony Holden's biography of the P of Wales, serialised in the Sunday Times. I do feel sorry for the future King. He leads a lonely and aloof existence. Just to dine with his mother he has to arrange the meeting three weeks beforehand, and this is with them both living under the same roof at Buckingham Palace. Before visiting Charles in his palace suite the Queen always telephones first to make an appointment.
Bed with Adolf again. The war is now blazing and Dunkirk is in full swing.
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Tuesday November 20, 1979
_. Ice and treacherous conditions. Freezing. Dear Carole's 22nd birthday, and the first without her father. I do hope it isn't too horrible for her. And to think that two years ago we'd all given her up for dead.
The 'Blunt Saga' continues. He gave an interview today and seemed very calm and collected, in the way that double agents tend to do, whilst attempting to justify his treacherous activities. Blunt denies any homosexual affair with Guy Burgess.
At 8, Sue, Peter and I went over to Ally's and pushed the spitfire up and down the street in an attempt to get the thing moving. Like a scene from that awful TV series 'It's a Knock Out'. Susan is a great comedienne. The offending car eventually fired up and we took it to a garage where it's going to be dealt with at dawn. A bandit is going to charge her £30 just to open the bonnet and peer in at the works. Back to Club Street with Peter and the wheel for a coffee and a warm. Gave Ally a peck and we left for Guiseley at 10. We are going to see a couple of 'Pink Panther' films on Friday.
Mum has had her hair 'flashed'. Dad joked about it saying it's odd she should want to appear grey when in fact she doesn't have a grey hair in her head. This annoyed Motherdear.
To bed at 12 leaving Dad glued to an old film on the TV.
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The 'Blunt Saga' continues. He gave an interview today and seemed very calm and collected, in the way that double agents tend to do, whilst attempting to justify his treacherous activities. Blunt denies any homosexual affair with Guy Burgess.
At 8, Sue, Peter and I went over to Ally's and pushed the spitfire up and down the street in an attempt to get the thing moving. Like a scene from that awful TV series 'It's a Knock Out'. Susan is a great comedienne. The offending car eventually fired up and we took it to a garage where it's going to be dealt with at dawn. A bandit is going to charge her £30 just to open the bonnet and peer in at the works. Back to Club Street with Peter and the wheel for a coffee and a warm. Gave Ally a peck and we left for Guiseley at 10. We are going to see a couple of 'Pink Panther' films on Friday.
Mum has had her hair 'flashed'. Dad joked about it saying it's odd she should want to appear grey when in fact she doesn't have a grey hair in her head. This annoyed Motherdear.
To bed at 12 leaving Dad glued to an old film on the TV.
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Monday November 19, 1979
_. The dreadful Ayatollah Khomeini gave something of an interview on the BBC programme 'Panorama' this evening. He is a disgusting religious fanatic. Misguided, wicked and obscene in his hold over the Persians. A war may well be in the offing. President Carter's popularity has soared following the recent kidnapping of US officials in Teheran.
No chat with Ally today. I am seeing her tomorrow. Sue & Pete went to the Elmer tonight with Janet Simon and her odd boyfriend, a 21st birthday party I think. It's a year since I went to the Elmer with Christine. Jill's party I think. Oh, dear sweet Christine! I really should phone her to see how things are going. Dave L's opinion is that she has washed her hands of us and doesn't want to know us anymore, but surely this distancing is only natural when one is newly married. One day I fully expect her to bring this boy of hers into society. I have yet to sanction the nuptials.
To bed after 11 with my Hitler volume. You'll be relieved to hear the war has now started. Farewell to Poland and all that. I really deserve some reward for following Mr Toland's every word. Mind you, it did take me much longer to finish 'The Count of Monte Cristo' if you remember.
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No chat with Ally today. I am seeing her tomorrow. Sue & Pete went to the Elmer tonight with Janet Simon and her odd boyfriend, a 21st birthday party I think. It's a year since I went to the Elmer with Christine. Jill's party I think. Oh, dear sweet Christine! I really should phone her to see how things are going. Dave L's opinion is that she has washed her hands of us and doesn't want to know us anymore, but surely this distancing is only natural when one is newly married. One day I fully expect her to bring this boy of hers into society. I have yet to sanction the nuptials.
To bed after 11 with my Hitler volume. You'll be relieved to hear the war has now started. Farewell to Poland and all that. I really deserve some reward for following Mr Toland's every word. Mind you, it did take me much longer to finish 'The Count of Monte Cristo' if you remember.
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Sunday November 18, 1979
_. Wet day. In bed again until after 1pm. Ally and I had 'breakfast' and sat with Mama. Papa was out on police business, no doubt truncheoning the youths of Guiseley. Later we went for a walk in the freezing rain and got a thorough soaking. Back at home we toasted ourselves before the gas fire. Ally was persuaded to stay the night because of the cold and the lurking Yorkshire Ripper. We watched TV until 12:30.
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