Saturday February 28, 1981

 _. Woke up after 10:30 to snow falling. Not happy about this because we planned to go on a shopping expedition to York, and now instead we are trapped here with the prospect of a boring day indoors ahead of us. 

We struggled out at about 3 to collect a couple of volumes of wedding invitation examples from Fred Rhodes's shop and then went on, somewhat bravely under the circumstances, to Otley, then Ilkley, where we got very wet in the slush as we wandered around the shops. I have my eye on a stuffed dog, a Yorkshire Terrier I think, upon a cushion in a glass case for £44.

To Lynn and Dave's at 4:30. We took tea with the expectant mum. Everybody has decided that she is having a girl because of the size and shape of the bump, but I stick to my guns.

Back at Pine Tops at 6 with Sue, Pete, Mum and Dad. We all came to conclusion that that we should go dine out. Giovanni's at White Cross was fully booked and so we went down to Manningham Lane and our 'love nest', Mamma Mia's. I had seafood salad, lasagne, then pineapple. Ally had corn on the cob, lasagne and a sweet. We all had Sambucas, Strega, and Tia Maria. Back in fog at 11 for peach wine, or was it apricot? Bed very late.

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Friday February 27, 1981

 _. Went to Leeds on the 72 Express bus with the one and only Tony Harney. A enlightening experience. 

Home to Guiseley at 6 to a phone call from Sue enquiring as to my planned activities or schedule for this evening. Ally came over at 8 and we abandoned Audrey [the car] and scaled Thorpe Lane on foot with no sherpas. We joined Sue and Pete at the White Cross. Dave L was in the bar with Graham and Christine Airey. Dave made some comments about our 'long engagement'. Phil Knowles was there. He told us he'll be in Ios in mid-July with a girlfriend and he will track us down at our retreat. Chippy, Gus and Frank joined us. Back to West End Terrace to look at the wedding photographs and drink wine. Back to Pine Tops in the snow after 12.

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Thursday February 26, 1981

 _. To Club Street at 6. Had cheese and potato casserole for dinner, made in the crock pot. It was accompanied by mushy peas which failed to mush. I took Ally a bunch of daffodils and tulips, which she loved. We just sat and watched TV until about 11:30. 'Malice Aforethought' with Hywel Bennett - Excellent. He is such an eerie character. 

Royal wedding: It is to take place at the end of July. Will Ally and I be back from Greece to witness the spectacle on the telly? Lady Diana is to become HRH The Princess of Wales, and not 'Princess Diana', but the Press will no doubt go with the latter. Certain organs have been speculating that Lady Diana will be given a new Christian name, with royal associations. This is nonsense. Diana is after all from the Latin meaning Goddess; principally the Roman goddess identified with Artemis. A more 'queenly' name one could not wish to find.

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Wednesday February 25, 1981

   _. The wedding errors in the press: the YP have married James II to his mistress Henrietta Churchill. We also state that Lady Diana has five illegitimate lines of descent from Charles II, and one legitimate line. Charles II of course left no legitimate descendants. Poor Catherine of Braganza couldn't conceive. 

The Times says that the London-born Queen Mother is 'Scottish', and that Queen Mary, wife of King George V, was German. Yes, her title was German - Princess of Teck, but of course born at Kensington Palace, in May, 1867, and raised there. The newspapers are full of the engagement. Some of the worst headlines: 'MY SHY DI' and 'CHARLES LOVES DI - TRUE'. Oh, dear. The palace has released a wonderful portrait of Lady Diana by Snowdon. She will blossom into something more amazing, I'm sure. The Times put the match down to the Queen Mother scheming. The couple were photograped in the palace grounds. Diana looking bewildered, peering through her fringe at the sea of cameras. Looking at the photos I'm guessing Lady Diana is about 5'10. One thing's for certain, the Prince of Wales couldn't have left it much longer.

Cold again. Ally came at 7:30. I re-organised my bedroom. Saw the final, gruesome episode of 'Sons and Lovers'. We chose some brass handles for the chest. Ally goes at 10:45. Bed at 12:10am.

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Tuesday February 24, 1981

 _. Cold. Whilst devouring breakfast I heard on the 7:30 news that Lady Diana and the Prince of Wales spent two hours last night with the Queen. Something is obviously afoot. At 11 the news broke in the office that the Prince of Wales is engaged to marry Lady Diana Frances Spencer. A feeling of relief. She's an impeccable choice of bride. The Prince can now share his heavy burden with this delightful creature.

Spent the day compiling a family tree for tomorrow's YP showing the common descent of the Prince of Wales and Lady Diana from King James I. It is interesting that she has so much Stuart blood and he has so little. Diana will be the first Queen to be descended from Charles II and his brother, James II.

To Ally's at 6. A tortuous journey because of the menacing snow. Had a fish casserole for dinner. Spent the evening watching the various news bulletins. The happy couple dined this evening at Clarence House with the Queen Mother and Ruth, Lady Fermoy. From last night Lady Diana took up residence at Clarence House, to come under the umbrella of royal protection, and no doubt to be groomed for her future role by the Queen Mother, a master at the royal trade.

To bed at 12. In honour of the engagement was have named our new ceramic flying pigs Charles, Diana and baby George [wishful thinking].

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Monday February 23, 1981

 _.Snow on the ground with leaden skies above. Grotty day at the YP. Escaped at 4:45. I phoned Denise to ask the time difference between Manchester and Athens. I could easily have looked in Whitaker's Almanac, but didn't. 

Bob Cockroft is confident that the Prince of Wales is to marry Lady Diana. He's been told that the prince has commissioned 'something for his wedding' and it's only a matter of time.

Some horrid colonels are holding the Spanish parliament hostage in Madrid. However, the King remains in his palace and there are no signs of Spanish peasants rigging up a guillotine. It is such a pity because Spain seemed to be doing so well following Franco's end in 1975.

Phone calls: to Ally. Honeymoon taxi trouble, but June is a long way off. Spoke to D. Glynn whose holiday plans have collapsed because Garry can only have two weeks from July 20. I am going to see Denise and see what she can do about it. 

Mum and Dad visited the Yorkshire Bank to discuss the Stonehouse Inn deal. Mum spoke to Lily Glynn about the pub business and she was very helpful. 

Forgot to watch John Cleese.

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Sunday February 22, 1981

 _. Sexagesima

Cold. We didn't venture out at Pine Tops. Spent the day sitting with Mum and Dad discussing the Stonehouse Inn. They visited the place again earlier in the week and and met George Deakin's daughter who showed them over the property. The land with it is vast. The entire estate is up for sale for £70,000. Ally is thrilled, as of course am I, of mucking out an ancient building unchanged since the 1930s. Who knows what treasures are to be found? They have an appointment to see Mr Osborne at the Yorkshire Bank at 3pm tomorrow. Our fingers are crossed in anticipation. A pub will give them an all consuming interest. The departure from home of four children must be a trauma for them and now, at 46 and 45, they are left alone, back where they started almost. 

Tonight: Saw Olivier in 'Khartoum' and Sir John Mills in 'Dulcima'. Bed at almost 1am. Snow fell in the afternoon, still on the ground, but not deeply laid. I can't do with it.

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Saturday February 21, 1981

 _. Bitterly cold. Active to a certain extent. Scrambled eggs at 11. Ally, beautiful. Isn't she always? Drove to Otley in search of a wedding photographer and found no satisfaction at Malcolm's. He charges £125 and selects all the photos himself. Back to Club St for lasagne [last night's left overs]. Onward then to Bingley and Curio Cottage Antiques where we bought a pine chest of drawers for £38 and a wash basin and jug in a blue and white floral design for £25. 

Saw Denny [Denise] at James Hill Travel, Horsforth, and paid out £85 as a deposit for our Ios honeymoon project. Thirteen nights on the Island and one night in Athens. Sounds exquisite but I will not rave about it until I'm sprawled in the volcanic sand clutching an ice-cold Moussaka-flavoured choc ice.

Ally and I to dinner at Pine Tops [pork]. A night in front of the telly with Mum and her willful knitting. Bed at 12:30.

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Friday February 20, 1981

 _. Lady Diana Spencer flew home from Australia and was hurried from the plane in the company of a 'high ranking' palace official, by-passing the usual customs procedures. She is already being royally treated. Later in the day, the Prince of Wales, accompanied by Lady D, watched as his racehorse collapsed and died whilst training in Berkshire. Both were in floods of tears. HRH didn't leave his beast until the vet arrived.

To Lidget Green at 6 for lasagne washed down with wine. A happy, relaxed evening 'at home', which it shortly will be. After the luxurious dinner she washed the dishes and allowed me to languish like a Roman emperor on the sofa, devouring the occasional grape, watching a snowy, flickering TV screen. 

Watched Huw Wheldon's marvellous account of Victoria and Albert's life at Osborne House in the 'Royal Heritage' series. Ally made an attempt to read 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' by dear Agatha [Christie]. One of her better books. I think she was sober when she penned that one. To bed after 12.

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Thursday February 19, 1981

 _. Dismal day. At tea I mentioned to Mama that Frank Dixon expects me to pay for the wedding cars and flowers. She almost choked on her Brooke Bond. Obviously, Mum and Dad want to contribute. I am, she says, worth every penny. 

Ally came over at 8 and we went to the Fox for a few sombre hours. She is upset and embarrassed about the confusion over the wedding finances, and thrown into a depression for the duration of the evening.

Back at Pine Tops at 10:30 to see Jim, Margaret, Mum and Dad. 

Prince Andrew is 21 years old today, but no public celebrations of this auspicious occasion took place. The Lord Mayor of York has petitioned the Queen to create her second son Duke of York, but of course she didn't do so. I'm not in the least bit surprised. It took HM six years after coming to the throne to create her eldest son Prince of Wales, and Princess Anne stands as much chance of becoming the Princess Royal as I do. And look at Peter Phillips? Why isn't he Marquess of Sussex?

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Wednesday February 18, 1981

 _. Refused to climb out of bed until I was forced to do at 7:30. Rushed around with a cup of coffee. To Leeds with James R. No Jennie - it's half term, you know. 

YP: Carol is growing steadily worse. So much so that Sarah took a half day to escape the asphyxiating presence of Mrs J. 

Much telephoning on the topic of our honeymoon. Too complex in fact to commit to paper. Besides, you don't want to be bothered with it, do you? Home at 6.

Ally came to dinner with very good news. She and Denise have between them fixed it for us to fly to Athens at 1:30am on June 28, then take a ferry [10 hours approx.] to Ios and our honeymoon hotel. By all accounts it is an island with no roads or motor cars. Sounds like paradise. Paradise maybe, but the money isn't. We are now committed to saving £350 in ten weeks. Denise is calling in tomorrow to collect a £50 deposit. I want you to know, the lot of you, that we shall take no precautions after June and so foreign holidays after 1981 might be numbered.

Mum and Dad went to Sue and Pete's until 10:30 and Ally and I watched an increasingly depressing 'Sons and Lovers'. She went off in high spirits just before Mum and Dad returned. Wedding cars are booked.

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