Friday April 10, 1981

 _.Up late feeling atrocious. I cannot take my drink at all these days, or so it would seem. Four pints of lager and I'm knackered for the day. Left Ally at 8 and missed the bus to Leeds and so I went by train instead. The only other occupant of my compartment was a drab looking, tweedy spinster, hiding behind a book 'Rediscovering God'.

I staggered along Wellington St and reached the office 10 minutes late. Grotty day. Buggered. Sarah took my lethargy for a developing cold and so avoided me for the day.

Home at 6. No sign of Mum and Dad. They visited Lynn and Frances this afternoon and I guess they went on to the Stonehouse Inn afterwards. Ally came at 7:30 and we cuddled in the dining room listening to Annie Nightingale on the radio. At about 9 I made eggs and chips and we sat with the plates on our knees watching TV and swilling gallons of tea. Mum and Dad came in later and Ally went home [a funny thing to do on a Friday] but she wants to do her washing in the morning, and an early start is vital.

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Thursday April 9, 1981

 _. Sun again. From the YP at 5 on to Lidget Green. I managed to secure a lift with Roy Holland in his shifty sports car. He lives at Clayton Heights. We discussed the Yorkshire Ripper and Ronald Gregory, amongst other things, as we sped along. He seems to think that the Sutcliffe case will come up at Wakefield in June, and that Sutcliffe will plead manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. Roy's covering the proceedings with Tony Harney.

Was cuddling Ally in the Spring sunshine by 5:15. We had fish and chips with curry sauce and looked in at Top of the Pops on the telly. Hazel O'Connor is something of a novelty, and will go far I'm sure.

Joined by Catherine [Brook] and David [Alderson] and at 8 we went to a pub at Clayton called The Three Legs, or The Three Stooges, or something. Unimpressed. The place was warm and too brightly lit. Ally was stunning in a multi coloured shirt and dangling maroon earrings. Home quite sloshed at 11 for coffee. David sat eating fish and chips as I attempted to make the drinks, and dropped and smashed the sugar bowl that Catherine and David had  bought us for an engagement present. If I was the sensitive type I might have been embarrassed, but wasn't.

To bed at 1am. Late for us these days. Mum and Dad visited Lynn and Frances again today. Mother and baby come home on Monday.

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Wednesday April 8, 1981

 _. Swimming today at the International pool with Sarah, Shazzo and Trevor. The announcement of Frances's birth appeared in the YP and EP today. 

Had ham and eggs for tea. David came afterwards and took Ally, Sue, Pete and I to Airedale at 6:30 to see Lynn and the baby. A pleasant hour. A typical family gathering around a cradle. We laughed at Peter, who took more interest in little Michelle Louise [a baby in the bed opposite]. Frances wasn't as wrinkled today and looked slightly yellow. Lynn was full of beans. After half an hour we left Dave alone with her.

On afterwards to the Shoulder of Mutton for a couple of hours. Dave, still puffing on a cigar, told everybody in the pub of his good news. Home at 10:30 and Ally, Dave and I had a conference with Mama and Papa in their bedroom.

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Tuesday April 7, 1981

 _. Warm day. At the YP I decided I wanted a half-day and so headed for home. Joined by Ally at 1pm. We had eggs and toast. At 2 we collected Sue at Carter and Parker and went to see Lynn and baby Frances at Airedale Hospital. Lynn looked very bright and not at all miserable about being in hospital. The tiny baby is like a new-born rabbit, pink, and wrinkled, but with large alert eyes. She has a button nose, but don't all babies? Susie called the infant 'Fanny Annie', which I think will undoubtedly stick.

Tonight David took his Mum and Dad to the hospital.

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Monday April 6, 1981

 _. Not much work was done today. Mum phoned me at about 11 to say Lynn was in hospital, but had no further details. She phoned again at 1 to say Lynn was in labour and that David was with her and added 'I don't know whether to laugh or cry'. She decided on the latter option and hung up on me such was the violence of her emotion. I phoned Ally, who was similarly on the verge of collapse with excitement. Jacq phoned, and I told her I'd speak to her tomorrow.

Back in Guiseley I bought bread and other vital provisions and was home at about 5:30. David had phoned at 5 saying Lynn would be labouring for another two hours or so, and we were settling down for a gripping and tortuous evening when he phoned again at 6:05pm. Lynn gave birth to a daughter at 5:40pm weighing 5lb 13oz and she is to be called Frances Anne Baker. Such a relief. Dad wept like a baby, and did so for the remainder of the evening. Ally appeared and she too burst into tears. The whisky bottle came out. Ally and I went to see Muriel and Jim to convey the news, and they kept us too long and made us drink sherry. Maureen Eccles, from next door, came in for a drink, just as David returned from Airedale Hospital. He puffed on a cigar looking very proud. We sat until after 12. Frances is a name we never expected. I had a great-aunt, Frances Wilson, born in August, 1874, who died in infancy. It's not a name I'd ever pick, but quite pretty and certainly sensible.

To bed, merry and late, full of joy.

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Sunday April 5, 1981

 _. Passion Sunday

My twenty sixth birthday. Up in the region of 10 and ate a fried breakfast with Mum, Dad and Ally. Ally gave me the Madness LP 'One Step Beyond' and a batch of ten cassettes upon which I can tape for the next 50 years, she says. All my birthday cards have an air of lunacy about them. Most of them would look acceptable to a three year-old. Lynn and Dave phoned with a singing telegram. Sue is knitting me a cardigan, but as yet it is unfinished.

Ally and I paid a flying visit to Club Street this afternoon and returned to Pine Tops dressed for dinner at 7. At 8 we joined Mum and Dad and Frank and Bessie at the Cow and Calf Hotel. Dinner felt quite a nervous affair. We seemed to be the only people dining. Frank took control of the proceedings and bossed us around, but we all took it in good heart. He chose the wine and treated the staff like servants. But that's just the way he is. Ate far too much. Home at 12. Ally drove home leading a convoy, with F & B following.

Mum and Dad had visited Lynn before coming to Ilkley. Mum's opinion was that Lynn is 'edgy' and on the verge of giving birth.

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Saturday April 4, 1981

 _. New Moon

Grand National Day. Ally put 25p each wayon the winning horse, and scooped over £3. My horse refused half way round the course. Mum's set off in the opposite direction. 

I spent most of the day up a ladder in the cold painting the windows.

Tonight Ally and I dined with Mum and Dad, and Ally stayed over in her suite. At midnight, in my bed, she handed me the first of my birthday presents, viz: [1] a new watch bracelet, [2] The Old Man of Lochnagar, by the Prince of Wales. My birthday card is a painting by Beryl Cook entitled 'My New Fur Coat'. We sat giggling. I do not feel twenty-six.

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Friday April 3, 1981

 _. To Burley-in-Wharfedale with Ally to see the expectant Lynn and Dave. Joined by Sue and Pete, and we all had fish and chips for supper. Lynn's baby is due tomorrow. She looked happy, which is the main thing. But a little nervous. Lynn gave me two chamber pots as a birthday present. She gave them today because she hopes to be indisposed on Sunday. Perhaps I 'll get a beautiful nephew or niece. What a gift that would be.

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Thursday April 2, 1981

 _. To Ally's from the YP. We had a gigantic lasagne. A quiet, domestic evening 'at home'. These are the sort of nights I take great pleasure in. Living it up in some crowded tavern no longer has the hold or grip on me that it once did. I do however love parties. They will be in my blood forever.

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Wednesday April 1, 1981

 _. Rain again. Fog is expected. I spoke to Ally on the blower at 7:30am. She thinks she may be catching a cold and feels groggy. The poor thing cannot open her hot water bottle. I must have screwed the lid on too tightly. I felt very bad about this. She told me of the pathetic meatless stew she'd cooked for herself last night. Poverty lives, even in these times, I'm sorry to say. We keep talking as though we'll be better off financially after June, but I am unconvinced. I will always be a pauper. The word 'pauper' is stamped in indelible ink across my chart, or whatever it is that St Peter uses to keep our records on file. Perhaps they've now got a celestial micro-chip and a heavenly computer.

Ronald Reagan is still sitting and cracking jokes, and I remain sceptical. We could have a President Bush by August. However, the Press says he's on his way to a full recovery.

The Prince of Wales's security has been increased at the start of his tour of New Zealand. He looks a little lost without Lady Diana. It seems cruel that they should be parted at this special times of their lives.

I went swimming with Sarah at 12. Did fourteen lengths. Nearly twice as many as last week. 

Home at 6. Papa was splashing cement on the back wall of the garage. Mum says she wants him to see a doctor about his blue leg, get a medical pension, and quit the police force!

Had a queer fish dinner, and took to water afterwards, my bath. Football on the TV. League Cup final.

Mum and Dad were very cheerful tonight. It's the police that spoils things. 

Bed at 12 to escape the Academy Awards from Hollywood.

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Tuesday March 31, 1981

 _. Ally got up in one of her ratty moods and was gone. She looked exhausted and edgy. She was a bit of a monster. I thought I was going to get not only head bitten off, but a large section of my torso.

President Reagan is reported to be sitting up, taking notice, cracking jokes, but I'm not all that convinced he hasn't been assassinated. Who is to say he won't suffer a relapse in eight weeks? Bullet holes at his time of life cannot be very helpful. 

A day of grind at the YP. I am increasingly coming to realise just how pointless it all is. Where can I go? What can I do? Surely there is more to life than cutting up newspapers?

Home at 6. Lamb for dinner. I mowed the lawns afterwards. Their first cut of the year. It might not be summer, but the cut grass made it smell like it. 

Papa has discovered a very large varicose vein in his leg. I put it down to too much cycling. I asked to view the invasive, blue monstrosity, but received no showing. 

I phoned Ally at 7:15. She's eaten watercress soup, and sounded much better. 

Retired to bed at 12:24am.

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