Monday August 10, 1981

 _. Day of gloom. I did not want to climb out of bed at the sounding of my alarm at 6:30. I wish I'd stayed 'neath the sheets because nothing pleasant occurred later. 

I phoned Mum from the office. She sounded so off-hand and dismal last night that I had to get to the bottom of it. Immediately she explained how upset she had been last week when I canceled a Thursday night dinner. Bloody Hell. Ally was feeling unwell and exhausted and so I thought postponing the dinner for a week would be best. Evidently not so. She asked me to phone Oswald Lister [auctioneers] at Hampsthwaite. I did. His posh secretary informed me that 'contracts are being drawn up at the moment, and the Stonehouse is to be advertised as sold in next Saturday's Yorkshire Post'. I felt dreadful. I had to phone Mum and break the news that her dream was now shattered. She took it very well and was relieved that she can now put 'plan B' into action. This probably means booking a holiday to Yugoslavia, or something. She went off to get Dad to contact their solicitor. I suggested they come for dinner tonight instead of tomorrow, but didn't get a decent answer. They'll be so upset and disillusioned. I cannot see them getting over this for a long time. I sat brooding for the remainder of the day thinking what might have been.

Letters: for posterity.

I spoke to Ally a couple of times and concocted a few letters. I fully intend resuming my letter writing shortly because our letters [Dec 1979 to June 1981] are a complete record of our 'courtship'. We would like a sturdy chest of some kind in which to store our letters and journals for posterity.

Home at 6. Eggs and chips. Washed the windows whilst Ally ironed the blue washing. Phoned Mum ~ no response. Phoned Sue to get the story of their Stranraer sojourn. John gave their car a re-spray, but otherwise they didn't venture out into the wilds. She now says she's five months pregnant, narrowing down the birth of 'Jason' to somewhere between Christmas and Easter. Susan is consistently entertaining. She always makes me smile. I have never known a moment where she she has aggravated or niggled me. She's the sweetest thing.

Later: sit with a coffee watching 'Coronation Street'. I eat too many biscuits. I read a Dorothy L Sayers novel. Attempted to phone Mum until 12, and gave up. Couldn't contact Lynn either.

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Sunday August 9, 1981

 _. 8th Sunday after Trinity

Up at about 9:30. Graham phoned. We arranged to meet them at Wilsden at 12:30.

Meanwhile, Ally decided to wash a heap of shirts in the new machine and, to our horror, everything came out a dirty shade of blue. Her pretty yellow t-shirt was green, and my Hawaii-style shirt, bought in Ibiza, was unrecognisable. She sat very glumly as I explained how every novice housewife, entrusted with a new device for washing, makes the mistake of dyeing everything pea-green and Queen Mother powder-puff blue, and that it is all part of life's glorious tapesty, and a murky blue one at that. She didn't accept my findings, and I was almost the victim of a washing machine murder.

Dali: The Great Masturbator.

To Wilsden at 12:30. Graham, Gill, Richard, Eileen, Philip and Carol Middlebrook [sic], and later, the actor, Anthony [Browne]. Gill, always risque, brought up the subject of Salvador Dali and his phallic symbols. We all studied a photo in one of the Sunday papers entitled 'The Great Masturbator'. I would not want it on my chimney breast, although I do like Dali as a rule. Eileen is sweet. A true Londoner.

On to the Middlebrough/Middlebrooks where Anthony told us tales of a recent holiday with his aged parents in Paris. His mother, he says, vomitted off the top of the Eiffel Tower. 

Home at 4. Ally slept on top of the Union Jack cushion. Finished Agatha Christie's 'The Pale Horse'. Minced beef for Sunday dinner. Phoned Mum who was miserable. 'I thought you'd emigrated' she moaned. I only spoke to her on Thursday. I thought they'd be happy getting rid of me. Apparently not.

Watched a film based on the life of actor James Dean. Bed at 12.

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Saturday August 8, 1981

 _. Awakened at 9am by the postman bearing a book from the book club entitled 'Book of the Countryside' including 1,000 days out in Britain. I could have knocked him out with it. Felt quite horrid and returned to bed until 12. 

Lynn phoned to see if we fancied a day out. We had to say no because we have to wait here for the delivery man from Vallance's with our WASHING MACHINE.  Yes, a Phillips WO82 automatic. They carried it in at 12 and within minutes it was filled with my soiled underpants and socks. We sat eating to the sound of our new toy bashing away in the kitchen.

Auntie Mabel.

Phoned Auntie Mabel and arranged to visit her this evening. At 3 we went out on an antique shop motor run and we ended up in Thackley looking at a drop-leaf table costing £50. Very tempting, but we came away empty handed. If the table is still there next weekend we'll put down a deposit and collect it later in the month. We did find an old, tatty picture frame for £2 and on returning home I put my 'Egerton Burnett' print in the frame and hung it in the hallway upstairs. Very proud of this achievment. I stood, eyes half shut, admiring my handiwork for ages.

We dined on steak and kidney pudding with cauliflower cheese. Ally is an admirable cook.

To Auntie Mabel's at 8:45 armed with wedding proofs and honeymoon photos. Marlene and Debbie came to view the photos. We sat with auntie until almost 1am, had sandwiches for supper, then drove the ten minutes back to Club St.

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Friday August 7, 1981

 _. Rain continues. Some areas are completely submerged. At the YP Sarah was back, surprisingly enough. Out at lunchtime and I had a salad sandwich beneath the overhanging concrete monstrosity of John Poulson's international swimming pool. It ought to be demolished, it really should.

Graham & Gill.

Home at 6. Sandwiches again. We plunged into the bath. Graham and Gill arrived at 9. They are in Yorkshire for the golden wedding anniversary party of Anthony Brown's parents tomorrow. Out at 9:30 to the Sun Inn at Cottingley. With Graham, Gill, Richard, Eileen, Philip and Carol Middlebrough. I was in good spirits and, when intoxicated, amused everyone with my quick wit and sharp and fast flowing repartee. I joked with Carol. She has a hamster, and has an unhealthy fixation for it. I attempted to persuade her to exchange it for a guinea pig. From Cottingley we went to the Connection in Shipley. I had a cold corn on the cob, and a moderate to fair lasagne. Eileen had been in Hyde Park for the royal wedding fireworks. She described the atmosphere in London as 'electric' but that the actual display was a flop. Not a patch on the Jubilee fireworks in '77. Back to Philip and Carol's at Wilsden. A new house on a housing estate. Home at 2:45am.

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Thursday August 6, 1981

 _. A deluge. Rain from dawn until dusk. Out into a grey, Bradford morning brandishing my umbrella.

At the office Sarah left early. She's ill. Busy morning. At lunchtime I strolled into town beneath my rain shielding implement. Spent some time in a book shop speed reading Anthony Holden's 'Their Royal Highnesses', the story of the romance between the P of W and Lady Diana Spencer. Back at the office I penned a pathetic letter to Ally, the first since our nuptials.

Phoned Ally twice and Mummy once. Poor Mum sounded dismal. More people have looked at Pine Tops, and always seem thrilled with the place, but go away and afterwards - silence. So frustrating. Nothing runs smoothly in these toilsome times. 

Ally met me at the station at 5:30 and we went up to Morrison's for another minor shopping spree. The place was seeithing with cretinous hags with over-ladened trollies. Dave L joined us 8:15 until 10. We discussed pianos. He wants to buy his Mum a second hand piano at Yuletide. Ally can of course play one, but she knows nothing about the instrument. We drank lager and lime, and wine. Dave quite amazed by the vast number of wedding/honeymoon photographs.

Graham Dixon phoned. Bed 12.

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Wednesday August 5, 1981

 _. Another scorcher. Up at 6:30.

Worked through lunch, sat at my desk until 5. Gloom. Home for 6. Lasagne. Bobbin looked better and has colour in her cheeks. 

Industrious later. Weeding the garden, then bottling lager. Dave L phoned for news of the honeymoon. He's coming over tomorrow evening to catch up.

News: the Pope has had another operation on his intestines, supposedly successful, but will he regain his old vigour? Viscount Quenington is to marry a Brazilian. Sir Geoffrey Howe says the recession is over.

TV: Elizabeth Taylor and Michael Caine in X,Y and Zee [1972].

Weather: thundery this evening. Tomorrow, cloud and thunder.

Tuesday August 4, 1981

 _. Hot, sticky, and uncomfortable. Up at 6:45 to the radio alarm clock blasting out the rousing national anthem in honour of the Queen Mother's 81st birthday. What will we do without her when the time comes?

To Leeds at 7:45. Phoned Mum from the office. The deadline for the Stonehouse Inn is tomorrow. She sounded depressed. It looks like the end of the line. 

I'm researching Diana's pedigree for something for the YP. Thumbing through the 1956 edition of Burke's Peerage. The new princess has a second cousin, Mrs Foster, of Oswaldkirk, near York, and another cousin is Mrs Robin Compton, of Newby Hall, Ripon. Diana is also related to Bessie's neighbour in Martyr Worthy, old Mrs Seymour.

Home at 6. Fish cakes. Ally is pale and exhausted. To bed .

Footnote: will Michael Heseltine be PM one day?

-=-

Monday August 3, 1981

 _. Up at 6:30. To the YP for 9. Oliver Everett has been appointed Comptroller to the Household of the Prince and Princess of Wales and Private Secretary to the princess. He is her first appointment. It is rumoured that the honeymoon will take them to Kos, ideal for windsurfing and sailing..

Phoned Ally at 11. _________.

The 9 o'clock news: Ronald Reagan seems to be doing very well over in the USA. Er, that's it.

Had a long talk with Dave G, who is twenty seven today and back from San Antonio. He has missed us. Garry isn't the riotous type is he? Ibiza sounds to be more crowded than ever.

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Sunday August 2, 1981

Rachel.

 _. 7th Sunday after Trinity

Hot summers day. We laid in bed until about 10 looking at a map. We were seriously thinking about going to Chatsworth, but the time of day put us off. I suggested driving down to Althorp to look at Lady Diana's bathroom. But no. 

Rachel Judson came knocking on the door at 12. She said her car was 'leaking' and could I possibly put a stop to it? Oh, dear. I went over the road with a bucket of water, and managed to top up the radiator. I think that poor Rachel really just wanted to speak to somebody. She told me that she and Garry have 'finished' and that she was still pissed from last night. Rachel was clad in her black, silky disco gear and clearly had been in them all night. She bombed off in her MG, blond hair flowing. Poor Rachel. She looks at me in that naughty, dangerous way. Nothing can come between me and my precious Ally, not even the blond siren Rachel Judson. 

We drove up to the Goose Inn on the moors above Halifax. Sat with a lager curiously watching the barman. Is he perhaps my long, lost cousin? I went over and enquired: "Are you Graham Rhodes?" To which he replied: "Are you Michael Rhodes?" Great fun. Graham is the son of my Dad's older brother, Arnold. His younger sister, Miss Alison Katherine Rhodes [!!] is the waitress and brought our ploughman's lunches. Isn't it a small universe? We promised to see him again. Ally found him a very attractive youth, carefully addding that he was obviously of the same gene pool as her attractive husband. On at 6 to Haworth and then to the George & Dragon on Apperley Lane for a steak. The bill came to £14. ______.

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Saturday August 1, 1981

 _. Up at about 9. We had breakfast watching the royal stuff on the telly. The departure for Gibraltar of the Prince and Princess of Wales. Rain at Broadlands but the crowds were dense and good humoured, as they have been all week. The public interest shown to this couple must make them the most popular pair in history. The prince piloted the Andover of the Queen's Flight to Oporto[for refuelling], then on to the rock of Gib and eventually to the peace and quiet of HMY Britannia for 2 weeks.

The Commercial, Esholt.

To Guiseley at 12. With Mum, Dad, John, JPH, Catherine, Lynn, Dave, Frances, Sue & Pete to the Hare and Hounds beer garden. Back to Pine Tops at 3:30. JPH went next door to Richard Eccles's third birthday party. At 8 we went out with Lynn, Dave, Sue & Pete to the Commercial. Dave & Elaine Allinson were there. The girls were put out by this. You have to be in the right mood for an evening with Elaine.

Ally was feeling clammy and uncomfortable and so we left for home and bed. She gnashes her teeth in her sleep, you know.

-=-

Friday July 31, 1981

 _. New Moon

Ally had a day in bed feeling lethargic. _________. I came home at 5:30. She looked very pretty.

To Morrison's [a few provisions]. They have a record section. I spotted Beethoven's 'Emperor' concerto and snapped it up. I also enrolled at the local library. Ally took out a couple of Dorothy L. Sayers novels. Back at home we sat drinking coffee, eating chocolate buns and listening with rapture to Ludwig's piano concerto No. 5. Spent the evening 'cuddling'.

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