Thursday December 10, 1981

Audrey.

 _.The car showed no sign of life this morning at 6:30 and we abandoned all hope of getting her to go. We phoned Lynn to cancel our dinner date tonight at Burley. She says that fortunately she's made something which will keep. Today Lynn and Sue received copies of the Wilson family tree. All the family born since Squire Wilson in June 1836.

Bob [Cockroft] has used one of my tips. Lady Ellerman, widow of Sir John Ellerman, 2nd and last baronet, of the shipping line, has married the Hon George Borwick, in South Africa. Lady Ellerman, in her sixties, was the sole beneficiary under Sir John's £54m will  when he died in 1973. Just imagine fifty four million smackers. 

Ally was raging in frustration over the car. Audrey has caused us to cancel two engagements this week. The choice of a Citroen Dyan is the worst mistake we've made. I removed the battery [again] and put it on charge using Papa's battery charger. The dial on the machine wobbled, but only slightly, but Papa insists that that this doesn't mean the battery is exhausted. I expected more visible evidence of the existence of life.

Thick frost tonight. We watched a poor thriller starring Judy Geeson. To bed at about 10.

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Wednesday December 9, 1981

 _.I have received a letter from The Times on behalf of the editor and a 'contrite' Philip Howard who blames his ridiculous article on Nov 30 on a 'too hasty preparation'. Philip Howard is usually knowledgeable and a reliable journalist, but this has let him down badly. It was good of the editor to reply. They ignored by last letter in August.

Took a half day and met Ally at the abandoned car at 1:15, and removed the battery and took it away to the nearest garage to be re-charged, at the cost of 75p. This seems exceptionally reasonable. One doesn't expect to walk away from a garage without spending at least £360. We shared a Mars bar [lunch?] and then Ally made her way back up the slippery path to the AHA. She was home at 5 and I watched her alight from the bus.

We had eggs and chips, collected the car battery and took it to Audrey where we re-inserted it by torchlight. After a half hour struggle with the starting handle [which doesn't actually start the car but frees the engine] we drove over to Guiseley and sat with Mum and Dad drinking the occasional beer, and watched The Borgias until about 10:45.

Ally is exhausted tonight. The walk to and from Daisy Bank is to blame. Freezing cold and snow on the way. Are we in for a white Christmas? When was the last one? 1970? 1683? 1472BC?

Tuesday December 8, 1981

 _.Bitterly cold. Hideous car news. Home at 6. Steak and kidney with dumplings. Ally excited to be going out tonight to see cousin Jackie. We haven't ventured out for God knows how long. 

We went out at 8, and the car wouldn't start and so, bright spark here, pushed Audrey out of Club Street and down the hill in the hope that the roll would 'jump start' her. Ally took the wheel but the car was dead and after some yards the car came to a grinding halt, a sad and depressing halt. Nothing could be done, and so we deserted Audrey and walked back to Club St. 

Ally was close to tears with frustration and disappointment. That, she says, is it. The car is going to the knackers yard. I phoned Sue to ask about Pete's battery charger. She's as dotty as ever. I then phoned Jackie, who was waiting for us and has made a lasagne. Without further ado, she deposited the lasagne in her car and drove to us [minus the dog]. She then drove us down to inspect the car in the blackness of the night. We slipped and slid around the dormant vehicle.

Home at 10 to Jackie's lasagne. I showed Jackie the Wilson family tree and was excited to learn that Auntie Eleanor has some documents. She left at 11 and we sat until 12:30 - bloated. Certainly didn't expect food this evening.

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Monday December 7, 1981

 _.Something is wrong with Audrey. She wouldn't start this morning. Poor Ally had to abandon her and walk. I don't like her walking all the way to the AHA especially in winter. 

Nothing at the YP. Home at 6 for a mince concoction. Then a thrilling episode of Coronation Street, shortly celebrating it's 21st birthday. I brewed and bottled some ale. 

I phoned the Hollywood to speak to Dave G , but to my surprise Lily answered and for a while I was speechless. The funeral takes place tomorrow. Dave came on, sounding mournful, and said Lily will be joining us at Steak Kebabs on Saturday. Such a good idea. Dave has a loathing for ceremonial and will be happy when tomorrow is over.

Outside this evening in the frost to put a blanket under Audrey's bonnet.

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Sunday December 6, 1981

 _. 2nd Sunday in Advent

Woke up at 10 after a bad night. My nose running like the Nile. Could it be cat hairs from the Smiths?

After a large breakfast we headed out to Grassington and the Devonshire Arms where we sat supping ale. Charlotte, clutching a ginger wine, looked over at me and exclaimed that lager and lime is a 'female drink'. She studied me very searchingly as though my reaction was vital to her survey. She is a person who tends to pigeon-hole everyone and everything, and because of my pint I'm now in the same hole as Jeremy Thorpe, Larry Grayson and Sir Benjamin Britten.

We did the usual round of craft shops, but bought nothing. We made our way to Burley for 5 to let Charlotte inspect Frances. Baby was in front of the fire wrapped in white wool and pink ribbons, but unhappy and restless. Lynn says it's because of her teeth. Our stay was only brief and we left so that Graham and Charlotte can go on to Manchester [or was it Rochdale?] for a paella with other friends. They left at 6pm. We cannot decide whether they enjoy our company or not. They must do, or why would they bother coming?

Sat by the fire and wrote Christmas cards. Watched the Borgias. Before he left Graham commented that the series is very poor and that the Borgias were not quite as nasty or ruthless as they make out.

Bed after 11.

-=-

Saturday December 5, 1981

 _.Feeling decidedly nasal. But not as nasal as Mr Smith. Graham suffers from chronic catarrh  and we could hear him in the bathroom discharging his fluid into the sink. We're sure they heard us giggling. The Smiths are an eccentric pair.

After a massive breakfast we all went, at about 11, to York in the Smith-mobile. York was busy, bustling and full of festive atmosphere, but biting cold. We bought glasses for John and Maria and a decanter for Susan and Pete. Lynn and Dave are difficult to buy for, and so were left until later. Brass handles for our chest too.

We found a packed little fish and chip restaurant, and Charlotte bought us cod and chips. She is a round little thing is Charlotte and looks very Margaret Rutherford-like in her long overcoat and felt hat. She is in fact my age. We managed to get away at about 4.

Back at Club Street we drained a large bottle of Liebfraumilch [from Graham] and listened to a talk on the Smiths recent holiday in Egypt. That is one country I want to see. You can forget the USA and the Seychelles. Just give me a camel and the Valley of the Kings.

Out at 9 to Pizzeria Mamma Mia on Manningham Lane. Ally and I had scampi in garlic and tomato sauce. She wasn't too keen. Graham, slightly pissed, refused to drink for the remainder of the evening. Charlotte of course is not drinking in pregnancy.

-=-

Friday December 4, 1981

 _.Have a thick head and feel something coming on. I usually succumb to the cold in December. Sad reflections about poor Jim Glynn. He was permanently cold, no doubt because of his heart condition, always rubbing his hands together warming them, before the gas fire, even in summer, and even when the fire was not actually lit, and only a figment of his imagination.

Kathleen came back into the office after her lunch break with a bottle of whisky and we sat at our desks sipping Scotch from our pot mugs. Better than the office tea. The girls became giggly, red-faced and flushed. Pathetic really. I erected the sad little office Christmas tree, making the usual predictable jokes about balls, which gave a staggering Kathleen some belly laughs.

On at 5 to Rawdon and my dentist, but was out on the street within minutes. My teeth require no treatment, and he doesn't want to see me again until June 4.

Back to Ally. Graham and Charlotte Smith rolled in at 8. We dined. Afterwards the pregnant Charlotte sprawled in an arm chair, clutching a hot water bottle, and throwing in the occasional grunt. The baby, if a boy, is to be Hugo. Poor little sod. Graham did his 'dead man lying on the floor' routine. They took over our bedroom, which I resent, and we had bunk beds. Suddenly I feel old.

-=-

Thursday December 3, 1981

 _.A warm day. Ally, feeling better, went off to the AHA. 

The YP was a bundle of fun. Sat with my coffee brooding over the nationals [papers]. The Michael English Succession Bill is really worrying me. The Bill is to be read on February 26.

Went into town at lunchtime but returned, battered, after half an hour in the seething hysterical crowd of Christmas shoppers. Where do all the old women come from at this time of the year? The newspapers says we are in a financial depression, but that news hasn't filtered through to the masses in Leeds. Sir Geoffrey Howe this afternoon presesnted a financial statement, a 'mini budget'. 

Home at 6. To Morrison's. We were home at 7:15 and had a call from Dave G. His father died at 2am today after suffering another heart attack last night. I was lost for words, but Dave seemed very composed. A relief manager has been installed at the Hollywood , as Lily lies bereft in her room. Dave says he is so proud of his grandad, mourning his only child, and yet battling on. It was obvious months ago that Jim Glynn's days were numbered, yet it's a great blow. He was 56. A warm hearted and humorous man. Poor Lily.

Billy phoned at 10:30 and insists we go stay at his flat on the night of Dec 12, and that Dave wants our visit to go ahead. The lads took Dave to the Robin Hood tonight.

-=-

Wednesday December 2, 1981

 _.Up at 6:30.

In my lunch break I made what is now a regular hike to the Central Library and took out Agatha Christie's autobiography for Ally. I phoned her at 12:45 and she phoned me at 4:30. 

Spoke to Papa [Mama was in the bath]. His eye is healing but after two weeks he's still taking the eye drops.

I am worried about the proposed Bill to alter the succession to the throne. Our monarchy is sacred. We are not like the bicycling, bourgeois European and Scandinavian royal families. To mess with the ancient order of things hits at the very stability of the institution, and will crumble away more of the mystique. Anyway, I cannot see Her Majesty giving her approval to such feminist meddling.

Home at 5:45. Steak and kidney cobblers! A Lancashire dish, I think. 

The Borgias on the telly. We are on episode 7 and they have only just got round to using poison.

-=-

Tuesday December 1, 1981

 _.Ally feels as though she's been run over by a steam roller, but feels better than yesterday. Up at 6:30 and we had boiled eggs in bed.

I phoned the AHA to report to Derek and was relieved to hear Gillian's voice. She's back at work with the all important filing cabinet keys.

A tortuous journey from Leeds this evening. Christmas shoppers. Found Ally knitting by a glowing TV set. Cousin Jackie phoned inviting us to visit her this evening. We decline. Ally in no fit state. We do promise to go soon. 

Watched 'Brideshead Revisited'. Bed before 10.

-=-

Monday November 30, 1981

 _.St Andrew's Day

Ally had a dreadful night and spent the day in bed. I phoned Mum, which I probably shouldn't have done, and they came at 6:30 driving Pete's car. Ally didn't want any fuss. I phoned the AHA to hear the panic, and Welsh panic at that, of Derek Jenkins. Gillian is also missing from the office and the filing cabinets are all locked, both girls having the keys, and subsequently he can do no work.

I have written to the Times about a remarkable piece of rubbish published in this morning's edition penned by the usually reliable Philip Howard. It's all because a pathetic and misguided MP is to bring a private member's bill this week in an attempt to make the first child, regardless of sex, heir to the throne, displacing male primogeniture, as in the case of boring Sweden. [Philip] Howard, in a lengthy Times article, says that if such a law had been applied to earlier scions of the House of Windsor that the late Princess Mary, the Princess Royal 'as eldest child of King GeorgeV' would have succeeded her father as Queen in 1936, and that Lord Harewood would now be our sovereign. It's all very amusing I'm sure but for the fact that Princess Mary was not King George V's eldest. She was born in April, 1897, and was the King Emperor's third sprog. Edward VIII, and George VI came before her.

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