Saturday May 8, 1982

 A day with Frank and Bessie. Much activity. After a large breakfast we went off in the BMW  and found ourselves at Starbotton for luncheon which went down very nicely. We didn't see Mrs Heap which is a relief because I feel uncomfortable meeting people who have recently lost someone. Afterwards we drove to Skipton and trudged around the shops and took tea in a room above the bustle of the market. Bessie is a comedienne.

Back to Bradford for 5 and had big gins and talked about kitchens. Frank is very dubious about Kitchen Studios and think they should be looked into before we spend £1500. However, Frank doesn't think the price is too steep.

Frank and Bessie took us out to dinner at the Pizza House on Sunbridge Road. Excellent. I had lasagne, trout and Peach Melba. Ally had veal in a garlic sauce, Frank chicken. Home at 12 all jolly and bloated.

-=-

Friday May 7, 1982

Bessie: scatty.

 A half day. Home at 1pm. I met Ally at Barclay's Bank and paid in a cheque for £10. To the bakers and the Co-op and back home for 1:30. I spoke to Papa on the phone. He is upset about John and Maria _______. He pleaded with John to seek legal advice. ______. In the midst of our chat Frank and Bessie arrived and so I put the phone down. Frank dropped Bessie with us and then changed and went off to Liverpool to the leaving party of a former colleague. We entertained Bessie to dinner ~ chicken. She is very scatty and told us that we are all well provided for should they come a cropper on the M5. During dinner we played Debussy and Eric Clapton. I think Bessie preferred the piano. Frank came back pissed at 1am. He'd been drinking champagne and he sat swinging his legs on the 'breakfast bar'.

-=-

Thursday May 6, 1982

Walked into town with Sarah and lingered in Boots buying ale [for home brew] and smelly bottles of lotion for Ally's coming birthday. A dismal day. Poor John's news is like a nightmare and all day I've been thinking of him.

This evening we went to Morrison's and spent half an hour hiding from the  ______ behind the frozen peas and Weetabix. They didn't see us but it was a close shave.

Afterwards we made pigs of ourselves eating fish and chips and looking at the television. Richard Griffiths in a play, but no Robin Day because he's got pneumonia. I cannot tolerate Ludovic Kennedy. To bed quite done in.  

Wednesday May 5, 1982

 Mum phoned tonight in a highly emotional state to say she had just heard from Scotland that John and Maria are to part. It is a shock. She had phoned John to talk about the loss of the Grassington guest house [which has gone to a man with cash], and she spoke to Maria first, who sounded quite normal. They are selling the [Corner House] cottage. _____________.

To bed with sombre faces.

-=-

Tuesday May 4, 1982

 A terrible day. YP gruesome. Kathleen will not be drawn on the Falklands anymore. She is as spineless as Wedgwood Benn. Sarah was dull. 

Home at 6. We had fish fingers and watched Thora Hird on the TV.

Horror. The 9 o'clock news: the little Ministry of Defence spokesman came on looking particularly sour and announced the loss of HMS Sheffield and a Harrier jump jet. Oh God. It seems the Sheffield was bombed and was abandoned after the fire could not be controlled. Ally was close to tears thinking of the poor sailors in the freezing South Atlantic. We haven't lost a ship since the last world war. I hope the Commons remain firmly behind Mrs Thatcher and don't coward out. To bring the boys home now will mean that all the lives of the Sheffield's lost crew will have been wasted in vain. Went to bed and listened to John Nott on the radio saying that maybe thirty have died.

-=-

Monday May 3, 1982

 Bank Holiday in UK

To the YP. Town was like one of those gold prospecting towns in the wild west forty years after the gold rush had died. The only thing missing was the blowing brushwood. Felt as though I was the only person heading out to work. 'To Labour and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing we do thy will. Amen'.

At the office at 9 o'clock and found that we had sunk the General Belgrano, the Argentine's biggest thing afloat. Splendid work. The prime minister is the best we've had since Lord Palmerston. Phoned Ally. 'Nicholas and Alexandra' was on TV.

Home at 5:30. We had mince in suet but the electric hob thing packed in mid-way and our dinner was a prolonged and bitty affair. Back to the crockpot once again. Dear old Florence Nason gave the electric rings to Sue & Pete in 1980 when they bought West End Terrace.

Ally looked tired and miserable. A man came to the door and asked me to vote Conservative on Thursday. The poor chap, the candidate called Lewis, doesn't stand a chance.

Watched Lesley Anne Down in a dreadful TV film of Agatha Christie's 'Murder is Easy'. Buggered, to bed.

-=-

Sunday May 2, 1982

 3rd Sunday after Easter

Up with the larks. Drove to Yeadon and looked at kitchens in a showroom. Lots of people drinking wine and eating cheese and biscuits. No way to sell kitchens if you ask me.

On to Sue's. Sat drinking lager and looking at Christopher, who is quite massive now. The poor baby is a Nason all over. Onwards to Pine Tops. Mum and Dad have now taken fancy to a guest house at Grassington, and have made an offer. I am not enthusiastic. Frying eggs all day isn't what I call a proper job and I can see them in my minds eye behind a bar pulling pints. They seem very happy about it, and say it won't be as restrictive as a tavern.

Watched 'Brief Encounter' only half-heartedly, and played with Frances, who has the reddest cheeks I have ever seen. She had stayed over last night whilst Lynn and Dave were out at Sicklinghall with Trevor and Jane. Frances can only crawl and refuses to stand. A beautiful, comical looking child. Lynn and Dave came in at 2. Dad followed [he's been on duty]. Dave went away to draw, and came back at 6 with fish and chips, after which they took baby home to bed. We sat and watched 'Woman in White' and left after 10.

-=-

Saturday May 1, 1982

 May Day. 

Slept soundly and got up full of beans because my cheque for £10 arrived from the beloved Post Office. If you can recall, Bessie posted my card on April 1, addressed to 'Ashe Tree Cottage, 5 Lidget Green, Bradford'. The sleuths at the PO have finally traced me and at 10:30 we set out gleefully to 'spend, spend spend'. First to the Co-op and then to town where I bought a pair of pump-like shoes called Turbos. I now look like a combination of Shakin' Stevens and the Woman in White. I bought Ally a blouse ~ a present from my 'Princess Felicitas of Prussia' article for Jonathan Margolis at the Mail. Bought three LPs. Eric Clapton, Remain in Light by Talking Heads, and a 1978 Bee Gees. Walked around town feeling like Sir Charles Clore [when he was alive that is].

Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones is eighteen. Why not marry her off to Viscount Althorp or the Marquess of Milford Haven?

Mum phoned. Karen isn't pregnant after all. Her doctor has changed his mind. The poor girl is in hysterics.

Sat by the TV watching the war. We bombed Port Stanley airfield today, and suffered no losses. The bulletins kept us rivetted. Our generation has never experienced such drama.

-=-

Friday April 30, 1982

 Just like old times I had a hangover. The girls in the office smiled and giggled at me. Why do women enjoy the sight of a man suffering? I blame the Roman Catholics. 

Went out at lunch and had a Cornish pasty in the rain in Park Square. Some young things were playing rounders in the daffodils.

Back at the YP I poured over my warm copy of the EP, hot off the press. From noon we have established our blockade of the Falklands and anything coming over the line is to be shot at. Let us hope this is not the Suez of Mrs Thatcher.

Shattered tonight. Ate and then slept. Nothing feels better than curling up in bed feeling completely done in. It wassn't too long before my contemplation of the ceiling passed into oblivion.

-=-

Thursday April 29, 1982

 Dear cousin Jill is twenty today. I remember her birth. I used to call her Jilly. Pay day. Got £68 instead of the usual £62. Pathetic, eh? Went out at lunchtime and bought a lager pack and some nice veg soup for Ally [cucumber and mushroom, or something]. She is quite partial to pretty soups.

Home at 5:30. Both in the bath and dressed hurriedly, but didn't get out until 8. Collected a few bottles and went to Valley Rd [Pudsey] where the Gadsbys were gathered for Jill. On to the King's Arms at Tong. Tony, Hilda, Karen, Steve, &c. Diane told us of her forthcoming visit to Buckingham Palace to a presentation by Prince Philip of Duke of Edinburgh Gold Awards. She and Hilda have bought new hats. Tony talked about the Gadsby Coat of Arms [!] ~ rampant ferrets, I think. Cock and Bull, more like. Jill was on top form calling me 'Mig'. She is an extremely witty lady. Back to Valley Road for more drinks. A poor boy called Vernon Murdoch, a neighbour, was taking refuge in their greenhouse, having been locked out of his house.

-=-

Wednesday April 28, 1982

 Windy. Weaker sun. Mum phoned. In Friday's YP death notices she has spotted the death of Mr Heap, of the Fox & Hounds, Starbotton. We didn't see him during our stay. He was incapacitated in a nearby room. Poor Mrs Heap.

Mum said she's heard of a Wharfedale Union Workhouse in Otley. Could this be where John Rhodes [1866-1948] was?

YP dismal. We received no copies of The Times, which gave a bad start to the day. The Falklands business looks like war. We are set to sink everything on sight from 11am on Friday. Labour is squealing about going to the UN, but what can they possibly do? Alexander Haig's Hon GBE is fading.

I cashed the £30 cheque from Jonathan Margolis. Walked around town but bought nothing. I never get further than HMV records and Greenhead books. I could easily spend £30 every week on records.

Jackie and Barry came at 8:30 and we sat listening to stories of Benidorm. Both seem happy and relaxed. we sat drinking beer and Rosé wine until almost 12. Ally made a pile of salad sandwiches and I helped her chop tomatoes while Jackie and Barry whispered together. We both wore striped shirts.

-=-