Saturday July 24, 1982

Janette.

 Up for a fried repast. Tony Blackburn on the radio, dreadful stuff. We went to Leeds at 9:30 to collect Janette on Wellington Street. I was very pleasantly surprised and found her very attractive, clad in her red jeans and white ankle boots. Ally and I walked with John to the bus station  but afterwards regretted it because we felt 'in the way'. John insisted that we should all have a [Rolling] Stones t-shirt and spent £11 buying one for the four of us. Back to Bradford. Janette sat quietly smoking, her eyes fixed on John. He banged around with a hammer. 

At 11:30 we went to town to buy veg at the market returning at 1pm with fish and chips. Janette didn't eat. John's carpentry continued this afternoon, and Janette went for a sleep [she's been on the go since midnight]. Out at 7 to the Fire Brigade, and then for a pizza with two bottles of wine, at a place on Manningham Lane. I was intoxicated, but very full. John and I shared half of Janette's pizza. It was her first Italian. Not much call for it in Stranraer. Onward to Chaplin's. Saw Dave Porritt. Humid and noisy, but fun. Janette is a discoholic. Home after 11 and we clowned around playing records and swilling beer. I did a Mick Jagger impersonation. Laughter.

-=-

Friday July 23 1982

 John arrived at 5:30 as we were tucking into chilli con carne. He set about measuring wood and performing his feats of carpentry. Throughout he suggested that we go out for a drink, but Ally just wasn't in the mood, and in her washer woman mode. She said I should go out without her, but it's something we never do, and I don't want to start. We sat watching the Royal Tournament and drinking beer. At 10 John bought us a curry from over the road. It's so good to be close to him again. To bed quite early, and not intoxicated.

-=-

Thursday July 22, 1982

St Paul's House.

 Felt dreadful all day and on the verge of collapse. The alarm clock in John's room didn't function and yet I managed to wake up at 7. Walked around the house like something from a Peter Cushing Hammer film. John similarly incapacitated. Ally and I walked down the lane at 7:30 and straight away she got a bus to Bradford. I walked to the Station Hotel and got a 33 [bus]. Leeds at 9. Grew streadily worse through the day, sat with my head hanging. At lunchtime I forced myself to go find Silvio's confectioners and spent the best part of 90p on two sandwiches. I sat on a bench in Park Square eating salmon and cucumber sandwiches and admiring St Paul's House. Taking deep breaths I made my way back to the YP. Dissipation does one no good.

At home Ally was white and preparing food with heavy eyes. She also had to go out and eat at lunchtime. We had salad sandwiches and poached eggs. Bessie phoned. Bed with books. Difficulty sleeping - typical after the exhaustion of the day.

-=-

Wednesday July 21, 1982

 Susie is 23 today. She was born at 11:55am and I can vividly recall the scene. It makes one feel extremely old.

Left the YP at 4. John collected us at 5:30, and surprisingly we were ready and waiting for him. Over to Guiseley to find Mum and Dad in high spirits. We ate grilled ham and new potatoes. Thirsty business, and thankfully we were out at 8 at the Fox & Hounds, Menston. Sue and Pete were already in the bar. Joined by Lynn, David, Margaret and Jim. After a few drinks David cleared his throat and asked us to raise a glass to Frances's brother or sister. Yes, Lynn is pregnant and expecting a baby circa December 31. Such very good news. Ally had guessed as much when she saw Lynn walking into the pub. She has put on so much weight. Ally said: 'She didn't look me in the eyes. Lynn always has some important thing to say when she doesn't look me in the eyes.' A jovial party. Margaret can be very amusing when manipulated from the start. Back to Sue's for red wine. Ally went up to peep at Christopher. Slept at Pine Tops.

-=-

Tuesday July 20, 1982

 This morning 10 guardsmen of the Blues and Royals and Royal Green Jackets were killed by a bomb in London near Rotten Row whilst riding in full ceremonial to change the guard at Buckingham Palace.

Rotten Row bomb.

Our poor monarch must surely be at her wits end. The past ten days have been dreadful. On July 9 she had the intruder in her bedroom, and then yesterday it was revealed that her personal detective, Commander Trestrail, has been conducting a long standing affair with a male prostitute. Sat with my coffee looking at the Times I saw that Her Majesty's old friend, Lord Rupert Nevill, who was only 59, died on Sunday. Lord Rupert, heir to the Marquess of Abergavenny, was private secretary to Prince Philip, and has been in the Queen's close circle of friends since the 1940s. Princess Margaret and Group Capt Peter Townsend ended their traumatic affair at the Nevill's Uckfield home in 1955. He was also a godfather of Viscount Linley.

Couldn't phone Ally because of the strike. Phoned Mum. She hasn't really been the same since I told her of Janette's coming. They were at [Auntie] Hilda's last night. It does look as though John has told them nothing. Lynn and David returned from Wales on Saturday and we are going for dinner tomorrow before Susie's birthday drink session at some as yet unnamed hostelry.

Home at 6. I had been under the impression that we were going to the Chevin this evening to pick bilberries with David and Jean [Watts]. Ally, sombre and pale, says she forgot to make the arrangements with Jean, I think that Derek [Jenkins] has been annoying her, again. We ate quiche and salad and brewed beer. There's supposed to be a partial eclipse of the sun tonight. It was a glorious evening and I sat looking up at it. The next such eclipse isn't until 1998. Ally went upstairs with the vacuum cleaner. Why do they make such a bloody noise?

Mum phoned to say John will collect Ally and I tomorrow. To bed quite early. We would have been depressed watching a documentary on something about 'asbestossness' [an Ally quote]. Didn't bother.

-=-

Monday July 19, 1982

King Edward: bastards?

 Warm. YP. Still no cheque from Malcolm [Barker]. Mark Parry came in as bold as brass, and didn't mention it either. Read in one of the Sunday papers the reviews of George Melly's biography of Edward James. I thought Mrs Willie James had been Edward VII's mistress but according to Melly she was the king's illegitimate daughter. How many bastards did Edward VII have? Will we ever be informed?

Phoned Mum. She was cutting the lawns. She talked about everything except what I wanted to hear, and obviously hasn't been told of Janette's visit. Then right at the end of the conversation she asked whether John had mentioned Janette this weekend. I had to say yes, and the whole thing came out. She was far from happy and complained of the secrecy and intrigue which has sprung up since John came south. She amazed me by saying that she thought the arrival of the baby next month might bring John and Maria back together. John has made it quite clear that the birth will not alter the relationship. Mind you, he has also said that he and Janette are not all that serious, but simply very good friends. Do you travel 250 miles to visit someone who is 'just a friend'?  Confusion reigns. 

Ally and I walked to the public library and ate pie and peas. Bed at 8:30. Cocoa at 10. Ally unconscious at 10:25.

-=-

Sunday July, 18, 1982

 Hangover. Up at 10:30 and we sat in the sun. Went back to bed for an hour.Knackered. Phoned John and told him to tell Mum about Janette's visit. Ate fish. Watched a Royal Command performance in aid of the [Falkland's] Task Force. 

The Queen has spent the weekend in hospital having her wisdom teeth extracted.

-=-

Saturday July 17, 1982

 John came at 10:30 in the poor Toyota which is close to death from the weight of the stone in the car. We went and bought building sand at 86p per bag which turned John a shade of green. He can get it for nothing when the wind is in the right direction. Ally went off on the bus into town leaving us with our mammoth building task until after 4. John is very good and constructs some fine pieces of symetrical masonry. He has a good eye. On Ally's return John took a hot bath, and afterwards I phoned people to see about a night out - without success. At 8 he drove us in the Toyota to Mucky Willie's [now re-christened the Coachman's], and from there we went to the Fire Brigade. Merriment, music and all. We finally got round to asking him about hisn arrangements for next weekend. He says he thinks Janette will have to stay in a hotel in Leeds, but I quashed this saying she must stay with us. I see no reason why not. It's not as though we are helping to destroy his marriage. It's already floundered. Obviously, Mum will be wild about this. John says Janette will have to take us out for dinner to repay us. _________.

Had a flaming hot prawn curry and sat arguing with John about his disastrous life. __________.

-=-

Friday July 16, 1982

 Geoff Hemingway went to conference with the ed to complain that my Prince William posters are selling for 50p whilst I am only receiving £50. I sent some information to Jonathan Margolis this afternoon, and received £30 for help I gave the YP People column on June 17. Struggle to think what it was for. Perhaps it was Carina Fitzalan-Howard's on-off engagement. Never look a gift Czech in the mouth.

Ally and I dined on liver on our knees, too lazy to sit at the table. John arrived in the rattling Toyota bringing 48 tons of Yorkshire stone. He got lost on the way and came via Cleckheaton, Naples and Juan Les Pins. He's unshaven and podgy. Maria was supposed to be coming down to Yorkshire, but has now postponed her visit until after the baby comes. Mum has knit something for her latest grandchild. 

To bed at 8:30 after John's departure. Plunged in the bath and took up Ken Follett. Ally is pink and edible.

-=-

Thursday July 15, 1982

 Hot, yet dull. Met Dad at the Leeds Police HQ and we climbed across three building sites to get to Len's Bar. Leeds is now like London after the Great Fire. Erections springing up everywhere. But once erected these towering properties stand empty for seven years. We sat in the gloom on a Chesterfield sofa sinking Stone's bitter. It seems most odd to me that Dad should be attending a 'trainer' or 'refresher' course when he has only 34 and a half days remaining in the [police] force. That's bureaucracy for you. Talked about John. Dad is very choked about the divorce. When, half way through a pint, he talked about 'the collapse of family life and all we hold dear' he was reminiscent of Dr Runcie. God bless Dad. He is such a good man. I love him more and more. I hated him so when I was younger. At the time I convinced myself that my loathing of the man was not because of adolescence. All youths fall out with parents, but always thought my case was different. Sitting in Len's we seemed so close. He has such humour and is eccentric. I told him we were going to see the [Rolling] Stones and took out his pocket book and made a note of it. YP pissed. 

David and Jean [Watts] came back this evening. By 10:30 we had hot water restored. Praise be to God.

-=-

Wednesday July 14, 1982

 Thundery. Felt grotty all day. Headache which is peculiar. I only ever get pains of this nature after a night on the piss.

Further shocking details of the Queen's recent ordeal. Her Majesty at one point telephoned the police office at Buck House and discreetly asked for assistance so not to disturb her 'guest', only to wait for ten minutes without response. I think that Lord Maclean [Lord Chamberlain], William Whitelaw [Home Secretary] and the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard should all be sacked. A dreadful state of affairs when the Sovereign is potentially murdered in her bed by a man who walked in from the street unchallenged. I grow more annoyed at this as the days go by. I bet the Duke [of Edinburgh] is livid.

Home to Piglet at 5. [Left the YP at 4 because of Ray Buckton and Sid Weighell -- a future Viscount Weighell, CH]. Saw Dad on Wellington Street. He had been square-bashing at Wakefield.

Ally was very wet, walking home in a storm. Audrey, the Citroen, went to the knacker's yard this afternoon. We got £100 for her, and we're well rid. No more French cars for us. In fact nothing French will ever enter my house, with the exception of Brigitte Bardot. Certainly nothing mechanical.

Mum, Dad and John came at 7:30 to deliver a pile of stone. Sat until 9 talking about palace intruders. Frank phoned. They are back from Corfu. We went to bed at 9:30 with a big, glossy Diana book.

-=-