Wednesday August 25, 1982

 Half day. Paper things. John came and laid tiles. He's seeing Janette at the weekend . _________. Ally was sat giggling at the Miss UK beauty competition on TV. The IRA managed to disrupt the proceedings, I believe. John went off at 11. To bed.

-=-

Tuesday August 24, 1982

 Oh fuck off.

-=-

Monday August 23, 1982

 You can always tell when I'm writing pissed, can't you? YP. Fucking rubbish. Why am I still there? Never mind.

I was painting in the cellar at 6:30 when Mum phoned to say that Maria gave birth to a daughter this morning at 10:00am weighing 6lb and the odd ounce. Hannah is the name.  __________.

-=-

Sunday August 22, 1982

 11th Sunday after Trinity

John came and boxed in the stray pipes, and found a good many faults with our £1300 kitchen. Joiners tend to do this with work from other tradesmen. Back to Pine Tops for 6pm. Dinner. Sheep and Yorkshire puddings. Fun. Wine. John drove us home with a Christmas tree [?]

-=-

Saturday August 21, 1982

 We went out looking for ironing boards and general things for the house. Saw curtain material, and found a carpet [pale green] for £2.80, or £280,  more likely. Home jaded. TV. Bed.

-=-

Friday August 20, 1982

 The new cooker works. Yorkshire puddings tonight. Joyful feelings in the kitchen. Russell Harty on TV. Later, Alfred Hitchcock. Baked bread, yes bread. 

New books arrived. Picasso, Dali and Surrealism.

-=-

Thursday August 19, 1982

 Half day. Bought tiles and [wall]paper at Fads. Returned to home base. The little kitchen erector comes from Barnsley, or a place three miles therefrom, and immediately he warmed to my south Yorkshire connections. Made tea. The kitchen man finished at 3. Ally and I dined at home. Actually we had fish and chips.

-=-

Wednesday August 18, 1982

 Kitchen renovations Day 3. We came home from work, changed, and went out at 6:45 to the Oddfellows, a run down and filthy pub. An elderly Pakistani was playing the fuit machine with gusto. Moved on after one drink to the Second West. This pub has changed hands since our last visit. The organ is no more, and I suspect that Stan [the organist] has joined the heavenly host. To the Coachman's or is it the Coach House? I preferred it when it was Mucky Willie's. The dirt and destruction at home is getting on Ally's nerves and we were quarrelsome. I hate squabbling. At 10 we stormed out and went to buy a curry. Hotter. Four inches of dirt had settled at home, but the cooker and sink were installed. 

-=-

Tuesday August 17, 1982

 The kitchen renovations continue. Our crooked walls are making it a long job. Tonight we went by bus, in pouring rain, into the metropolis, and had more Italian food at the Pizza House, on Sunbridge Road. Whitebait, prawn cocktails, lasagne. We were the only diners and our only companions were the tropical fish swimming amiably around in a tank. We used the good old Barclaycard, a rare thing these days. When we left the restaurant it was still pouring down , and seeing no buses, we walked half way home sharing an umbrella. We arrived home damp and happy to inspect the kitchen progress. To bed with hot drinks.

The gutter press are reporting that the marriage of Princess Anne and Capt Phillips is on the rocks. The princess celebrated her 32nd birthday at Balmoral, whilst Mark was farming hundreds of miles away at Gatcombe Park. It is about time that the press realised that members of the royal family are quite different to the ordinary couples out on the street. The Queen and Prince Philip are often parted for weeks on end but not because they are unhappy with each other. Royal life is essentially a lonely one.

-=-

Monday August 16, 1982

 Graham and Gill went back to Gloucestershire. Ally took the day off to receive the little men from Kitchen Studios, who arrived at 11 took a cheque for £1300 and then sat around drinking tea all afternoon. They hadn't realised that the house would be so 'crooked'. Nothing is square. I came home at 6. Ally was covered in dust, but calm. The kitchen fitters were still at work and so we changed and got a bus into the city [after having a quick one at the Coachman's], arriving at a pizza place, Giuseppi's Backyard, at 9. Ally still not loving her food, but she's improving. Window shopping. Bradford is full of scaffolding. Home and to bed. No doubt we'll see some developments in the kitchen tomorrow - tonight just chaos.

-=-

Sunday August 15, 1982

 10th Sunday after Trinity

Trevor took us to the Holiday Inn, where he works, and showed us a couple of rooms, before our breakfast. Had a few drinks and left for Bradford at 3. John was awaiting us on our return at 5 and had boxed in more pipes. He dashed home to change and returned at 7. We went for a drink with Philip and Carol Middlebrough, and Richard and Eileen, to the Malt Shovel, again. John used to play football with Philip many years ago. Poor Eileen cannot persuade Richard to marry her. Much Tetley's consumed. At 10:30 we went to the Fire Brigade followed by a grand finale - a Chinese take-away. John came back to Ash Tree Cottage with Graham and Gill and we listened to Emerson, Lake & Palmer whilst demolishing prawn sweet and sour. Delicious. Ally feeling herself again. She is susceptible to travel sickness.

-=-