Thursday September 29, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Hideous. At 10:30pm a gang of maniacs refused to quit the premises and hurled chairs, pictures, mirrors, brass wall lamps, &c at the bar behind which Ally, Bernie and I were standing. It was a close shave. The gang could not be controlled or calmed and Ally made an emergency call to the police who arrived later to find us quivering deep in broken glass. Ally was so calm. I do admire the way she handles the situation. Francis O'Brien was phoned and he says: "Clear up the mess and be open for trading at 11am ..." Mercenary bastard. The apologetic police (the same boys in blue who came last week) locked up the mob, all of whom were well known to the locals. I made yet another statement and we went up to bed exhausted and limp. We shall never be defeated.

-=-

Wednesday September 28, 1983

 Why Not, Middlesbrough

Ally.

A ___ gent came and looked at our damaged glass washer and told us it will cost £188 to fix. We went to Thornaby and banked bags of money, bought a newspaper and bars of chocolate. Ally continues to feel sick before breakfast and sits in bed earting digestive biscuits. Margaret Staveley (sic), a snooty barmaid, handed in her resignation and left. She said goodbye to me and swept past Ally. Ally says she's never been 'hated' before and cannot understand this new dimension to our lives. Bosses are always hated though, aren't they? ________.

-=-

Tuesday September 27, 1983

'Mandy' at the Why Not.

 Why Not, Middlesbrough

Sunshine. Dad helped me put all the wooden tables from the garden up onto the flat roof. Some five year-old budding hooligans had piled them up to resemble a bonfire, so I thought it was time to act. I got up early to 'bottle up' and we had breakfast with Mum & Dad later. Weetabix seems to be the thing. We sat round a tiny table brought up from the bar. Whilst we worked downstairs Mum and Dad cleaned the flat and stuffed a chicken for lunch which we all lunched on at 3, after closing. Dad spent some time cleaning out the deep fat fryers. He enjoys getting messy. Chatted to the man who delivered the crisps. He went on at length about the different flavours. At 5 a couple came to inspect the place, sent by Francis O'Brien. No tattoos and no wedding rings - they'll never do. At 7 F. O'B arrived in person and we gave him a list of queries. His suits always look very Savile Row. He told us that an appointment has been offered both here and at the Master Cooper, but the change over, if accepted, is in the air. We'll certainly be here until mid-November. Our baby is due in 100 days.

-=-

Monday September 26, 1983

 Why Not, Middlesbrough

Sunshine. A phone call from Horton. They'll be here this afternoon. Excitement. In the bar the boring Tommy, a sad figure, told me that he only has two years to live, and here he is in Hemlington drinking a half pint of Sam Smith's beer. I'd be off seeing the world. We expected Mum and Dad to arrive while the pub was open but they didn't land until 4. We sat in the bar eating sandwiches for an hour. Mum looked tired. She told us that my cousin Stephen Myers, 18, is marrying his 17 year-old girlfriend, who has a bun in the oven. _______. We had a sort of semi night off and sat in the lounge bar. We didn't tell the bar staff just who they are and they suspect they have been sent by the brewery to sus out the place. We sat with just one drink after getting rid of the mob, but we all looked jaded and went upstairs. We did the tills sitting at the table.

-=-

Sunday September 25, 1983

Ally: The Why Not.

 17th Sunday after Trinity

Why Not, Hemlington

Telephone is hot. We phoned our mothers, sisters, brothers and cousins. Mum is well, but Papa has had a bad week with his stomach. Could it be an ulcer? They are coming up to see us in the week. Bessie goes to Guernsey and Jersey tomorrow and is staying at the Duke of Richmond hotel. John, the birthday boy, wasn't at home and neither was Lynn. Sue was bright and cheerful and Christopher gurgled. Peter's car is still off the road. Phoned Karen. Hayley is refusing to breast feed apparently. Phoned Dave G and he wasn't in. Spoke to Lily who asked us about our tills. She is a good woman. 

-=-

Saturday September 24, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Wet day. Green phlegm continues. They do say hat working in a pub with the filthy atmosphere therein it's the equivalent of smoking twenty cigarettes a day. What a diabolical thought. One day I would like to see the smoking of tobacco abolished. Margaret McMahon worked with me all afternoon. They all seem to be called McMahon in Middlesbrough. It's a big RC area. Tonight we went to the Linthorpe at midnight, setting our burglar alarm and tootling off in Mandy. Marie was in bed, but the mob was preparing to go on to a party at John McCutcheon's. The majority left in taxis and we took a pissed Roy in our car. He didn't wear a set belt and sat up front mumbling and swilling a gin and bitter lemon concoction from a bottle. Such a character. The party was smoky and dull but a pleasant change. Lesbians everywhere. Big buxom girls. We stood with Rose and Ian and discussed the Rolling Stones and the clientel of the Why Not. We left at 2.

-=-

Friday September 23, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

I have thick green phlegm and feel awful. Catarrh. I went about like a consumptive. We went early to Thornaby and to the bank. I bought John a birthday card. He's 27 on Sunday. We despatched the card containing a fiver. Went to the post office. Couldn't find a Daily Telegraph and bought the Daily Mail. The Liberals are now at one another's throats. It's such a joy to see Ally at the wheel of Mandy. Today is Lily Glynn's birthday. I must ring David to let him know how we are doing. Do we take more cash than the Hollywood? John is going into business with a friend, Steve. Will it end in disaster?

-=-

Thursday September 22, 1983

 Full Moon

Why Not, Hemlington

Takings: Lounge £267.61 / Bar £230.98

Marie and Mags came to see us last night and stood at the bar drinking large Bacardis and vodka to boost our takings. Inspector Dale and some of his colleagues called in for a pint or two. He was as nice as pie, and not at all vicious. Ally went to see a Dr Ruffett in Middlesbrough, and he gave her a clean bill of health. She now weighs 8st 12lb. Her blood pressure is spot on. A Hell's Angel in the bar has named his baby son Gary. Why do such a terrible thing? Sir Harold Wilson's peerage has been gazetted as Baron Wilson of Rievaulx. I was hoping he's been Earl Wilson of Scilly. Ally bought the local newspaper today. Thet give houses away up here.

-=-

Wednesday September 21, 1983

 Why Not, Hemlington

Takings: Lounge £198.96 / Bar £173.12

The locals treat the place with a new found reverence. It's like St Paul's Crypt in the bar and everything is being said at a whisper after the incident last night. Ally was so good. She phoned the police after a certain Ray Davies was attempting to land a punch at me from across the bar. The man was berserk. Ally should not be spending the final months of her pregnancy in what is no more than a refuge for paroled prisoners. We went to Thornaby together to the National Westminster Bank and banked £500. We're supposed to go three times a week. Ally bought rolls for the sandwiches.

Is Diana pregnant? I have been reading the Daily Mail. The Daily Telegraph is a rarity on Teesside.

-=-

Tuesday September 20, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Takings: Lounge £160.35 / Bar £201.64

Our first touch of Why Not violence. Ally and I only left the bar for ten minutes this afternoon and came back in to find some lads clowning around without their trousers and driving away the few customers supping in the lounge. A furious argument followed, trousers were pulled up, and the offending youths promised never to do such a thing again. Sadly, this evening they appeared pissed and after I asked them to quit the premises, they refused quite violently. I phoned the police. On seeing the constables a certain Billy Bousfield proceeded to smash  all the glasses on his table and was forcibly removed from the pub. In the scuffle one policeman had his helmet stolen. I made a statement and young Bousfield is going to face charges of criminal damage. I then barred four lads from entering the Why Not during my tenure. 

-=-

Monday September 19, 1983

 The Why Not, Hemlington

Takings: Lounge £255.77 / Bar £186.58

A day without incident. Jill and Tim's wedding anniversary. The Yanks are shelling Lebanon. World War III is upon us and here I am selling beer in Middlesbrough to people with tattooed throats. 

-=-