{"id":293,"date":"1980-01-21T09:43:52","date_gmt":"1980-01-21T09:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shirtyletters.com\/?p=293"},"modified":"2014-10-27T10:28:31","modified_gmt":"2014-10-27T10:28:31","slug":"293","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/?p=293","title":{"rendered":"Copy of Diary 1980 ( continued )"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Monday 21st January 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

I telephone Carole, my middle sister, my muddled sister, to tell her the sad news – ” Did she commit suicide ? “, says Carole …<\/p>\n

” Give me Andrew”, I said, restraining my pent up anger. He understands and doesn’t act.<\/p>\n

I return my salopettes to Alpine Sports – the queue-barger woman. Then have a long rap with Tom Bovingdon up in Harrod’s Olympic Way about golf nets, people and ancient ledgers.<\/p>\n

To Basil Street … Doc 15 minutes late. Supertramp ‘Child of Vision’ playing as we near Guy’s Hospital ( my birthplace 13.7.1954 ) Keat’s House – for my homeopathic appointment with Anthony Fry. \u00a0He’s\u00a0\u00bd hour late as well. \u00a0Prescribes Lithium Carbonate, ” Slow down kid\u00a0!”\u00a0 . Say goodbye to Michael ( Doc ) and hop into Buttercup. I am intoduced to to Revelations 14 – the references to the Lamb, Syon ( Zion ) Hill etc.. \u00a0Amanda Fitzalan-Howard comes for tea – fresh baked bread and chai. \u00a0Colour selections – has to dash off to see her knitters. Take loaf of bread to Bishop’s.<\/p>\n

9.30p.m. arrive at Gail Bishop’s house on Leatherhead Golf Course – snacks from the kitchen. Gail understands and so does her pitiable sister but the new boyfriend refuses to open up – & was a a right Bolshevic. \u00a0Morris stalled 200 yards up the road. \u00a0A fine household of people.<\/p>\n

Back to town at about 2a.m. …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tuesday 22nd January 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

4.30a.m. or so Morris and I set off towards Heathrow, but needing gas, we stop at the garage on North End Road at Baron’s Court & guess what, she doesn’t want to leave. Not even when 2 Frenchmen give her a push – ” Prend\u00a0\u00e9lan “, they say to me on leaving. \u00a0Bizarre mais la verit\u00e9. \u00a0So I shove Morris round the corner & leave her for the day outside M.Cornelle’s flat which was probably one of the safest spots.<\/p>\n

Then it’s autostop to H’row – one man stops but he’s not going far. Bless him anyway. Then a taxi takes me to Terminal 1 for \u00a36-50 – quick breakfast served out by some rather ignorant Indian ladies, then at 6.40a.m. British Airways set off to \u00a0Paris – headphones on amongst a pleasant mix of people. \u00a0Manage to get hold of the death announcements in the Times\/Telegraph when I’m 25,000′ up. \u00a0Arrive at the appalling Charles de Gaulle – how does anyone manage to find their way around that tubular monstronsity ? 30 mins wait at the bank – papier, papier, toujours papier !<\/p>\n

Then bus into Gare de L’Est – meeting a friend en route to whom I give the threepenny bit. \u00a0Arrive chez Didier at roughly 11a.m. – il attend le plombier. \u00a0Post letters to Chris Sandford and Wanda re Revelations 14. \u00a0Speak to Marie on \u00a0phone twice – pauvre petite – \u00a0tired at first then having to work on the ‘Corail’. \u00a0Didier and I clean up the flat – take chai – then kip for 2 hours. \u00a0100 francs for Didier, \u00a0sending package. Then out to Samaritaine for 3 frisbees, \u00a0dried fruits, \u00a0olive oil, \u00a0Greek wine, \u00a0M.C.Escher book for Sue (Gernaey), \u00a0stickers, \u00a0peppercorns, taramasalata.<\/p>\n

Remarkable quartier environ de l’\u00e9glise ST.\u00a0\u00c9STEPHE – blending of Forum Les Halles and the counterculture cobbles. Back to Didier – ring Cha & then Jill Frederick’s sister. Then metro with Colombian sack & hessian sack full of gifts – musicians abounding underground. Arrive at Les Invalides virtually broke to take bus to Orly – an almost deserted airport nowadays. Catch Kuwaiti Airways flight back to H’row, one of the most enjoyable flights I have ever taken \u00a0– then back by tube to Baron’s Court. \u00a0Spoke to guy called Chris Parfitt who had just returned from India. Yet another believer. Morris starts first time !<\/p>\n

Sue and Patrick’s drinks party – then off to Kim and Fran\u00e7ine for supper and so to bed.<\/p>\n

Whatalong day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wednesday 23rd January 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

Morris heads off to score & discovers she can’t do much about traffic jams in the Queenstown Road. \u00a0Meet Robin, Charlotte, Sarah & baby Adam – then another old Morris drives me back to WKP 795. I decide to give her a rest outside Raven Records. Addison Lee take me to Anthony Fry at Guy’s \u00a0( what a dull driver … I had to resort to my headphones to avoid listening to him ! ). \u00a0 Anthony\u00a0is 20 mins late ( Doctor’s prerogative ) but I practice a little Dari in the waiting room.<\/p>\n

Then walking over London Bridge, past Greig Fester. New patisserie on Gracechurch St., talking politics. Down Central Line to Holborn \/ change to Piccadilly & arrive at Knightsbridge. \u00a0Then walk to Albert Bridge & find taxi after Diners’ Clubbing another (No.3 ) Sony 121 + headphones. Collect Morris from Raven Records.<\/p>\n

Telephone Maggie Lapiner, tracing hr to Perivale. \u00a0She tells me she’s just starting in a pub, the ‘Seagull’, between Southall & Greenford. So I storm up there; Maggie looking lovelier than ever, play the juke-box, have our halves of Guinness and smoke a few fags. Then off homeward bound, Morris really firing on all cylinders ! Set off on a search for Benhams ( unable to find ), Bennett’s … ” not in gym shoes, sir “, la di da di da di da. \u00a0So up to Fran\u00e7oise, which looks as though a bomb hit it. Then on to Fingal’s ( Fulham Road ), closing but waitress recommends Sloan’s. That was closing too as was the Hard Rock – what a sleepy city we live in.<\/p>\n

So it’s back to Altenburg for scrambled eggs on toast.<\/p>\n

AND<\/p>\n

SO<\/p>\n

TO<\/p>\n

BED<\/p>\n

where the festivities continue – superbon<\/p>\n

extra.<\/p>\n

Thursday 24th January 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

Maggie sleeps on, bless her heart. Then off we go for another day in the life of. First stop Nat West Pont St. at 10.15a.m. but the new manager is unobtainable. My old friend Mr Mycock has retired – he wouldn’t have bounced a cheque for \u00a3250. Troubles with the Technocrats. And so on down to Heathrow with Maggie, my gorgeous friend. Morris stops at the wrong terminal. Object find Gail. Friends help & Gail is paged from the departure lounge.<\/p>\n

Maggie and I were standing at the iron gates in front of\u00a0the departure channel when, from nowhere it seemed, six sisters or nuns were buzzing around us, like little hummingbirds. A most beautiful moment it was, then Gail appears through the doors to receive her gift – the Sony & phones, 3 cassettes, 2 candles and a card saying ‘ Go as you are ‘ – all wrapped in a sheet of the Times in a Raven Records bag ! \u00a0We buy some more Duracells, then Gail has to go … to Moscow then Kenya.<\/p>\n

I introduce Maggie to my friends up at the coffee shop & we eat some lunch. Then it’s bye bye – me going to Sunningdale, Maggie back to Perivale. Hand over my sneakers to the Pro’s Shop and play 13 holes with Peter Breeden – he 2 over par, me a bit ropy but not too bad. Then set off for my 4p.m. appointment at Allen & Overy ( Solicitors ) – I’m\u00a0\u00bd hour late cos Morris stopped on a roundabout by the ‘ Compleat Angler Hotel ‘ – fine black guy helps me out & we tow start her … give him \u00a32 for his trouble.<\/p>\n

Ted Molt says hello in Knightsbridge ( he used to have Morris convertible ). Reach A&O – \u00a0Sir Godfrey Morley, Colin Welsh, Derek Sloan. \u00a0\u00a3360 cheque from mum’s estate. \u00a0Derek stays to hear the week’s events and hands over Mange 2’s company memorandi. Mange 2 is born ! Glowing orange fire-ball sun over Buckingham Palace as I was driving back down the Mall.<\/p>\n

Supper chez Franny & one non-believer. Nick Porritt, Losely man, Charlie. \u00a0Mark Fielden calls. Depart at midnight …<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Friday 25th January 1980 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0VISIONS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

3a.m.<\/p>\n

The Spire on the Hill<\/p>\n

( St. Marks )<\/p>\n

Doves \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u2020 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Courage<\/p>\n

The White Cat<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Song<\/p>\n

Solsbury Hill<\/p>\n

Peter Gabriel<\/p>\n

Bath … laughing about the Game, the Great Game<\/p>\n

Sunday 24th February 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

5’ish to Syon Park with Sue Gernaey & Rufus ( dog ). \u00a0The whole tour from Harry Percy. \u00a0Syon\u00a0\u2194 St.Paul’s. \u00a0Obelisk & gifts.<\/p>\n

Monday 25th February 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

Window cleaner. \u00a0Mr Unigate & suit. \u00a0Mr Halsey, news of Mycock. ” Never cut out to be a bank manager ” … ” Well, none of us are really “. \u00a0 Harrods Book Dept.. Julian & Georgie for tea. \u00a0London Window Co. and Sotheby’s talk. \u00a0Jehovah’s Witnesses. \u00a0Doc Michael, \u00a0house supper for 6 and laughter. Toast … absent friends.<\/p>\n

Tuesday 26th February 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

‘ Living by numbers … does it all add up to you ? ‘ \u00a0Calmate, \u00a0Sue. Message re Gail dizzy, call Jamie at Dixons on Capital Radio. Gasmen bring the wrong clock. Take fishcakes to Jayne Phillips, Majid Saud, Dr. Kelly & Harry P. at Priory + mushroom. \u00a0Morris no go. \u00a0By bus past Northumberland Arms to Altenburg. \u00a0Walk to Clapham Common bandstand – clock configuration. \u00a0Letters from Kitty & Jayne – former with silver cross & chain. \u00a0The present\u00a0\u2020. \u00a0Tea-time re Dr. Flood, talking of AJPS. \u00a0Amanda brings her creations ( jerseys ). 7.15p.m. to Sue & her telephone – Rufus returns.<\/p>\n

New Genesis album in 10 days. New single … ” Turn it on again “.<\/p>\n

Wednesday 27th February 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

Up with the birds and dustmen. Thinking of Lady Mary Rose Williams ( mum’s best friend ) \u00a0and Mr McNair-Wilson ( Lymington M.P. ) and connections thereto. Lady at the crossroads … \u00a0” I’ve seen you here before “. Touch cures nausea – ta Sue P. Rang Gran – she saw eclipse in Kenya. Outing to Graham Millar ( trustee ) – the evil Bolingbroke story & Mr Inglis at Touche Ross – back via Sainsbury’s with nausea continuing. To bed at 1p.m., \u00a0Jayne rings with news of Harry at 2.30p.m.. \u00a0Poisonous pesticides killed the peregrines.<\/p>\n

More nausea – calls to Desmond Kelly & Harry.<\/p>\n

Thursday 28th February 1980<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dizziness<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Monday 21st January 1980 I telephone Carole, my middle sister, my muddled sister, to tell her the sad news – ” Did she commit suicide ? “, says Carole … ” Give me Andrew”, I said, restraining my pent up anger. He understands and doesn’t act. I return my salopettes to Alpine Sports – the … Continue reading Copy of Diary 1980 ( continued )<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[10],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=293"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":296,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/293\/revisions\/296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/shirtyletters.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}