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hadn’t tested them anyway, as she has this idea that “fish is fattening.” She has threatened to join a badminton club, to help with her slimming.
    January 22nd – Thursday
    Bruise fading, thank goodness. Felt bilious last night, due, no doubt, to the kippers. Roads icy. Had to go to the factory Lumberjobs at Long Ferry and took the director, Mr Swindlehurst, out to lunch locally. He asked me to call him Stan. The meal was disappointing, a greasy foreign concoction, but think I can safely say I made a good impression on Mr S.
    January 23rd – Friday
    Day started badly with another letter from Julie’s mum wanting to know why we hadn’t replied to her last letter. Hope to postpone her intended visit a little longer.
    Put on new striped shirt for visit to the Downes’, which we had been looking forward to all week. Julie’s new home perm seems to have taken well this time.
    Popped across the road at 8.30. The other couple were already there and we were introduced to Alan and Sue Uppe. They live in a house called The Nest in Feather Lane and Alan teaches at Weston Comprehensive – it’s nice to have a chat with somebody in the teaching profession, seems very knowledgeable about world affairs. While we chaps discussed cars (Alan has a Ford Escort), our respective jobs and a political programme seen on television, the girls went to see Una’s new duvet, which she had seen advertised in a Sunday colour supplement. Mentioned that Julie was thinking of joining the local badminton club but for some reason, as a topic of conversation, it seemed a “no go” area. I intercepted a quick look between Steve and Alan – what sort of look I couldn’t really say. When I asked if either of their good ladies belonged, Steve said that Una had given it up and Alan muttered something about ‘Sue not being really interested’ and, as if to change the subject quickly, out of the blue he asked Steve, ‘Got your sporran polished up for the 7th then?’ Steve laughed but didn’t explain and, at that moment, Una arrived with a laden tray.
    We were having our coffee and eating little bits and pieces, which I noticed Julie enjoyed, and having a very pleasant time when the lights went off.
    Must confess I had for the moment forgotten about the strike. Una and Steve lit some large religious candles and we all said how cosy it looked but somehow the atmosphere was broken and, after rather a long silence, I said, ‘Well, we’d better go and see if Trev’s alright.’ Thanked them for a delightful evening and returned home to find, to our annoyance, Trev had lit all Julie’s supply of candles, which were stuck in jam jars all around the house. Looked like Aladdin’s Cave and he seemed hugely pleased with the effect.
    January 24th – Saturday
    Have decided to build rose arbour in back garden from off-cuts I can get from work – one of the “perks” of being in the timber trade. Went into garden after breakfast to plan it but couldn’t concentrate due to the noise coming from next door. Mrs (Vi, I believe) Butt and their teenage daughter, Diane (not an unattractive girl), quarrelling loudly but I couldn’t make out what it was all about. Door slammed and Mrs B took their white poodle off down the road.
    Ju1ie wrote to her mother in the evening and suggested she comes to stay “sometime in March” when it’s a little warmer. Hope she won’t bring Bri with her. Hope Julie omitted to mention new supply of extra beds.
    January 25th – Sunday
    Another electric cut today just when Julie was cooking the roast, so had cold ham pie for lunch with pickles – not very warming. Due to having night storage heaters, do not have any heat loss during the day so have not used our Glowrange yet but no doubt will before long.
    January 26th – Monday
    Collected off-cuts from timber yard. Was unloading the boot when heard a