MUMMY'S 45 - "BUT DOESN'T LOOK IT" — 1967-1968: Diary of a Posh Schoolgirl

Jul 14

Jul 14 MUMMY'S 45 - "BUT DOESN'T LOOK IT"

F R I D A Y, 1 4 J U L Y

Mummy’s birthday, she’s 45. I don't think she looks it! Went into her room to open presents. Grandma and Grandpa were still asleep.

At 9.30 Ma and me went to the Doctors but they said I’d have to wait another hour. So I went home and decided I’d have to go to school now or it wouldn’t be worth going at all. In the end it was a bit of a waste of time going in. Lucy, Anya and Tig were on a walk, and I played some tennis with Susan.

Went home, had to walk from Tadworth. Mummy not there of course, because of the school ‘do’. Felt so sorry for her. I lay down and sunbathed and listened to the radio. At 4.15 Ma came back - rather pleased. Lots of people had come up to her and said it was the best speech they’d ever had! She got a super bouquet of flowers and they all sang Happy Birthday. I don't think she had such a bad time after all.

Had tea with the birthday cake Chump had made. Changed into dolly-rocker and blue ribbon bunches, and at six we left. Picked up Pa from the office and went to Tiberios. It’s a super Italian restaurant. First had drinks, then went to our table.

“Tons of waiters all around us, one even put my serviette on my lap for me (which seemed a bit unnecessary!)”

I had scallops, two of them - they tasted of lemon, parsley, pepper and the sea – then chicken in a fried batter which I didn’t like all that much as it tasted of cheese, then wild strawberries with gallons of cream. Had coffee, and the waiter (who had a fantastic voice) poured on cream about a third of an inch thick! When we left, all the waiters dashed up to pull chairs out of our way - hilarious.

We walked to the cinema and at 8.45 ‘A Man for All Seasons’ began. It was nearly as good as ‘Dr Zhivago’. The photography was quite superb - it opened as the names came up with a duck gliding along in an absolutely straight line. There was no interval, which was rather a pity, but Paul Scofield was marvellous as Thomas More, in fact the whole cast was excellent. Rich was adorable (John Hurt), he reminded me of Antoine and other fab people all mixed up. It was funny in some parts (especially when Henry VIII jumped out of his barge into the mud and roared with laughter!) and sad in others. I nearly cried when Thomas More had to say goodbye to his wife and daughter and son-in-law in the Tower.

Then we went on to Clarendon Road, to see London Grandma and Grandpa. Super to see them, but I was so tired. They gave Mummy a yellow oven pot and some lovely straw baskets.

Longing for tomorrow's mission.