MONDAY 9th OCTOBER 1979

Tony tells me that plans for the Fidel Castro harvest festival have been put on hold. But doesn't say why?

His new idea is that I will appear as composer Ludwig Van Beethoven - I think I preferred Castro. I am no more clear on the connection between Beethoven and harvest festival than I was Fidel and the 'seasons of mist and fruitfulness' but TR seems keen.

The whole harvest festival idea seems fraught with the capacity for the sort of cock up that has become normal in GHS and its on the tip of my tongue to refuse, but I am forced to conclude that I am already becoming a sad old 'thesp' who will never turn down a role. And if I am being at all honest and I suppose for the purposes of this journal I need to be, there is no greater thrill than getting applause and so I accept any chance of that, but of course that thrill is tempered by the knowledge that this is a Gaynesford audience and the best I can hope for is not to have things thrown at me!

In other news, word on the ever-popular rumour grapevine is that Mark and Diane have been seen together. I ask Mark about this and at first he denies all knowledge but later confesses that he had been spending some time with her. It had all started when Janet Lines had declared that Mark needed someone like Diane to look after him. I think Mrs Lines had it in mid that the looking after would take the form of prompting my pal to actually complete an essay or similar piece of academic work. But it looks to me like this is heading in another direction entirely. Diane from what I can tell found this an interesting challenge and accepted with gusto.


Addendum later that night...Mark, Steve and I go for a few pints down The Angel, towards the end of the evening I ask him about Diane. In our fashion, the question is loaded with caveats and Mark answers equally convoluted. After some reservations Mark decided that he was quite enjoying the attentions of Diane. Given the form those attentions came in, I can't say that I blamed him! Diane is very attractive with as Steve once put it, all the right bits in all the right place (Actually thinking about it, it was probably Eric Morecombe actually!)

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Pictures
1. Mark Powell, Diane Downham, Beverley Simmons taken in 1981.
2. Cartoon image of Fidel Castro, circa 1980.
3. Portrait of Ludvig Beethoven.