Monday 7th - The porters couldn't wait to tell me that Eugen has also sent a card to Reception, but I didn't think it was as nice as mine!

Craig Douglas is appearing in Westcliffe on Sea, so I rang the theatre and booked a seat, also rang Craig to let him know that I am coming, and can we meet up during the interval? He says to pop around before the show too, and he'll buy me a drink! (I could have taken a friend with me, but I much prefer to talk to Craig on a one to one basis - can't have anyone else getting a word in!!) Seeing Cliff on Sunday has revived my interest in him, and I have bought his latest record 'The Next Time'.

Tuesday 8th - Was knitting into the early hours - determined to get it right, consequently I slept in until 12.0pm but out by quarter past - (how did I do it???) Met Ann for lunch, then went shop window gazing. Working 4.0pm to l1.0pm. Jimmy Harpin, the 'Scottish terrier', is back and wanted to take me out this evening, says we'll go to The Beachcomber tomorrow night!!

Spent most of the evening chatting to one of the guests, Ivan Nevett,, a thick set, dark haired, business man in his forties, he's pleasant enough, and when he asks me if I'd like to go to a party at Elstree, after I have finished work, I think, well, why not? - I love parties, I do! (I quake at my willingness to leap into the unknown!!) But a shock awaits me. Bearing in mind that we humble employees are not allowed to fraternise with the guests, and Paul Phillips has already made that perfectly clear, you can imagine my acute unease when Ivan introduces me to a young man with the words "of course you two know each other" and I find the bemused face of Paul Phillips before me! "Oh it's you", he said, rather ungraciously, I thought. "Why am I not surprised?" Luckily, he is in a good mood, and he turns out to be a very amusing guy.

Eventually, we all decide to go on to the 'Saddle Room' in Park Lane, one of the newest and 'in' places to go. Although the 'Twist' has been around for a while now, it is still a very popular dance, but Helene Cordet, who owns The Saddle Room, demonstrates the latest craze - 'The Hully Gully', with the aid of some rather handsome young men, then we all get up and have a go - great fun! We all had a fabulous time, sank into bed at 4.0am!

Wednesday 9th - Feel shattered!! Dragged myself out of bed for the 7.30 am shift, and looking forward to going to the Beachcomber tonight - at last - with Jimmy Harpin. Jimmy pops into the switchroom first thing to see if it is all on for tonight? It certainly is - I can't wait! Just before I go off duty at 3.30, Jimmy pops in to tell me that he suddenly has to go to Scotland on business! (Oh bloody 'ell, well honestly - I didn't swear in those days - but I will now!) He gives me a huge box of 'Black Magic' chocolates, with a promise that we will go on his return. He rang again from King's Cross, asking if he was forgiven for letting me down at the last minute.
(No you aren't, mate, don't you know my social life is very important to me? and it was the Beachcomber for heaven's sake!)
I tell him it can wait until he gets back, tho' probably not very graciously! I had turned down a date to go to some posh place with Ivan Nevett, because going to the Beachcomber seemed that much more preferable. I wasn't that bothered which feller took me out, they were both too old for me really, 'fancying' the bloke did not come into it, they could afford to take me to the places I wanted to go to, and as they were pleasant enough people (unlike Freddie Cannon...)

I was happy to accompany them. So I left a message for Nevett telling him that I was free tonight, and thoroughly expected him to jump at the chance to take me out!! Sure enough, he phoned me at Ashley Court to see if I would like to make up a foursome with Paul Phillips and his girl friend! Ah well, I've had my baptism by fire, he surely can't object now? We are meeting up with the others later, and Ivan asks me if there is anywhere I would like to go first for a drink...

So, I got to go to the Beachcomber after all! And it's a fabulous place, great atmosphere. There are paintings of mermaids on the walls, the low ceiling, draped with fishing nets, seaweed and crustaceans adds to the ambience and the bar is decked out Polynesian style. I just adore it. I look along the bar to see who else can afford the £1 a time drinks - there surely must be someone famous here! The other bar-proppers look back - are they thinking the same thing?? Ivan helps me onto one of the high stools at the bar and asks me what I would like to drink, I am intrigued by what appears to be whole pineapples that the other customers are drinking out of, with the aid of a long straw, I don't care what it is - I want one! I feel slightly disappointed when I discover that a glass is hidden inside the carved out pineapple - what a swizz! Although how a pineapple could have held the drink without it seeping through, I don't know! I feel perfectly happy to stay here and drink in the atmosphere, but Ivan says it's time to meet up with the others.

The next stop is Murray's Cabaret Club, as we enter the foyer, girls, dressed up to the nines and heavily made up, glower darkly at me - what have I done?? I suppose they would have preferred that it was two men coming in, well tough! It is obviously very expensive here, not a place I would bring a boyfriend to!

Paul Phillips and Maureen are already seated at a table, and to my surprise, so is Joan, who I met at the party last night. We all share a couple of bottles of wine, but before we order our food, Joan says she has to go, and I'm wondering if my last minute decision upset previous arrangements? The food was quite nice - nothing special, but I enjoyed the cabaret, although I thought the girl's costumes, beautiful as they were, left little to the imagination! (Seems strange now, that amongst the scantily clad dancers, were probably two young ladies who were about to embark on a life that would set the tabloids on fire - and, bizarrely, lead them into my very ordinary little world).

After Murray's, we decided to go on to the Saddle Room again, as we had enjoyed ourselves so much last night. As we walked in, Helen Cordet, tall, slim and beautiful, gave us a smile of welcome, and I wondered if she remembered us from the previous evening?

Had fabulous time, even though there were not so many people there. Dropped into bed 4.0am again!

Thursday 10th - Slept right through until 3.0pm!! Grabbed a taxi and got to work by 3.30, obviously my body is trying to tell me something...Must get to bed early tonight. Feel tired all evening, thank goodness I'm off at 8.0pm. I by-passed the bar, determined to go straight to my room, but met Ann as she was on her way to one of the kitchens, so stopped by for a chat and a cup of coffee….(yawn, don't mind me - you talk Ann, I'll just listen... zzzzzzzzzzz)