December 31, 1978

This morning we woke to find the ground covered in snow. We went out and came in many times, in between which I read the Guinness book of Records. It is super, great, FUN. We (the Leamintons) went skiing. Loverly! We should have driven home, but there was too much snow, so we stay here. I also should have had Biddy and Catherine to stay. Boo-hoo

My abiding memory of Christmas holidays in Exeter as a child is going to the pantomine, and coming out to find it snowing. This time it was clearly a bit later, but it is very rare now to have that much snow that far south-west, or that early in the year. My family were always keen on cross-country skiing, but the skis at my grandfather's house were probably left over from when my parents bought cheap, secondhand skis in the 60s - or even when my grandfather skied.

I've still got quite a bit of April to June, I think, to type up, so I'm going to start on that next, but dating it 2007. After I finish each month I'll redate them all 2006 so that the year stays in roughly the right order. Enjoy!

December 30, 1978

This morning we had the dress rehearsal of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, but the boys would not co-operate first go (the telly distracted them, and I was quite crossy + bossy). We did it + it went dreadfully. Bleuch! Ah well, bad dress rehearsal, good first night. Seems to be true, for our performance at 2 o'clock was superb.
In the evening we went to a panto, it was Cinderella, nowhere near so good as Robinson Crusoe. It was all soppy, and they didnt throw nuffin to the audience.
We had Chinese supper, yum. We saw 'Oliver'.

December 29, 1978

Today the kids (us three) stayed in Sowton at home. We played around, rehearsed Ali Baba, romped, fought, 'claimed' property for fights, etc.
Later on we went out in the garden. We tossed, kicked, thumped, whacked, boxed, dribbled (in other words, manipulated or propelled) a football between the three of us. Then we climbed a tree or two.
For dinner there was goose.

I have no doubt that the goose was raised in the field that my grandfather rented to a farmer. In fact, I think the goose, and a Christmas turkey, was the rent.

December 28, 1978

This morning we went into town (Exeter) and I got a Letts Schoolgirls Diary and four postcards of stamps. Then I went to the library where Daddy was and we had inspirations and puzzlements over my Christmas House Quiz. We all had a jam doughnut in the Milkmaid. After lunch we played around with Action men. I kitted one up for Arctic weather. We did lots of stuff, including our first rehearsal of Ali Baba, the play that came with Davids theatre.

For those not familiar with the British school system, often schools are divided into "houses" which, in a boarding school, will be where you sleep, but in a day school, will either be just a group for pupils to compete with other groups, or will have a bit more internal structure. Ours had a tradition of fiendishly difficult Christmas Quizzes - think Times Crossword coupled with general knowledge - my dad was addicted, I think he suffered withdrawal symptoms when we left the school.

December 27, 1978

This morning we played in the garden until it was time to leave for Exeter. On the way we stopped at Stonehenge + had lunch. We would have stopped at Montacute but it was shut. We got to Exeter at 2.16. We played with David and I made (started making) his toy theatre. It is super. We opened our presents from them, and I got five pounds!

David (my uncle, who is two years younger than me) ended up taking Theatre Studies at university.

December 26, 1978

This morning we (Jocelyn, Jane, Daddy and I) went to Aunt Ginnys. I played my flute, the carols that I played before + Jo sang. We gave her her presents and she gave us our presents. When we got home we had lunch and then opened those pressys. I got a book, the 'Girls Companion'. This afternoon we played around, I sewed, and other things. We saw Its a Knockout, then we went to Oxford St. to see the Christmas lasers. I preferred the traditional lights in Regent St.

I bet the shops weren't open and the whole of Oxford St. and Regent. St. packed with shoppers...

December 25, 1978

Christmas Day, 78! First we opened our stockings. NO, first Joc + I woke up at 4.45 a.m.. Then we opened our stockings. I got a 'bag o' bells' for soft toys. Then we had to play Monopoly because the dads were at church. Then we opened our pressys! I got a school scarf, some gloves, some Turkish Delight, a book, a ring tree, two tokens, a CALCULATOR! and lots more. We went to the Rec for a while, came back + had dinner with crackers + indoor fireworks! Then this afternoon we played with our presents, watched tely, etc. We saw The Sound of Music and a James Bond, Diamonds are Forever.

This is exactly what I remember doing every Christmas Day of my childhood - watching James Bond, and getting very functional presents.

December 24, 1978

Christmas Eve. After breakfast we went to church. After lunch Jocelyn + I polished the silver so we wouldn't have to go on a walk. Then we went to a carol service and I played the flute. Then we got home, had supper + hung our stockings up.

I must have really hated going for walks...

December 23, 1978

It is M's birthday today. First he opened his pressys and we watched him. Then we had pancakes, some with maple syrup, some with blueberry syrup. Yum! Then we decorated the Christmas tree, and put the presents under it. Then, after lunch, we went for a look at Hampton Court, but the maze was closed, so it was no good. We had a birthday tea, J + M's mum + dad went out, and we had fondue and strawberry ice cream (not together!)

I know Morgan always hated having his birthday so close to Christmas. I imagine we thought that fondue was terribly sophisticated in the 1970s!

December 22, 1978

We went to the panto! Daddy didn’t’ feel well so we took J’s friend Phillippa to it. It was glorious. It was called Robinson Crusoe. There was him, his mum and his brother (played by ‘Pike’ of Dad’s Army) Billy. Billy was a bit soppy and soft. There was a man-eating plant and a Fairy Detergenta, who fought the Demon Oil Slick.

If you aren’t familiar with Dad’s Army, Pike is also quite soppy and soft

December 21, 1978

This morning I got everything ready of mine for our journey to Oxford and further. At 10.15 we set out and arrived in oxford at 11.30. We went to Browns for lunch. I had a club sandwhich, it was yum. We arrived at the Rees just after I finished sewing my elephant’s ears + tail on. M, B + I ran an errand. Then when J arrived we practiced our carols. After supper we went to a carol practice + then we had lovely cake at the Vicarage. Then it was bed.

I don’t think I can still sew in the car.

December 16, 1978

This morning I did various things. I cashed my 50p postal order from Aunt Deb, spent 40p of it on a model for Bobby, made a ‘Memory Board’ for Mummy, went to Dale St to help at the coffee morning, etc. etc. After piano I WENT TO THE BALLET with Janet, my godmother. We went to Coventry Theatre. It was “La Fille Mal Gardée”. Although I have seen that production before I thourooghly enjoyed it and I loved every minute.

I somewhat lost touch with my godmother for a while but my mother suggested I ask her to our wedding and I’m really glad I did – it’s been nice to be back in touch.

December 10, 1978

Dear Yolande,

I haven’t written to you for ages! (except yesterday). Sorry. I apologise. Beg puddin’ (yes please!) This morning – hum – what did I do this morning? You won’t know. Yet. Oh yes! This morning I slept late, and then when I woke I read ‘A Little Princess’. Then after breakfast I began to sew the costume (mine) for the nativity play. Then after lunch I made cards (Xmas). There were some with glitter! This is ! because they were very nice but ¡ because I had to clear up! We went on a walk later, then there was a church nativity play rehearsal. In the evening I listened to ‘The Messiah’. It was beautiful.
Lots of love,
Katie

December 9, 1978

Dearest Yolande
This morning I walked around complaining of my homework, practice being hard done by etc. When I had practiced the piano I rang Catherine. She came round. We made a study of the class’ foot shapes (so that Lucy wouldn’t expect any Xmas presents when we drew round her feet for ballet shoes). We then gave them a rest lesson by listening to a concert. Then they had a craft lesson (we decorated the room with paper chains, snowflakes from cut-up paper, angels from doilys, Xmas trees and balloons from tissue paper. After lunch we made stuffed dates. After piano I went to the library and then prepared a talk for English. It is on ‘Dolls Now + Then’. In the evening there was a dinner party. Oh, I forgot to tell you. Yesterday I passed my Bronze Self-Survival test! Love, Katie

Hope you realise these are my dolls we are talking about!

December 2, 1978

It snowed! The first snow of winter! I sewed + sewed + sewed on my nelliphant. Then Amanda came and invited me to play. After lunch + piano I did so, and we got some sweets each. We invited Cath. and we all played a version of Blind Mans Buff where you hide an object (that rattles) and the blind man has to find it, drop it, try to catch another person, + the others have to try to get the object that rattles. I borrowed ‘The School at the Chalet’ from Amanda.

November 28, 1978

Not much has happened since I last wrote. On the 18th the Addymans arrived. They consist of Tom, Suzy (kids) Peter and I forget (parents). Tom is quite nice but Suzy – well she seems to like a) making other people miserable and b) messing other peoples rooms up. And last weekend (Sat.) I stayed the night with Catherine! We had a midnight feast. On Saturday evening we read out lour from ‘The Silver Curlew’. We finished it all.

Peter Addyman is a fairly famous archaeologist and Tom has followed in his father's footsteps. No idea what Suzy has gotten up to nor what their mother was called!

November 12, 1978

This morning I finished off the school tunic for Jane, made her a notebook, an exercise book, and the like. Then after lunch we went to get Catherine and we went skating. That was very fun. I went round many times and Catherine did ver well for a beginner.

November 11, 1978

Katie got up, and she had her breakfast. Then she started to make a desk for Jane, her dolly. When she went downstairs to get the covering paper she had to help Mummy make the guest bed. Then when she was sewing a pencil case Amanda phoned and invited herself + 2 others (Sandra + Katie Sizer) round. After lunch but before piano Katie went and bought 10p worth of Dolly Mixture. After piano the 3 came + she ha a not very good rehearsal. Then she made a tunic for her doll, had supper + went to bed.

November 5, 1978

This morning after breakfast I read and I played and I read some more, and I played Scrabble with Daddy. Then after lunch I ironed and then I went to Catherines. We went to the park up by Milverton, but Amanda, whom we were supposed to be meeting was not there so we went back to her house where we read Bunty + talked. When I got home I did my homework. Then I saw Huntingtower and Sherlock Holmes, or half of it, rather.

I think that Jane was actually my doll.
I'm now updating posts from April.

November 4, 1978

Today first I tried to make up a story but didn’t succeed, so instead played with Bobby + his magnets. We made a compass in the sink. We went out and read in Goulds. I phoned Catherine. After lunch I had piano lesson. I went to the library + I got 3 books. When Catherine arrived we took 3 photos of our school, schooled them + dressed Bobby up as a girl. We played schools with them + gave them a sermon. After supper we went to the bonfire party + saw a magnificent display of fireworks. I saw All Creatures Great and Small.

This is really my best guess at this entry as it’s in pencil, with pen on the other side of the page…

October 31, 1978

This evening we went trick or treating. I was an 'old bag' with curlers in my hair and carried a rolling pin.

It wasn't that common to go trick-or-treating in the 1970s in England, but we had understanding neighbours.

October 29, 1978

TodayI when I had finished brekker I looked at the paper. Then I went up to my room + I finished off, hemmed fastened etc. Sashas skirt and her cape. Then after lunch I went back to my room where I planned a bonnet for Biddys doll, Emma Owl. I went down stairs to cut it out and sew it where I had some trouble due to the fact that I did not thread the machine right. I finally got it finished when I typed a 'business' letter and some 'cards' which I posted to ehr. Then after supper I saw A Special Kind of Love.

I think this may have been a film about the Special Olympics.

October 28, 1978

This morning I finshed off the dolls skirt. Then I made a pouch for the mouse pin Biddy made for me. Then Mummy + Daddy came + everyone except the boys was packing in some form or other (i.e. packing picnic, suitcase). We went out on our walk at about 12 and walked for a bit then had lunch. After lunch we walked on and I got my leg cut on some barbed wire and I found a fossil. Back home I made fully, a dolls cape. Then we had supper + I saw 'Dr. Who'. Then we drove home.

October 27, 1978

Today first we went shopping. I got some Kendall Mint Cake (KMC) from Kitchen 46. Bob got aniseed pastels. Bid got mint. Then when we got home we went out to get Brigget (Midge) Bids friend. We did some sewing and I made a good start on a dolls skirt for Sasha. After lunch we dressed up. I was a boy and Bobby was a girl, and we ran away. Then Midge had to go home. I did some more sewing when we had fetched Piccy + co. We (Bid + I) had a midnight feast.

I don't think my brother has dressed up as a girl recently... perhaps I should check.

October 26, 1978

What a day! First we fooled a bit + then Fiona took B + Bob + I to B's friend's house. She has a pony. We could not ride her for she was in foal but we groomed her which was lovely, wonderful. Then we played Totopoly. My horse won, with the aid of an unbreakable run and an unburstable blood vessel. After a scrumptious lunch we came back to Oxford anhd we waited from 3.15 to 5.00 to see Watership Down. It was super, but rather sad in places. You see, these five or six rabbits live in a warren which is to be built on top of, and one of them senses this. The five or six rabbits beleive him, so they run away. They have one doe with them but she is killed, so when they find a nice new warren they go and get some other rabbits from a sort of Communist warren. The police rabbits and leader come + fight them but the police lose. At the very end the rabbit who started it off dies.

Biddy went to a "good school" so I suppose her friends were rather more high class than mine - I don't think any of mine had ponies!
All together now... Bright Eyes...

October 25, 1978

Today I washed + dried by blue pinny fore + then we packed + left. We arrived in Oxford + parked. I spent a bout an hour in Blackwells childrens bookshop. Then after lunch at 'Browns' we went to 'Laura Ashley's' were I got a very very very pretty new dress + then at Oasis I got a bangle to match. Then we went home + played + played. When we went to bed we had a feast.

Brown's is still in the same place in Oxford, and still one of my favourite restaruants. It's also the scene of an incident, famous in my family, when my mother and my aunts went for lunch and waited ages and ages for service. The table had not been cleared so my mother pocketed the tip the previous people had left, and then left it herself for the waiter that (eventually) served them.

October 24, 1978

Today we played around in the morning. I read, and did a tiny bit on my Local History Badge. Then I went to the Library, where although they did not have Jackdaw no 66 I got some nice books. Then after lunch we went into Coventry. I got some new jeans + we got a pomegranete and a coconut. Then we went to read at Canley Library. We got a good book and Jackdaw no 66. Then we went home + got two gigantic pumpkins: one we weighed + it was 3 stone.

Canley library was the library attached to the education college, so it had a huge selection of children’s literature, it was one of my favourite places to go. Must be the time of year for pomegranates, as we got one last week and this in our organic fruit and veg box.

October 23, 1978

Here follows Half term

This morning we went to the dentists. I had a filling. I will have to have a brace. Then we went to Timothy Halls house. He goes to our school. First we struggled with his 1,500 piece jigsaw. Then we went conker collecting. After lunch we played football and first game we won 5-nil. The second game was stopped – Bobby fell over. We did some more jigsaw, played ‘Rush’ and then went home. I watched television + at 7.00 I went to Guides. We arranged quite a bit for our Entertainers.

Very dedicated Guide leaders – we are on a break this week because of our girls’ schools’ half term…

October 22, 1978

This morning Amanda + I read for a bit then we had breakfast: it was French Toast. Then we recorded a song context (all three of us lost) a gardening programme and ‘These You Will Love or Else’, (from Russia). We sneaked in a bit of ‘hospitals’ then Amanda had to leave. I then read. Then there was lunch, and after that I did some ironing, and then I read, listened to a tape, and did my homework, which I kept stopping and stalling over, but was really very easy. Then after supper, bath (after a prolonged wait) and a bit of seeing two boring and violent programes (Withering* Heights and A Horseman Riding By) I retired to bed.
*Wuthering

October 21, 1978

This morning I listened to the radio and there was a childrens concert. I went to the post office and I bought 2oz of Fairy Satins and 2oz of Dolly Mixture. I went home + read for a bit. After lunch I went to Piano lesson and then Amanda came for a bit. Then I bought myself a book called Felicia the Critic for 50p. It is very good. Then I had an eye appointment and I do not need new glasses. Then I read some more. After supper Amanda came back. We saw ‘All Creatures Great + Small’ and then went to bed. We had a half-nine feast.

As opposed to a midnight feast, I assume…

October 15, 1978

This morning I played around. I went to see if a certain shop (our newsagents) which opens on Sundays had aniseed balls. Negative. After lunch I cleaned my room up, vacuumed, cleaned a cupboard, defrosted our refridgerator for my guide Housekeeper badge. Then I saw Star Turn Challenge: Carry-on v. News. Bobby wanted News to win but I wanted Carry-on. When they did Bobby said “Oh, I changed my mind”! In the evening I saw A Horseman Riding By.

I bet my mother wishes my enthusiasm for housekeeping had continued…

October 14, 1978

This morning I made a collage and I decorated the gingerbread biscuits I made yesterday with icing sugar. These I took (with my two other competition entries) along to Dale Street. I stayed for a bit + delivered some pickles. Then I went home + had lunch. When I went to Dale Street again I found that I had won one first prize and three second prizes, a total of £1.40! I then trundled along to Milverton, where I won a bottle of pop and a small piece of toffee. When I got home I read Black Beauty + after supper, I saw, ‘All Creatures Great + Small’.

Must have been fete season at both the church where I went to Guides, and my old primary school.

October 8, 1978

This morning after brekker and a bit of a read in the nearby woods I went blackberry picking with Irene and Selma. I picked a few and I stepped, ankle deep, into a very squelchy patch of ground, better known as a bog (no, not a loo). When I had dried my socks and shoes by the fire and some (‘all’ is not true) had had stew for lunch we struck the tent. I did the washing up, the gadgets were dismantled, and the dining shelter was taken down. After a cleanup + singsong we left. In the evening I saw Sefton Blake.

Gadgets, for those who have never been Guides or Scouts, are constructions that you use as sinks, draining boards, plate holders, wellie holders, and general helpful furniture around camp. We always used bamboo and rubber bands to make ours but apparently the official way was to use sticks and string.

October 7, 1978

This morning at 8.30 I went round to the church with my kit but I had to go back for my teds and my gumboots. Then when we got to camp we discovered all the permutations for the top of the loo tent poles. Then after a lunch of beefburgers we pitched tent. I was in the tent at the time, but the others put dirt in Louisas cress sandwiches for packed tea. In the evening we went on a jolly good ramble around the fields. We had *Irene’s dog, Dougie, with us, and he literally pulled us over the ploughed fields in the dark!
*Our Guide Leader

I remember that dog – some sort of smelly, hairy terrier thing…

October 1, 1978

This morning at 9.20 when I had finished my brekker (or, as the French call it, little (petit) un (de) fast (jeun) en (I made it up) ing (er), Selma came. We considered badges and decided what to do for the Entertainers. We looked at Commonwealth and looked around the house for things from the Commonwealth. We found millions of toys from Hong Kong.
After lunch I read ate sweets did homework etc. etc. Then I saw Star Turn and Sexton Blake.

There are almost exclusively weekend entries from this point onwards – but I’m updating August entries still at the moment.

September 30, 1978

From now on I will only keep a Holiday + Weekend Diary

This morning Mummy + I went shopping, I got Catherines present which was a pack of Snoopy coloured pencils and a little tin called ‘My Book’. I got some clogs! After lunch I wrapped Catherines present up, put it in a box, wrapped it up, put it in a shoe box, taped it up, put it in another shoe box, wrapped it up, and put the whole lot in a big cardboard box and wrapped it in newspaper. She had a fun time undoing it! At the party we played charades and consequences. In consequences you write down a certain thing and pass it on. It is terribly funny. Then we played sardines and hide and seek.

I still have a pack of coloured pencils like that somewhere – yes, I am a terrible hoarder – I don’t know if she gave it back to me or if I bought another one later.

I think secondary school must have been very time-consuming, tiring or both. The journey was a lot longer, for a start.

September 25, 1978

This morning in Art we drew our hands – first small then GIGANTIC. After break we had Gografy + Maths.

There is a break here for a few days, but do have a look at August entries - there are new ones coming on line every few days or so.

September 24, 1978

Today in the morning I lazed around and read and other such things. Then after lunch I cycled to Catherines. Immediately I got there we went to Amandas because Catherine had planned to go there anyway. Once there we chatted. We went back to Catherines. I borrowed her ‘Make things Grandma Made’ + left. In the evening we played Probe. I saw ‘Withering Heights’.

I'm not quite sure (and Google hasn't helped) if that's a mis-spelling for Wuthering Heights, or an interestingly-named programme.

September 23, 1978

This morning Mummy + I went shopping for school supplies. I got some sweets. Then this afternoon I went to an M.N.A. Meeting. We washed Susan Kitchen’s doll like a baby. Then after Amanda left Catherine, Susan + I dressed up as old-fashioned people and started to plan a ‘Carnival Through the Ages’.

September 22, 1978

Today was Friday. We had Maths first, and then Music. In Music we learnt and wrote about pitch. Then we had Geography and we drew our plan of the classroom. After break there was French and English. We read from ‘A Christmas Carol’ in English. After lunch there was Games. After school we went swimming at the University. I did all of the Bronze test but the bit with clothes on.

We had our regular swimming lesson on Friday evening for years – I made it through the Bronze and Silver survival tests in the end but I don’t think I ever managed the Gold test because there was a speeded swimming section and I wasn’t fast enough. I had the same problem as a student when I tried to do a Lifesaving course – slow but certain, that’s my swimming.

September 21, 1978

This morning we had Library and I got a book I have been looking for – A Child’s Day Through the Ages. In Drama we did a bit of mime. In French Mr. Vent was his usual funny self. After break, in Biology, we made a slide for our microscope. We have one between two. I went to the library in lunch hour. Then there was Physical Science when we did some gasses experiments. In Maths we did universal sets. At home I saw Rentaghost and Blue Peter. After supper I saw The Good Life and Mastermind.

September 20, 1978

In English I got a PG Wodehouse book from the Book box. In our first French I thought Mr. Vent forgot homework. In P.E. we did silly moving around things.l After break we had history and first Maths. Then in dinner time I went to netball practice which was fun! After lunch there was R. E. and then there was French (we got homework) and then Maths.
After school I had Piano. Now I have a grade 4 piano EXAM piece!

I was always a ‘joiner’ so I suppose I went to netball practiced voluntarily because it seemed like a good thing to do – because I know I didn’t carry on with it or get any good at it! I’m not what you’d call sporty…

September 19, 1978

Today I had a cold a sore throat a headache and a chest ache so I don’t remember much except that I joined the choir and we sang a Latin carol and an Old English carol.

I have always been a keen singer – I sang in a church girls’ choir – probably the only one in England at the time – from when I was 12 to when I was about 17, and still sing in a choir.

September 18, 1978

Today we had three periods of Art. We drew lines with different instruments and we did a ‘striped tablecloth’ picture. After break we had History and Physical Science. Then we had din-dins. I was very tired so this is written on Wednesday + I don’t remember much else except that I went to Guides.

September 17, 1978

This morning we played a bit with the Fisher-Prices and then had some fudge. Then we went fungi-picking and I got some ‘orange-peel’, some jews ears, a stinkhorn, a rusticus, an earthball, and a VERY large bracket-fungi. I took a photo of an even larger one. After lunch (which was roast beef) we played at the park. Then Clare + Stephanie left. We went to look at some of Abbey Beavers mothers prints she made. We got 3.
After supper I saw the ‘Onedin Line’.

Abbey Beaver’s mother, Tessa, was an artist who did really nice prints – woodcuts, I think.

September 16, 1978

The morning we played with the Fisher Price toys and I did some reading and we played The London Game and Cluedo. Then after lunch Clare Billet, Stephanie Billet, Bobby Alcock, Eric Billet (adult) and I went to Victoria Park. We had a great time and whilst we were at the upper half the Halls (Timothy, Jon + Benj) came. We went home + played murder in the Dark. After supper WE SAW AN ECLIPSE OF THE MOON!!!!!

Clare and Stephanie’s mother, Lesley, is my godmother – they are still family friends. Clare is an engineer, Stephanie is a driving instructor, and Lesley and Eric are retired from teaching, and being a professor of design, respectively – and they were all at our wedding. I recently ran into Tim Hall again by accident – he saw my name on an email that went round to friends and, as mine is a bit more distinctive than his, he thought it must be me, and got in touch – in fact, he also came to our wedding, and we still bump into him occasionally. His brothers, Jonathan and Benjamin, are twins.

Unusually, I'm quite a way ahead with typing up this diary so will continue to publish a new entry daily (as far as possible) but will try and go back and type up more of the August entries. So if you are reading this and have read earlier entries, it's worth going back to see if there's any you missed.

And if you like it, or it's triggered any memories, or both - please comment! I know I have a few readers but almost no comments.

September 15, 1978

Today we had music, and there were tryouts for the choir. In Maths we did some work on sets. In Geography we were given books and we wrote about what a map is. Then in French we did some conversations. In English we wrote the rules of setting out and marking. After lunch (or din-dins) we had games. Games was first netball with some catching and stopping games, and then hockey. This was passing the ball back and forth to your partner. After school we went swimming, which I enjoyed. Then the Billets came.

I’m not sure if it was me, or the children who had been to prep school, who called it “din-dins”.

September 14, 1978

Today we had Library lesson. We got three tickets apiece. Then we had Drama and were told what we would be doing in Drama. Then we had French, and then Biology, when we talked about the characteristics of living things. After din-dins I went to the library, got three books out, and read. Then we had Physical Science, and we started ‘What is Matter Made Of?’. Then we had a times test in Math (I got 23/26) and I went home. I had Piano and Miss Cranston gave me a Grade 4 alternative exam piece.

September 13, 1978

My first day at school was terriffic. I woke at 4.30 a.m. First thing and King Henry VIII I met Katie Minion who sits by me. She is nice. Mr Vent did the ‘formalities’ and then he played us a record, read us Chapter 1 of Great Expectations, and gave us a quiz on things beginning with S. After ‘din-dins’ there was R.E. which consisted of handing out English books, French, which was French, similar English words and a bit of Latin. Then there was Assembely.

Mr Vent, my form teacher, was given to this type of pun – the kind of thing that pleases a bright eleven-year-old but annoys teenagers and adults.

September 12, 1978

This morning I read for a bit + then Leslie Longstaff came to test me on my Cooks badge. I made Blackberry + apple crumble, Cole slaw, and some Coffee for Leslie. I passed with flying colours. After lunch I went to the library and then I went conker-hunting in the park. I got quite a few. When we got home I did STAMPING (see Feb 5). Then I watched kids programmes and then after supper I saw Happy Ever After.

I still love cooking…

September 11, 1978

This morning Mummy + I made two 3 ½ lb of fruit batches of damson jam. That was fun. Then after lunch Mummy, Bobby and I went swimming. My crawl is greatly improving. After that Francie came to play but Bobby played with her while I earned 20p picking blackberrys. After supper I went to Guides which was nice.

I’ve been thinking today about what I was doing on the same day 5 years ago – as it happens, making a plane journey – from the UK to Kenya.

September 10, 1978

Today Biddy + Pixter came ON TIME!?! Bobby + Piccy went to the dig in Coventry while Bid + I played here both in + out. After lunch we went for a walk by Newbold Common. Bobby + I almost ran 1 mile. This evening I saw ‘The Onedin Line’.

My father was a keen amateur archaeologist (I’m not sure if his older knees allow it any more) and was involved with several digs locally – and Biddy and Nicholas’ father was an archaeologist. In fact, my father was thinking about archaeology as a profession, but decided chemistry was more secure, I believe.

September 9, 1978

This morning I read and helped Daddy and then I went to Goulds to look at books and do some reading. When I got back Amanda came and we went to the library together. I lost my card so I took Bobby’s After lunch I made peanut butter brownies, ordinary brownies, and a mess. After supper I saw ‘Masterspy’.

My mother just told me that she happened to bump into Amanda’s father while getting her tyre fixed (I’ve skipped the long story about my 2-year-old niece trying to help and my mum’s friend babysitting her). Amanda has multiple sclerosis. Very sobering.

September 8, 1978

Today Adrian came. At first we played Adrian’s ‘Mouse trap’ game. Then the boys played Space-ships while I read. After lunch I went swimming. When I got back I read until we got Jill. Jill and I played with my dolls and after supper I saw ‘The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin’.

I think that Jill, being at a less expensive school than Adrian or my brother and myself, must have already gone back to school. As my mother used to say, in terms of schooling “the more you pay, the less you get”.

September 7, 1978

Today Leslie Longstaff came for a chat about my cooks and she will test me on Tuesday. Then I read, and played with the dolls until lunch. After lunch I went swimming. When I got back Zeta was here and she passed me on my toymakers badge. When she left Mummys friend and her little girl Naiomi came. After that Katie Sizer came. We saw ‘Three for the Road’. After supper I saw ‘The Good Live’.

Leslie and Zeta were both friends of my mum’s who appear to have kindly offered to test me on my Guide badges – the tester is supposed to be someone other than a regular Guider or a member of the family. Naomi Hawkes’ mother, Alice, is from Uganda; Naomi is now a barrister.

September 6, 1978

This morning we shopped. I got a rubber and a pencil sharpener. When we got back I read until lunch time. After lunch Bobby + I went swimming. I wore my new goggles. This afternoon Claudie + Anne-Gaelle came. She (Anne-Gaelle) played with me. She is so cute. I went blackberry picking and earned 15p. Then I read till supper + after supper.

Anne-Gaelle was the child of some friends who, when I was older, I babysat for. They didn’t have a telly so I remember listening to Live Aid on Radio 1 at their house.

September 5, 1978

Today I made some doll clothes for my Toymaker badge and I got ‘The Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Historical Novels’, ‘The Young Londoner through the Ages’ and ‘Children in the Tower’ from the library. At 10’ clock I went swimming. I can do an almost standing dive now.
The chlorine bothers my eyes no end and so I got some Optrex and at the same time a quarter of sweets for me. There are exactly 21 – three a day for a week. I read and played around until Jill + Adrian came. Jill + I read Beano. After supper I read ‘The Young Londoner’.

September 4, 1978

Today I went out to look at toys for my Toymaker badge. Amanda and Catherine came for a M.N.A. meeting and we all pretended to get lost around Feldon and sprain our ankle.
After lunch I went swimming at the Pump Rooms with Debbie but it was fearfully crowded. There was only a very short Guides meeting so we could all see the James Bond film. It was “On Her Majestys Secret Service”.

Those were the days when you could only watch something on TV when it was actually on… I think the M.N.A. was some sort of First Aid/Nursing club we made up – I’m not sure if I had, at that point, decided I wanted to be a doctor yet.

September 3, 1978

Today we went to the park. The Bonehams were there but nothing happened. When we got home Jocelyn and I made fudge. We ate the lot. Joss and I played in my room with the Fisher Price until we had a barbeque lunch. They left after that. I completely made a dolls house bedroom for my Toymakers badge.

I still have a sweet tooth and still occasionally make fudge but I don’t think I’ve eaten a whole batch at once for a while…

September 2, 1978

Today we went for a walk over a hill. We also went in a church and saw a sundial which showed the time in all civilised parts of the world then known. After we had lunch we went to Tewkesbury. We saw the abbey there and we climbed its tower. Then we drove home (via Upton Snodsbury)

That’s one of my favourite Silly Cotswold Place Names…

September 1, 1978

Today in the morning we went to the park but the Boneams were there and Andrew Bonham pulled some of my hair out. So we left. Immediately. Then after lunch we went for a walk by the canal. There were 15 locks on the side of the bridge we walked on, and 1 the other side, which makes 16 locks, 32 pairs of gates and 64 gates. When we got home we played a lot but did not go near the park.

The Bonhams were one of those families with one, extremely rough, child in every year at school. Sometimes two…

August 31, 1978

Today Catherine came to play at my house. We made M.N.A. handbooks and I was tested for my first First Aid Badge. I passed with flying colours. It was the same as Brownie First Aid. We had soup for lunch. Then I went to her house and we made a horrible mixture of flavoured + coloured water with Dettol, vinegar and bicarb in.
When I got home Morgan + Dodo were here.

If you have ever read the Treasure Seekers, by E. E. Nesbit, the children in that get in trouble for making fake medicine – we obviously hadn’t learnt their lesson.
I've now "joined up" the August and September/October entries so I'm going to start updating the April entries that are missing.

August 30, 1978

Today I went to Catherines and we made pictures by painting ink on paper and then painting over it in bleach and we also painted pictures in white paint, went over them in indian ink and washed them under a tap and a picture came. After lunch we went lamp shopping in Coventry and got a lamp of a beer jar. Stoneware.

August 29, 1978

I went to Catherines and we tried to fake an accident but Amanda guessed what it was and didn’t help. We played ball games, ‘Sevenses’. After lunch I went blackberry picking and then I went on a walk to Saxon Mill which everyone insits is Saxon.

I imagine my father knows about the genuine history of Saxon Mill and had indoctrinated us…

August 28, 1978

I woke at 9 and at 10 I went to Cat’s for a Milverton Nurses Association meeting and I was enrolled and we got books for handbooks. In the afternoon Mummy and Daddy and Bobby and I went for a walk around Hill Wooton and Leek Wooton. We saw lots of butterflies and we picked wheat and blackberries to make drop scones. I saw ‘Lifemanship’.

Catherine and my other friends and I were obviously not satisfied with having Guides, we needed our own uniformed organisation. However I don’t think I ever had any thoughts of being a nurse – I was always going to be a doctor.

August 27, 1978

Today is Sunday. I did some stamp collecting (stamping) and I am only now sorting out the ones Dodo left me when she went away and we stayed in her house. I went with daddy on a dig in Coventry of a Medeivial house. I found a nail and a nail head. Daddy says they will be useful. After lunch I stamped some more and I played out. Then (while I was out side) I practiced a ball rhyme Am and Cat taught me. I saw the Onedin Line.

I saw my father the other day and he was telling me about some mediaeval houses he is helping to restore – they haven’t been lived in for 50 years and they are going to create a “living museum” type place but with all new objects so schoolchildren can handle, and break, them.

August 26, 1978

I woke at 1 in the morning and I read and read until I got up at 6. I had porrige. This morning I read and played outside and after lunch I went to the library. I got out 6 books and reserved 2, 1 for Daddy, 1 for me. Catherine and Amanda came so I went to play with them. We went to the doll museum in Warwick and we climbed St. Marys tower. There are 159 steps. We caught a bus back.

I still suffer really badly from jet-lag but I don’t feel so much like climbing tall towers the same day now!

August 25, 1978

Dear Yolande,
Back in England. I miss Grandma and Grandpa a lot. Did I tell you about Tina? Yes, I did. Well, I think she is just like you. I wish you could come and stay with me.
Anyway, we finished our flight and Daddy met us. Then we drove home. On the way we got some bananas, and when we got back to 18 Portland Pl. we had fish and chips. I saw ‘The Young Daniel Boone’ and went to bed. I got 2 letters from Catherine.

August 24, 1978

Today we set off for San Francisco at 8.40. I slept most of the way. Then we saw the Lawrence Hall of Science. It was super. There was a Phisics lab (where Mummy wasn’t shocked), the Biology lab (where I got bitten by a rat) and the Planatarium (where we saw 2 shows). I had Scallopps at the Airport Hilton for dinner. Our plane took off at 9.15 and I slept from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

That would be "shocked" with a Van der Graaf generator rather than "shocked" at the dreadful nature of the exhibits, I am assuming...

August 23, 1978

This morning I worked for Tinas father and I earned $2.50. We went out to lunch at the Plaza Linda, a Mexican restraunt in Carmel valley. Then we went swimming in Carmel valley. Luckily I took my watch off FIRST (see August 7). We also went material shopping and I got a Hollie Hobby doll kit. Bobby and I had some bubble gum. Tina and Mellissa came and we had ice cream cones. Then we said goodbye. We had steak for dinner. I saw 1/2 of ‘Willie Wonkas Chocolate Factory’. I am hungry.

I’m assuming it was the film that made me hungry as even with my food obsession that sounds like a fairly filling day! When the Johnny Depp film came out recently I thought I hadn’t seen the 1970s version but it seems I saw part of it.
This may well have been the last time (can’t remember exactly) we had a regular set of trips to the US as the following year I turned 12 and would have had to pay full fare – so I’m not sure I saw Tina or Melissa again. I remember having great fun with my American friends over the years but it is hard when you are that age to pick up a new friendship and leave them without any thought of seeing them again, after only a few weeks. I also remember my mother not being very encouraging of some friends – perhaps she didn’t think much of their mothers’ movie choices!

August 22, 1978

Today this morning we had pancakes. Then we played around and went shopping until we had an early lunch. After lunch we went to the beach with Tina and Melissa. On the way back Tina’s shorts flew out of the window so mummy took her back to get them. Then after ham for supper we went to a movie that Tinas Mother took us to. It was Hot Lead and Cold Feet about two brothers one a ‘towny’ the other a desperado. They race to see who inherits their dads land. It is a draw. I spent the night at Tinas.

August 21, 1978

This morning we went shopping and I read. And played the piano. We walked up to Granpas office and to a seed shop via the golf course. I helped an old man (Grandpa) across the road and Bobby helped an old woman (Mummy) across the road. After lunch Daddy phoned to say we didn’t get this super house in Bubbenhall. Tina came to play. We had steak for dinner.

All through my middle childhood we were always threatening to move – but we never did. My father still lives in the same house I grew up in – he is just about to have a party to celebrate 40 years of living there.

August 20, 1978

Today we went to Pebble Beach. We saw Bird Rock (with seals on) and Seal Rock (with birds on). We went paddling and we sank into the sand up to our ankles. We also made sand castles which were washed away. After lunch Melissa came to play and then we went to Dennis the Menace park where we went on the boats. We got stuck on the island but some friendly ‘natives’ helped us. Then we went to the actual park , where I had a blueberry Sno-cone. When we got back Tina was back from her horse show, so we played for a while. Then back home, after suppler, we saw ‘Disney World’.

August 19, 1978

Today is my half birthday. We went shopping at Longs to get me a new watch. It is gold (at least the face is) coloured and the numbers are like this: 7. Although the base is just plain, the metal that shows is gold coloured. I think it is the most beautiful watch ever.
I went over to Tinas to see if she wanted to go and see ‘The Pale Pink Dragon’. She did, so after lunch we saw it. It was at the Navy. I got my program signed by all the cast except the flower dancers.
After supper we played bridge. Grandpa helped me and my partner was dummy so I won.

Because my birthday is in February my grandparents always made a big thing of my half-birthday as it was when they were more likely to see me. The Navy is the Naval Postgraduate School which was where my grandfather worked.

August 18, 1978

Today we practiced our skit. Then we made animals from paper towels and camoflauged them with natural materials. Then we hid them around the camp for the counsellors to find. We also went to the ropes course, went on one thing and played some games. After lunch we did our skits but Mummy and Grandma came to late. We went swimming at Pattys when we got home and then we had Florence and George to dinner.

It sounds like I had a great time at camp, I’m sorry I didn’t go for longer!

August 17, 1978

This morning after flag ceremony we made rocks into paperweights. Then we went on a string hunt around the camp, and then we went on a treasure hunt around Camp Chaneya. I got a shark (rubber). After lunch at the Tipi camp the lady who used to own Camp Chaneya came to tell us what farming used to be like when her grownup daughters were 2 and 3. Camp 6 (us!) made Indian medicine bags and we went to the fossil pit. Then we practiced our skit and went home. Back home Tina came to play.

August 16, 1978

Today a girl fell off the tree and broke her arm. We (Camp 6) went on a hike around the camp. We saw deer tracks and we slid down the chapparelle. We also went to the fossil pit. We had a cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, corn on the cob, smores. Smores are graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows (toasted). We had and ABC hike (I found everything except Y and Z) and we found other things in nature. A photographer came. When I got home Tina came to play. In the evening I had popcorn balls.

Graham crackers are small and square and taste a little like digestive biscuits, but nicer… mmmm….

August 15, 1978

Today the bus was quite (very) late. I played up the trees until it came. After flag ceremony we went to the ropes course. It is fun. There is a tightrope with two ropes to hang on to, a tight log, some swings that you go along from one to one, and a rope ladder stretched between two trees. I managed everything except the tight log. That woggled.

After lunch we discussed a skit for Friday, made a banner for our camp, and painted our faces with paint. I had two crescents and two stars. We played a barnyard game where you pick corn from stones. When we got home we went to the library.

I’m really surprised I managed the rope ladder – I remember being really poor at this in P.E. class.

August 15, 1978

We set out at 8.30 for camp. At camp we climbed a tree until the bus arrived with most of the campers. It was rather late. Then we went to Tipi Camp to play some games. When our camps were announced (I am in Camp 6, the closest to Tipi, Carpark, Cabin etc.) we went there. Then we made name tags from wood, pasta letters and beans. Then we went on an exploration hike and had lunch at Tipi camp. After lunch we learned some knots for honour beads. Then we had a fire drill, made Indian symbols in the cliff by the dried up creek, and were driven home. Thus ends our first day of camp.

I think this was a camp run by the city – which would be called a summer playscheme in the UK – here a ‘camp’ would be something you stayed over at.

August 13, 1978

I played Go with Bobby 2 times. Once I won, once he won. I read More Adventures of the Great Brain, but I lost that so I read ‘Oh, Lizzie’. I set Bobby a treasure hunt. After lunch we went swimming. That was fun. When we got back I read. We had three kids to tea, and we chased ‘The Dreaded Janice’ (the eldest). After supper I saw ‘Disney World’ and ‘Rhoda’.

I am not even going to attempt to reproduce my writing on this entry, where all the letter ‘I’s were stretched down to the end of the page.

August 12, 1978

We had pancakes this morning for breakfast. I had a cowboy and Bobby had The Incredible Hulk. WE played Go and detectives. After lunch we went to the beach. It ws terriffic fun but I didn’t swim in with any of the bigger waves. When we got home we had showers and then I ate some apple peel and played outside. Then I read (and finished) ‘Victoria’. After supper I saw ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. It was funny.

We used to love having shaped pancakes. No idea what book ‘Victoria’ was…

August 11, 1978

Today Bobby played schools with me. We made our beds and had Creative English. Then Tina came to play and Chin-chin (our cat) chased Li-Sol (her dog)!
After Lunch we went to see a movie called ‘Revenge of the Pink Panther’. After that we had ice cream cones and went to the library. I got out 5 books. We had steak, corn on the cob, and strawberrys for supper. We roasted marshmallows.

August 10, 1978

Dear Yolande
Today we went to Santa Cruz Boardwalk which is a sort of fair. I went on the Ferriss wheel, the Sky ride, the Tilt Whirl, the Cave Train the Carousel and the Haunted House. I was asked if I wanted to go on the Bumper cars and I said No but now I think I should have. I got some cotton candy. Yum!
When we got home I went shopping with Mummy and then played around until dinner. After dinner we had a slide show and a bath!
Love,
Katie
P.S. I miss you

I remembered this trip as one where I wasn’t allowed to go on as many rides as I wanted to but clearly I had misremembered. Now I’m a complete wimp and won’t go on anything even slightly scary.

August 9, 1978

Dear Yolande,
Today I went to Salinas and we looked in JC Penny fabric department just for fun but we found some CUTE quilted stuff for my dressing gown. It is what looks like different kinds of overall material in different shaped patches but it has Hollie Hobbie patches.
We met the girl from over the road. She is 12 tomorrow. She came over and we played a bit of Connect. Then we went to her house and saw it. It is very big and nice. Her name is Tina but people call her Joe.
Love
Katie

August 8, 1978

Today I played around and the piano until we went out. First we went to see Grandmas friend. She showed us her taco press and gave us a catalog to get one with. We went to a material shop to get me some dressing gown material but Mummy and I disagreed over it. We went swimming at Dennis the Menace. At home I played around and had a sumptous supper. I saw ‘Charlottes Web’ part 1.

My mother used to take advantage of the fabric available in the US every summer when we went over there. I remember differing somewhat on her attitude to making me clothes: she thought the fabric was the most important part, so a different pretty fabric could be made up using exactly the same pattern year after year, while I was more into the styling – although I had awful taste then, I probably still approach clothes the same way.

August 7, 1978

Today I woke at 5. I went with Mummy to do the wash. Mummy got me some almost ready-made dress material. It is shirred round the top and has a ruffle round the bottom and has straps. Mummy made it up and I have been wearing it all day. We went swimming. I did a bit of bad diving. Back home I had lemon juice. I went swimming in my watch so it has to dry out until it starts to work properly. After supper, I saw ‘Little House on the Prarie’.

Sounds like I still had jetlag – although I often woke up early when not jetlagged, too. I think Little House on the Prairie was also on TV at home but I know I was a bigger fan of the books.

August 6, 1978

Today is a Sunday but we do not go to chuRch. This is bad of us but no-one but me and Granma and Grampa would go and so we dont go. My best regards to God. Bobbya nd I had a water fight and no one won cos it was just for fun I played some musik I found in the piano stool. We went to the sea and I swam in with big waves. We had corn on the cob and meat for dinner. I saw Disny Time on t.V. I had my hair washed cos it haD sand from the sea side.

Since the only other people at the house were my mother and my brother, the churchgoers would have been in the majority and it sounds to me like either my grandparents wanted an excuse not to go, or my mother really, really didn’t want me going to church.

August 5, 1978

Today I did the front page of a Toyica (our make-believe Toyland) fashion newspaper. After lunch I went to the library and went shopping. I got five books from the library and I got some striped Osh Kosh (b’gosh!) overalls and some white sneakers for school. Grandpa broke his nose while we were away. Poor him.
We had chicken and beans for supper.

love to my Fans, Katie A

August 4, 1978

Dearest Yolande,
We went to the Universal film studios where 6 Million $ man, Bionic Woman, Rockford Files, etc. etc. are made. We saw a ‘rock fall’, a ‘collapsing bridge’, an ‘avalanche’, a ‘flood’ the ‘Red sea’ and Jaws. We also saw ‘The Incredible Hulk’ LIVE!
We went to La Brea Tar Pits and saw fossils and a film story abut La Brea. We drove home and had a rather nice supper We got home at 10.40 p.m.

Last year my husband and I went to Universal and saw almost all of the same attractions, except I think the avalanche and, disappointingly, the Incredible Hulk. But we did see Wisteria Lane, of Desperate Housewives fame. So that made up for it.

August 3, 1978

Today we got up at 6 o’clock and at 7 we drove to the airport. Our plane was delayed from 11.35 to 1 but we did not take off until 2 o’clock.
During the flight I became a member of Junior Jet Club and mummy gave me this pop-a-point pen.
Grandma + Grandpa came to get us off the plane and we went to the motel. Bobby and I went swimming and we had dinner.

My mother had a very clever strategy of buying us each a new toy for every transatlantic flight we took, and only revealing it during the flight – nothing big, but enough to look forward to and something we could use during the journey.

August 2, 1978

Dear Yolande,
I made a collage of a princess. I have not named her but I know she is a princess because of her small silver crown. I will give her to Grandma. I went bike riding, read ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and then had lunch. After lunch it really rained. Boy, did it rain! It poured and pelted and it was even worse by the time we got to Coventry. I thought there was going to be another flood! We were supposed to have seen the Mystery Plays, but ‘rain stopped plays!’ Instead we went to the Toy Museum. It was rather nice. On the way home we looked inside the house in Bubbenhal. Pray, cross your fingers, and wish with all your might that we move there. Just think, this time tomorrow I’ll be in America. U.S.A., here I come!

I’m not quite sure if I am referring to a specific flood locally, or THE flood. The Coventry Mystery Plays were great fun, we must have gone on another occasion as I remember seeing them. I was in Coventry recently for work and I saw the Toy Museum and wondered if it was new, but apparently not. It is in an old house right by a main road and I wonder if the house has become cut off from what used to surround it, which is why I didn’t recognise it.

August 1, 1978

Today although it is Car Registration 1st day of year I saw no new cars with a T-registration plate. This morning I put a few things in my rucksack for the plane. I saw ‘Tarzan’ and ‘Belle and Sebastian’. The latter was interruppted by a temporary fault. After lunch we went to see the Dawkes. Helen and I read and picked raspberries. I borrowed ‘Mountain of Magic’ from Helen and I have finished it. After supper (stuffed marrow, yum) I saw ‘The Rockford Files’ and ‘Whats on Next?’

I’ve decided to restart typing entries with the current month as the gap is now getting ridiculous. I was clearly a very geeky and weird child – although I still like stuffed marrow. Helen Dawkes had the distinction of going to the local convent school, even though I don’t think they were Catholic, where they wore very weird maroon uniforms that had to be bought from one particular shop. I remember being fascinated by those uniforms.

March 31, 1978

Today was a disaster area. So is this page.

Disaster 1: We went to the park and the Owens came.

Disaster 2: We went to Coventry to see ‘The Rescuers’ but it was full. So we had to go round BORING museums + shops.

Disaster 3: There was no ‘Disney Time’ or ‘Going Straight’ and this was the last ‘Goodies’.

Disaster 4: Theresa, the horrible borrowing + never giving back neighbor, baby sat. It should be ‘horror-sat’.

The Owens were one of those families with a child every year, all of them horrible…

March 30, 1978

This morning Bobby + Morgan had a good old argue. Dodo + I banished them from our room. We then watched ‘Why Don’t You,’ ‘Boy from Lappland’, ‘Lippy Lion’ and ‘Puzzle Party’. WE played ‘Bad Eggs’ in Feldon. We had lunch. There was pitta bread (Greek bread) . Jocelyn + I played Frust*. We went to the theatre to see ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ about four lovers that Puck muddled up. We had supper when we got home. Then we watched ‘The Good Life’ and ‘Living in the Past’.
*Frustration

I cannot remember how to play Bad Eggs, but Frustration is still available, and is a version of Ludo.

March 29, 1978

This morning when I got up it was quite late. I went over to Kerens to skip. Halfway through I went home for a bit cos Keren had a rope burn. After that I watched ‘Boy from Lappland’ and ‘Lippy Lion’. After lunch I cleaned my room. Then Bobby + I made a library. Then I made a sculpture from wood and then watched ‘Screen Test’ and ‘Grange Hill’. We waited a while + Morgan + Dodo came. We went to bed after supper + a game.

I wasn’t a particularly good skip-er.. still am not.

March 28, 1978

I did a crossword nearly then we set out for Exeter but we stayed a while there in the library where I read a book but didn’t finish it and we had lunch (pasties, cookies, apples + 7up) in a rest area on the motorway and when we got back Mummy + I went shopping and then I made some Choc Chip Cookies and watched ‘The Princess And The Potion’ (Playhouse) and ‘Take Hart’ and after supper (mushroom soup + cheese) and a bath I watched ‘The Rockford Files’, Robins Nest’ + ‘The Vet’, a programme about a vet, and then I went to bed with an aching chest. 9.10 p.m.

It is a little confusing having us drive to Exeter at the start of the holiday and then drive there again as we are on our way home – but my grandfather and his family used to live in a very small village just outside Exeter, so I have finally worked out that we must have nipped into town and I went to the library while my parents bought lunch, on our way home…

March 27, 1978

This morning I watched ‘Why Don’t You…’ and ‘Boy from Lappland’. We drove to Pringle Bridge and walked a way and back. Then we had lunch. It was pasties, and an ice. Then we walked up a hill, 743 feet! I had sweets on the way down. We had tea when we got back and then I did Cross-quiz. Then we watched on television ‘The Wonderful World of Disney Easter Special’. Then, after supper (and bath) we played Racing Demon.

If you have never played Racing Demon, this is another game my mother indulged in with us children – it is guaranteed to destroy all your playing cards. Each player has a pack, and you basically play a form of solitaire but against each other, trying to get rid of a stack of cards first. Cards are twisted and torn, hands slapped, and all kinds of non-approved behaviour indulged in, including I’m sure a bit of mild swearing on the part of my mother.

March 26, 1978

Today is Easter Day

TODAY IS EASTER! I woke at 5 because of a bad dream about Dracula. I went back to sleep. When I went down there were no presents but I got a card. I got a small Smarties egg under an egg cosy. After breakfast I got some felts, another egg, a puzzle ring and a Bible. After a good deal of playing and reading I went to church. Then I found 3 eggs in the sitting room. In the afternoon I watched Noel Edmonds Swap Shop awards programme. And then I played outside. Then after supper I saw ‘A.C.G.A.S’* and ‘Love Story’, a movie.
*All Creatures Great And Small

I wonder what happened to that Bible – I have one given to me at my christening as a baby, which is a white, hardly opened King James Version, and one I bought myself as a teenager, which is a falling apart Good News Bible. It’s slightly possible my parents found the christening one in a cupboard and gave me it when they finally resigned themselves to my irritating holy nature…

March 25, 1978

Easter Eve

This morning I overslept on purpose. After breakfast we drove out to Doone Valley. Bobby was sick on the way and also the way Daddy + I measured a farmhouse because Dads drawing said there was a bulge in the wall. We had lunch in the car, and then drove to Tarn Steps where we had a good long walk. Tea was when we got home, and supper after a good long romp in the garden. I had my bath and then I drew + was read to. Then I went to bed. 9.10 p.m.

My father is a keen, nay, fanatical amateur historian, mainly of houses and cottages. I used to love being his assistant and holding the other end of the tape measure. He also used to read us the books that he liked as a child – Swallows and Amazons, and C.S. Lewis, among others – I think I still have his Swallows and Amazons books somewhere.

March 24, 1978

Today is Good Friday

Until it was time for children’s T.V. I (and David and Bobby) went and played war. I made a crutch. Then I watched Jackanory and Boy from Lappland. We went to Killerton – it is having a new display of costumes and it opened today. When we got back we had lunch. After lunch we played hospitals and made Lego things. We went to feed the donkeys. After tea we played Sardines. One person hides and the others look for him and when they find him hide with him until evryone finds him. After dinner we went out and then watched The Goodies.

My mother is great at children’s games – I remember all my cousins and my uncle being astonished that she played Sardines with us.
I have just discovered a very sad website that has all the programmes that were on any given day, ever, as far as I can see.

March 23, 1978

No school today

Mummy + I went shopping and got me some new shoes and new white socks. I also wore my new dress. It is off white with tiny flowers and bigger flowers (orangy-brown) on the yoke + ruffle. After that I watched T.V. until it was time to go to the dentist. I got 1 filling. Bobby got 1 and needs 3 more! What a disgrace! After lunch we drove to Exeter. There we played with David our 9-year-old half-uncle. We watched Blue Peter and, in the evening (during + after supper) Tomorrows World, The Good Life and Living In The Past.

OK, are you paying attention? Before my parents met, my father’s mother died. She had four children – my father and three sisters. My grandfather (my father’s father) remarried and when he was 60, and his second wife 40, their only son David was born. He is therefore my half-uncle; he now works as a solicitor in the urban regeneration sector. We were never allowed to watch TV and eat at the same time, but my grandfather's house had a very small TV in the dining room, rather than a larger one in the sitting room; they were posher than us.

March 22, 1978

Last day of term! For handwriting Mr. Crowther gave us a poem about the sea. We had a spelling + a maths test.  I did half of Games but the other half I skipped and helped Mrs Hunt. No Science. I made Mrs Hunt an Easter card and everyone signed it.
I WENT TO SEE ABBA THE MOVIE with Debbie!!!!!
It is about a reporter who has to get an interview with Abba.  He does it in the end after a lot of hard work.

I remember this film very distinctly, even though I can’t have seen it again – the reporter interviews loads of fans and doormen, roadies etc. but eventually catches up with the band in a lift.

March 21, 1978

this morning we had a quiz. i forgot to ask mrs. Hunt about watching a programme but i will tomorrow. after play we did antonyms in english. no recorder. i played with Lillian. in art i made a bunny card and an egg card for easter. we talked about easter in scripture. i did my topic on victorian nursery. i watched ‘take hart’. i also watched (after supper) robins nest. it is about a man called robin and his restaurant robins nest.

I’ve recently started watching “Man About the House”, which Robin’s Nest was the sequel to – sadly I can’t find any re-runs of Robin’s Nest.  Perhaps when Man About the House has finished playing all the episodes?

March 20, 1978

we woke up late. instead of assemby we had a cliff richard film about israel. after play (and flute) we learned to tell the time in french. we did our history topic after lunch. p.e. was awful. we lost both games. i will see ‘abba – the movie’ with debbie on wednesday. after school i watched t.v. after supper i saw ‘ask the family’. i went to a film with mummy. it was ‘pygmaleon’ about a cockney girl who was taught to talk properly. i didn’t go to guides.

The film was apparently called "His Land" and, probably rightly so, was unavailable for a number of years but has now made a comeback on DVD.

March 19, 1978

Last night at midnight we went onto DST* so the clocks were 1 hour forward. I woke at 7 (really 6) and dripped water on B to get lights on permission. She had only just woken again when after breakfast we went to the paper shop. I got a ‘MAD’! We had and Easter egg hunt. I got 8. After lunch we went to Aunt Ginny’s She gave us a reasonable tea and when we got to Oxford again we had supper and watched ‘The Pheonix and the Carpet’. Then we drove home.
*Daylight Saving Time

Aunt Ginny was my eccentric maiden great-aunt, who had a tendency to serve you things that had been hanging around the house for weeks – waste not, want not. However her hoarding instinct meant that ephemera never got thrown away. I inherited her Chinese sewing table, which is a lovely thing in itself, but which is filled with years and years of sewing bits and pieces, from Victorian through the whole 20th century, and which she was still using pretty much all of. Except perhaps the glove-stretchers.

March 18, 1978

This morning we (I, sorry) woke at seven. I took my Immy, a life-size paper doll, down from the wall to measure to make clothes. We drove to Oxford. Ten minutes out Mummy remembered something so we went back. We saw Star Wars in the afternoon. It was super. Bid made ice cream sodas for us and we played + watched T.V. There was a dinner party in the evening. I am sharing a room with B. and we stole a few biccys.

This must have been the first Star Wars film, but for some reason I remembered seeing it with my cousins when it first came out (which was the previous year). But it seems it only came out in the UK just after Christmas, when we were in the US.

March 17, 1978

After Assembelly we had a film about Coventry.  I did clay work after play + I made a coil pot.  Post lunch we were taken to the Belgrade Theatre dans* Coventry.  We saw, or be particular, took part in, and Adventure In the Deep.  We went to Atlantis and we got a Citizens Card! I got back in time to watch Jackanory.  Ballet: I was in the best mime group.  After supper I watched the Goodies.
*in

I remember miming nursery rhymes at Ballet; I was much better at this side of it than the actual dancing, and after I stopped doing ballet I went to an acting group, but I never went very far with it.  I do occasionally have to record my voice at work, though, and I’m quite good at keeping it consistent, so perhaps I learned something.

March 16, 1978

It snowed and we made a snowman! Maths was Graded Papers. Swimming was Mrs. Fletcher (ugh). This week I am having school dinners, and they are super! Mr. Antcliffe took us for Libry + Geog. After school Bobby + I declared Spring, in a ‘Smash the snow’ ceremony. Jackanory was a tangle for the heroine, and Blue Peter ahad a toll collector at a turnpike. Daddy + I went to the library. Evenings T.V. included The Good Life and Iron Age Living.

I seem to have been very fond of these multi-coloured entries. I don’t think I’ll inflict any more on you, or me.

We interrupt this blog to say...

I know I have a fair few readers (well, more than just me and my husband) but mainly lurkers. I wanted to post a post as me-now not me-then to say a couple of things:

Please do comment! Although perhaps you have nothing to say... in which case perhaps better not to say it...

Secondly, I could use some advice. I am thinking of moving the blog (do Blogger censor their posts? will they read this and delete) because it's very, very slow here. I usually create my posts in Word and publish up here, but I can only do that on my Windows machine at home, not on my Mac laptop and not on my Mac work machine and not if I'm on the road. So unless I'm in the house in the evening, and don't want to watch TV or speak to my husband, not much gets typed up. I was hoping to do this more or less as the year rolled along but as you can see, I'm woefully behind.

Any editing is very very slow, the cursor moves at will to somewhere other than where you place it, and the formatting doesn't survive the transition to the blog from Word, nor can I set the date differently to "now" so I have to change that within the Blogger system too. It definitely makes other internet applications run slowly but I think it makes all applications run slowly, too.

So, what I'm wondering, is whether anyone has any better ideas. Preferably cheap (not necessarily free), and I would really like to keep my colour scheme, my links, and if it is not free, be able to use e.g Google ads, and to be able to put my own code in for my invisible counter. I can cope with basic HTML coding, and have learned a little about style sheets through doing this blog.

Any suggestions? I don't need more than one author, if that helps.

March 15, 1978

There was a poem about a mouse in Handwriting.  NO Games becaze we were to watch the Harrisson v Lovell, Whittle v Smith and H v S house netball matches.  Later in the day the Staff won the staff v 4th year match. Netball is a girls game, but Mr. Raven played.  In Piano Miss Cranston taught be about the pedal and also about TRIADS. I managed to watch all of Jacaknory (miracle cos my house is 5 min from piano and Jackanory starts when piano ends) I read Bugsy Malone and watched The Liver Birds in the evening.

Harrison, Lovell, Whittle and Smith were the four houses at my junior school.

March 14, 1978

I had a piano exam, Grade 3.  I made a  couple of mistakes about the scales, but all the pieces were OO.K. I heard this morning that I passed the Kings High examination, but I shan’t go there.  We went to the museum.  It was fun.  There was a film about Warwickshire Geology! I watched Playhouse, and also Take Hart, with Morph the Plasticene man.  After lambchop supper, there was Robins Nest. I lost a tooth.  I shall see if I get 10p without telling anyone.

I don’t think I was really that excited about geology…

March 13, 1978

I think I shall join SAM (Society for the Abolition of Monday). But if it worked Tuesday would play the same role. You can’t win. Anyway, flute was Sciliano mainly. Nothing else important, except I watched all the T.V. possible (except Ludwig) and at Guides I lost my hat while doing a quiz.
Monday, and all the depression of back to school after the weekend.

I have recently started working with Guides again, and let me assure you, they do not wear hats any more!

December 3, 1978

This morning I ‘Catherned*’. We gave the dolls a ballet lesson, and my Sasha and Katy Sizer’s Clare came top in the Tap (the Clog dance from La Fille Mal Gardée). Then we gave them a piano lesson. Jane played best and got on farthest. Sasha got on second farthest and Lilly Lucy played second best. After lunch and some nellyphant sewing I went to a rehearsal of the Xmas guide play. I am a boy in it called Simon. He hasn’t much to say apart from teasing the blind girl and arguing with his sister.

*Visited Catherine