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…