My secret diary 1971 May (ii)

May 16 Sun
OK day. Did homework. Read a lot of 'Fellowship of the Ring'. Wrote letter to Janet Day (she left Hulme). Might phone woman tomorrow about selling flags for the NSPCC.
May 17
OK day. Phoned woman about NSPCC flags. But you've got to be 16 or over. Ask people tomorrow in 6th form. Wrote letter to Russian penfriend to be.
May 18 Tue
Finished Tie-dye in art. Miss Powell said it was good! Parents' meeting at school about O levels. Got a fairly good report. All said I was TOO quiet. I hate Miss Turner.
May 19
Tried to answer a bit more in class, no choice really. O level subjects are Chem, Biol, Phys, Russ + Geog (inc Maths and 2 Eng). Hope I pass. I hate French.
May 20
sorry. Bit behind with diary. Can't remember anything really. J having party. My idea. In garage.
May 21 Fri
Evelyn (nice girl) brought tape-recorder for use at J's party. Fantastic. Auntie Emma is here to stay. Oh blimey. I am trying to be nice.
May 22 Sat
At J's party 3 lads came to door about notice "knock 3 times". Nearly died! "Well, are we invited?" Poor things - the shame. Oh well.
May 23 Sun
Loads of homework piled up through week. Met Mr Jack Coles. Some friend of dad's. Teacher or something. Auntie Emma snores! Oh I detest her.
May 24 Mon
Stayed after school to watch 6th form play "Mary Barton" by Mrs Gaskell. Fascinating old diaries etc. S and I in giddy mood. Had fun.
May 25
Art. Mrs Crewe (French teacher) is dead funny. She talks to herself and looks at ceiling all the time. What fun. All giddy. Finished table.
May 26
sore throat all day, broke out into a cold tonight. Break up on Friday for a week for Whitsun. I don't want to grow up.
May 27
Rotten stinking cold. It's horrible. Usual thing, runny nose, cough, blocked head. Oh. J and some of school go to Holland tomorrow.
May 28
Wish I was going to Holland. Me and J went into town this afternoon. Got film in camera. Dad brought sweets and flasks. Awful cold.
May 29
Rotten cold. Nothing happened really. Bit fed up. Cried at night when mum and dad were out. Don't know why. Then laughed. photos, memories.
May 30
Cousin Marion & Gerard & Christine & Susan & Michelle and David came. Phew! David is a foster child. Feel sorry for him. Susan slept the night.
May 31 Mon
Went to visit guess who? Auntie Emma. Typical. Her and mum are planning to go on holiday AND tag me along. Oh help. Don't want to hurt mum.

Commentary
May 18 - although I may have hated Miss Turner, I have had reason to thank her in recent years for giving me a grounding in English literature, and also an instinctive knowledge of English grammar. Thanks Miss Turner (who is now dead. She was a daughter of the Raj)
May 28 - dad worked all his life for a confectionery wholesale company (starting when he was 14, and it was just him and a chap called 'Uncle Tommy' selling sweets from a van). Mum, Norma and I benefitted from sweet samples regularly.