Hello, welcome to my blog

Mostly you will find, here, transcribed entries from the secret diary that I used to keep as a teenager between 1970 and 1975. I try to be honest with my transcriptions, but, just occasionally I do edit, to protect myself or others from embarrassment or some other emotion.
Also, though, I like to do a brief review of the books I have been reading, so these are interspersed throughout. I reserve the right to write blog entries, also, about other random things.
Why do I keep this blog? I don't know. I am an academic and one of my research interests is around how people construct their own identities. The diary transcriptions, and what I write about my books, are very much about revealing something of my identity.

Thursday, 15 July 2010

My secret diary 1970 July (ii)

July 17th Friday
Broke up for long summer hols. Till Sept 15th. Collected autographs. Miss Brierley leaving. Me, S and J gave her a book.
July 18th
I'm bored already. The thought of 8 more weeks. Ugh. Went to J's. Richard's got measles. Boys in park. Ha.
July 19th
The Great Auntie Emma came to stay. Ugh. She's horrible. S rang me up. Allan, Auntie May and Herbert came.
July 20th Mon
(Bit behind with diary). Went to Carol's to see if she can come on Wed. She can. She took me to the park. I went up town after with Auntie Emma.
July 21st
Still behind with diary. I can't think what happened. Helped mum to wash the clothes*. Quite enjoyed it. Didn't do much else.
July 22nd
Went to J's, then to S's. Then had dinner, played tennis at Westwood Park. Went to baths. Then S had a "mini-raver-upper". 6 people.
July 23rd Thurs
Carol came after dinner. Used Meccano a bit. I made a robot, clever me. Carol and me went to park and played golf. Helped Auntie Emma to make pillows.
July 24th
Still chopping up those pieces to go in the pillows for Auntie Emma. Carol came. Messed about with her chemistry set. Thought we'd discovered a stain remover.
July 25th
Learned how to crochet (from Auntie Emma). Still don't like that woman. Took her home*. Cousin Jack is strange. So shy. Feel uncomfy with him.
July 26th
Tidied bedroom (wonders will never cease!). Crocheted a bag for Norm. Making i) a bag, ii) a quilt, iii) some gonks iv) a house. Golly what a lot!!!!
July 27th Mon
Didn't do much. Norma off work 'cos of 'cold'. I think she's faking it a bit though*. She doesn't want to go to David's.
July 28th
Sorry! I'm behind with diary (that's you). Yesterday I went to library. Got Gandhi book and a russian one.
July 29th Wed
Went up town with mum. Bought sewing machine needles, saucer for plant pot and all sorts. I'm lazy - I didn't do any work.
July 30th
Today (I've caught up on diary) S phoned. She goes on hols next Wed. Pity! Fixed going to carnival on Sat, with J. Front garden.
July 31st Fri
Behind with diary. Sorry! Don't know what happened.

Commentary*
July 21st - we had a twin tub machine. I think there were jobs to do like filling the tub with a hose-pipe from the sink, because it wasn't plumbed in. We had a pair of those wooden tongs for lifting the clothes from the hot water. After rinsing a couple of times they had to be lifted into the spinner drum. It's all coming back to me! Bring on your twin tubs!
July 25th - taking Auntie Emma home was always a good trip. She lived near Sheffield, so we had to drive over the Pennine moors, along the Isle of Skye Road (later famous as the place that the Moors Murderers buried some of their victims). The landscape is harsh and the weather could be interesting. Emma's son, Jack, lived with her until she died. Like his father he worked at Foxes steel works. He normally went and did some odd jobs in the shed when visitors came, but he liked talking to my dad.
July 27 - sorry, Norma, if you are reading this!
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