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.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

My secret diary 1973 June (i) waiting by the telephone & 'O' levels arrive

June 1
You know, Terry is something different - I think it's because he's Irish and mature and experienced. I like older fellas! I phoned Ju and then phoned him. He lives in a flat with three other fellas. Couldn't tell what he was saying half the time, the line was crackly. Been very tired. Didn't get in 2 this morning. He wants me to go over to see him at his place.

June 2 Sat
Oh I hate myself. Keep trying to do revision but my mind won't take it. Oh I'm too tired to write much. I'm excited about Terry. He's an experience that mustn't be missed. All the fun of the fair. Told Ju about him.

June 3
God, I've been nervous all day, with butterflies in my stomach, don't know whether that's about exams or because Terry said he'd phone - he didn't. I told mum he might phone - she's been giving me pitying looks all day. Could be he's lost, or got the wrong phone number. Could be he didn't want to ring or he forgot. Don't know whether to phone him or not now.

June 4
He still didn't phone today. SQ phoned. I told her about him. She's going out with that Geoff from the Parochial. I'm not so bothered today, although I would like him to phone. Norma came home. Got an exam tomorrow. Eng Lang. It still hasn't struck me. Oh Terry!

June 5 (Tues)
Well, Eng Lang over with at last. Maths next, on Friday. Eng Lang not bad, in fact ok. Got some joss sticks - beautiful. Got some for Julie's birthday too. Terry's not phoned. Ju says I should phone him. Norma says I shouldn't. What the hell should I do?

June 6
revised

June 7
Went to SQ's with Julie and did some maths revision. and some talking - too much - I feel frightened now. I phoned Terry!! From a phone box on the way home, after consulting Ju and S. He sounded a bit funny but nice later on. He's asked me to go to a dance at the college tomorrow night. To go or not to go?!

June 8 (Fri)
I'm in bed early. 9 o'clock. I need it. Had Maths I this morning - not too bad. terry phoned - can't decide whether he was trying to put me off going to the dance or not - but I'm not going - I can't get back from Rochdale. Went to dentist's. I met Miss Gartside* on the way there and had a nice talk to her. Sunny.

June 9 Sat
Oh gee whizz. Such a beautiful programme on the radio this morning with this fella playing all the old rock and roll records - Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lewis etc. Great! Me and Norma loved it. Stella came yesterday - got me a Saturday job, starts in September. Not done as much revision as I should.

June 10
Nothing but revision

June 11
Eng Lit - rotten
Revision

June 12 Tues
Revision - not as bad as I expected. Revision. So tired.

June 13
Maths + Geog. Maths not bad. Geog rotten.
Revision and Bob Dylan on radio

June 14
Chemistry was horrible. The worst exam we've had. Loads of calculations (inc 2 on B section) - hope I've not failed. No organic. No industrial, no chlorine. Frightened*. Made nightie out of dad's shirt.

June 15 (Fri)
Beautiful weather. Sunbathed, revised, made halter neck top - v revealing!! Planted in garden. Done a lot. Feel v tired. Auntie May's home tomorrow.*

*Commentary
June 8 - Miss Gartside was our Religious Education teacher. She seemed quite old, as I recall. With soft round cheeks, and grey hair in a soft bun on top of her head, with a lot of kirby grips. She smiled a lot and was very gentle. She was also responsible for teaching us to write in italics. Julie excelled at this, and I didn't! We had special dip-in ink pens, with ink-wells.
June 14 - these were the days when we were assessed solely on exam performance - no course work at all.
June 15 - Auntie May was my favourite auntie. One of her sons had emigrated to South Africa, and had a family over there. I think Auntie May went over twice in her life, to see him. This was her first visit (with her husband, Uncle Herbert). Now, looking back, I don't know how they afforded the trip.

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