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.

Monday, 4 June 2012

My secret diary 1973 May (iii) Boppers and Levis

May 23 Wed
Sorry, tired, don't feel like writing. Going to Whiskers on Friday. Julie not coming. She wants to (I think) but she's not letting on. Been listening to Bob Dylan on the radio

May 24
Behind with diary. Feel tired. Seems funny - it will be last ever English lesson on Friday*.

May 25
Broke up from school. Very sunny weather. I only got three mistakes in a Russian dictation!! Everyone else got 12 or 7 or something. I'm sure she thinks I've cheated. I didn't! Went to Whiskas. Ju didn't. Is our friendship finishing? Oh what can I do? 2 fellas tried to pick me and S up.

May 26 (Sat)
Nowt exciting to say. beautiful weather. Spent a lot of day outside revising Eng Lit. Didn't do as much as I should have. Saw a very scary film on tellly, hope I can sleep. About black magic and things. Remember that smock and shorts I made? I cut the smock into a short blouse yesterday. Q nice.

May 27
Been sort of half doing Physics revision all day. I felt faint this morning and mum was ever so nice. I think it was periods. Beautiful weather again. There's a girl about my age lives across the road from us. I'm curious about her. I thought she was a bopper* once because of her coat, but she was wearing flared Levis today. Wish I was brave.

May 28
Bank holiday. Some holiday when you've got to revise all the time. Actually, went to Auntie Emma's (took biol books with me). Took dog. Wish I was walking up on the hills. Wish I was free, no worries. No ties. Julie phoned and we were quite friendly. I'm worried, she's had a row with Asda. She might get fired.

May 29 (Tues)
At last, started Geog revision. Feel as though i've done quite a bit. Julie came after dinner to copy up physics. She's invited me to Bailey's on Thursday. I want to go. Susan Greenwood phoned - okay. Not much to say. V tired. Norma started her exams ay uni today.

May 30
Hardly anything at all to write. Chem revision allday. Made a watchstrap when my mind was clogged up. Phoned Ju. Might be going to Bailey's tomorrow. Going to dentists. Why does time pass so quickly? Oh why?

May 31st (Thurs)
Ye gods! Went to Baileys. New place where the Astoria used to be. Met a fella called Terry, or Harry or something. He's Irish, a student and weird. He studies maths and science - going to be a teacher. He tried to go a bit too far in the back of his car. I stopped him!*

*Commentary
May 24 - and Miss Turner - scary though you were - I still thank you from the bottom of my heart for teaching me how to express myself competently in writing and to love literature.
May 27 - I think we used to use the word 'bopper' in a derogatory way - a teeny-bopper - someone who might follow the Bay City Rollers, maybe?
May 31 - I have struggled with honesty vs editting here. I have edited a bit, but also been a bit honest. A braver person might have thought it is no big deal to reveal all from 39 years ago, but I find myself trying to preserve some of the privacy of my 16 year old self. Or is that my 'self'? I think these dilemmas will get more difficult as I become an older teenager. So I wonder if I will have to stop this publishing at some point?

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