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, 12 September 2013

My secret diary 1973 September (i) Paris, then the chemistry lab

Sept 1st (Sat)
In Paris by about 11 o'clock. We did a bit of fussing and faffing and by 2pm we were on metro. I liked going underground to the Champs Elysee and we walked up. Shoes £32! Dresses £132!! Saw Arc dr Triomphe and grave of unknown warrior  Lovely. Got permanent fire. Also Tour Eiffel and we met 3 French blokes.

Sept 2
After Paris last night we drove to Calais and got a ferry at about 10.30am. Not much to say - had a rough crossing. I like ferries but felt a bit sick. Drove all way up to home. Glad to be home. I love my family. Julie got all her 'O' levels. Good, good, good.

Sept 3 (Mon)
Very boring and depressing day. I wish I were back in Spain at Camping Giverola Pola. Simple Simon. Oh God I'm in love with someone I'll never see again! S failed her chem, poor thing. E's done well gor 4 grade 1s.

Sept 4th
Done hardly owt today. Went to dentist (Mr Aron) in afternoon and he gave me a new brace. Coming back I saw a hippy type playing guitar outside of cathedral. I wanted to join him but I'm a coward - it's got to change. I walked from the station in bare feet.

Sept 5th
Went to visit Ju this morning. Had dinner there (her ear's bad). After went to laundry to visit them*. Then up town - new pair of school shoes. 6th former tomorrow - how about that? Saw C in town. Got 7 'O' levels. I'm glad for her.

Sept 6th (Thur)
Well. Went back to school. In sixth form now.Miss Rogerson is form mistress in chem lab. Doing Maths, Biol and Chem for 'A' level'. D only got 4 'O' levels - she's not coming back. IP got 7 grade 1s, C got 4 grade 1s, SP got 6 grade 1s, K got 5 like me*. Great to see everyone again.

Sept 7th
Another mucked up day. Miss Crabtree* still hasn't sorted our timetables out and so Ju doesn't know what she's doing, neither does S. Went to ??, the jewellers about a job that Stella promised me - nothing doing. Stella left. Annoyed. Posted letter to Sian and Sarah.

*Commentary
Sept 5 - Ju and I worked in the hospital laundry to raise money to go on holiday - it was hot, hard work - respect to those who did it full time.
Sept 6 - sometimes I claim not to be a competitive person, but clearly this is a weighing up of everyone and comparing them to my performance. My grown up me is a little embarrassed with my teenage me. Maybe I'm still like that. Oh dear.
Sept 7 - Miss Crabtree was our headmistress. She was a bit like the Queen. Sian and Sarah were girls we had met on holiday in Spain.

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