October 1981

I was thirteen, going on fourteen.

Silvine Red Exercise Book. On the front is GMCC + MUFC, the names of all the Manchester United players at the time. On the back is a Metric table/Conversion table. I have written “Important Fact: Manchester United=Fantastic”

In Latin, we did translation. Miss F says Fiona, Emma and I talk too much.

In Chemistry we did carbon dioxide but in the second lesson we went for a sex talk with the health visitor. There was a film, which was really crumby. if my memory serves me right it was of Fifties teenagers dancing to explain how girls are attracted to boys and boys are attracted to girls

After school, I went to the doctors. Dr E was quite interested in my broken finger but more in eczema. He said it can be brought on by mental things, such as ‘when Manchester United lose – you are Red, aren’t you?’

On Look NorthWest they said Bryan Robson is to sign for Manchester United tonight for £1½ million. Asa Hartford has signed for Manchester City for £350,000. As David Davies said, “Just another day in the life of Manchester football. One day we will interview the bank managers of United and City” I’m really pleased that Bryan Robson will be coming to Old Trafford. Isabel (she’s Blue, of course) has his name on her rough book. I wonder how long that will stay!

After Registration I went to the hospital. I had to give details such as do I live with both parents and what is my religion.
I went down into Altrincham and bought ‘My Party’ by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin. I went home and went out to meet Matthew from the bus. I heard the news on Piccadilly. Bryan Robson has definitely signed for the world’s greatest football team. I wrote this and watched Crackerjack. Ooh I could crush a grape, I could dust a daffodil, I could jump off a dolls’ house, could pop a balloon.

In the Guardian it says that one of Wilkins, McIlroy……or Coppell will have to be sold. I don’t think the buying of Bryan Robson, good and fantastic as he is, will go anywhere near making up for the sale of Stevie Coppell.

I watched Swap Shop, with a new theme, Hello, Hello written and sung by BA Robertson. There is also a new set. The Krankies were on; so was Gary Numan. He is very sulky and not terribly funny.

I watched Football Focus. Georgie Best is included in the Northern Ireland squad for the match against Scotland. There was a feature on Steve Moran who’s an excellent artist and photographer. He has nine O-levels and 3 A-levels.

If all these goals are the consequence of three points for a win, I’m all for it. And between recording these goals I’m trying to do last weeks’ Art homework. Gary Birtles added a FIFTH goal for United. Hooray, hip, hip, I’m so happy. I’m over the parrot, definitely not as sick as the moon etc etc. The only scoreless draw in the first division was Sunderland and Coventry but then, they’re both crap.

I watched the BBC News. The Hunger Strikes are off.

I watched Juliet Bravo, which was excellent, and Mike Yarwood in Persons. He did Charles and Diana. Anne phoned and pointed out that she married a Mark and he married a Spencer…

At lunch I talked and read outside. Then Pippa, Andrea Bu and I did a concert of various songs, predominantly Beatles.
Once home I received a rocket from Mama for buying ‘It’s My Party’

In RE we talked about….yes, you have guessed it – God!

Once home I……yes, you’ve guessed it – I got a rocket from Mum because I was wet. I mean, in this weather you have to be a magician to stay dry.
I then warmed some milk and as I stood holding the pan, Mum took it from me and spilt the milk and, of course, I was blamed.
I saw the news. President Sadat has been murdered.

I didn’t do PE, instead I told Sam and Aviva about my 'night with Robert Redford'. I didn’t expect them to believe it, and they didn’t.
I watched the News. BL unveiled their new car – the Triumph Acclaim.

I did my Art homework from two weeks ago. I went to bed, well, got ready and listened to Soccer Spectacular on Piccadilly. Unfortunately, Steve Archibald scored a goal for Spurs against Manchester United. United lost.

Pauline told me Bryan Robson was booked last night. P’raps he was getting his own back for Spurs were dead filthy. Birtles and Stapleton were treated for bad injuries. Birtles was carried off.

Anyway I caught the 264. Sarah and Renee were on. Sarah copied my Maths homework which I’d taken so long to do.

In Biology we burned soil. It ponged like mad. In Art we embroidered our soft toys. I’m already halfway through mine. I spent my time dreaming about Lou Macari and Bryan Robson.

In Chemistry we finished carbon dioxide. Because Clare was away, I sat next to Andrea J. She was telling me about a really fit lad she met as a music group on Saturday. Trouble was, he wasn’t a lad, he was twenty-two. Incidentally, he played a bass guitar. Anyway, she rather fancied him, and he kept winking at her. Eventually they got talking, and she found out he was called Peter. She also found out his address, and she promised to write to him, and he promised to reply.
So when she arrived home she wrote a letter, and then asked her Mum for a stamp. Her Mum wanted to know what it was for, so Andrea explained it was for a letter she had written to a twenty-two-year-old lad. Her Mum said ‘no’ but Andrea said that she had been rude to him and wanted to apologise. Then her Dad said ‘no’, so she is really upset now!

I did my homework from Chemistry and Biology. In fact I rather enjoyed doing them - well, I wasn’t saying, “aren’t I a lucky girl – I’m doing my homework?’ but I made more of an effort than I usually do for Science!

I watched Willo the Wisp. Evil Edna was reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, so she made herself a potion to change herself into a monster, but The Moog, and Arthur the Caterpillar drunk it and changed into Werewolves.

I saw most of the News. Loads of Tory MPs (wets) are criticising the policies of the Blessed Margaret (good for them).

I watched Top of the Pops. Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin sang ‘It’s My Party’. I am still mad on this. I think it is so ace, and it would probably be my story – having a boyfriend, and then having someone going off with him. 'A Good Year for the Roses' was sung by Elvis Costello. This is beautiful. Not at all like his usual style, and it’s my kind of record. Well, I love romantic ones like this. Tight Fit sang Back to the Sixties Part Two. I think it’s sacrilidge that all these stupid medleys are done to give the mixers easy money. Finally, the number one – Prince Charming by the fabulous Adam and the Ants. Antmusic (for Sex People) rules.
I watched, for some daft reason, Blankety Blank.

I caught the 264. Siobhan was on. I like her a lot more than I used to. I used to be angered by her opinions, but I think she’s really good fun. And she hates Maria M, just like Kathy and I do.

At lunchtime I went up to the library with Kathy, but we were chucked out, so we spent the rest of the lunchtime talking to various people, including a first year called Tina who everybody teases. But I think she’s nice.
In Music Mrs Bt told me I should be in Little Orchestra.

(On the way home) loads of St A lads ran for the door and the driver said, ‘One at a time’ – he was Scottish. So St A Fourth Year rushed upstairs chanting Celtic, Rangers, Celtic, Rangers. When the bus was still at The Terminus they all sat there chanting. One of their Sixth Formers bawled them out, but they ignored him. When he had gone they started chanting Celtic, Rangers again. And the driver had told Jonno D, Kathy’s second cousin, that he was a big mouth!

I watched Nationwide. here was a long feature on heart disease. The lesson is: don’t eat fatty foods in excess, don’t drink in excess, don’t smoke at all, and keep fit.

I read The Guardian. The diary wasn’t as good as usual!
I watched Swappie. There was a band on called the Young and Moody Band alias a bloke from Status Quo, the bloke with long hair from Motorhead, Cozy Powell…..and The Nolans.

Today is the milestone in the history of Manchester United – must be, cos besides being the 103rd Derby, it is also the first day since season 1976/7 that Steve Coppell hasn’t been in the Manchester United team for a League game. Isn’t it terrible? I do hope it’s because he’s injured, not because he has been dropped. I f he has been dropped, I’ll never forgive Ron Atkinson.
The substitute is….Steve Coppell. I might cry. Stevie, my hero, might be sold. I would never be the same again if my favourite footballer left Old Trafford.
Down at Maine Road, Garry Birtles was taken off and replaced by Stevie Coppell. While I like Birtles, I prefer Coppell.

I learnt that Switzerland beat Romania. This means that England’s World Cup hopes are slightly more imaginable.

I feel really ill. The recording of ‘Oh no’ was played and my stomach turned upside down. Oh my God. And it was only a Leicester goal. The derby ended goalless.

I watched Metal Mickey. It was dead good! I watched the news. A bomb has exploded outside the Chelsea Army Barracks. One civilian was killed and fifty others injured.

I read this morning’s Guardian. I have come to the conclusion that the Guardian love Manchester United – but then they are the Manchester Guardian. They are backing Steve Coppell for the Footballer of the Year trophy because he has been approached by Arsenal, apparently offering a large sum of money, and said that he wants to stay at United, he is quite happy at Old Trafford, and he’s not in football for the money. This country’s football game needs more like him!

Kathy’s Dad drove us (Kathy, Helen B, Martina and myself) home. We had dinner and walked down to Jackson’s Boat for the match, Holy Family v All Saints. Holy Family won 7-1. Johnno D, All Saints goalie is rubbish but John M, the Holy Family goalkeeper is dead good. Steve C is very talented and Gez N has nice legs.

At lunchtime I went into an practice for Assembly. Miss C said I ought to send my piece into the school magazine.

I caught the 264. Danny was on, but unfortunately, downstairs. I walked up to RS McColls and bought two notebooks costing thirteen pence each. I walked up to school, the latter part with Maria P-R. She is, not surprisingly, finding the weather very cold. she was from Seville, and spent two terms at our school learning Englaish)

I went into the hall to wait for the beginning of Assembly. I said my piece very well, I thought, considering my nerves. I waited in the Crush Hall for ages just to tell Mrs Bt that I won’t be at orchestra on Thursday. Well, it is only manners to say so.

On the way up to the classroom Ann-Marie B told me that mine was the best. Well of course it was!

In French we answered questions – well, it was mainly Ruth, Shaunagh and I. The rest of the class excepting Clare, Colleen, Jane C, Louise A, Louise F, Lucy and Andrea J have to do some extra homework tonight.

I watched the News. All the Tories at the conference sang Happy Birthday to Maggie ‘Hitler’ Thatcher.

In bed I read the prologue and chapter one of Brideshead Revisited. I dig it a lot!

I caught the 264. Danny got on at The Vine AND came upstairs. I think he is really fit!

In Geography I ate three of my own Rolos as well as one of Andrea Bu’s fruit sweets – a Bensons square one. I sat chatting to Mrs P about my relations around the world, with the sweet in my mouth. And Mrs P never noticed.
I enjoy Geography lessons – not the Geography itself. I shouted across the classroom to Clare, who told me that ‘It’s My Party’ is number one and Prince Charming is Number 4.

In English, Mrs L gave us back our Comprehension. I think she is a right stingy marker. Mrs Bs is much more generous. However, Mrs Bs didn’t tolerate writing and eating in class – well, I wrote this and shared a Twix with Kathy. For a change it was I who bought it! Gosh, I felt I had to buy something because she is so generous.

In history we started talking about the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Then Mrs Mc leaned against the heater and slipped. I was despatched to the staffroom to get a staff – which happened to be Dr W (head of Science). He came over (I had to show him the way) and Mrs Mc explained to him that she had had a sort of shock. He sent her over to the staffroom to sit down, and he supervised us for the remainder of the lesson.

Instead of PE I had a percussion lesson. Mr L said I was coming on well. He also told me to go into the Catenian orchestra.

On Regent Road Kathy told Lorraine that I fancy Danny. Well, maybe I do but I want to drool over him from afar. I DON’T WANT him to know that I STILL fancy him.

I think Brideshead Revisited is really ace. I am in love with the character of Sebastian (not forgetting Aloysious – is that how you spell it?) He’s really fun – maybe he is gay – but who cares. I have no feelings here or there for Charles Ryder.

I half watched the Benny Hill Show. This is so pathetic, puerile and childish. As a feminist I object strongly to it.

Instead of the first Chemistry lesson we had Sex Talks in the Audio-Visual Room, about pregnancy. In Chemistry we talked about the carbon cycle. Mr D gave me and Clare a detention for writing in class!

On TOTP Squeeze sang Labelled With Love. This is a beautiful song – a BIT different from Cool for Cats. They played out with a medley of Blondie by This Year’s Blonde. I hate medlies.

In Geography we went to the Audio-visual room. I counted Mrs P’s ums and urs – 112 in twenty minutes.

At lunchtime, Fiona D was describing Mrs Bs’s spaniel. It walks like its owner! I just went into hysteria over the way Fiona described it. I calmed down the first time after rolling all over the floor and then Fiona set me off again.
I went into Outpatients. I had to wait for ages; having arrived at 3.15, I got in at 4.40. I was seen for two minutes, and then told to get lost.

British Leyland are going on strike.