May 1983 (Part 1)

Fifteen, bored and man-mad

For a day when traditionally people danced round the Maypole, today's weather is hardly inspiring. It's such a shame, because yesterday was beautiful.

I watched Brideshead Revisited. Somehow, the magic seems to be gone. However, that cannot be said about To Serve Them All My Days. That is simply superb.

On the way back from the shops I saw Curly (Parish Priest and School chaplain) parked at the traffic lights. He wound his window down and asked, “Are you behaving yourself?”
“Of course, father.”
“I thought you would be at home doing some homework.”
“Me, father? You must be joking.” And because someone beeped him, he had to move.
(Lots of commentary on snooker…)

Final Score came on. Well, okay. United lost. So what. I don’t care. So did Liverpool. Watford drew. So what. Then the bad news came on. In the last minute of the frame (I've got bloody snooker on my fuckin’ mind) match at Highbury, Remi Moses was sent off. Ron Atkinson protested. He was ordered off. To make matters worse, Moses missed the Final. Brighton will win the Cup.
Steve Davis is the 1983 Snooker Champion of the World. By 18 frames to 6 against Cliff Thorburn.
I’m feeling really depressed, although the fabulous Three of A Kind is cheering me up. The reason I’m feeling depressed is the realisation that United are a pretty crap team. After all, they had three front men. Front men? God, front men are supposed to attack. Did they attack? Did they ‘eck. Apparently the only chance in the whole 90 minutes was Gordon McQueen. This is your great attacking line up y’know. Supposed to be talented. Talented my bleedin’ foot. God, if those three can manage between them x caps for England, y caps for Northern Ireland and z caps for Scotland U-21, it doesn’t say much for other players. And by ‘eck, that defence need their bloody heads banging together. It’s disgraceful conceding three goals. And they’re supposed to be an excellent defence. Goalie and Rightback on the edge of the England team, Leftback and one central defender Ireland internationals, and th'other central defender an ex-Scotland captain. It’s a disgrace. As for the midfield: less said about them the better. With Ray Wilkins being booked and Remi Moses sent off, I’m ashamed to call myself a Manchester United fan. If only Albiston, Robson, Muhren, Coppell and Stapleton were fit.

As soon as I saw Andrea this morning, we just embraced: we were both so happy – about Steve. She told me that while he was playing Alex, one of Alex’s fans threatened that if he got ten frames v Alex, he would be shot. Is it coincidence that Alex Higgins’ quarter-final opponent, Bill Werbenuik, was sent hate-mail?
We walked past Multi-Broadcast but the fit bloke was busy. Unfortunately, cos he’s nice.
I listened to Dave. Horizontal Smooch was Please Don’t go – Chicago.

RE was, as usual, totally boring. I don’t even remember what we did. Obviously, I wrote some of this, for the time on the last page indicates the RE lesson. French, too, was boring and I couldn’t even mess around with Clare for she was away.
I went to orchestra – percussion and woodwind – Scott Joplin’s Peacherine Rag. I could throttle those second years. They have taken me over, and me, the unargumentative fool that I am have allowed them to. I’m stuck doing simply bassdrum.

RE was quite funny. Miss C has gone on Retreat with Lower 6, so we had Mrs Qk sitting with us. All that lot who sit by the window were gazing out, and Mrs Qk said, “Who’re you watching? Who’s so interesting?” and she walked over to window. Seeing that only the workmen were there she said “You’ve got to be desperate to look at them.” Frances said, “They are”!
In Music we were having a good laugh over Stockport county’s financial situation – they owe their accountant £300. Their accountant happens to be Andrea J’s dad.
In French we did a multichoice on a chapter of the book about wedding. We were talking about the wedding cake, and Mrs K. said you put brandy in it. I said “Guinness”, much to the amazement of Ruth and Shaunagh (ooh, they ‘aven’t lived). Thankfully Andrea backed me up in pointing out that if you soak the fruit in Guinness it’s much better than brandy which evaporates.
I went to the Post Office and opened an Investment Account. That was funny – one of the forms the woman used had money marked out in £ s d (you see they don’t use them often!)
On the Sportsnews I hard that Stockport County are close to collapse.
I went to Choral Society. Damian was there, and I was even speaking to him. He is lovely and tall, curly hair, sexy voice and he seems to have a pleasant personality.
When we left, I went to say goodnight to Shaunagh, Ruth, Stephanie and Kerstie, and to my delight the lads – Mark, Mike and…Damian also said goodnight. I was in the highest heaven.

Lunchtime was hilarious. Andrea, Judy and I decided we would spend the whole time talking French. It was quite interesting that we managed to hold a decent conversation.
In General Music we started singing some pretty lousy May songs, but all that stupid lot from 4S were giggling, and being their usual twatty selves so Miss Fa blew her top. After a few minutes of sitting doing nothing, she put on a record of Spring from Vivaldi’s 4 Seasons. So at least the lesson ended okay.

I have just finished watching the latest episode of Brideshead. I still maintain that it is not as good second time round, but nothing, but nothing, can detract from the beauty of Geoffrey Burgon’s music. I also watched To Serve Them All My Days. It was very very moving.

In PE we did athletics – the 1500m. I was very chuffed to get round at all, without stopping and within 10 minutes as well. I guess it’s the fastest mile I’ve run since June 16th last year when I galloped all the way from the school to the rink (but that was in order to reach home for England v France (and I missed the first goal!))
We (or rather I – while Andrea and Judy stood outside) went into Multi-Broadcast to ask the fella his name. At first he said Ferdinand, but on further pressing he admitted it was Steve.
On the front of the Evening News it said that Thatcher has been to see the Queen, and the election has been called for June 9th.
I left those two at the foot of the footbridge, for Andrea is in trouble at home for repeatedly late times of homecoming.
Number on Timmy Mallett is (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Inhuman League. On Dave Horizontal Dance was the Pushbike Song; and Horizontal Smooch was One Day I’ll Fly Away – Randy Crawford.

I had a pretty boring walk to school with Magda. It was case of “I’m getting this,” “Mum’s got this” etc etc.
At lunchtime I went to choir; Miss Fa took us. I don’t like that woman.
Number One on Timmy is (Keep Feeling) Fascination – The Human Leg.

As we were going upstairs at Break, Miss Fa stopped Judy, and asked her whether she would accompany Margie in her A-Level Horn on Wednesday. They’re are two pieces: Beethoven and Mozart, quite difficult. Jude was livid – she has other things to do, and with only a week’s notice it’s hardly fair.
In orchestra we did Joplin’s Peacherine Rag. I did the side drum, and if those insufferable second years turn up for the next rehearsal, I will tell them where to go.
After school I went to orchestra and did the timpani (still no 2nd yr brats) in both the Radetzky march, and the three Greig pieces.
Aberdeen beat Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners Cup Final.
I listened to Dave. I forget the randy record. Perhaps I was not feeling randy.

We went out to Choral Society. We worked steadily for an hour and a half, learning new bits of Summer Sunday, and finishing with some Schubert.
Tea afterwards was quite good. Firstly Damian was playing the piano – he’s pretty good (unfortunately I did not really have an opportunity to chat to him). Then Mike Ca started playing “Yesterday” in the style of Richard Clayderman. He’s brilliant – he even does the smile.

In Maths we got the results of our tests. I got 98% but to my annoyance, Janet got 100%. In French we did various boring things. A member of U6 came in to report about the Italian ‘O’ Level orals. One of the questions had been “What is the best film you’ve seen recently?” This girls said “ET” and the stupid examiner was incredulous that an eighteen-year old enjoyed a film meant for babies. Angela D. said “An Officer and a Gentleman” and after describing the plot of the film, she then had to relate the History of the Vietnam War. In Italian. Sounds bloody tight.
Judy, Andrea, Siobhain and I had a really good conversation. Although it started with pretty superficial chat about our fellas, by the time the bell went, we were really into a fantastic discussion about what horrors we were as babies and young children.
I phoned Judy. She’s got a return engagement for RTE in two weeks time, and she gets paid thirty pounds plus expenses for this. Sounds pretty good.

I’m in a foul mood. The United team are a load of bloody twats. I mean why, in the dying ten minutes of the game did they have to concede two goals. I’m gonna hit the roof in a minute. I’m bloody cheesed off. I mean, with Watford beating Liverpool, we haven’t even got runners up place. Pretty abysmal team. I am bloody bloody annoyed. Why couldn’t those United sods make the effort to win at Notts County, and at least finish runners-up? Why couldn’t those even soddier City wankers make the effort to scrape a draw after what United had done for them. I’m very angry at them going down.
I knitted, and sewed my jumper together, when I had finished reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie.

Today has been incredibly bloody boring you would not believe it. Mummy, Daddy and Math went out to the Police Open Day, so I decided I would not go out to Mass. Unfortunately, those three came back at five past twelve, too early for me to say I had been to 1115, and they had gone out too late for me to say I had been to 1030. So I will have to toddle off to 6 o’clock this evening.
After dinner (including cheesecake – my favourite), I went out to Mass at SMW. It was bloody boring (as usual – church is a place lacking (always) in inspiration). According to ye olde learned sage (Fr O’D), we did not have a sermon, for Class 3 of the school had just arrived back from N. Wales, and were anxious to be home. Instead, we were given a ‘few brief t’oughts’ on the readings.
I watched a crap quiz programme, on which I did embarrassingly well. I watched Brideshead Revisited. It’s affecting me bad, man. I’m heavily into it. It’s such good writing, good acting, and amazing attention to details, such as the setting, and the music. Eeh, gods I like it.
I also watched To Serve Them all My Days. It was a real weeper, with David Powlett-Jones gradually coming to terms with the loss of Beth and the twins. Although I was totally sympathetic programme I was annoyed at the deviation from the a major part of the book (In the book one of the twins survives and plays a major part.)

In English we wrote some satirical writings. Andrea, Clare and I did one of more humane conditions for criminals. I don’t think it went down too well.
In History, Mrs Pe made an elementary mistake (she said Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1839) and when I corrected her, she totally ignored me (as usual).
At lunch I went to choir, where we sang all the songs we are singing tomorrow. It’s the worst rehearsed choir I have been in. We were getting pretty nostalgic afterwards, for Bridget started to play the Listen With Mother theme tune, and I discovered in Shiv as great a Big Fat Rosy fan as myself.
I started reading Graham Greene’s Our Man in Havanna, and listened to Cuddles. Horizontal Dance was Rapper’s Delight. Holiday Romance was I Second That Emotion.

part 2 later - warning, it involves an FA Cup Final...