Lower Sixth and the living is easy. Or, Seventeen, not yet a woman...
Before school I had a nice long chat with Esther about the Second World War and Vietnam War. She agrees that all the news reports are really interesting, and that the next week is going to be very interesting indeed.
I spent most of lunch time walking round Altrincham looking for shops that sell black and white film for my camera. The only possible shop is Photo World (just near the new Sainsburys) - only, being a Wednesday, it's shut.
Mrs Bm told me I wasn't needed in orchestra so I went home to watch Romania v England. The final score was 0-0. Maybe not wonderful, but considering it's away, it does a hell of a lot more for England and Northern Ireland than it does Romania.
I spent all the time from six o'clock to eight o'clock doing - and finishing - both Stats and Pure homework while listening to Bruno Brookes and Mozart. I had a break to see an AJP Taylor discourse on the Paris Peace Conference. What he was saying was interesting, but his delivery style is hesitant, intellectual and wordy-mixy-up. Did you know that Harold Nicholson describes going into Woodrow Wilson's flat in Paris, and seeing great men crawling around the floor discovering cities and areas unknown to them, which they duly distributed to various states.
I did some Govt homework, helped by the wonderful Andy Crane.
I then watched a fascinating programme made in the 1960s called Leningrad, a City at War, about the seige of Leningrad that lasted for 900 days. Throughout the winter of 1941/2, the worst for 100 years, the citizens of Leningrad survived on three times below starvation level, electricity for an hour a day. It was very moving to see the strength of will against adversity; a fine example of the better aspects of Communism was the level of organisation and the acceptance of dreadful conditions - the only way to prevent a Nazi take over of the city uninvaded since the days of Peter the Great.
Do you realise that I have had seven - yes, seven - free lessons today. Both Mrs Mc and Mrs Pe were at Ironbridge.
I went to Stats (it was quite novel having a lesson) and then with the library being so crowded, Sam P and I went to the Common Room, only that was pretty crowded too. So we just chatted to Katie and Iyla.
After lunch Louise and I went to the library, but decided to find a quiet corner to work. Instead we just chatted and messed around. After school, we had Italian.
Today has been okay, in fact I have really enjoyed today. Not once have I felt frustrated about the relationship between work to do and the time to do it in, nor about the relationship between things wanted to buy and the money with which to buy it. Nor, come to think of it, am I the least bit concerned about my relationship with Andrea. We haven't made up yet, we will only make up if I make the first move, and as I won't do that, it's up to her to make the first move. Both of us may be as stubborn as hell, but if she doesn't do anything by the end of next week, it will prove to me that I mean nothing to her, and that will make me even happier than I am now, which isn't bad, because I'm pretty happy now, having spent most of the freetime today with Andi and Sandi. Andrea and I had fallen out - the day after Steve Davis lost the World Final to Dennis Taylor, she arrived at school when I was reading the Sports pages and assumed I was doing it as a wind-up
I watched 'Berlin - The Doomed City'. It wasn't as moving as Leningrad, but interesting.
I got up early and I went out to town. I returned my book to Central Library. I went to the Hallé Ticket Office and chatted to an old lady because the queue was really long. I queued for three quarters of an hour, because it is members first day booking for the Proms.
I tidied my bedroom while listening to Dave Ward. Andy 'Crazy Legs' Crane was also on. United won at Norwich.
I watched the scoring of the Eurovision Song Contest. You wouldn't believe it, but Norway (you know - Norge null points) won. Mind you, after having said that, if you bear in mind that handicap of being in the Eurovision Song Contest, it's not a bad song "Let it swing let it rock and roll, let it swing let your feelings take control."
The news was all about Reagan's trip to Belsen, and to the Bitberg SS cemetery, which has caused worldwide controversy.
I played Dominoes with Matth, and we also looked at slides. I then phoned Andre, and said I was sorry. Being Andrea, she just said "It's okay" and seems prepared to let the matter rest. It's great to have good friends. I suggested that she came to Old Trafford, but her bedroom tidying is of pressing urgency - she's turned it into a total mess in order to tidy it. Mind you, she wouldn't really get the full satisfaction because I heard on the radio that Mark Hughes is out of the game with a groin strain. Andre claims she knows all about that.
After lunch Daddy drove Math and I to Old Trafford. We went in the usual place only a bit round the corner, in among the real men. Ashouk joined us, and in fact it was a better vantage point than the usual place. One of these days, though, I fancy going right up top. We had a good laugh before the game, and I also showed Ashouk my photoes. He was fairly impressed, especially of the ones of me with Hoggy and Arthur, and, even more so, Andrea with Sparky.
The team came out and received a tremendous ovation. We beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.
Lots of match description and analysis
After the match the atmosphere was tremendous. The lads turned to all the fans in turn, and we were cheering them like mad. I was in a mad mood throughout the game yelling things out like a drunken idiot, doing my own cheerleading. Then walking out of the ground, I was behaving like an idiot. Love it!
I watched Cities at War London - The First City. It was interesting and informative without being in the least bit moving.
When Andre got to school today we chatted really happily. Esther came in, and went crazy happy cos Andre and I are back together again.
At lunchtime I went to a Committee meeting. We got our badges - just think of the pose value! I spent lesson 7 lying on the grass outside the Common Room chatting trivially with Sarah K, Katie V, Mary K and Kate J. I went to Government and messed around with Fran.
On the way home I went round to the road Norman Whiteside is supposed to live. I was really surprised when I saw parked outside a house (number three) his blue Ford Escort Cabriolet. Feeling a real pillock, I turned round and left. I went home and while walking home, having my tea, and beginning to sort myself out, I began thinking what I was thinking during the day, that I ought to wish him a Happy Birthday, and Good Luck in the Cup Final. So, telling Mother I was off to the library, I was off out.
I did pop into the library, but then I walked to Norm's house. His car was in the drive this time. I was about to turn round and go, until I reminded myself that I would regret it, so, resolutely I went up to the front door (it's a three bedroomed detached, painted yellow). The porch was open, and I was about to knock on the door, when I noticed the doorbell! Ding dong! went the doorbell. I stood there feeling a wally...then the door opened - and there stood Norman! He looked really nice, in a track suit, I think it was mainly blue and lime green with bits of yellow and red round the collar. I didn't want to eye him up and down too much. Besides, I was too busy looking at his face.
I said, "I thought I'd just call round to say Happy Birthday and good luck for the Cup Final." He smiled, and said thanks. As I wanted to prolong the conversation, I said, trying to be bit regretful, "You're not a teenager any more."
"No," he agreed. "I'm getting on a bit now". Then he said, "See you." I'm very pleased I went round. He's a nice fella, a bit reserved perhaps, but nice! Just wait til I tell the girls at school. I went home with a smile on my face.
The Government has announced plans to sell off British Gas. Disgusting. Why sell off the profitable nationalised industries?
I watched a thoroughly interesting programme about the war: D-Day to Berlin, shot in colour by a Hollywood producer, and lost until the late 1970s. It was interesting...and they showed the scenes at Dachau Concentration Camp. I nearly threw up all over the floor.
There was a varied reaction to me going round to Norm's house. Andre's quite impressed, Judy and Louise reckon I've gone over the top. Fran doesn't believe me, and Ria hates me!
In General Studies we were supposed to have a lecture on Contact Lenses. Helen J and Sandi decided they were going home, so after Registration I also went home, the first time in my life I've skived off! I walked home through the park - very pleasant but I'm knackered now.
I watched Timewatch - about the battle for Berlin. I then watched the News, all about VE Day. I watched a programme, partly about the way people celebrated VE Day in London etc, and partly about how people were in Germany, the horrors of the concentration camps. It is difficult for me to understand the impact they must have had on people at the time, for I've grown up aware vaguely that they existed, and have gradually learnt more and more about them.
I cannot understand the kind of mentality that led to such conditions. It would be explainable - but certainly not justifiable nor excusable - if it were the sole work of a couple of madmen, but it wasn't...all these concentration camp officials. How THEY could have stood it, I don't know. I mean, the Jews, the Baptists, the Poles, the Dutch etc...they were so ill treated that their resistance was worn down, but the Nazis...were they all fundamentally evil, or was it that enough brainwashing managed to bring out their evil sides without allowing the humane facet to flourish. They lowered the non-Aryans to below the level of humans - they were pitiful, pathetic creatures, scavenging for scraps, begging.
Indeed, Mummy was saying that when she worked at Withington before Pauline was born, a woman used to come in periodically so that the doctors could keep an eye on her. She was an ex-concentration camp internee, and Mother said that she used to beg and plead for everything, and the doctors, much as they pitied her, and despite the depths of their compassion, they DID used to become irritated, and made uncomfortable by her...well, pathetic pleadings.
There were initial worries when Andre told me she had heard that they had taken the Register in the Contact Lenses lecture. Mr S came over and asked me where I was yesterday lesson seven and eight. I burst out laughing, trying desperately to think of an excuse. Underneath my giggles I was able to hear Andi B whisper "in the library working" so I said I was in the library working. S wasn't too impressed, so I quickly added that I feel really ill when people start talking about eyes. He felt that was quite an interesting, almost viable excuse.
At the end of Government Finola and I had a sort of friendly argument, I was telling her that she gets to my back teeth the way she always asks the teachers to repeat, and Fran backed me up, but Finola and Gabby were accusing me (amicably) of being just as disruptive. Then I passed Cliffie on the stairs and he said he could tell I was in the little History room because of the row!
Then in History, Mrs Mc was getting at me. She said that she had sorted out her file - there was no need for me to gloat! She said she did it because she lost something - and she could see the glint in my eye at her lack of organisation!
On the way home I decided I would call round to Paul McGrath's house. So I walked down the drive, and rang on the bell. He's got a 'ding-dong' bell, as well. After a brief time he came to the door and opened it. He's so nice! I said that I had just called round to say Good Luck in the cup final.
"Ah thanks," he said, "that's nice," and smiled. "That's great."
And then his wife arrived home, so I said see you, and he said see you sometime, and he's piles nicer than Norman Whiteside.
Pure Maths was a laugh; Mr P was dancing around the Maths lab demonstrating three-dimensional vectors.
