May 1986 - Part 1

Eighteen years old, with exams looming, but still naive about non-celebrity men. Virtual Brownie Point to whomever guesses the celebrity man on whose rhetoric I now think I subconsciously modelled my written style

I have decided to take today off, a very arrogant attitude, you might say, with public exams so close at hand. But, I think it's the right attitude, because all my teachers are away today, so I am off school. Apart from reading the paper, I did two hours work in the morning, far more than I would have done at school, you can be sure, and after lunch I ironed my summer clothes.

I watched a programme, a schools programme, History File, about Keir Hardie. It was quite interesting, not particularly profound, but I learnt a great deal about him that I didn't know before. I then got back to work, and I reckon that I have done about six hours work today. Apart from the fact that I did the work, it's really nice to know it's possible.

In the evening I went canvassing on the Wimpey. There were six of us out - John and Jim, obviously (the candidates in the local election, which, in our ward, consisted of the normal cyclical electionand a byelection), Alex and I who went round together, and two people from Hale and Bowdon, Jill and Guy. It was fun - I love canvassing.

The weather has been beautiful today, although at about half past five the storm clouds gathered in, and it went very dark, and at about quarter to six there was light rain, but the skies are visibly lightening now.

Well, there's news on the telly now, fallout from Chernobyl has reached Britain - there's no danger they say. It remains to be seen.

I had my Maths session at lunchtime (I was put on lunchtime detention for repeatedly skiving Maths lessons, oh the humiliation and mortification at age eighteen...!), and I still managed to be home soon after half past two. I have done about two hours working, quite reasonable I would say. And I don't have to worry about skyving General Studies next week, for we have a Pure mock.

While I was waiting for the Dangerous Brothers (John and Jim the candidates), I couldn't decide whether to listen to Jim Hancock's political programme, I didn't, then as I approached John's car, I half registered that the radio was on, then it took me about half a minute to realise that Neil was on - talking about Trafford council!

I went out canvassing, round the Poco. It was reasonable, some real Tories, some I would say dyed-in-the-wool Alliance - can you be dyed in the wool Alliance. But there were a couple of supporters, one man and his wife had been considering joining. I gave him John's phone number and suggested I asked John to call on him. He said it wasn't so convenient this evening because his parents were up from South Wales, but he'd contact John. I hope he does. I would like to think I was catalytic in recruiting two new members. Also, if we could get a couple of activists, or even semi-activists, it could be useful for the branch Labour Party.

I went round with Alex. He's a nice bloke, amusing and serious. We had quite a chat walking round and then we sat in the car chatting about life, sex etc - quite an open, frank conversation. I think he fancies me - I know that sounds daft - but he is making fairly physical advances. He is very anxious to give me a lift, and the thing is, I know that John realises this, but John wouldn't say anything. And it's life isn't it. The married man I fancy, I wouldn't dream of making advances to, meanwhile a cohabiting bloke fancies me - and I like him tremendously - but I don't fancy him, there isn't that sort of chemistry.

The campaign I really do not know - it comes down to what the weather is like on May 8th and how many of our supporters turn out.

We went back to John and Wendy's. I got a fit of giggles, especially when Alex is complimenting Wendy on getting the other fella out quickly; and when Jim's faking puzzlement over a dish of cress seeds labelled 'Victoria' saying,

"Well, it doesn't look like Victoria, but I suppose it must be because it says so." You just do not humour these fellas when they're in silly moods. Oh you know me though, when I get a giggling fit.

It's amazing how you can get to half past four senza fare any school work - but I have. All I did was read the paper, make a nut roast, mow the lawn, and plant my seeds.

United drew with Watford, Liverpool are champions, and we are fourth. Norwich, Charlton and Wimbledon have been promoted, Wimbledon making the fastest climb from non-League to Division One*; a bit of a fairy story. I went to bed early. The reason - that the alternative was sitting in the sitting room with the Eurovision Song Contest.

It's dreadful to think this, but The Bitch has been Prime Minister for a whole seven years today. It's awful to think that - seven years of destruction, seven years of the rich getting richer, seven years of the poor getting poorer, seven years of economy being more important than morality, seven years of the Health Service, the Welfare State, Education being attacked, seven years of escalating employment.

I went to Mass this morning. John was there (with Wendy and children), and yes, let me admit it, my heart gave a little leap of joy when I saw him. I really do not know how I will survive once this election is over.

I am listening (not for the first time today) to 'Spanish Train' Chris de Burgh. I love all of it; I'm well hooked on Patricia the Stripper.

I forced myself to work in the afternoon and evening [gosh, imagine me working on a Bank Holiday - but I did!].

John feels with it being the Bank Holiday, with it being the snooker final people won't thank us for disturbing them, so I'm in this evening, and I've done a bit more work. Surely I've passed the three hour mark today. Mind you there hasn't been a lot doing otherwise. I ironed while watching the Sound of Music, but I enjoyed it. After all, the weather was doing nothing despite the sunshine of the past four days. All we have had is radioactive rain - and that's the truth - the radioactive levels are five times the normal level. Not dangerous they say, yet I've got to give up drinking rain water.(I used to enjoy walking in the rain with my tongue out, catching raindrops. Until Chernobyl)

I watched the Party Political Broadcast by the Labour Party - or, rather, Celia's lot - Arts for Labour. Mind you, it's persuaded me to vote Labour - Art Malik was in it! Mind you, he looks older than he did as Hari Kumar in the Jewel In The Crown.

I spent the first four lessons doing practically nothing, except reading the paper, which carries a certain amount about the latest policy release, charter, call it what you will - that on Education. Total re-statement of the obvious; things like we need to improve schools, or some schools are better than others. There are some good points eg a right to a nursery education for all 3 and 4 year olds, but it seems singularly lacking in real education policy - no real mention of attitudes within education, of curricula etc.

We had a bomb scare in the afternoon: it was Ria's idea, carried out by Karen L and her boyfriend Martin, who was Ria's in the days before Wayne (Ria says that Karen and Martin are high on LSD). Anyway, they phoned up, which is really smart considering that there are public exams today; so all the poor girls doing their French and German orals were all messed up.

In the evening (after the Italian lesson) I worked; but god knows why I spent so long learning the basics of party policy, considering I should know it anyway.

Charlie (aka Andi/Andrea Ba) was telling us about Friday night. She was in London singing with her half-brother Sean’s band. They were doing a lot of Japan numbers, then at the end of the performance, the manager got a message that there were two men asking for Charlie. So she and one of the girls in the group, Maria, went over to them. Never believe it – it was Steve Janssen and Mick Karn, and Charlie ended up in bed with Steve Janssen, so at present she’s a little freaked out on him, and has just bought a Japan LP. (My instinct told me and tells me to disbelieve this, except that Charlie provided a fair amount of evidence that goes towards proving this.)

At lunchtime I went shopping to Jasmine, where I bought a fantastic yellow jacket/blouse, and some rather good yellow trousers, all for fifteen pounds, which I don’t think is at all bad. Mind you, I tell you I was annoyed in the Common Room. Anita and I were having another look at the jacket, and Magda comes over and asks me whether I am a fan of yellow as well; she’s got yellow this, yellow that and the other – doesn’t she realise that people who talk about their property are boring.

In the evening I did precisely no work. John called round to offload some leaflets, so Pauline used the opportunity to question him about policy on bus services, and mother got onto the subject of police. After tea I delivered the leaflets around xxxxx Drive. I had the misfortune to be caught in a heavy thunderstorm, so the leaflets were on the wet side – not irredeemably so.
Jane Mc saw Fran at the weekend, Alex said to Fran that we had been getting on very well, and that he thinks I am very nice. (Fran had transferred to the local FE college, where Alex was her politics teacher)

Next exciting episode covers Election Day, and the party the following weekend

*and are now set to make the quickest descent from Premiership to non-league...