November 1987 Part 1

Yup, they're back... and between now and Christmas I shall post every couple of days or so - I might even get through to the end of the 1980s and into the 1990s - who knows. I was 19 and in my second year at Uni.

After lunch I worked pretty solidly on my Stats. When I had complete brainache I went into Helen’s room. Edwin came by and suggested we went over to see Dave Be. We did indeed, and we also saw Tony, Marianne and Roland because they’re all living in a Beeston Flat along with Deneze. I was quite impressed, actually, they have it looking really nice.

After tea, I worked some more, and also copied up the minutes of the Anti-Racism meeting to hand in at the General Office. When that was done I went out with Helen. We first went to Cavendish because I wanted some ciggies but they didn’t have any. We then went onto Lenton. Helen had received a phonecall saying that Robert had phoned, but she doesn’t know any Roberts, so she thought it must be Rupert. But Rupert was away for the weekend, so it couldn’t have been him. This left her completely perplexed. However, I went to the bar to see if they had any ciggies, but they had no change.

Well, we were going over to Cripps anyway, so, I eventually managed to get some from there. Then we went to I Block…and James was in! Well, actually he was asleep, but he said he wanted waking. We stayed for two hours, and had a really good time. Well, I had a thoroughly good time, and Helen said she enjoyed herself. At first I felt a little ill at ease, but I soon relaxed

Martin P arrived and after pleasantries he asked me whether I wanted to join the Tory Party. I decided to call his bluff and be a devil. So I was literally plied with stickers, leaflets, but most importantly my NUCA handbook and YC membership card. I had a fascinating time chatting with the pair of them; in fact we found it very hard to get away, but arriving back on ‘C’ floor, I created considerable laughter by producing my YC card.

I really believe that I can do it; catch up on my diary, I mean, and away November. You never know, by 1988, I might be writing it at least twice every three days. I still can’t decide whether it’s better to do it like this, or to just write because I have to, yet not be in the mood, and thus write nothing of import.

Mind you, I would say that if I do a few days at a time, well behind, I forget to write about the things that are trivial on the scale of things, but important when it comes to analysing life at Uni; things like the spontaneous trips to the chippy, or meaningless – but very fulfilling hours spent in people’s rooms. Conservations held as one walks around the Campus. I digress.

Needless to say, I missed my nine o’clock lecture. Well, it is a bit out of the question to get up at that time of day, in all honesty. But I did go to my 12 o’clock Political Thought Lecture, and so did Barbara, which is really a turn-up for the books. I finished off my Stats in the afternoon. I read some of Plato’s Republic, but then I fell asleep.

In the evening I went to a Constitutions Committee meeting; this was held at Mark B’s flat. This is situated in the Park, and is somewhat palatial, to say the least. He shares it with Rob A and Richard C. It was quite scary walking up there, because there is very little street lighting. It’s a private estate, and so the powers that be feel that as everyone drives anyway, it is pretty pointless to erect street lighting for poor pedestrians. However, I got there safely and then was the meeting.

I was unable to speak, having taken out nomination papers for NUS Conference. However, I served a useful purpose: without me, it wouldn’t have been quorate. Also present were Mark B, Liz B, Andy L, Bob and Don. It was quite an amusing evening. One of the things we were doing was drawing up the constitution for the Week One Committee. We debated whether there should be any First Years on it: hustings at the V-C’s Address, with the Vice-Chancellor as returning officer, but it was decided against. When the meeting closed, we had the all essential cheese and wine, and then I left at about quarter past ten. It was just a little bit scary walking back through The Park, for it was a touch misty. However, I survived, getting to the bus stop in one piece. I had quite a long wait for the bus, which was none too pleasant, but eventually a number twelve came, which was a relief.

I got off the bus with a girl from FB; she was agreeing it was even more scary when it was misty, indeed it seemed far more misty around the West Entrance than it had around the Park, but anyway I had got back in one piece.

I must have been pretty tired over the weekend, for I didn’t get up until half past ten. I had, obviously, missed my ten o’clock lecture, which I discovered later, much to my annoyance had been a film about Nazi Propaganda . I suppose if I had made an effort I could have got to my eleven o'clock, but I don’t really believe in making an effort, and besides I would have felt highly embarrassed turning up to a tutorial having missed the lecture, wouldn’t I?

Instead, I hung around doing things like reading the paper, and after a gobbled lunch, I dashed off to the PB for a combined Labour/Third World First/Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign meeting on the subject of Nicaragua (they spoke through interpreters), plus Tommy Hutchinson who is from NUS Exec. I can’t say I learnt a great deal that I hadn’t known before, but nevertheless it was well worth going to.

A Socialist Worker stood up, that was the first question, and the only one I heard. He was criticising the Sandanistas for attracting foreign capital into the country; he criticised them for attempting to create peace in Central America; he criticised them for trying to promote free speech in the country. He was given short shrift by Tommy Hutchinson who pointed out that the people of Nicaragua are a lot closer to the situation than Socialist Workers at Nottingham University.

Unfortunately, I had to pog off then and attend a lecture on the 1920s in the Soviet Union. It was pretty interesting, indeed I would say it is worth reading about, which is rather interesting because it is the 70th Anniversary of the Russian Revolution this week; and Gorbachev made a major speech. It was the first time that Stalin has been publicly condemned in the Soviet Union. However, he didn’t go as far as rehabilitating Bukharin, as Tony K-W had so confidently predicted he would. Mind you, I had been expecting to see egg on Tony’s face but he wriggled out of it rather conveniently by simply criticising Gorbachev.

I wasted the next hour or so; firstly by talking to Chris S. Well, maybe to say waste is a bit strong, but looking at him now, even though I get on well with him, he’s not the most interesting person in the whole world, and I don’t regret the fact that my infatuation for him came to nothing.

I then went off to the Union Shop, but realised that I had lost my purse, so after a mild panic, I went off to the PB; firstly to the PLH where the meeting had been held, and then to Huggy, who had chaired the meeting, and then to the Porter’s Office, but to no avail, so I went back to the Politics Department, and lo and behold, there it was, exactly where I had been sitting.

After tea I did a fair amount of work, then the three Andrews arrived, and seemed a bit offended that I wouldn’t go out for a drink, but I had already decided to go down the Hall bar with the gang. Eventually I got rid of them, and hit Willoughby Bar in a serious way. I only had a Diamond White and a Double southern Comfort, but I got pretty tiddly. I don’t remember a great deal of mega importance; that doesn’t mean to say I don’t remember, simply that we had a wild, insane, inane, trivial evening being well daft.

I went to the Hall shop and encountered Marc W, Neil W-G and Simon W. For some reason, I asked them whether James H is spoken for; and I received the reply that he isn’t, and he’s searching. I think that it well chuffed me at the time; as I write this on Saturday evening, I’m not bothered either way. Obviously, I like James, that’s pretty obvious – and doesn’t half Willoughby know it - but it’s pie in the sky to think he’d like me; and anyway, as things stand, I don’t know if I have time for a fella. Oh don’t be daft, Gert - if there’s a will there’s a way – don’t be so bloody defeatist.

In the afternoon I struggled with my Stats homework, but didn’t really get TERRIBLY far, so I abandoned it, and went off knocking on doors getting the remainder of my 50 necessary signatures for nomination forms- a rather easy process – the major advantage of living in Hall that it requires relatively little effort to collect fifty signatures. Mind you, by second year you should know enough people to collect them from Department, Coffee Bar or even do as the Socialist Workers do, just go round the library.

After tea, I worked fairly successfully – reading mostly, with just a break for Coronation Street, and I also spent some time at Trudie’s birthday party to which she had invited the four of is, although Lisa didn’t go because she went out to the pictures with Mike.

Fairly hectic – I went to both my tutorials; in between I did some serious shopping in the Union Shop, mainly Letraset and plain white filepaper. I spent some of the afternoon typing up my manifesto on Edwin’s typewriter. It was going fine; it’s such a fine typewriter, and as it’s only actually types when you’ve done the whole line, you can correct yourself as you go along, which is an excellent idea with typing like mine. However, it stopped printing as I was getting into the swing. I developed a major panic attack, but I couldn’t do a great deal about it, because Edwin wasn’t in his room. Instead I turned to my Letrasetting before going off to see the doctor, mainly about my stomach ache.

She was decidedly unhelpful, only saying vaguely – stomach aches are to do with your uterus. What does that mean; it’s dead routine and I’m just a hypochondriac, or does it mean that I’m never going to have children – most unhelpful. It’s like last year she told me that I might be diabetic, but I needn’t worry about it. God, I worry!

After the JCR I went across to the Music Library to do some photocopying. In the Hall foyer, I encountered James E-L, who asked whether it was true that I had joined the Tories; I said that it was, almost causing Paul S to faint. So James said that this piece of information had been sent into Slime and Grim (or Unimouse, as it is now called) and he found it rather amusing so he had to print it. Two questions remain a) is that the only thing that’s been sent in, or has the reason I was asked to join been sent in as well, and b) who sent it in? I don’t mind, in fact, I hope the whole story is printed. Yes it is absolutely true that I’m desperate to be in Slime and Grime, and will do anything to publicise myself between now and next January, when the elections take place for NUS Secretary, a position I would dearly love to hold.

When I returned to Hall, Edwin came to see me, and checked the typewriter tape – it had run out. He suggested that I used the Hall secretary’s typewriter the next morning. Well, there wasn’t a lot else I could do, so I relaxed and, then later, I went out to the chippy with Clive.

I slaved hard all morning, firstly typing up my manifesto in the Hall Office, and having done that with relative ease, I had plenty of time to do my gumming before toddling off to the PB to hand in my nomination form and manifesto before the twelve o’clock. Mark B told me to hang around for elections instructions.

However, a few seconds past twelve came, and the seventh manifesto was handed in. That was Bob. There are seven places to fill, so that means…that I am off to Blackpool the first weekend in December for a freebie holiday with Andy D, Mac, Bob, Pete M, Matt S, person unknown, plus Chiz who goes by right as NUS Secretary, and Andy M, who goes by right as NASC Convenor. In fact the only bad news was Rob R future Private Secretary to the PM coming up to me at half past twelve asking when the papers have to be in. I had to break the news to him. He seemed very disappointed, although he tried to hide it, and said nobly that he was only standing for the good of the Union, and if he tried to push his point, it would be costing the union money for an election, money it doesn’t have.

I went off to the General Meeting, on the Great Education Reform Bill, which, this week, was quorate, though it was a struggle! The Labour Students amendment was passed with very little opposition – there was a small Conservative caucus in the middle of the floor – Lee and a few cronies. Then the Socialist Workers motion came up for debate. I agreed with most of it, although I didn’t feel it necessary to rule out discussion with the University Authorities, so I asked if it could be taken in parts. I was called to the front to explain, and was about to launch into a tirade about why it’s stupid to rule out negotiation with the University Authorities but Andy L cut me short, and said I couldn’t make a speech, simply say what I wanted to take in parts. Then Bob spoke against this; he was allowed to speak against it, give reasons why it shouldn’t be taken in parts, but I wasn’t allowed a speech. If I had been smart, I would have come back on that one, but in the euphoria of making one of my biggest speeches to the Union (on a par with the question I asked at the Cripps Hustings, and with my election speech at Incoming Union Council), I wasn’t feeling smart.

In the event Bob carried about 2/3 of the meeting and the SWSS motion was taken as a whole, and defeated, indeed I voted against it. The substantive motion was then voted on, and carried by a massive majority. I couldn’t help reflecting that every person who spoke, apart from Andy L, who was chairing, was a NUS Conference delegate.

After the meeting I was congratulated by a couple of people, not on speaking in front of that crowd, nor on being the only woman to speak, but on wearing my “US Bases – the Enemy within” teeshirt.

After the meeting I went to the library to reserve an SLC book, then I went to the bookshop to buy Machiavelli’s Prince. I went to the Coffee Bar, and sat with Barbara and Rob M. Barbara said she had to go, but Rob wouldn’t let her, so they had a minor play fight, which ended in tears with me, the innocent part, being scalded by my own cup of tea.

I went off to my Stats Lecture – yes, shock horror Gert attends two consecutive Stats lecture. I then went out for a curry with Edwin. We walked over to the Savera near the Hospital, and had a rather delicious meal. As a final treat, we had an Irish coffee, which made it all worthwhile. It’s strange, I don’t like whiskey, I don’t like milk in coffee, but I adore Irish coffee. It was a most enjoyable evening, far more satisfying than staying in my room as I had been planning – both Lisa and Helen have gone home for the weekend.

When we got back we chatted with Clive, who’s feeling very repressed by Jennie. She’s always checking up on his movements; coming to see him at all times, getting annoyed when he goes out without her and basically behaving like a leech. But, despite what his friend said, he can’t tell her to piss off because it would be a real a smack in the gob to her. She’s basically very insecure, and apart from Tracey, Clive and Edwin are only real friends. She goes around a bit with Liz and Caz but she doesn’t really like them, and they bitch about her, behind her back.

I didn’t get up until quarter to one, so the first big event of the day was lunch. Lucy knocked for me at five to one and was shocked to see me in a dressing gowned state. But I went down eventually, and pretty late into lunch. I was joined by Giles and Mike, They has got up even later than me.

I spent the afternoon reading the Guardian then I did as much Stats as I could, which was nearly 2/3 of it, it’s just Chebychev’s Theorem. After tea, I watched the very end of Brookside, just enough to see Doreen Corkhill walk out on Billy. As Billy walked back into the house, the camera switched to Jonathon’s house, where you could see him on the phone. He broke down – it’s obvious that Laura is dead – after all, she has been lying in a coma with serious concussion for the past three weeks.

I then finished off a bit more Stats, and write some of this. I was going to go to the Anti Apartheid gig, but I couldn’t be bothered. I’ve bought a ticket so my conscience is guilt free (ish, not really, I should be giving my all campaigning against South Africa). Instead, I have done my washing, and other boring stuff, and spent ages writing this. Not highly exciting you might think, but oh so satisfying. I can wake up tomorrow, knowing that all I have to do is read. Oh yes, mega big news. Man City beat Huddersfield 10-1 today. They are so strange a team City. They can lose at home to Fourth Division Wolves, yet they can beat Huddersfield 10-1. That’s City for you, though. Liverpool would win 10-0, but City have to do it 10-1 – inconsistent. I keep telling people that City will be a great team given a few years. Giles still won’t believe me, but I hope a few more will take note – not least, Manchester United. Incidentally, they were due to play at Derby today (yes, Derby, the place just down the A52) but it was postponed due to the pending England match.