I was doing my Graduate Conversion Course on Block Release from my first proper job which I had had for four months)
As it happened, I only really spent two hours there (at college), one in the computer suite correcting the error that I had discovered on Tuesday evening. Then I went to the Economics tutorial - that was good; we talked about money. Then was lunchtime, another good larf.
After lunch I left - well, why not, all it was this afternoon was QT (Quantitative Techniques, from which I was exempt, having done Statistics at University, but even when exempt the exam, we were *supposed* to attend the lecture. BTW, the lecturer was the cousin of Aung San Suu Kyi, so we all knew about Burma long before it was news generally).
So I got the train to Victoria. I then decided I wanted to buy a couple of records. I tried Our Price on the station, and another record shop on Victoria Place, but neither sell Vinyl Discs. I eventually found Our Price on Victoria Street and managed to get the two albums I wanted - Street Fighting Years by Simple Minds, and Raintown by Deacon Blue, as well as some blank cassettes.
I then got the Underground and the train to Westcliff. It was really wonderful to have a hassle free journey - would you believe that it's the first time since last Tuesday that I got a train from Fenchurch Street and got home approximately an hour later. When I got home there was one message-less message on my machine. I thought it might be Helen 1, because she said that she would phone on Thursday afternoon. So I called her, but she said that she hadn't phoned. She said that she would call back when she had finished what she was doing. So she did and we nattered for ages. I also spoke briefly to Tim (with whom she was having a Platonic - she said - affair, despite being elsewhere engaged) , who sounds really nice.
When I had finished chatting with Helen, I watched Neighbours. Mrs Mangel got married. I was going to watch Home and Away, but the telephone rang - it was Grum phoning from work. We nattered for an hour - he had phoned during the day but found that I wasn't in. He had tried at work but nobody was in. We ended up chatting for an hour, which was good.
I discovered that I had overcorrected my mistake in the computer project, so that depressed me. I know I won't have time to correct the mistake and that is depressing. Because you see, it's yet another example of leaving things to the last minute and therefore doing it less than perfectly, and again, I'm failing to meet my potential.
Quite a good day . The plan didn't quite go to plan. The idea was to get up at about half seven to listen to my new albums, but of course I didn't. Nevertheless, I still had time to iron my shirt, and pack a few things for the weekend, and I managed to get a ticket before boarding the 0917 train. Theoretically that should get me to Croydon college on time - well, for eleven o'clock which was time today. But of course I didn't. At Victoria I just missed the 1036 East Grinstead train, so had to wait until 1047 Horsham train, which proceeded to stop at Balham for some unexplained reason and arrive late at East Croydon.
But I didn't miss anything I couldn't catch up on in Economics & after that we went to lunch. We were saying, á la timetable for next week, isn't it a shame that we have an optional Financial Accounting Tutorial at midday on Tuesday. Oh heck, we'll just have to miss that in order to create a two hour lunch break. Helen 2 got a phone call from Phil last night. He still can't make up his mind & she's decided that she really can't be bothered to be hanging around and waiting. She's going to see him next weekend, but mainly in order to do an impression of Pickfords Removal & in order to claim the money he owes her.
After lunch I caught the train from East Croydon to Victoria. I then got a Victoria Line train to Euston. Oh my god, that line is dreadful - I keep getting it on Friday afternoons, & it keeps being absolutely jam packed with very little ventilation. I was wondering whether I would get to Euston in time for the three o'clock train, or whether I would have to hang around for the four o'clock. Well, I just managed to get the three o'clock train although I didn't stand a hope in hell's chance of a smoking seat. So I got a seat in a non-smoker and bobbed up every now again for a cigarette. I spent the time listening to music and reading Cosmopolitan, as well as scribbling down some thoughts for the novel. When I got to Piccadilly I happened to get off right by the escalator to the bridge, and didn't have long to wait for a train to Sale.
When I got home I spent most of the time listening to Mother prat on about things. She didn't really say a great deal of import, but I sort of listened. I also learnt that the ANC has been unbanned in South Africa, which is really quite amazing, perhaps a result of what has happened in Eastern Europe & all of this is down to Gorbachev.
Derby Day
Well I laid in most of the morning. After lunch I tuned into Piccadilly. It's the second half now, incidentally in the Rugby England have won in Paris. But I really can't control this any longer - it sounds beautiful the singing, even on the radio, you can hear it coming through "And it's Man United, Man United FC, we're by far the greatest team the world has ever seen." Once again, I'm deifying Clayton Blackmore.
But City equalised. So United don't rise in the table. But at least we're outside the relegation zone. Most matches in the South were called off because of torrential rain; yet it was dry in Manchester.
At about four o'clock - or perhaps earlier - I decided that I wouldn't return to Essex this evening, but, instead, leave it until tomorrow. I had tried to reserve a seat over the phone yesterday, but you have to do it person. So it was so windy today that I really couldn't be bothered to go out to Timperley Station to do it. And then I got totally turned off by the idea of the usual Sunday rush for seats. So I begged Mother to let me stay another evening - she didn't seem to mind, so I spent the rest of the evening reading the Guinness Book of Hit Singles and watching a bit of TV eg Mastermind.
A pretty good day with everything going to plan - except my inability to get out of bed. But I did eventually. I had a quick look at the Guardian - well, the football bit. That was quite cheering. They reckon that Charlton Athletic are more or less doomed for the drop, and Luton Town have lost their ability to win even on their plastic pitch and without away fans (and I don't think anybody will be sorry to see them go down), so, in reality there's only one relegation place left. A major test of that will be Millwall v Manchester United on Saturday (3rd and 4th from bottom). I guess if one team wins, it's curtains for the other and that's quite heavy. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Of course I didn't quite understand at the time but just four weeks earlier I had been there when Mark Robins' goal at Nottingham Forest had signalled the start of, well, everything...!
I caught the bus to Altrincham, from where I got a train to Piccadilly. I arrived there at twenty five to one, a fifty minute journey into Manchester. I caught the one o'clock train to London - comfortably. And it was comfortable. I had two seats, and half a table to myself. I read the Independent and finished AJP Taylor's History of World War One while listening to my boogie box.
Would you believe it but the train actually arrived at Euston six minutes early. From there the journey home was almost hassle free - I guess you can't expect everything in one day - so guess what - the escalator at Bank-Monument wasn't working. Sometimes I wonder whether it would be better to walk to Euston Square and get the Circle Line from there. But the journey from Fenchurch Street was good - I got the four o'clock train which only stops at Barking, Basildon, Benfleet, Leigh and Chalkwell before Westcliff, so that was pleasant. And then there was a gorgeous sunset over Chalkwell - a red sky illuminating the mudflats at low tide - I really wished that I had had my camera.
And when I got home I opened my post, the most interesting being a card and letter from Lisa. I also checked my answerphone. To my delight I had three messages. Two were from Helen, and the middle one from Justin expressing disgust that I have an answerphone.
My twenty second birthday!
A day that started badly but got progressively better. Would you believe it but I found it difficult getting out of bed on my birthday - is that a sign of old age - or is it simply a sign of living on my own. The post came, but the only thing I got was an urgent message from Britannia saying that one album I ordered was out of stock. So that was a brilliant start to the day.
Then the train journey was a bit shambolic. Well, it was okay but I had to fork out for a new travelcard, which has gone up in price to £42.40, & then the train came so I didn't have time to get a newspaper - but no problem - I read Adrian Mole on the train.
At Victoria I just missed the 1036 East Grinstead train, so I had to wait until the 1047 Horsham train - which only made me an hour and a quarter late for Law. I walked into the room, threw my property onto the desk behind me and felt my shoulder go - which was really horrible - I couldn't move for ages and I could feel the spasms coming, which of course got me close to panicking. But then I felt it clicking back into place and the reduction in pain was amazing - from an almost unbearable stabbing pain into a dull ache. But it was still scary because now I'm wondering if I'm ever going to get over putting it out. What I mean is, I really don't know when I'm going to be susceptible again - and it's scary.
Helen 2 and Janet handed me cards, & Maria apologised and said that she had left it at home because she had fallen downstairs while going to answer the phone, & she thinks that she's broken her toe, so she was in a fair old agony this morning.
The law lecture finished, & because the next thing timetabled was an optional Financial Accounting tutorial we decided it was lunchtime. We were going to go to the Deep Pan Pizza Company but Maria decided that she couldn't hobble that far, so it was Pizza Hut - they must know us there by now! And we had garlic bread, pizza, wine and salad. Unfortunately, I really didn't enjoy that as much as I was looking forward to it. I felt a slight bit elgrots - probably shouldn't have combined wine and antibiotics. In consequence I fell asleep in Financial A/c. I didn't miss much & he didn't seem to mind.
And we finished at four, so that was okay. Only it meant that I had to kill time on Victoria Station. That actually wasn't too difficult. By the time I had got some money, and an orange juice to quench my thirst and been to the loo and put on some make up it was five o'clock. And then I got a History Today and then I went browsing for records, before going to stand by Tie-Rack and before long Lucy arrived. She hadn't been to work because she had had her jabs today and had been told to take it easy. She gave me a card and apologised for lack of present - but she said she'd take me shopping next week. To be honest, I wasn't expecting a pressie.
Before long Dave arrived, looking absolutely gorgeous. He is just so lovely, so absolutely wonderful. Sometimes I think I could fall in love with Dave, & then I'm not so sure. He was full of apologies for not bringing a card but he put it in his briefcase and decided not to take his briefcase to work.
Eventually Helen 1 arrived & admitted how she had contrived to embarrass both Dave and myself. She had had a bit of a barny with Debbie (her sister - and boss) at work, & had ended up leaving work late. She tried to contact Dave at work: she had found Arthur Anderson's phone number by ringing Directory Enquiries & had got through to the Arthur Anderson switchboard. She didn't know what department Dave was in, although she tried to be helpful and say that he was an accountant - well, there aren't many of those at Arthur Anderson! She was handed round about three departments but couldn't find him to say she would be late. So she tried phoning Victoria Station and they said they'd read a message out for me. Well, neither me nor Lucy heard it, and I just hope that nobody else - ie nobody I know - heard it.
We ate at Garfunkels. Unfortunately we didn't have much time for more than a first course because 'Me & MY Girl' was starting at half past seven, and we had to pick up the tickets first. We didn't have too much trouble finding the Adelphi theatre - we emerged onto the Strand by Charing Cross and could see the Adelphi from there. We walked over to there, and I picked up the tickets before we went up to the Grand Circle. Before long the musical started.
The thought crossed my mind that I had booked tickets for this basically because I had vague ideas of it getting raved about a few years back. I didn't know who was in it, I didn't know the first thing about the plot & the only song I knew was The Lambeth Walk, so I really couldn't be sure whether I would enjoy it, let alone those three - especially Dave, who had mentioned to Helen something about it not being awfully intellectual.
But in the event all four of us really enjoyed it. The music was superb - songs like Lambeth Walk, Me and My Girl, Leaning on a Lamppost and the Sun Has Got His Hat On. The cast was very good, really quite professional. And the stars were excellent - Gary Wilmot, Jessica Martin, Patrick Cargill and Andrew Charleson.
As we were leaving, Dave admitted that he didn't think he was going to enjoy it but he did. I guess we can all say it wasn't that intellectual or deep. But it was fun, it was funny, and the music was excellent..
During the interval, I was telling Helen of the plan that I and Lucy have to arrange the Grand Seduction of Dave. I said that I was thinking of volunteering for the part, so Helen told Dave I was planning to rob him of something and it wasn't his watch. So he went all red & embarrassed, and said that it had already been taken, Then when we were leaving, I said to him - when can I see his wonderful flat near Clapham Junction. He said I would have to come over one evening and he suggested that I stopped over so as not to bother about travelling.
"Is that wise?" I asked flirtatiously, and he replied,
"Why? Are you going to seduce me?"
So on the train home I started thinking about my dual plans to seduce both Dave and R. I've come to the conclusion that I don't really want a serious relationship with anybody. I've been reading a lot recently, and astrology, graphology, palmistry and numerology all point to one thing - that I am sensual & promiscuous and destined to have a number of flings before settling down, so I have decided that I might as well. And quite frankly, I really don't think it's a case of using these men - if I can give them a good time, and get one in return, with no strings then so be it.
We got back to Helen's, having got a taxi from the station. When we got there I had a card and a box of chocolates waiting from her parents, so that was nice.
I had a pretty damn good birthday.
Would you believe it but I didn't have a cigarette until I got to Victoria Station. You see, I agreed with Helen last night that we would sit in the non-smoker this morning. And of course, one can't smoke on Liverpool Street Station and there's no smoking on the Underground, so I had to wait until Victoria.
When I got to Victoria, I bought an orange juice and then made for the 0917 Horsham train. To my total embarrassment I slipped on the wet platform. At first I was shaken and, as I say, embarrassed, but it wasn't really until I got to Croydon that I realised just how much it hurt. But quite a lot happened between Clapham Junction and East Croydon. Vince got on at Clapham so were chatting - mainly about office gossip.
Then he mentioned Local Audit and said, rubbing his hands in inimitable Vince style, "Guess who's going on Local Audit." Well as soon as he said that, I knew that R. is, so I was pretty pleased. But of course he strung it out saying that I'm going, that Ally's going, that Ann's going, that Geoff will be going, and, finally he mentioned that R will be going for a day. In a way I was pleased - that has to be better than nothing at all. But I guess I will just have to accept that if he's just going to be there for a day, he won't be there for a night, so bang goes Gerry's plan for the Grand Seduction. I can't really complain - it's better than I expected, although not as good as I hoped. But I guess I'm pretty pleased nevertheless.
Which is more than I can say for the rest of the day which was awful - just sheer bloody mind-numbingly boring. Two hours of very boring, tedious, slow Computing, which I survived by reading the programme for Me and My Girl. Then was lunch, after which we had the prospect of four very boring hours. I lasted throughout Financial Accounting, but only because I was reading History Today. And I decided to leave Computing - so did Janet - and there were an awful lot of people I recognised on East Croydon (And that's not including most of the Leather Jacket Brigade, who left during the break in Financial Accounting). . .
But anything was better than hanging around, and of course this meant that even after limping all the way from Westcliff Station I was still home at five o'clock. I had some cards and a pressie waiting for me in the post.
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