Friday May 25, 1973

Do Economics homework until nearly 4.0 this morning then go to bed until 8. Go on the 8.30 bus to Benton. Christine very tired. June, bless her, stays in bed until 11, having no lessons until 11.45. We do Economics. Christine and I are too tired - can hardly read our finance books. Surely, the most boring book ever written. Mr Ayling was in good humour. We laugh about last night - mine and Christine's jig caused a sensation.

June arrives for lunch. We stay at school at lunchtime and sit out in the red-hot sun. June does English in the afternoon. Dave, Christine and Holmes played chess. I revised with Carol Bailey. At 4 we pinch Tiff's shoe - and chase about until 5.30. Christine and I have such a good laugh. Go home after seeing June off. Not going out again until after the 'A' levels - or at least we aren't going to make a serious move to go out.

Go to the CW. Sue and Toffer in very jovial mood. Come home at 1 o'clock in the morning.

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Wednesday May 23, 1973

Get up at nearly 8 o'clock. Have a grapefruit. Mouth still very painful. Go to the dentist at 9 and sit reading Lord Liverpool in the waiting room until 9.30 when the receptionist comes in and says my appointment is at 4.30. Rush out back to school. The test begins at 9.45. A scorcher! Just my type. "How far was the Tory government 1822-30 Liberal?" Mrs Lane liked it, but she went into a cold sweat when I happened to mention that the 'A' levels are only three weeks away.

Do Economics. Ayling goes into raptures about the attitude of mind which we (the lower 6th) are taking re the 'O' levels. Ayling is however a terrible snob and he gets up my nose.

Revise in the afternoon lessons. Go to the bus stop with June. Uncle Harry arrives at 4.30. Believe it or not, he is not drunk today. He stays with us for tea (crab salad). Later, Mum, Dad and Uncle Harry go see Mum's cousin Dorothy in Burley-in-Wharfedale, where she's landlady of the White Horse pub. They come home at 1.0 - drinking after hours! Come to bed at 2 after quarrelling with Uncle H about Granddad. Mum gets really furious. But we are all friends by the time he sets off for home.

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Tuesday May 22, 1973

Revise all day. The 'Liberal Tory' administration, 1822-1827. Hardly a thing to go into raptures over. Anyway, I have to save everything I know about Lord Liverpool until tomorrow morning.

Go down to work at 7.30. Sue still knitting for baby. No one comes in until about 11.15 - a party of six! Sue was really furious. Toffer brought me home at 1. Had a cup of Horlicks and came to bed.

--==--

Thursday May 17, 1973

What a day! Got up late and get to school at 9.30. Do Lord Liverpool and Liberal Toryism until 11.45. June and I sit together until nearly 12.30.

Christine tells Dave and me that the Germans and the usual mob are going on a pub crawl round Horsforth tonight. How can I refuse such an invitation! However, June says she doesn't want to go. I feel terrible. But the dear Darling insists that I go alone. Alone, and without June with me for the first time in about 3 and a half months! A final fling before the 'A' levels as it were (or at least one of the last!)

John and I go to Dave's at 7.30. Cowie and his German penfriend Ulrich arrive later. Dave takes us up to the Fleece at Horsforth. Christine, Philip, Phil, Willie, Dietrich, Dale, Wolfgang, Helga, and Dave, Cowie, Ulrich and myself spent 2 and a half hours going round the pubs in Horsforth Town Street. I was 'pissed up to the armpits'. Too hysterical for words. Christine's Philip is great fun.

We decide to move on the the Intercon at Ilkley. Dave has to make two trips. A great night. Sober up at about 12.30. Every time the music breaks we shout "Rod Stewart" - the disc jockey laughs. He plays 'Cindy Incidentally' and 'Maggie' about 10 times. Dale is sloshed. Christine and Philip are a great couple. Finish at 2 o'clock.

Dave takes everyone home in the 1st trip except John, Phil and myself. We walk for four miles until almost 3am. Dave didn't half look hilarious driving off over Ilkley Moor with seven in the back seat. Have you ever heard a car full of Germans singing 'God Save the Queen', 'Four and Twenty Virgins' and 'On Ilkla Moor Bah't at'? Home after 3. Mum not pleased.

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Wednesday May 2, 1973

Get the 8.30 bus. Revise in the library until Mrs Lane arrived at 9.45. We start immediately with the two essays. I tackled the British one first which was: "Discuss the view that Appeasement was a policy which was bound to fail". Very good. I quoted both Randolph Churchill and Lord Avon. The European question was: "The decline of democracy in Germany was inevitable by 1930. Discuss." Finished both by 11.15.

June still away. Last night I wrote her a letter which I posted today. She should get it by tomorrow. Anyway, she's got to be back by Thursday. Sue has asked me to work tonight because Moody Martin has exams all week and he wants to revise.

Go down to the bus stop with Dave again. Home by 4.40. Go to work at 7.30. Sue also asks me to work all day on Sunday! This means I'll be working: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Think of the money? Go home at 12.30. Immediately to bed and sleep.. Please June, please come tomorrow.


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Monday April 30, 1973

Feel really terrible. Both John and I have stomach upsets and suspect it was the beer we had last night. Oh, how uncomfortable it all is! 1st day back at school after Easter. June did not come. The first day back is always miserable! Did Economics.

Do excuse me but I'm in a pretty rotten mood. I have to revise Anthony Eden and the Dictators 1930-39; Germany 1919-39. I also have to complete by Balance of Payments essay - and ALL before Wednesday morning.

And June didn't turn up today. She said nothing about it last night. What can be wrong with her?

Sit with Louise for lunch. We share a tin of cream of chicken soup. She got all the meaty bits! I love those juicy bits of chicken, but no, she had to have them. Louise and Denny were talking about me in sign language this afternoon. I'm not sure but I think it was something about the holiday. Oh June! Why can't you be coming on holiday? You are an Angel. How can I look at another girl after looking at you? But, I do realise that Angels can only be looked at, and are not for earthly love. I would have to ascend into Heaven in order to understand you.


--==--

Friday April 27, 1973

Get up at nearly 10 o'clock. Have a bowl of cereals. It's unusual for me. Have a cup of coffee while glancing at Queen Victoria in the lounge. Much more interesting than George III.

Oh, I must do my Economics. I keep putting it off and putting it off. It will be too late if I leave it any longer. I MUST DO MY ECONOMICS AFTER LUNCH!! Grief, it's 11 o'clock and I have to ring June. She will be waiting. Oh no! Lynn is on the phone. I'll tell her to get off the line and then I'll ring June.

I rang her but no one answers. I will keep ringing until I am satisfied that she has forgotten. On reflection, did I promise to ring her today, or was that yesterday?

Deep in sorrow I continue with my Economics. Work all afternoon.

Go to the CW at 7 o'clock. Sue fell off Polo this morning. She feels as though she's broken her back - Poor Girl!

Very busy evening. Bored and tired by 12.30. Come home and read Mrs Woodham-Smith's Queen Victoria Vol. 1, 1819-1861. Marvellous! The Lady Flora Hastings Affair is so interesting - how can one imagine in these days of the 1970s that idle gossip at court in 1839 could bring down a government? Queen V is such a character. My heroine in history. If ever I have a say in the naming of a daughter of mine - she will be called Victoria.

Come to bed at 2.

--==--

Tuesday April 17, 1973

June did not ring me. However, she did send me a lovely letter, to which I replied immediately. She must have forgotten about ringing me - she is always telling me how scatter-brained she is. But I love her and would never have her change. Got up at 10 o'clock. Dad was painting the side door, and the girls were having breakfast - the weather is perfect. I read June's letter and reply immediately. By 12 o'clock she still had not phoned.

Had mutton for lunch. Mum and the girls went to Bradford. Dad went to work. I was left alone with Sir Anthony Eden, or should I say Lord Avon, plus my awful doubt. Why has June not phoned? What can I have done wrong? I am like a big kid. She would laugh if she knew I was worrying over her. At 2.10 I beging seriously reading Eden. What a terrible way to spend a beautiful Spring afternoon!

She rang at 4. How relieved and thrilled I was to hear her voice. We are meeting at the Emmotts at 7.30 tomorrow. The pips came much too soon. I blew a kiss down the phone. Swoon, Swoon, Pant, Pant, Swoon, etc.

Tried to settle back down with Eden and the rearmament thing of the early 1930s. Oh, how happy I am! John came home at about 5.30 followed by Mum and the girls, and they were followed by Dad. We had tea. By 7.30 I was back at the Chuck Wagon, where it was unusually busy for a Tuesday night. Came home at 11.30 and had a discussion with Susan about the order of succession to the Throne. I told her how silly it was to say that it should go in order of birth regardless of sex, and not by the usual male first. If this idea had been in operation in 1901 then Queen Victoria would have been succeeded by the Empress Frederick who would have been Queen Victoria II from January to August and then succeeded by her son, King William V (aka Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany). Not a very satisfactory idea is it?


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Tuesday March 13, 1973

Got up at 7.30 and went on the 8.30 bus. Revised my Russian timed question until 12.30. How's that for dedication! Mrs Lane came across at 11.45 - it didn't stop us continuing our revision. We were all revising our separate topics which are:-

Me: Estimate the progress made my Russia 1890-1917

Michael Attenborough: German Military Power 1890-1918

Carol Bailey: Why did the Settlement of Vienna fail?

Sheila Woodhead: Why did the Revolution in Europe in 1848 fail?

How's that for intellectualism, eh?

June and I made our usual journey down to Hinchcliffe's and Rigg's. We seem to spend all our lunchtimes knocking about the shops in Rawdon. We must put our foot down (or should I say 'feet') and tell these lazy people to do their own bloody shopping. The trouble with June and I is that we are too damned kind-hearted.

After lunch we had a remarkable visitation. June was in lessons, and Dave, Christine B and myself were messing around in the study booths. Dave was smoking one of his cigars, and Christine was playing hell about the smoke, when Mr Elliott, the headmaster, himself drifted into the block accompanied by some sort of visitor. Christine was going berserk trying to empty the room of the smog and dirt caused by Dave and his cigar. The boss didn't stay very long and her sauntered out several minutes later. (See Thursdays entry).

After a pleasant afternoon June and I went down to the usual Cadburt's Cream Egg stockist, and subsequent our romantic interlude at the bus stop. Came home and revised (or at least tried to). Went to bed at 10.45. The test is tomorrow and I am quite looking forward to it! I don't suppose you'll believe that, or will you?

--==--

Tuesday February 20, 1973

Mum woke me at 8.50. She says a letter had come for me. I immediately thought it was the long-awaited letter from college. "No", she said. "It's a girl's handwriting". I was downstairs before I knew what I was doing. Yes, it was June's handwriting. It was such a beautiful letter. As I suspected, she was not at work yesterday, but looking after her auntie Nellie who has a bad knee or something. I immediately reply to her letter, but alas I don't even have the money for a stamp. So I have to wait until Mum comes home to post it. I began doing a bit of homework at 11.15, but my thoughts keep going back to June. It's such a beautiful day!
I have just been going through this weeks "Economist" and I am surprised - nay shocked -to read one certain paragraph which states that the majority of the British people would be behind the Prime Minister if he decided on a general election over the ruddy gas workers union plot etc. It is horrifying to think that in such an election the government might be defeated, thrusting that infernal little creep Wilson back into office. God! I couldn't stand it. Actually, the British people are sick to death of the unions laying down the law and the time has come for us to stop them. They pick and choose which acts of parliament to obey. Besides, if the gas workers do on strike for a month, which they intend doing, a large proportion of the country will decide that they would prefer to suffer real discomfort for the long term national interest. What with Ireland, the currency crisis, and the gas board - poor Ted Heath certainly has a lot on his plate.


Revised the Labour Govt 1945-51 this afternoon. Ate at 5. Watched the tv until 9.30 and then drifted aimlessly upstairs where I now sit scribbling my diary. I will make a start on Mrs Harris's project tomorrow. It must be finished by all costs on Monday. With a bit of luck June might get my letter tomorrow but one can no longer rely on the GPO to get the Queen's mail through - the same applies to everything else which is nationalized. The government soon forget about them and they fall into a state of disrepair. This week is dragging without school. I have become attached to it sinceI first went there in Sept 1971. But I have to go out into the big wide world sooner or later.

--==--

Monday February 19, 1973

Prince Andrew, the 2nd in line of sucession to the throne, became a teeny-bopper today. He's 13. He's spending the day at school. In the old days a prince would have "had all the works" on his birthday.
Mum got me up at 8.30 and then left for work. I suspect that she had a lift in Major Smith's car.
After breakfast I walked down to White Cross Post Office with £1.55. I must keep up the deposits until June. The weather is cloudy and overcast. The walk down Thorpe Lane gave some exercise at least. I don't do enough walking, not like a few years ago when I had the paper round - I must have walked miles every morning. At about 12.30 Sue made my lunch which consisted of beans on toast. Mum came home at 1pm just as I was leaving for Bradford Library.
I was in Bradford for 2 o'clock and the clock in the centre chimed out two strokes as I crossed the courtyard of the impressive Central Library. I remained there until nearly 4. I took out 2 books on the Labour Government 1945-51. Dad almost had a fit when he saw these books. Both of them state that the British public rejected the Conservative party in 1945 and not Winston Churchill. The general drift being that Churchill was above party politics - an international statesman and not just a Tory. Dad went berserk, saying Churchill was a "Blue Tory just like Enoch Powell is today..." and "a War Monger". A typical socialist viewpoint. In my opinion Churchill was a great man and this cannot be denied by anybody.
Arrived home at 4.30. Sat about watching Blue Peter. Ate at 5.15.
A boring evening watching the television which was most uninteresting. Alison came round at 8 to watch the cowboy series "Alias Smith and Jones", a very far-fetched comedy style western. Not a good programme. See on the news that the French World War One hero, Marshal Petain, has been stolen from his grave - some people will do anything for publicity!
Had some supper at 10.30 and came to bed. I cannot wait until Thursday. June is the longest surviving girlfriend I have ever had. She doesn't realise that I have always had my eye on her. I remember last year when all the boys used to fancy her. Now she's my girlfriend. What a month it has been.

--==--

Sunday January 28, 1973

Got up and had breakfast at 11.30. I revised until lunchtime for the European History exam. tomorrow. At about 5 Auntie Hilda, Uncle Tony, Karen, Jill, and Diane came for tea. Dave rang at 6.30 and said he was going to the Emmott Arms with Chris and Louise. John and I went up at 8.30. It was the first time John had ever been to a pub, which isn't bad considering he hasn't been 16 for very long. The Emmotts is always full of under-age drinkers. If the police ever visited they would have a Beano. I felt very depressed without June. Louise noticed especially. John made himself popular by buying a round of drinks costing 97p. On arriving home in Mr Harris's Rover we found ourselves locked out until 11. Mum, Dad, Auntie Hilda, Uncle Tony, came home to be followed shortly by Lynn, Susan, Karen, Jill and Diane. We all had bacon sandwiches and coffee. Mum refused to let me revise saying it was too late. H and T plus family went at 1am. We all then retired to bed. I couldn't sleep. With June and the exams I certainly had enough to think about.

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Saturday January 27, 1973

1.30pm: Janet rang. Evidently June has not been to work today and she hasn't been able to ask June to meet me at the Emmott Arms on Sunday night. She doesn't even know June's address. However, It's dawned on me that Janet fancies me and she could easily be keeping the proposal from June. This means I'll not see June until Monday morning - the day of the three hour mock History exam.

I got up at 8.50 but decided I needed more sleep - going back to bed until 11am. After breakfast I revised until 1. I then had lunch. The phone kept ringing throughout the morning and my heart leapt when I heard Janet's voice. Somehow I disbelieve her report. Went wearily upstairs at 2pm. Revising until tea time. When I think about it - June may be too shy to go out with me, and so not to hurt my feelings she has told Janet to tell me she hasn;t been to the bakery. If so, it's more harmful keeping it from me. Leading me "up the garden path" as it were.

Watched televsision. I only revised the Crimean War until 3pm. After tea I got a lift from Dad to the Chuck Wagon. It was the second busiest night they have ever known. You could certainly tell by the amount of washing-up. Sue and Toffer changed clothes and went to Wikkis at 12.45 taking Pauline and myself home first. Pauline has a touch of 'flu and was not talking at her usual speed tonight. Worthington has made fantastic progress since last week. Unfortunately, he has lost his baby-face appearance.

Worried all night about June. She's the only girl I have seriously fancied for any length of time. I am still going to the Emmott Arms tomorrow. There is a chance that Janet will have found June and passed on my message. Anyway, Dave, Andrew Graham and Dale may be up there. It will help me take my mind off the exams.

It was Sue Crosby's birthday party tonight. Chris and Louise were going. In fact all the 6th form are going.

--==--

Thursday January 18, 1973

Louise and I went up to Denise's this afternoon where D made me some lunch. L and I played records. Chris arrived at 1.10pm. We all settled down to some revision at 1.45 but weak willed Chris and Louise began copulating on Denise's lounge sofa. Denise and I sat by the dining room fire reading (D was doing her Biology and I was reading Lord Moran's life of Churchill 1940-45). At 3.30 we raided the lounge. We couldn't persuade Chris and Louise to vacate the sofa and so we retreated to the yard to see the dogs. One was called Forrester. Another was some sort of hound - a fine pair of dogs. We returned to the lounge where Louise and Chris made room for us...

Arrived home on the 5.30 55 bus from Leeds. Watched TV until 10.30. It's now 12 midnight and Mum has just stuck her head around the bedroom door and told me it's time I was asleep. She's now threatening to turn off the lights. I had better go.

=

Tuesday January 16, 1973

Revision today for economics exam. tomorrow morning. I read through Harvey's "Elementary Economics", but it went in one ear and straight out of the other. We have been planning Friday evening and I think that Dave, Chris, Louise and Denise are coming up to Pine Tops before we go down to Menston. We have no idea what to buy Tim and Liz. No doubt some suitable gift will be found before Friday. Chris and Louise are quite serious. She's Louise Somes-Harris. It's quite remarkable how many people in the 6th form have hyphenated names. Dacre-Braithwaite, Somes-Harris, Hart-Woods, Vere-Bujnawski, etc. Did some serious revision this afternoon. At 4.15 Mrs Capstan-Fullstrength threw us out of the common-room and Dave remained firmly seated in his chair shouting: "Stand up for your rights and sit down". However, cowardice forced us all to drift out into the cold January air. Walked to the bus stop with June, Lynda West and Janet Rootes. June gets nicer by the day (throb, throb). From about 6 to 10pm I did economics revision. Went to bed at 10.30 leaving a note for Dad to get me up at 6am. I intend revising before breakfast...


==

Monday January 8, 1973

My head is heavy with cold. A horrid fog has shrouded the nation since before Xmas. My throat, eyes and ears are all made up with water. Have done bugger all at school. Exams begin on Jan 22. It's about time I began revising seriously. Old Mr Appleyard died at the weekend - a nice old chap really - but he seemed much older than 64. Mum's been in the travel agents again. John definately wants to do Italy in July. Dave L and myself will do Italy, Austria or Switzerland. Mum, Lynn and Sue fancy Austria. Denise was on the telly tonight - throwing a boomerang on Calendar. She looked very nice. We all sat in silence for about 2 minutes. Had a bath at 10.45.


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