Sunday January 21st, 1973
I did not go to church for once. I stayed in bed for most of the morning. Uncle Harry gave me a French-English Lilliput dictionary. I have a sore throat. I am just beginning my 44th page of an English essay. It's wearing me out.
Monday January 22nd
Saturday January 27th
Sunday January 28th
I went to communion. The vicar wants me to sing another solo, ‘Morning has Broken’ this time. I had a premonition that it would be that. I did my English essay and I'm now on my 80th page. I also went to Bible classes with Frank from 8 till 9. I hope we don't have to go out for games tomorrow.
Monday January 29th
'Fog on the Tyne' by Lindisfarne
Tuesday January 30th
I went to school. I caught a bus from school with Julie Plant. It was the Baddeley Green so we had to get off there and catch another bus to Hanley. Our intention was to go and get tickets for Jeff Beck's concert at the Steam Machine in Hanley; however when we got to Hanley the Steam Machine was shut so Mr. Plant will buy the tickets tomorrow. I did my homework. Nanar called and told me that Tessa and John are definite about emigrating to Australia. I went across to Julie Plant’s. We drank coffee, listened to records and watched TV.
Wednesday January 31st
I went to school. Today wasn't bad. I have finished my long 91 page essay on murder.
Thought: “No scent is nicer than the sweet smell of success.”
Saturday February 3rd
I stayed in bed all morning. Frank brought his girlfriend Anne Hargreaves down, and Robert brought his little friend from the paper shop, Jon Bennett.
Sunday February 4th
I did not go to church today but again stayed in bed all morning. Mum, Dad, Robert and Mark went kite flying and Frank went out whilst I did my homework. Frank and I went with Nana and James to bible study.
….got to bed at 1:15am....!
Wednesday February 7th
Friday February 9th
I went to school. I have taken 'Delight' by JB Priestley and 'The Rubaiyat' by Omar Khayyam to school for Mr. Lüvgreen to borrow. He has taken them home with him.
PE was okay because we did counterbalance sequences. Julie and I had the best one according to Miss O'Neill (Wonders will never cease). I went to choir practice and to bed early. I have also had a letter from Mauritian pen friend Robert Alairy. He has begged me to pray for his big brother who drank 75° petrol by mistake whilst working.
I stayed in bed until 11 a.m. this morning. I listened to jazz all day on the record player. I discovered the great track called 'Hushabye' on the LP Chris Barber Plays Vol 2. Mum and dad went to Bill Road's party. Dad has promised to take me to the Rugby Club Disco if I promise not to wander off.
Sunday February 11th
I went to communion. I read 'The Man in the Brown Suit' by Agatha Christie all morning. We had pork with stuffing and apple sauce for Sunday dinner. Julie Stubbs came down here in the afternoon. We played records and chatted girl-talk all afternoon. I didn't go to bible class as I didn't feel like it, but Frank went with Nana and James.
Monday February 12th
I went to school. It rained, hailed and eventually snowed. This pleased me because it meant that we could, and did, do dancing inside. I have a peculiar feeling of being immensely, outrageously happy. I joined Leek library today.
Tuesday February 13th
I went to school today. When I got up the snow was thick on the ground. I had my doubts as to whether, if ever I got to school, we may be sent home, but unfortunately neither of these things happened. I read, did my homework and went to bed early.
Wednesday February 14th
Thursday February 15th
I went to school. The snow is still here, but the bitter cold atmosphere is overwhelming. Last night was apparently the coldest night for 12 months. Again no Valentine! One has to give up hope now I suppose. Never mind. I paid Julie P £1 for a ticket for Elton John as she is getting them.
Saturday February 17th
I did some of my English topic and in the afternoon Anna and Nanar came to see us. Dad went to play rugby. Nanar took me back to her flat for the night and promised to take me out for a meal tomorrow.
Sunday February 18th
Thought: “To listen is to learn.”
Wednesday February 21st
I went to school. What an awful day! I was depressed and flared up quickly, so much so that I light-heartedly shouted at Mr. Lüvgreen and he turned around and shouted, “Don't shout at me, woman!” I went red. I had to go to the vicarage for singing practice, but it cheered me up a bit. Once home I had a lot of homework to do and got depressed again. However, I got 20 out of 20 for my Latin test, 20 out of 20 for my last two, and 19 out of 20 before that. Good!
