1st December 1969
Monday morning and back at school. It was pouring with rain and pitch black when I went to school. Had my hair cut. Had a music lesson in the afternoon which was excellent. In the evening we watched our basketball team lose 45-39 but we were unlucky. After that I did copying up notes for 2 hours and went to bed early.
2nd December 1972
Our colour TV came - yes, before then everything was in black and white! We lost at hockey to High Pavement 7-0. Diane is going out with the boy that she fancies from Henry Mellish. Went to Pilk's party in Burton Joyce at night.
3rd December 1971
Off school ill. Went to grannies for dinner and then to the staff play at night.
4th December 1971
The rugby team won 114-0 which was a points record. Went to Notts match in the afternoon with Bert and they won 3-0. At night we went round to Johnno's but the girls didn't come as they were all washing up from the staff play.
5th December 1972
Nothing exciting going on. Had hockey practice at school and revised at night.
6th December 1972
Went up to Hull by train for an interview for Hull University. Had a look round and met some others from London and Manchester. I quite liked the place. Got back about 9.00
7th December 1971
Had biology exam which was OK. In the afternoon we had a Black Maria championship! Revised for biology practical at night while the others went to Webby's.
8th December 1971
Biology practical exam which went OK. Played billiards in the afternoon in my bedroom and Bert broke the cue on the ceiling conducting 1812 overture! The hole in the ceiling remained for years! At night we played cards and snooker at Trev's until 1.00am
9th December 1972
Our hockey match against Lowdham was cancelled. At night we went to a students party up Carlton Hill somewhere with Bert and Grat. We got really drunk and I met some girl from Nottingham University who was even more drunk. We got in about 3 a.m.
10th December 1971
Played cards again in the daytime. At night we went over to Webby's to listen to his dads stereo - its brilliant. I know its unbelievable now but we all used to sit around his stereo playing 1812 overture and Wishbone Ash as his dad was the first one to buy a stereo!
11th December 1973
My first Rod Stewart concert ever - it has of course now been followed by 35 more! It was at Manchester Free Trade Hall and we started off with some food in the Union coffee bar with Gordon, Andy and Dave then a few rum and blacks in the Salisbury. Tickets were on sale outside for £15.00 - bear in mind they had only cost us £1 each. Our seats were in a box at the side of the stage which gave a bit of a restricted view but they were excellent as we were actually hanging over the side of the stage. Long John Baldry was support and there was a gap of 45 minutes between him and the Faces so the place was going wild by the time they came on to the Stripper music. They played for 2 hours and did just about everything except Reason to Believe. There were lots of Rod and Woody duets and microphone throwing. Rod kept coming to the side of the stage for a drink and to talk to us and he threw his tambourine up into our box. The girls we were sharing the box with went wild fighting for it. The last song went on for ages and there were people climbing on to the stage from everywhere and getting thrown out. Rod nearly got dragged into the audience by his scarf! I stood on my seat for two hours.
12th December 1974
At University and I was dared to go to lectures wearing a smart jacket so I sat in our last Principles of Geography lecture dressed for a nightclub! I was going out with a beautiful girl called Jenny - Ed, Mike and I went over to Ellis Lloyd Jones Hall to meet her and her friends for a drink in the evening. We met her roommate Heather and went to the pub with them. I trod on Jenny's dress and nearly ripped it off her! At her place we had a joke contest for about 3 hours and she told me she was engaged to someone else! Hmmm....
13th December 1972
Had an English exam which was a bit difficult. Deborah and Anne and Amada phoned me up at night. I did a load of revision and watched TV.
14th December 1973
Back from Uni for the first time for Christmas. I got up at 7.00 and Ed came for me while I was getting ready. We carted all our stuff up to the bus station, which nearly killed us. Caught the 8.30 bus and I was back at granny's for 12.00. I had something to eat and went home to find my bedroom had been decorated. At night I called Johnno but he couldn't have the car so we went round to Mops. We picked Ann up and went down to the Marquis. Everybody was there - we filled three tables and most of the main bar.
15th December 1973
Went to Notts match in the afternoon. They were 3-0 up until Stubbs got injured and it ended up 3-2. Gabbie rang. At night went up to Diane's with Tats, Coral and Johnno and played consequences!
16th December 1974
Back home for Christmas and went down with Bert to sign on. I got offered a job but managed to refuse it! At night we went to the school dance which was excellent. Danced with Claire, Gabbie, Ellun etc. I asked Gabbie to go out with me again but she said no, which I think is a good thing! We went to TAF OToole's for coffee afterwards and he was very drunk! Everyone keeps telling me I should go out with Dennis - I think something's going on here!
17th December 1973
Me, Mop and Jonno went back to visit the school and had a really good time. We stopped outside the staffroom and talked to Mar Slater, Mr OToole and Mr Gutteridge. Diane and Marlene came to have a chat then we went down to get certificates from Miss Prager - Ted came to have a chat while we were there. Gren told us there was a reunion at the Milton's Head that night so we went down. There were about 40 of us altogether but we had to go home about 11.00 as we were in Johnno's car!
18th December 1971
Went to Sally Bs party. We had a lot to drink and Brains was sick in Howard's car on the way home. Record of the moment is Hold Your Head Up by Argent.
19th December 1973
Bert came round for me and we went down to the Chesters and had a drink. Then we went to the bottom of Wood Lane to meet up with everyone from school to go carol singing. I think there were more people who had left school than those who were still there. I talked to Ellen, Diane and Becky all night. We went down to the Memorial hall and met Trev's dad then back to the Chesters which was absolutely packed. Spent all evening talking to some girls from the tech to get an invite to someone called Helen's party at BJ tomorrow night. I got an invite but can't go as I am meeting everyone from Manchester Uni in the Sal.
20th December 1974
Went to the Blacks Head and played table football then to a party at Carlton but we didn't go in. Next we went to a party at Lowdham and succeeded in losing Grat etc. Ellun and Angie showed us where the party was and it was very good, particularly for Christmas kisses! Spent a lot of the evening talking to Stella, Claire, Anne Fedorko and Anne Buckler, but as normal Gabbie isn't talking to me!
21st December 1974
Went to the Boat club to see Gypsy. It was their last appearance together so we were expecting something special. The drummer collapsed so they couldn't do an encore which wasn't exactly the special finish we were expecting! It was packed out with a late bar and there was some excellent dancing. We tried to get into a party at West Bridgford but couldn't so we all went back to Hodgie's sisters.
22nd December 1973
Notts were playing away so I couldn't go. At night we went round to see Gabbie, and her and Michelle seemed really pleased to see me. Then we went up to Diane's and had a bit of a party with food and drink. There was Mart, Anna, Hanks, Paula, Anne, Jane and her boyfriend, Diane, Tats, Coral, Johnno, me, Bert, Ellun and her friend. We talked and listened to music all night - it was really nice to get everyone together as a lot of us are away at University now.
23rd December 1974
The classic Sassafras at the Golden Diamond Christmas concert. It was packed and they did their normal set finishing off with Good King Wenceslas! They did an encore and announced the raffle to the sound of a reggae version of Silent Night. And finally of course there was that old favourite, Electric Chair! Tats taped it and we all went back to Hanks house until very late.
24th December 1974
Met in the Prince Albert and moved to Yates then the Bell and did a Morecambe and Wise act across the square to the Flying Horse. Met Neil from Manchester on the way then up to the Salutation where we sang carols, talked to girls and generally had a good time. We caught the bus back to the Carlton, still singing carols, as they had a late license. Then we danced, bunnied and dead anted back to Hodgie's. Ollie rolled up late, having lost Bert and Wiff and was immediately sick! Went walkabout with Dennis and Deke, sat on the rec, had a three legged race, climbed lampposts, danced jigs, played football with sugar beet and played on the cricket field before finally making it home.
25th December 1973
A momentous occasion - I got a stereo and an old raincoat. I think that was the Rod Stewart album rather than an actual old raincoat!
26th December 1973
Played records on the new stereo of course! Then Mop and Johhno came round in the evening so we went to the Old Vol at Caythorpe. We went to gabbie's and she was babysitting.
27th December 1973
Johnno came down for me after Top of the Pops and we watched Mastermind and Some Mothers do have them. Then we went down to the Marquis to meet Bert, Grat, Olly and Webby. Got back about 10.45 and I went to bed as there's no telly after 10.30 because of the strikes. Read Lord of the Rings.
28th December 1973
Went to Steves party in BJ with Johnno and got a lift back with Grat. There was Steve, his sister, her friend, Louise, Dawn, Lorraine, Pes, Bill, Pilk, Lowdham Hells Angels, Anne Fedorko, Jayne Sewell, Bert, Olly, Sally, Hanks, Mart and Anna. Bert was hoping to be chasing Anne Buckler but she didn't arrive. Seven of us came back in Grat's car and stopped for a Chinese on the way and took it back to Webby's. We listened to records until about 2.00
29th December 1973
Bidos party at the Ukranian club on Sherwood Rise - an excellent party. It was packed and the food tables were like a medieval banquet! Spent most of the evening with Jayne Sewell. Here's the guest list - Bidos, Dickman, Terry Wright etc, Ellun, Angie, Lyndsey, Anne Buckler, Jane, Paula, Anna, Mart, Bert, Olly, Dio and his girlfriend, Claire, Hilary, John Ike, Alison, Chu, Jocie, Becky, Pauline, Fiona, Elaine Smith, Kraus, Mess, Bram, Swede, Will, Greg, girls from the tech....
30th December 1969
Went on Priory field and played Stefs lot at football - we won. It was snowing while we played but then it stopped. It then started snowing hard again in the evening and its settling.
31st December 1974
Went to Deke's party after looking after Mark and Sarah at Diane's all afternoon. Deke's party was excellent, made all the better by us playing bunny hover beforehand and therefore being exceedingly drunk. Tats was very gone, and Geoff was sick. Claire, Hilary and Dawn attacked me and I ended up hiding away with Claire and Dawn, which was a very pleasant way to bring in the New Year! We danced in the road at 2.00 am and missed to Old Grey Whistle Test special!
