September Diaries

1st September 1973	Gabbies gone to stay with Sally Miller and then go on her Duke of Edinburgh expedition. Trev and Mop came round in the afternoon and we went up to the forum to play golf. Then we watched the forum rugby team for a bit but they weren't very good. We rang Diane and she said we could come round again, as Mop was there. We played records and billiards all evening. Dark Side of the Moon is an amazing record!
2nd September 1974	After being sick three times in the night from the stomach bug which everyone was getting I should have been asleep in my tent. Instead I was dragged out at 7 am to take the tent down as most of the campsite was wrecked by the storm. We found all the boats to St Mary's had been cancelled and evacuated up to the reading room where I fell asleep. A nice family had managed to charter a boat so I was thrown into the back of the tractor with all the luggage and transported down to the dock. We found out afterwards the boat was only going to St Mary's to be repaired and there we were out in a force 9 gale. We were all huddled at the front in the protected cockpit while the waves lashed over all our luggage and threatened to dump it all in the sea. When we got to St Mary's the ferry to the mainland had been cancelled for the first time in 17 years and we were all put in the church hall to sleep, with other campers from the Garrison whose site had also been wrecked. We at least managed a drink in the pub, and a good nights sleep.
3rd September 1973	Did some painting and wrote out the words to the Beatles songs in the daytime. At night Johnno, me, Tats and Trev set off to go to Lowdham fair when Johnno's windscreen was shattered by a stone as we were going through Burton Joyce. We stopped and drove back then went down in Mops car. We went to fetch Gabbie and then spent the evening at the fair. Trev and Mop wanted to go, Gabbie didn't and everyone fell out!
4th September 1976	Set off in a convoy - me, Morris and Mart in Marts van, Geoff and Paula in the Geoffmobile and Hodgie, Karen, Graham and Hank in the Hankmobile. We followed Hank to Rugby where we picked up the boat called Crane. Its very sturdy - I don't think we could sink it no matter what we hit! I had a go at steering - its difficult because its longer, deeper and heavier than most of the other boats. We stopped at Willoughby at night and had to walk miles to the pub. It was a little country pub but we found a wedding party and tried to get in by chatting up all the girls. Unfortunately the brides father wouldn't let us in! Hodgie discovered there was another pub about three quarters of a mile away so we set off to walk to it. However there wasn't one for miles so we went back to the first pub to strangle Hodgie for telling us lies. However the bloke who had told him about it saved him by giving us a lift there. It was at Braunston and was a canal pub, painted in boat colours and with a superb jukebox. Morris was satisfied as well, as there were girls in there! We had to walk back along the towpath in pitch black and nearly fell in about a hundred times!
5th September 1973	Went to Moor Farm with Gabbie, Mop and Johnno and saw a band called Warlord who were very good. They had a good lightshow and handed out stickers - very professional! Gabbie said she wouldn't see me tomorrow as she is going to Lowdham Fair with her friends and I'm not allowed to go! Hmmm...
6th September 1975	Went to the Boat to see Nutz and they were excellent. John Mylett gave me a load of stickers which the boys autographed with extremely rude words for us! Talked to John for hours afterwards and he came out to wave us goodbye. Dennis came back for coffee.
7th September 1974	Went to town and bought a slide projector and the new Crosby Stills Nash and Young album called So Far, with cover art by Joni Mitchell. At night we went to the Boat to see Quicksand. I was with Sue who was a really nice 15 year old girl from Burton Joyce that I had met a couple of weeks ago. After the Boat we were invited to a party in one of the big houses up behind the Savoy complete with swimming pool. It was full of rich people taking drugs and not quite our usual scene. According to my diary I met Stonehenge and Alvin Lees friend but I have no idea who they were! Got home about 3 a.m. which I count as a good night at the Boat!
8th September 1976	Still on our canal boat holiday. We set off early and cruised all morning to Bosworth Field where we decided to re enact the battle! We had the acorn fight version on the boat with Geoff and Mop as Henrys men and me and Graham as Richards! Bosworth was very interesting. We walked up to the visitor centre while Morris and Mart took another route to ambush us. Just as we walked out of the door of the museum we were hit by a hail of acorns and berries and treated to the sight of Mop being chased off the roof by a little old woman. Then we spotted Mart legging it down a field. We went up to see where Richard had been killed and had to walk miles back down the canal to the boat. Mop and Mart had been waiting ages for us. <p>We went to the Horse and Jockey at Congleton at night but had to drive in the dark to get there as we had taken so long at Bosworth. We played table football most of the night against the locals. The other Willow Wren boat was moored next to us so Mop, having had a bit to drink cast them adrift. However they had heard him talking about this in the pub so they tied themselves up again straightaway. He then made a bow and arrow and resorted to firing arrows at them, although I have no idea why he had taken such a dislike to them!
9th September 1974	Went to the Golden Diamond at Sutton in Ashfield to see Nutz. It had been brought forward by a week but Ashley warned us on Extravaganza. They were brilliant as usual. Bert was chatting to Dave before they went on but we were with John, and then we had a chat with Dave afterwards. They may be playing the Boat soon. Coral and Gwynneth came with us.
10th September 1974	Went down to Tony Scott's at Burton Joyce with Coral and Gwynneth and Fionabone! Scotty used to be seriously into drugs but had turned Christian and there were lots of other Jesus freaks there. Ken, Tony, Sue, Jackie, Jane, Martin were there and we rang Diane up and Martin went to fetch her. It was quite good fun. Tats came later as he had been to see Forest draw 1 1 with Newcastle.
11th September 1974	Went to Crusaders with Coral, Gwynneth, Diane and Jackie. I was quite surprised to find I knew nearly everyone there. We sang a few songs of praise and then an exorcist spoke to us and what he had to say was quite unbelievable. He kept us entertained with stories of evil spirits and signs. We got a lift home from Corals brother Ian.
12th September 1973	Off to Moor Farm to see a band but on the way we called in at the water sports centre at Holme Pierrepont for some reason. When we got to Moor Farm the band didn't turn up so we walked out which didn't please Gabbie for some reason. On the way back Gabbie and I fell out and we went round to Chris Corby's house, then decided to go for a drink. Gabbie wanted dropping at home so we left her there but half way down the drive I decided we should finish, so we drove back up to her house. We had a talk and are still together - just!
13th September 1971	Back at school and the morning was boring as usual. Mop and Bert are waiting for letters about jobs as clerical officers. Hodgie's scooter broke down on the way home from school so he got it as far as my house and left it there. Chris, Hodgie, Bert, Stach and Mart spent the evening fixing it.
14th September 1974	Crosby Stills Nash and Young at Wembley. We got to the station at about 9.00 and met Mart then got to Wembley and had to wait about an hour and a half for the doors to open. We got good seats when we went in. Jesse Colin Young came on at 12 and was good, followed by the Band. Then Tom Scott and the LA Express at 4 and Joni Mitchell who was brilliant. CSNY played from 6.30 until 10 and were excellent. They did Ohio as an encore and the whole place went mad, all 72,000 of us!
15th September 1977	Went to the White Hart for a drink although I spend more on the dog fight machine than on drink! I will be glad when they start making them to plug into your TV set and I can save some money. We went to Uriah Heep's for a drink afterwards'
16th September 1974	We drove all the way up to Manchester from Nottingham to get tickets for Genesis at the Palace Theatre. We managed to get them OK and then went for a walk round the University and down to UMIST. We had a leisurely drive back through the Peak District and stopped for a drink and a look at Matlock illuminations. When we got back we went straight down to the Marquis.
17th September 1971	At lunchtime we walked round and discovered that Coral fancies one of our lot but she wont say who it is. We went to the pictures and saw the Battle of Britain which was excellent
18th September 1976	Jude had stayed over last night and we didn't go to bed until 4.45 so we got up late. Played with my cousins in the morning and listened to music until lunchtime. Morris and Karen came round for us about 8.30 and we went into town to the Black Boy for a pint, where we met Don and Jenny. Chris and Teresa met us and then we all went off to Isabella's. The bouncer stopped us and asked how old we were, but we got in. It was only a pound to get in which was cheaper than Scamps and drinks were cheaper too. Chris gave us a lift home as he had to take Theresa back to Newark and Jude fell asleep in the back of the van.
19th September 1974	Went to the Marquis at night with Dio, Grat, Mop, Geoff and Bert. Afterwards they all went back to Dio's to play cards but I was tired so I went home.
20th September 1977	Went into town in the daytime as Andy is down from Wigan. We had an afternoon in Debenhams and got a present from the perfumery. At night we went to the Bikiki wine bar for the first time - nice, cheap sangria! After that it was Uriah Heeps and Isabellas. There was supposed to be a comedy strip tease act on at Isabella's but there was not much striptease and only just a bit more comedy! Danced with a very nice girl who was called Chantal and was going away to drama school.
21st September 1973	Went to town with Tats and bought a Don McLean poster and Lord of the Rings. Met Truss on the bus and he said they were all going to the Marquis tonight. At the Marquis we decided we would have a party tomorrow night. Then we went for a Chinese and took it back to my house to eat
22nd September 1973	Diane rang and said we could have the village hall for a party tonight. Went to the rugby in the morning and saw the first XV beat Pavement 22-11. In the afternoon it was raining but Bert and I went down to Lowdham on our bikes to tell Gabbie about the party and to give Mick Nutting a record. We met Stu in Burton Joyce and he agreed to come and bring his disco equipment tonight. Gabbie's mum said she couldn't come out tonight as she is babysitting. <p> At night Gabbie rang and said she could come after all so we went to fetch her. The party was crap though as everyone was at Jackie Parr's party in Lowdham. We had a good night though and went back to Diane's until about 2.
23rd September 1972	Played the Old Boys at hockey in the morning in a friendly hockey match. Some friendly! Brodie lifted the ball straight up into Mick Nutting's nose and broke it. We lost 6 nil! Developed and printed some photos in the afternoon and then we all went over to Wiff's house at night.
24th September 1974	We went to Liz Morgan's party at night. Everyone got very drunk! John Panter had one of his fits and wouldn't let go of Jackie who went hysterical. Geoff and I walked home with Dennis and we took some photographs.
25th September 1971	Rugby match against High pavement and we lost 14 9. It was the Autumn Fair at school so we we spent the day following girls while they followed us! At night we rode round on Stach's scooter and followed yet more girls!

26th September 1977	Took Dennis and Deke to Mr Millers club as it was a Monday night. Dennis and Deke danced all night while Mop and I chatted to the girls. We had eleventeen drinks and got a taxi home!
27th September 1974	Bert and I went to town in the morning and got back about 1. Dennis and Deke came up and we cooked dinner for them. We were supposed to be going to play golf but it was pouring down with rain so we stayed in. At night I stayed in and packed, ready to back to Uni, and then rang Ed and Diane. The others went to the Cisco fancy dress party.
28th September 1973	My last night in Nottingham before setting off to start at Manchester University! In the daytime we went round to Corals to drop off Tats Beatles White Album and then down to Gabbies to take her all my records. Her mum was surprised to see us as she thought I had come to see Gabbie but she wasn't there. We went to the Marquis for my last night of course, with Grat, Dio, Olly, Webby and Bert.
29th September 1973	My first day at University! Trev and the boys gave me a lift up to Manchester and we found UMIST where my hall was, to drop off my luggage. Then we went down to the Union coffee bar and had cheap sandwiches and coffee. It was throwing it down with rain so Trev and the others left. I went in to the Geography department and started talking to some third years and Jim. We went to the bar, met Mike and Tony and played table football against them. After that we met up in the cartography studio, had our names checked off and boarded the bus to the Lake District. We stopped at the services where I got photos taken for my union card and then arrived at Newlands. I was in a dormitory with people I hadn't met yet but Rob, Doug and Mike were OK. We went to the pub at night and had our first experience of the MUGs drinking and singing!
30th September 1977	Down the Marquis at night with Johnno, Dennis and Deke. Kerr was there as usual. We went to Fiskerton first and played table skittles and arrows. Went to Scamps afterwards but it wasn't very good.