Five-Year Diary: 27th February 1976: Woke up and it was really bright, proper sunshine through the dorm windows. Thought it might stay like that, but of course it didn’t. Clouded over before long. It always does.
We did some antics with clothing after breakfast. Hid MW’s pyjamas outside the dorm window on the sill. He didn’t notice at first which made it even better. Nearly fell off trying to reach them. Collected gym stuff after. Couldn’t find my swimming trunks anywhere. Turns out D had them for some reason. He said it was an accident but I’m not sure.
More people are off at prayers and morning assembly in Powell Hall. I was late and got told off. Not properly shouted at, but a disappointed voice is worse.
Divinity first.
Wrote on the desk a bit when Sir wasn’t looking. J and I started carving something, but didn’t get far. I changed it to “Elizabeth” because it looked better than what we had before.
Played basketball and then soccer. Wasn’t terrible at either, which is something.
At break, I had four biscuits and coffee.
Books in my jumble. Can’t find half of what I need when I need it.
Geography was alright. Set us some prep. No marks in yet for the order, which is unfair because I think I’m reasonably orderly.
In Latin, we mostly wrote nonsense.
Someone put: “If you think Chaps is cooler than Wedd please tick.” Then someone ticked Chaps. I might have put an X. Not saying where.
Lunch was fine. Don’t remember what we had.
Went up Higher Winder.
I think it must be The Calf, the big hill higher than Winder. It made escape feel futile; there was nowhere to go. Up here, it wasn’t any kind of escape: it was cold, wet and windy and populated by wet sheep.
Played Love Story on the cassette player later. It makes everything feel dramatic, even though nothing actually happens here.
Saw EL in the corridor. When you spot a girl your age, it’s strange. You suddenly remember there are girls in the world and that you are stuck here without them. I write to several I’ve met over the years: my female penpals in Edinburgh, Sussex and down the road at Casterton
Physics was a talk about convection. Water circulates. That sort of thing.
Did geography prep, mostly revision.
Read some Tolstoy. ‘A Russian Proprietor’. It’s serious, but I think I liked it. England five hundred years ago.
Maths.
Supper.
Wrote out songs. For evening prayers? There was only ever one: a hymn, a reading, a prayer, roll call then bed.
More maths.
Had carrots. Don’t know why I’m writing that but I did.
3-4-6-11-31-178. Not sure what that means now. Probably important at the time.
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