Five-Year Diary: Monday 1st March 1976
Winder House, Sedbergh
I had a rotten night. My nose was completely blocked and I kept waking up, mouth open like a stranded fish. By morning my throat felt raw and my head thick, as if stuffed with cotton wool. Not ideal.
A couple of the boys have gone off on their Confirmation retreat. It’s supposed to be spiritual. It will be my turn next year but I shan’t go. I don’t believe in God – an atheist. We still have Scripture (aka Bible studies as a class), have morning assembly in Powell Hall and evening assembly in our relative Houses. That’s too much religion. I avoid next year’s retreat – just as well as it ended up a booze-up fest.
Chemistry: The valency test came back. I did well. Very well, actually. I had written a few strategic abbreviations on my fingers before we went in — just in case. It was that blasted multiple-choice sheet: twenty questions, no working, all speed and recall. I’d revised at dawn that morning, half asleep but determined. Worth it.
Flu
Three boys who’ve been off for a fortnight with flu are back, looking pale and thinner. There’s been illness everywhere — masters too. I’ve got a sore throat myself and can feel something lurking.
English: We copied down spelling words — dreary — and then went through Chapters 4 and 5 of Silas Marner. The master has a heavy cold and sounds like a bassoon. I got my marks back — high, apparently — but only 10th overall, which I cannot understand after the effort I put in. Slightly maddening.
Latin: ghastly. I’m slipping and can feel it. The verbs blur.
Maths: better. Transects, then we began actual O Level questions. That at least feels like progress.
Lunch.
Swimming this afternoon. I felt drained, arms heavy, turns sluggish. I’m not firing properly. Not 100%.
I hope this cold doesn’t settle in.
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