Five Year Diary: It’s days like this I wish I’d written properly instead of just firing off bullet points like I was logging cargo. I must have thought I’d remember it all. I don’t. Not exactly. Only flashes.
German was boring. It always is. Same textbook. Same droning voice. Windows high up like a monastery. You can’t even look out properly to distract yourself.
French was Petit Nicolas for prep. That’s at least readable. The boy gets into scrapes. Feels closer to real life than German ever does.
Geography test back: 9/10 on seasons. I know this stuff. Tilt of the earth. Angle of incidence. Nothing mysterious about it. Break was one pear and one coffee. Trying to feel older than I am.
Maths was odd — 23/22. No idea how you get more than full marks. Mr Hedges probably gave a bonus for method. I’ll take it. Physics was some prep left over from last week. Can’t even remember what. Circuits? Convection? All blurs into chalk dust.
Teeth: Wrote to Mr Stubley about my brace. Teeth again. Always something being adjusted, tightened, corrected. Also wrote to J. Nine weeks now. That feels substantial. I try to say interesting things but mostly end up describing my day. I wonder if she notices.
And then — TR. Still thinking about her. Have been for two years. Since the IAPS cruise on the SS Nevassa. I can still see her leaning on the rail with the sea behind her. Ridiculous, really. I have a girlfriend. But memory doesn’t obey rules.
Lunch was pancakes.
Some of the idiots went pot-holing near Ingleborough. Rather them than me.
Running
The important bit: we did part of the Ten Mile Run. This is how they’re introducing it — gradually, like boiling a frog. We started near Danny Bridge and ran hard from there with Chaps pacing us. He’s infuriatingly steady. Doesn’t look like he’s trying. I pushed it. Felt the lungs open and burn at the same time. This is serious now. The Ten Mile isn’t just legend anymore. It’s coming.
Drank loads when I got back. Could feel salt on my face.
Lecture
Then these useless notes: “Life saving.” Was there a lecture? By a woman? We barely have any female teachers. Maybe it was about sun protection? Or a talk Chaps gave Charles? Or something called Open Arm? No idea.
I should write properly.
I probably won’t.
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