31st October 1979

Wednesday 31
Granny's Funeral 11.20 am
= nice funeral
Freda, Edna & Bella went
Had a meal in the Brookhouse near Penny Lane
Meal = lovely
Had a really good laugh (It sounds macabre to have a good laugh at a funeral, but Granny would have appreciated it)
Went back to Auntie Freda's
Phoned Sam he was happy as usual ???


Well folks... Happy Halloween

An evening ahead of me of knocks on the door whilst the dog goes ballistic ... deep joy ...I can't wait.

Don't get me wrong as my teen was growing up we did bobbin' apples, carved out the pumpkin, lit it and put it in the window, made pumpkin soup, dressed up and played scary games but I have never allowed her to go 'Trick or Treating' as I think it is like begging ....

Apparently that is where it has it's roots. The tradition is from All Soul’s Day parades in early England. The poor citizens would line up on the sides of the street as the richer members of the community paraded by and threw them pastries called soul cakes. The starving citizens would accept these cakes in exchange for praying for the richer class’s dead family members.

It is also T- shirt Friday over at Nurse Myras. Not much story behind this T-shirt except I got it in the sale for a fiver not long ago. My teen insisted I buy it 'Go on Mum live a little'
I do like it and it is slightly Halloweenish with the bats and vampire robots

(& the bruise on my neck is fading nicely where the vampires got me last week)

From 1973

29th & 30th October 1979

knitted boobies courtesy of http://www.nanasknittingshop.com

Monday 29

Got up at 10.00
Did some art and some knitting (I seem to be doing a lot of art then .. I wonder what it was??)
Nothing much doing today
Sam phoned me from work in the afternoon
Fi came round in the pm
Phoned Sam back

Tuesday 30

Got up at 9.30

Went to the bank and drew £5.00 out

Got my train ticket to Stafford

Sam phoned at 7.00 pm

He said I can't go to his tomorrow

I have to wait until Friday
= I am so disappointed

It is currently Breast Awareness Month and Olga and Claire have been women on a mission to promote this .... WTG girls. It is such an important mission. We gals should check our boobies for any unwanted visitors.. and I am not talking about the beer google type visitors (although a stranger may see something you don't!! If you know what I mean???)


As part of their campaign the gals have been trying to encourage us girlies to paint our boobies and squish them onto a piece of paper..... fabulous idea hee hee :-)

Due to lack of mobility with my right arm just now it is a little hard to co-ordinate this ... so I hope the girls will forgive me as I have had to rely on another form of 'paint' to show my support

Please follow the 'Smoosh your Boobies' instructions here

you know it makes sense

28th October 1979

Sunday 28
Got up at 12.00 (oh my word those glorious teen days of lying in bed 'til lunch time.. lol)
Phoned Sam
he was off to the pub
Did some art and some knitting
Fi phoned
Sam phoned later
He had been drinking (never! He had been to the pub doh!)

Once my shoulder gets a bit better I will start scanning and getting more 70s orientated.
My shoulder is incredibly sore and I have some fantastic bruising appearing including a huge one on my neck where I guess they injected the nerve blocker.... I know the holes in my shoulder are getting better as they are now starting to itch..... eeek!!

So have you been down to the woods recently? Have you seen the 3 bears who blog as 'Old Teddy'?
Please do pop along and take a look.
There is Busy Bear (or Busy Bossy Boffin Bear)
Grumpy Ted (or as he likes to be referred to in his dotage 'Mr. G. Teddington esq'! tsk!)
& Snowy Bear (or SnOwY bEaR)

They have invited blogsphere visitors to post their stories of their beloved toys that they grew up with..... it doesn't matter if you don't still have your precious toy, the memory of them is enough nor do you need to have a blog.

You can also adopt a toy and have your special day remembered by the bears. There is loads to see and do.

Currently they have a visitor over there who is looking for a new home.... a Jolly Jack Tar who has spent years at sea and is now looking for a new home on land anywhere in the world ........

I do hope you will take part and give a bear a new home :-)

26th & 27th October 1979

Friday 26
Half term
Bought a woollen waistcoat £3.99
Granny died last night at 11.20
Sam phoned at 4.45
Haven't heard from it since

Saturday 27
Sam phoned this morning
Went into Southport with my brother
Bought a pair of mules for £6.99
Wrote to my other brother, Corinna and 'J'
Sam rang twice
Once from the Vines & once at the Chinese chippy

Arrr my dear Granny. Born in 1890 in Scotland, orphaned by the time she was 10 years old.
Lived in England for 50 years but had the strongest Scottish accent still as an old lady. She couldn't cook to save her life and read peoples fortunes through tea leaves.... loved Andy Stewart and gave you Dundee biscuits when you visited her

This was the last photo of her taken in 1977 during the Queens Silver Jubilee celebrations

For those of you who don't know who Andy Stewart is ... here he is.
If you can stand it that is? .... I so detested Andy Stewart after having been forced to watch this type of stuff particularly on the Christmas and New Year programmes as a kid in the 60s, when dear Granny came to stay.

25th October 1979

Thursday 25
Cooked at 8.30 = ok
Skived Business Studies
Baby sitting tonight
Finished essay & knitting
Home at 12.30 am
Sam phoned me whilst I was babysitting
I think he is missing me







My oh my..... who would have thought it from this humble beginning back in April 2007, following a change in career I would have published 500 posts ..... I am so amazed... shocked and stunned...............

So cheers & a big thank you to everyone who I have met in blogsphere (& Bill for dragging me into this) it's been such good fun and you are all wonderful....

heres to the next 500

70s xx

24th October 1979

Wednesday 24
Letter of 'J' ('J' was now at Manchester University studying art... how envious was I?)
Skived off recreation to do Sociology essay
Couldn't finish it though
Dungarees I ordered arrived = nice - cost £11.79 (the scary thing is I think they were these...OMG... looking at the straight legs these were definitely late 70s!!)

Phoned Sam His sister has passed her driving test

Knitting 80s style

I was going to make some wise crack comment about 'what is with her hair!' Then remembered this 80s photo.............

Mind you it was a great style ... just wash 'n' wear .. unlike now where I spend ages in the morning straightening and styling and by the time I get to the train station it looks worse than that .... lol

23rd October 1979

Tuesday 23
Full day at college
Fi = ill today
'J' rang again
Had a good old natter (nothing changes in 29 years we still have good old phone natters now)
Sam phoned
He said he is tired and fed up with work
Finished right front of waistcoat

How very ... WTF??

Some classic 70s fashion along with Pans People strutting their stuff...

22nd October 1979 & a Wednesday wheeze

Gawd blimey what is this outfit about ??

Monday 22

Back at college

Feel a bit weak

Only in for 2 hours

Went to night school
'J' rang but I was out
Phoned Sam he was in one of his usual moods

Do you know that there are some doubting Thomas's about that think I have not had the op as no one has seen me .... see comment 6 here.....tsk! lol
mmmmmm .....You know who you are !!!
Here you go ... one with the arrow telling them where to prod about and the other with me trussed up like a chicken... happy now ;-)
'

If that is not funny enough .... I think we are feeling the impackets of the credit crunchies

Does one require chips with that?

8.15 from Paddington

new Apple iphone

& my favourite 2012 Olympics becomes It's Knockout

21st October 1979 & THANK YOU <3

Sunday 21

Got up at 10.00

Knitted, ironed and wrote some letters

Watch TV all day & night = boring

Sam phoned at 11.00

Surely that moustache is drawn on???

what can I say? I am sitting here at 1.45 am UK suffering what I can only think is post op insomnia...... I was never any good at having a nap in the aftenoon and then trying to sleep later on.

I felt wasted at around 23.00 hours, now my eyes are heavy but my brain is buzzing.....got to be the coktail they gave me earlier....... Prepare for an Oscar type speech typed left handed... this may take some time

Today and the past week have given me a reminder about how grateful I am for the circle of people I have in my life...... the amount of kindess and genuine concern for my welfare has been simply breath everywhere I have turned.....

you dear bloggers who have posted me messages here, there'n' everywhere ... you are beautiful crazy people and love you all xx I am going to make a special award for you all but that may take a few days......... watch this blog!!

a big thank you to all my non blog owner readers... who should have a blog and would have great fun....... thankyou for your support xx

my 'pinch flesh friend' who blogs...... Annie Mouse who is such a star ... I wouldn't be without her as a bessy mate xxxx

thank you to the Mad Chicken Woman who was my personal taxi driver today.... another star x

& of course my teen and family thank you xxxx

my speech, however, wouldnot be complete without thanking the team of wonderful people who cared for me Royal Hope Hospital, Salford..... they were all fantastic... the NHS may have its problems but not today.

The nurses that saw me in at 7 am and the nurses that fed me saw me out at 7pm; the surgeon that sorted me out taking care to draw an 'up arrow' in black marker pen on my right arm so there was no mistake which shoulder to poke into; his great skill/work and decision making which means my recovery time is cut in half to 4 weeks yipee; the 4 guys who put me to sleep whilst making me giggle and made sure that I woke up again... now I have it on good authority that Holby City/ Casualty isn't true to life lol (one I do recall had lovely blue eyes though.... and there was me with no make up on and certainly not looking 70s best.... hey ho)

Thankyou all

this post is scheduled to go at 6 am... it is now 2.30am... my it takes time to type left handed but never too much time to say than you xxx

20th October 1979

Saturday 20

Got up at 10.00

Got dressed at 2.00

Sam is at Donnington Park - Rally Sprint

Watched it on TV

Started to knit a waistcoat (hee hee I can knit....)
Phoned Sam at 7.00

can you ever imagine doing a work out in a knitted suit???? Fabulous lol

19th October 1979

Friday 19

Woke up at 10.00

Sam phoned at 11.00

Talked for about 20 minutes

Feel a lot better today

But my neck and shoulders ache (how uncanny I certainly will have shoulder ache tomorrow lol)

Sam phoned at 8.00

He was going off to the Woolpack

Well the big shop is done, the fridge and freezer is stuffed to the top. The house is reasonably tidy but it is clean. The ironing has not been done .. I have run out of energy now.

At least I will get a bit of a nap tomorrow.

I am going to attempt to forward post a few pages of 70s and I will pop in when I can in a few days ...... Annie Mouse will put a comment up tomorrow to let you know how I am :-)

The knitting patterns over the next few days are courtesy of my niece. She is such a star, she got a couple of 80s knitting pattern books from a wool shop near where she lives... she tells me she can't go past a wool shop or charity shop anymore with out thinking about me lol .......there are some classic patterns hee hee

18th October 1979

oh so cute but would you dress your boy in this?

Thursday 18
Off college as I have been sick through out the night
I feel rotten
Stayed in bed all day
Eaten nothing
Sam rang at 11.15 pm
Miss him

Gawd I hope history doesn't repeat itself on this day 29 years on!! ... coz no op for me if I am sick on Monday ..MRSA and novovirus et al

today I happened upon a treasure trove of books (a book store road side .. I feel these guys take advantage of house sale!) .. and picked up this

An annual that was sooo innocent that 30 years ago had the term 'bimbo' as a cutey penguin!

however this penguin had some interesting pals............

16th 17th October 1979

&
you know I saw some ponchos for sale in this wool just the other week... frightening (Annie Mouse will vouch for me on this)!!
Tuesday 16
College at 10.00
Made liver and orange etc = yuk (yes no matter how you dress up liver, liver is still yuk.. don't know what the etc was though?)
Bought a black velveteen handbag = perfectly trendy (was that sarcasm?
I have no idea?)
Phoned Sam but he was at footy
Granny = still the same
Phoned Uncle George (yes I was 17 and I had to phone my uncle (my dads brother, my Granny's 2nd son, in California as my Mum is so shy and was uncomfortable make the call. The last time I had spoken to him was in 1965 ish when he and his family left the UK for a new life in America.. I remember the call very well as I had expected to hear an English accent but was met with a very American one.. it was all very bizarre for a teen)

Wednesday 17
Played volleyball this afternoon
Boring day at college
Watched TV all night
Rang Sam at 11.00

I picked up a copy of 'The Week' a couple of weeks ago and only got round to reading it today on the train... (great publication btw)
My oh my the Germans have the right idea about knitting

Under the heading 'IT MUST BE TRUE... I read it in the tabloids'

An 89 year old vandal from Germany has been sentenced to knit sweaters for her victims.
Heidi Kohl was caught slashing the tyres of a dozen cars, because she felt too many where being parked in her neighbourhood.
She was fined , but as she has no money, offered to knit jumpers instead.
"when she has knitted the sweaters, the matter wil be over for us" said prosecutor Helmut Bleh

15th October 1979

can't believe just how many yellow perils there have been

Monday 16
22 months (the amount of time I had been going out with Sam)
Got B+ for Sociology essay
Sam phoned 3x
Granny is seriously ill in hospital
Sam went to see the Boomtown Rats in concert
Didn't go to night school as I am knackered

Well it came today..... the letter......confirmation I am having my operation on Monday.
Got to be there for 7 am and take a dressing gown and slippers.... SLIPPERS??? I don't own a pair. Maybe my teen will lend me her BagPuss ones

Teen has just 'fessed that isn't an option.... as the pup ate one, I suppose it isn't a good idea to hop around a hospital ward after an operation. And the pup won't lend me hers either

So this weekends quest (to add to the huge list of quests.. get halloween stuff in (been coerst into a teen halloween meet), fill the freezer, etc etc )... is find a suitable pair of slipperware

No time to knit some


ooo they light up ... cooooool

seriously coool but maybe not

awww how cute

Very practical to get me home ... not sure about the Munchkins though

Gorgeous glass slippers ... a tad impracticable though I feel they would be slippy on hospital floors


Now we are talking.... not in the slightest bit impracticable (no I have my fingers in my ears and can't hear you lol) ... there is some fur/feathers to keep my feet warm and they are not as high as the glass slippers

A couple of late editions from the loverly Nurse Myra... thank you ..... I think they may raise a bit more than eyebrows lol :-)

13th & 14th October 1979

who said you had to be down and out gorgeous to be a model??

Saturday 13
Baby sitting 8pm
Got up at 9.30
Went to Liverpool at 11.00
Bought a black pair of shoes £12.99
Sam bought maroon kecks (trousers) and a fancy shirt (seems like a nice boy!) (I obviously thought they looked a bit effeminate!!)
Baby sat 'til 2.00 am
Duncan = stoned (Duncan was the father of the family I sat for and 'stoned' to me then meant 'very drunk')

Sunday 14
Got up at 11.45 am
Went for a walk
Stayed in all afternoon
Weather = hot & sunny (a bit like the weekend & yesterday here.. it is warm today but absolutely persisting it down)
Had a silly row but we sorted it out
He left at 7.30 pm
Miss him
My brother rang for 12 minutes (what is with that did I time him on my Timex ???)

Well not working on the Saturday means one of 2 things.. I was hungover or I had finished working in the out door cafe for the summer season!

Looking through to the back of the diary it would seem the latter.... how organised was I then I wrote down each week what I had been paid. I did get another job for the winter working in a boutique... so my yearly salary that year was £398.50.

3 of my old diaries are Trade Union diaries that my mum must have given me to fill in, as she worked in a similar trade.
In 1975 the job I do now paid between £4900 & £5900 per year.
In 1978 between £5937 & £7032
and in 1980 between £8600 & £10,500

In 1982 I worked as casual employment with my Mum and earned £50/week (£2300/annum) shows how low down the grading structure I was..... but I suppose it is all relative of course.

Anyway no preamble just some classic Bowie from 1979 ... fabulous... love it!

12th October 1979

Friday 12
Fi's 18th Birthday party
Hair 1.30pm
Over slept this morning
Had hair trimmed slightly
Fi's party = very good
Had a row with Sam
Both = being silly
Had a good winge
Everything is ok now
Home at 12.30

This photo was taken at that party .... sat on the sink of the ladies room. Toilet roll put over the mirror to stop the flash bouncing back. I have been looking for the original photo that I scanned in but I guess it has been filed away again..
just as well really lol

I did, however, find this one of Sam.... noted on the back 'Sam at Fi's 18th 1979' & yes it was taken in the gents........

Dear Nurse Myra e mailed me yesterday enclosing a lingerie knitting pattern and it got me to thinking that I had a really old lingerie knitting pattern that my Mum found hidden in an old book

who are they trying to kid in the 50s... 'for the fuller figure?' wish I had a fuller figure like that!!! [although her boobs are a bit pancake!]

My oh My how things have changed some 50 odd years on ;-)

11th October 1979

Thursday 11
Tutor back
Tutorial cancelled (hee hee irony )

Fi is still going on about Chris

Nearly finished my dress

It looks a bit formal

Skived Business Studies

Phoned Sam at 11.00

he sounded in an ok mood

I was sent these today by e mail.... my they made me giggle. It is actual stuff found in papers and the net ... I love them :-)

10th October 1979

Wednesday 10
Wages £6.00
Phone woman I baby sit for (forgot)... (I was dozey then too!)
Only at college for 40 minutes cos of various lessons cancelled
Did some Sociology
Phoned Sam
he was in a quiet mood
He didn't speak much

Thank goodness it is Friday. I have had a busy week behind me and a busy weekend ahead. Catching up with the housey type duties and a meal over at Southport for my brothers birthday on Sunday. Only a week to the op... so loads to still get straight.

Anyway it is the weekend so time for some disco but first did you know that space invaders was first exhibited at a trade show in London in 1979. I so loved that pesky game.Only because I could do it!! lol

before that we only had the tennis game
My how things have come on since then :-)

So back to disco.. it has to be a favourite of mine tonight 'Disco Inferno' so great to dance to after a hard week at work ... the world maybe imploding in a credit crunch but we can still toe tap ( Fiddle while Rome burn that is what I say lol)............ have a great weekend ... oh talking about the credit crunch it is Somnambulistics birthday today.. he could use some disco.. I don't think he visits 70s .. but he is certainly worth a visit......

6th, 7th, 8th & 9th October 1979

the shape of things to come

Saturday 6
Worked 10.40 -5.55
Sam met me from work
he tackled a lad nicking crisps (always a trouble at the cafe.. lots of theft)
Went to Fi's house all evening
Fi and Chris had a good sort out and are now on a casual basis
Stayed the night at hers

Sunday 7
Bro's 20th birthday
Met my brother for a drink at the Railway pub for a Happy Birthday drink at 12.30
Stayed in all afternoon
Sam did some of his correspondence course
Wrote to 'J'
Sam left at 7.30
Miss him

Monday 8
My nephews 4th Birthday (omg he has 2 kids of his own now older than 4!)
Only had 2 hours of lessons today
As my tutor was off
Bought a dress pattern £1.49
Went to night school = good
Sam phoned at lunch time & at 10.45 pm
He'd been playing footy at Keele University

Tuesday 9

No cookery as lecturer was away

Home at 3.30

Started to make my dress

Fi came round before the Tech do at Tiffany's

She's midering about Chris

Sam phoned at 9.30 pm and 11.00 pm

he'd been to the Saracens

Put pink streaks in my hair . (wow 29 years on and still love them lol due for another set of pink bits at the end of the month :-) )

Apologies for the lack of posts this week. There are a number of factors -

1. I am sure the world is turning faster and the 'authorities' have not put it in the press yet. I get home from work between 18.00 & 19.00 hours.... before I know it it is 22.00 hours. And all I have done in that time is cook tea, wash up, speak to my Mum, walk the dog, put washing in, take washing out etc etc

2. My internet provider is intermittently awful

3. My old boy computer is loosing its virtual memory ... old computer home for this old friend soon I think?... gosh I hope it can't read what I have just written!

4. Lappy top is permanently stuck to teens lap

5. Trying to get ahead of myself at home before I am a one armed bandit for a while (got a letter from the hospital today that says I will probably be in a sling for 6 weeks.. not the 8 weeks that he told me yipeee)

6. Then there are these guys ..... lovely cuddly teddies with tales to tell. Trying to get a bear to stand up in pink satin shoes is not easy and because of 2 & 3 above not been able to download them..... what should take seconds takes ages and I lose patience ... pop along they would love to chat :-)

However, all seems a bit more stable tonight on the PC front ... long may it remain

4th & 5th October 1979

there is just no way I would wear this!! Would any one?
Thursday 4
Boring day at college
Finished at 4.00
Went to Tiffanys for my brothers birthday = not too good
Got a bit drunk
Went with my cousin and his girlfriend
Sam phoned but I was out
Home at 11.45 pm

Friday 5
Skived off Sociology
Due to hangover (I thought I was only a 'bit' drunk ... I think it was more of a case of couldn't be bothered!)
Sam arrived at 7.20 pm
Went to Fi's
Then on to the Sundowner (great nightclub) = good
Sam and I seem to be getting on ok
Home at 1.30 am


What a busy weekend ... drinks with friends, generally catching up on stuff and blitzing the house pre-op (still haven't done the ironing though)... oh and sorting out Teen with a new bed ... dismantling the old single one and building a new double one.. it looks a bit tight but I took the photo from her walk in wardrobe that was once an airing cupboard so loads of space ... she is delighted with the results (so am I) behold a very tidy teenagers bedroom.. a rare photo indeed

Just to give you the heads up Tomorrow 6th October 2008.. 6 am GMT ..... there will be some new kids on the block or should I say bears on the block ... go take a look

you know you want to :-) and please join in ... just click here

3rd October 1979

Wednesday 3
College at 11.00
Both me and Fi = pissed off (Language 70steen!!)
Went and played volleyball
£6.00 wages
Went for a meal at the Morris Dancers = nice
Sam phoned 2 x
he was really ok towards me

Hey it Friday night ... time to chill and boogie ...or maybe it should be shoes instead ?? How did we walk in these??
But how cool where they all the same .. I loved them ;-)
(erm but maybe that is why have such a glass back now??)

1st & 2nd October 1979

Monday 1
Good day at college
Only in for 3 hours
Went to night school = ok
Fi came round this afternoon
Phoned Sam
He was in a better mood than last night
Just as well (that's my girl lol )

Tuesday 2
Fi's 18th
College at 10.00
Went boozing for Fi's birthday = a bit tiddly
Went back to hers
Chris gave me a lift home
Had a long chat with him about him and Fi
Mar etc had gone to my Aunties in Halewood
Put phone down on Sam
Tired of his attitude (oops that good mood didn't last long ..)


Tonight on the One Show they did a little piece on 1977. The time of the Queens Silver Jubilee and Virginia Wade won Wimbledon... humpf they never mentioned that I went to Wimbledon that year. I can't believe they never included that piece of memorabilia.

The crux of the piece revolved around this girl. One of the most famous posters ever.
I so remember it being everywhere you turned back then ... and in the 30 years that have passed it is still popular.
It has always been a mystery as to who the model was ... it was the photographer's (Martin Elliot) girlfriend at the time, they borrowed some equipment and she couldn't even play tennis He was still not for revealing her name when asked today.

If you want a poster of the tennis-girl it will cost you £300 today ... wow!!! I bet there are few chaps kicking themselves that they didn't look after their icon better!

I am sure Daddy Papersurfer will do a similar pose for a lot less ......
I could knit him a tennis dress
see I can be very very nice :-)