Mum – At Dorothy’s. Helped her write letters of thanks for sympathy etc. Went to “pub” in evening. I had 2 bitter lemons. It seems so pointless just drinking! 1T 1S.
Roger – I had a tetanus injection and a polio sugar lump this morning. I think the sugar lump was worse. At lunch-time I finished my Economics essay. This evening I went to see “Earthquake” with Gary and Andrew. We nearly didn’t get in as the ABC does not admit anybody under the age of 16 after 7pm unless accompanied by an adult. However as Gary is 16 we managed it. I am hopefully going to see “Rollerball” at the Odeon next week. I am going to Andrew’s party tomorrow. Helen is going with me. I have quite a lot of work to do a) English essay b) Write up Chemistry experiments c) German questions d)Soc Econ revision sheet.
Notes
Visiting Dorothy Taylor
Mum was visiting her friend Dorothy Taylor. Her daughter Heather had been killed in a road accident in February, see Chapter 116. Mum helped Dorothy write letters thanking people for their sympathy etc. In the evening, they went to the pub. As mum was virtually teetotal at this point, she found going to the pub just to drink pointless!
Antidepressants
Mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. At this point, she was not taking antidepressants every day but, on this occasion, she took one tablet of amitriptyline (Tryptizol, T) at night.
Senokot
Mum noted taking one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation, see Chapter 116. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
My Diary
From this point, for most of 1976 and 1977, I have the diaries that I was keeping. I was 15 at this point.
Immunisations
I noted having tetanus and polio immunisations, see Chapter 116. I found the polio sugar lump worse than the tetanus injection.
Economics Essay
I was at school and one of the subjects I was studying at O level was social economics, see Chapter 118. I noted that I finished my [social] economics essay at lunch-time.
“Earthquake“
In the evening, I went with Gary Wood and either Andrew Ellson or Andrew Sheppard to see “Earthquake” at the ABC. This was a well-known 1974 disaster movie directed by Mark Robson and starring Charlton Heston and Ava Gardner.
I noted that we nearly didn’t get in because the ABC did not admit anyone under 16 after 7pm unless accompanied by an adult. This was a cinema rule not linked directly to the film certification as “Earthquake” was rated A, that is only unsuitable for young children. However, as Gary was 16, they let us in!
“Rollerball“
I also noted that I was hoping to go to see “Rollerball”at the Odeon the following week. This was a 1975 film directed and produced by Norman Jewison and starring James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck, Moses Gunn and Ralph Richardson.
Andrew’s Party
I noted I was going to Andrew’s party the next day, see Chapter 122. I knew a number of Andrews at school. It was probably not Andrew Smith as, for some reason, he was always known as “Eggy”. Among my friends called Andrew, I think it was more likely that this party was Andrew Ellson’s than Andrew Sheppard’s but I don’t know for sure.
Helen probably refers to Helen Dendy. I recall having a crush on her and dancing with her at a Christmas party. However, I don’t recall that we ever “went out” as such largely because I was too terrified to ask her.
List of Work
I listed my outstanding homework, see Chapter 118. These included an English essay, writing up my chemistry experiments, German questions and a social economics revision sheet.