Monday 18 February 1985

Cold, Windy
Mum went to Work, Played
with Mark, Watched t.v.
Half term at school.

Was this one of those half term days when you didn’t do much but the day flew by anyway?

Tuesday 19 February 1985

Windy, Cold
Went to Nans, Played with
Philip and had some pancakes.
Watched television.

My cousin Philip, born in 1968. He would have been 16. He lived in Oxford with his parents and older brother. Were they also present on this visit? Why didn’t I mention them?
So glad someone made pancakes. The toppings were less sophisticated back then. It was sugar or a squeezy Jif lemon, or both if you were lucky.

Wednesday 20 February 1985

Cold,
Went to Hannahs for the
day, had a bike ride.
Watched t.v. Dad went out.

Was this when Hannah Cundall lived in Gurnard, or was she still near the Stag Inn on the way to Newport? So glad I got a day out of the house. I’m feeling oppressed by the monotony of my life back then. Did I feel that way when I was 9?

Thursday 21 February 1985

Dull, Cold,
Went to Southsea with
Nan, Mark, Mum and Dad.
Watched t.v.

Two consecutive days out of my house! Going to Southsea would have meant taking the Hovercraft from Ryde. Did we go shopping? This was many years before they opened Gunwharf Quays. Perhaps we lingered in the amusements near Clarence Pier.
Interesting that my nan came too. Did my mum feel she couldn’t cope without my nan alongside her?