My Chinese food at Keele was not quite as OTT as this picture, 26 years later, of me in Dali, Yunnan Province
My early February diary is silent on the more consequential things that were going on – me starting my “career” as a Concourse gossip columnist and political machination-ista.
I guess I wrote my first H Ackgrass column in the early days of February 1984. Around the same time, I must have “forged” Alan Gorman’s (aka The Great Yorkshire Pudding’s) spoof candidacy for president of the union – another matter that I wrote about some while ago:
But my diary is mostly concerned with work, distractions from work, food, health and going out.
Thursday 2 February 1984 Again, did a little work – went to J-Soc in eve – did some work after -> Bobby came over.
Friday 3 February 1984 Tried to do some work today – went to film -> bar for a while – then did a little work.
Saturday 4 February 1984 Went shopping today – did some work (not much) – cooked Bobby a meal in Eve (went OTT – very nice).
I have written elsewhere about my strides with cooking – not least Chinese cooking, at Keele that 83/43 year:
That weekend in 1984 was Chinese New Year (Year of the Rat, seeing as you asked). 40 years on, I am writing this piece on Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon).
Almost certainly the OTT meal mentioned in the diary would have been Chinese. Wonton soup was probably the starter, although I was also experimenting with hot and sour at times that year. The main course was probably chicken with cashew nuts in yellow bean sauce or beef in black bean sauce. Rice would have been involved and probably some tinned Chinese vegetables (it was impossible to get fresh ones at Keele back then) such as baby corn cobs, water chestnuts and/or bamboo shoots. The only fresh vegetable in sight was probably the trusty large bag of beansprouts, spread liberally throughout the meal.
I might even have gone as far as to produce a blended chestnut puree desert with some blended cream – it was a sort of fusion desert from one of the Sharwoods Chinese mini cook books.
Sunday 5 February 1984 Tried to do some work today of the latest start. Many distractions, but did some – went over to bees after for a while.
Monday, 6 February 1984 Did little work today – busy in union – meeting in evening – worked and went over to Bobbie’s after.
Tuesday, 7 February 1984 Did some work today – and went shopping – worked in eve – popped over to B’s for a while.
Wednesday, 8 February 1984 Worked reasonably hard today –Got a fair bit done – Bobby came over after.
My guess is that “many distractions” included getting that initial H Ackgrass column written and surreptitiously filed.
I also guess that “busy in Union” was the day that presidential submissions needed to go in, but I could be wrong. I do remember being so relieved that Alan “Great Yorkshire Pudding” Gorman, after expressing irritation close to anger that I had stitched him up as a spoof candidate, decided to see the funny side of it and join in the fun. My purpose had only really been to try to liven up the election and get more students to engage with the process.
Thursday, 9 February 1984 Did some work today after classes – union etc and went over Bobbie’s for a while in eve.
Friday 10 February 1984 Didn’t do much today – shopped in afternoon – went to Coach House for a meal in eve – very nice.
Saturday, 11 February 1984 Rose quite late – did very little today – some work.– Went to Michelle’s party in eve – left quite early.
I seem to recall that The Coach House was one of the posher places in and around Newcastle-Under-Lyme. It doesn’t seem to be there any more, 40 years later. Is it now named The Milehouse, perchance? Someone reading this might know.
“Michelle’s party will be Michelle Epstein’s party. Not sure why we left early but Bobbie was poorly the next day, as the next exciting episode will attest. In that episode you’ll also get the result of that presidential election. Here, by way of a sign off, is the summary slates of the six candidates:
