Image generated to my specification by Nano Banana 2 Lite (Google Flow)
The diary is not very revealing for these two weeks in September 1985, but it gives an idea of the early stages of my full-time working life. More than work colleagues, I was socialising with friends from Keele, school and BBYO. Mostly the latter at that stage of the proceedings, by the looks of it.
Wednesday, 11 September 1985 – office ok – stayed in evening – spoke to Hayward [Burt, my successor as Education & Welfare officer at Keele] most of the evening.
Thursday, 12 September 1985 – office – busy etc. Stayed in evening – uneventful day.
Friday, 13 September 1985 – work ok – had lunch with Ashley [Michaels] – had a lazy evening at home.
Saturday, 14 September 1985 – went shopping etc – did very little today – stayed in evening.
Sunday, 15 September 1985. Lazyish day – big lunch and lazy afternoon – collected Grandma Jenny – lazy evening.
Monday, 16 September 1985 – Rosh Hashana – shule morning – lunch, then to [Doreen & Stanley] Benjamin’s for supper – quite nice.
Tuesday, 17 September 1985 – Rosh Hashana – shule morning – big lunch and lazy day at home.
Wednesday, 18 September 1985 – back to work – ok. Stayed in evening.
Thursday, 19 September 1985 – work ok – kept busy. Had a lazy evening at home.
Friday, 20 September 1985 – work ok – went over to Anil’s [Biltoo] in evening – cooked huge Chinese meal and then went out for a drink.
Saturday, 21 September 1985 – went to shops etc – went over to Andrea’s [Dean] in evening for dinner -> Mandy Green’s party – stayed at Andrea’s.
Apologies that I don’t remember much about this party. I think Mandy Green lived out Croydon/Sutton way at that time, which might explain why staying with Andrea afterwards made sense. I expect it was all good fun.
Sunday 22 September 1985 – returned home – lazy day – had Chinese lunch. Met Jilly in evening – had drink and then Chinese supper.
I love the notion that I had a two Chinese meal day. Chinese lunch will have been with my parents. Probably at Mrs Wongs in Streatham at that time. Drink and Chinese supper with Jilly would no doubt have been in Chinatown. Unusual for me not to name the restaurant. Probably Yungs, Mayflower or Joy King Lau in 1985.
Monday 23 September 1985 – last day in office before course – tied up loose ends et cetera – stayed in evening.
Tuesday 24 September 1985–1st day of course – had to leave early to go to Col Nidre.
Wednesday, 25 September 1985 – Yom Kippur.