Dear Diary Some Days in my Life

Names have been changed to protect identities.

It's a delusion to imagine that life will remain the same forever, those fleeting short-lived sagas that make us what we are today, give levity to what might be a mundane existence in old age. Searching for the many memories I have from forty years ago, I know some recollections can get lost in translation, like my impressions of certain situations may play Chinese whispers with me, or some have become so insignificant that they've been swept out the door to blow away with the Autumn leaves.

There have however been many days I look back on with fondness but with also a little trepidation, that have changed the course of my life's challenges. It was always my intention throughout my teenage years and twenties to expect the unexpected and go with the flow, creating new experiences, going in different directions even if some thought it wrong, which I suppose in a way meant I let a lot of people down including my parents, who I know I drove mad at times. I remember one such occasion being just a week after my 21^st Birthday, when I also got engaged to be married on the same day...Oh! How eager I'd been to settle down and spend the rest of my life with this man.

I'd been with Geoff off and on for about three years, we'd met while ice skating at Silver Blades Ice Rink in Bristol, which no longer exists now, but the memories live on. Skating was a skill I became quite good at in the end, even mastering the art of skating backwards which I was proud of. Zigzagging around the ice in anticipation of the next record, I have to admit gave me a chance to strut my stuff. Liquidator by The Harry J All Stars, was one of my favourite singles, it had that kind of beat that seemed to go well as I mastered my moves.

I do have devastating memories of when I first began ice skating. My friend at the time persuaded me to go, which I was slightly doubtful about never having been on the ice before, but she kept on and on, so I gave in and decided to go, though having my doubts I'd stay long. When we arrived we went to the reception where we paid our money and picked up our boots handing in our shoes. I was cringing at the thought of wearing ankle supports, which were long pieces of metal strapped to your legs with leather ties, I thought they made me look ridiculous, but my friend informed me with a smile that they would help with my balance...all right for her to speak she was a pro! So anyway loosing any dignity I might have had, we made our way to the rink, me holding her arm for dear life. I then became nervous at the thought of all those other people racing around. My friend assured me it would be fine, taking my arm as we stepped onto the ice. She then proceeded to take me out into the middle of the rink, I tried hard to stay upright as we dodged between bodies, it felt like being in the middle of some mad car chase. I pleaded with her to stay with me, my fingers leaving an indentation on her arm where I grabbed her so hard.

“It'll be fine.” She assured me again grinning from ear to ear.

My balance wasn't too bad as long as I had her to hold onto, but instead of staying with me, she left me there shaking like a leaf, to make my own way back to the side, I was helpless, humiliated and felt like crying, as all these figure skaters came zooming past me. I'd heard about a girl getting her fingers sliced by someone else's blades, scary...brrr! So In the end I just sat down where I was on the freezing cold ice with my head between my legs, clutching my knees for dear life and hoped some kind person would come and help me...so much for my friend who thought it was funny to watch as she skated around, thinking it was the best way for me to learn...'with friends like that who needs enemies,' is what came to mind, I was saddened by her sneaky, untrustworthy behaviour. Anyway that's when Geoff arrived on the scene and saved the day...I know it sounds corny like one of those scenes from a love story, but it was true, as soon as I looked up at him and he helped me up, we were both smitten.

Anyway, it was July 1975 and one of the hottest Summers on record. The day of the big celebration had arrived with much anticipation and excitement. We had a huge room above the local village pub with a bar and music, coloured, flashing lights, it was one of those memorable parties that will stand out in my mind forever.

I'd got up really early that birthday morning and spent the day buttering rolls and filling them with various hams and cheeses – trying desperately hard to keep the flies and wasps away as preparations continued. A friend helped by placing sausages on sticks and cheese and pineapple too, all those usual 1970s party traditions, reminding me of that stage play...Abigail's Party. Making and baking sausage rolls and quiches left me hot, sticky and ready for a bath and hair wash...the old fashioned way of course; we never had a shower back then and I would use a jug to rinse my hair.

The neighbours had stocked quiches and vol-au-vent cases in their freezers as we never had one at the time and luckily our next door neighbour was a tupper ware agent, really useful when you need to store food items. I don't know what I'd have done if I'd not had help from them, because I couldn't afford to get caterers in or pay for outside help. They also assisted in getting the food to the party, anyone who could help did and I was eternally grateful. The evening finally arrived as myself and Geoff waited for our guests to appear, over sixty people thankfully all turned up. It was so nice to be surrounded by family and friends, Aunts and Uncles, cousins and their partners. We certainly felt the love that night.

On the following Friday after the party, I'd just got home already for the weekend. We'd planned to go fishing on Saturday at our usual spot at Bathampton, I was actually useless at fishing and only ever managed to catch tiddlers, but there was this great pub we'd go in for a drink at lunch time, they used to get some famous people in there, I remember once seeing the cast of the television series Robin Hood. I did also enjoy a couple of pints on those hot sunny days as we lingered with nothing specific to do but dream and relax. We then would drive to Bath in the evening, for a pizza at our favourite, cosy Italian Restaurant, where we'd fill up on yummy food and great red wine, before going home to bed – yes you could drink and drive back then, so it was no problem. But as in any good story, things never last and so a change was on the horizon.

To be continued...