1985 – Page 6 – A Life in Words

Rain, Puzzles & Crusher Dust (14-20 January)

Published on June 9, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Monday 14/1/85

Woke quite late cause I had another late nite. After reading for awhile, left for mima’s where fi & I ducked to fi’s then back. Finally, we were ready to go to town. In town, saw hardly anyone except David D. (blech) wonder if he still likes me? Was hot & exhausting in town today. Got home at 5:30. Just read the Smash Hits magazine (which I bought for Jules). Had a small dinner and an early-ish nite. Is overcast now – now raining: hope we get a good flood. Rang 4AM this morning. Bluelight:- 2nd Feb

Tuesday 15/1/85

Has been raining all day. I think we are in for a flood (I hope) It is much cooler now. Today woke at 7:00, then decided to go into work and earn some money. When Jenny dropped Julia back here – she had been at Dad’s Last nite & the night before – we set off. Once at Dad’s I felt no more like working. [So fickle!] So As Mum had an appointment with the bank manager, Julia & I went to Earlville & browsed. Got home at Lunchtime. Yard & carport are flooded But later Mr F. lent a hand in digging drains. Just lazed about all arvy. Am having an early nite.

Wednesday 16/1/85

I’ve been thinking about people who don’t like me. You know who they are, but I now know for sure that Beka hates me. Before we went to see ‘Ghostbusters’ Fi asked Beka what was wrong, I moved away & Beka said, “I can’t stand Elissa.” I hate you , too, Rebekah!! [Clearly this had been weighing heavily on my mind, since it’s the second time I’ve recounted the story] Today it did not cease raining for one second!! Pouring or sprinkling all day! I just wrote out (began to) my 1984 diary. It’s too messy to read, all squashed up in that planner. Petra, Auntie Leonie & Nana visited today. Jules is at Petra’s tonight. TV is bung. Mrs B.’s Birthday!

Thursday 17/1/85

Sun; I don’t believe it! It has finally stopped raining but now it will become hot again. Today I continued on with writing out my 1984 diary before & after we got back from Town. Mum just paid bills & got our address changed at various places. I went back to Kevin Shorey, finally. He put my proper earring back in. Seemed not worried about the earring & didn’t accept money for the disadvantage. Nice guy, eh? Petra came with us to town. I Bought a pair of white earrings ‘Button’ studs. Sorted out some junk before having a bath. Went to Di & Kerry’s for tea. Barbra & Darren are leaving tomorrow. Watched “We of the Never Never” (Again!)

Friday 18/1/85

Today was hot. Geoff was still here when I woke up. [Meaning: he stayed over and I disapproved.] Rang mima before going to town. She hasn’t found my copper bracelet yet. I also mentioned a trip to Green Is for, perhaps, Wednesday next week. After doing various things (getting Julia’s school shoes, port & blouses) went to Nana’s. Passed the take-away in the Plaza & two boys were there. One waved. I smiled & waved back! I have Confidence!! Got TV back, when got home. It was fixed for the 4th time, now. Lazed around at home. Did some puzzles in a puzzle book, made a pencil tin etc. Late-ish nite. Julia’s staying at Dad’s tonite & tomorrow night

Saturday 19/1/85

Today was boring. Woke around 7:30. Did some puzzles in the puzzle book, then had toast and orange juice for breakfast. After more puzzles, I continued writing out my 1984 Diary. Played records all day. Mum cleaned paint spots off the louvres. Had a pie & sausage roll for lunch today. Mr F. gave us some (a lot) fine gravel to even up the ground. Mum & I levelled it out, while a big thunderstorm passed quickly. Mum kept up until the whole 1st pile was gone. We just had baked beans for tea. Late night. Am about to watch the movie. Night, night!

Sunday 20/1/85

Movie went on for years!! Got to sleep about 12 last night. Woke at 9:45!! Yes!! I slept in!! Was tired today. Ate like a horse. Continued on with rewriting diary. Made lotsa mistakes. Wore an old, ripped petticoat today & that red & white polka dot blouse which I cut the sleeves off. I cut off the collar, & wore it as a hair ribbon/tie. [Ever the fashionista. And oh, those scissors again, that mum hated me touching…] Watched cricket, too. Australia was put to shame again by the Windies. We lost by 65!! Rang mim tonight. Going to think about Thurs. for our Green Is. trip. She’s gonna ring me back tomorrow night. Going to work tomorrow. Feel guilty about how much I ate today!!

Memories of Poo & Dead Pets (7-13 January)

Published on June 8, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Monday 7/1/85

Was our last nite. Tonight are staying in the house in the dark – bar 4 or so candles. Fiona did not call back last night. (I stayed up late to watch the movie) Neither did she call today. I think it was Mr D.’s fault. He has a poor memory (so Fi says.) Today was busy. What with carrying the last few loads to the house, then scouring out the flat, to make it shiny & clean (as possible). [One of my favourite stories relating to this exercise was mum’s experience of cleaning out the toilet; she discovered something that had hitherto been imperceptible to us all – that the result of my grandmother’s daily explosive bowel movements (with thanks to regular consumption of Epsom salts) – had somehow lightly spattered the walls. Mum, Julia and I were in absolute stitches!] There are some boys who have moved in where Diane W. used to live. They whistled (well, one did, I think he’s 15 or so, not bad looking. I’m writing by candlelight.

Tuesday 8/1/85

Last night while having our Kentucky Fried Chicken the Skinners came to the Fishers. Skint!! Me in my frilly nightie!! I don’t think we are gonna get our bond money ($200) back – Today was hot, but quite a lot cooler in the house. In the morning FNQEB & Telecom came so we now have electricity & a ‘phone! Rang Fiona around 6:15. Had to ring back 15 mins later. When she answered, she was bright & chirpy and didn’t at all sound guilty about not ringing back Last Thurs. Are both coming tomorrow. Petra came up after lunch & is sleeping. She has given us 3 goldfish, from their pond. Hope they don’t die. [Our track record with smaller pets wasn’t too good. Mutliple fish had died in our care, most often jumping out of tanks when we weren’t around to put them back. One summer we accidentally killed a pet budgie by leaving its cage in the garage on a day that temperature soared. We came home to find it on the bottom of the cage with its eyes hanging out of its head. Terribly upsetting. We have had much more success with dogs as pets.]

Wednesday 9/1/85

Had a late night last night. Ate ice-cream as a midnight feast. Were sprung! This morning, playing cards with Jules & Petra when Fiona & Jemima came. Got a photo frame from Fiona (brass) & notebook, room card (vacant or home) & sticker from mima. Then went to mim’s for a swim. WAS STINKIN’ HOT TODAY! After a quick swim, danced to Madonna (great exercise) then we had to go home cause mim had to go to art classes at 1:30. Fi rang when I got home. We went to shop & looked at new railway [‘Freshwater Connection’] I came home & went to the dentist. Very quick tightening. Came home & relaxed.

Thursday 10/1/85

Jemima & Fiona asked me if I’d like to see ‘Ghostbusters’ with them tomorrow. I think they do like me; they are trying to start afresh. Being as best, best friend to me as possible. Today, mainly waited for mima/fiona. Woke quite early after a late night, then went out to do some things before lunch (getting things for the house) then just read, played cards, ate & lazed around all afternoon. I rang mim & fi about 20 times, finally mim answered. She couldn’t stay tonight but I was to go to her house at 8:30, along with Fi & Beka to catch the 9:00 bus.

Friday 11/1/85

After a late night last night (10:30) woke at 7:00 & began the rigmarole of deciding what to wear to the movies. Actually it was easy. Got to mime’s a little early, but got going (Polly, Beka, Fi, Mim & Me) at 8:45 When got in to town, got off near Coles & bought our “supplies”. Got a seat in the theatre (by the look of the que, didn’t think there’d be any room). Glenn came.. Ghostbusters was terrific! No other word to describe it. After, walked around town then took bus to mim’s at 2:00 Swam all arvy. Wanted to sleep somewhere but weren’t allowed. Had to go to Yacht Club for tea.

Saturday 12/1/85

Quite a late night last night as well (10:30). Have decided to sleep at Fi’s tonight, in the garden, under a tarp… Hope we’re allowed tonight..!! Got to Fi’s at 9:00, she only just got out of bed! When mima came, we played cards till Lucy came at 10:00. Then walked (after lunch) to mima’s got her stuff, walked to my place (stayed for lunch) walked back to fi’s. Set up the tent. Looked like it would rain but did not. Rebekah came late. Fiona told me what Beka was upset about before ‘ghostbusters’ – she didn’t know I was coming – she “can’t stand Elissa.” Stupid bitch. Lucy was bitchy too.

Sunday 13/1/85

Last night got to sleep around 2:00. Had 3 smokes only for fun, ate & played cards. Have a sore throat. Have had it since I woke at 8:00 this morning. [Not the ‘fun’ smoking the night before, poten After clearing up, we all decided to go Freshy for a swim. Was cool & overcast. Lotsa guys None spunky (x-ept one) who, from a distance, looked like Sean (my spunk) on our way back (Lucy was picked up) these “toughies” wanted us to come back & swim. We didn’t – who would. Then, came to my place. Lazed about, Beka left, lazed about, went to shop, picked up mim & fi’s gear. Late nite AGAIN!

Resolutions & A Brand New Home (1-6 January)

Published on June 7, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

This piece of handiwork actually appears in the final pages of my 1984 diary but I decided it would be a fitting introduction to this post.

Tuesday 1/1/85

Well, hello ’85! I’m afraid to admit I made a bad start to the year, but I intend to correct myself. Today, after writing yesterday’s diary, got ready to go to bed (it was about 12.30) when Peta & Marney came. They had been at someone’s house & were late cause their car was pranged. We walked down the road (all of us, parents too) & swam at these people’s pool. Got to sleep 4:30. At about 10.30 got to Barbra’s for brunch. Boring day. Made tea tonight. Am tired.

Wednesday 2/1/85

I had no room yesterday to mention my Resolutions. So here they are –

Fit and healthy (exercise & healthy diet)
Gain Confidence (rid of my shyness) and in smaller print: (mainly towards boys)
Be Nice to Everyone (helpful & kind to mum & everyone)

Today woke up worrying about mum’s red, black & white bikinis. I lent them to Peta when we went to those people’s place. I rang dad (cause Robbo’s have left for New Z.) He said he’d drop in to those people’s place & get them for me. Today packed my clothes into my chest of drawers. We are moving about Saturday! Early nite; so tired.

Thursday 3/1/85

Yesterday in cricket, Aussies won the 5^th Test against Windies! They broke the West Indies record of wins in 27 tests! Aussies strike again! We mustn’t be that bad a team after all! But today, got positive news about the house. Water is running & we will start moving out tomorrow. Tomorrow night will (unless there are sudden problems) be our last nite in the flat. This morning rang fi to ask her to come down & open her xmas prezzy. Said she’d ring back – she didn’t. Petra came over at lunch. House was a big mess while we tried to sort out bits’n’pieces.

Friday 4/1/85

I think I’ll tell you now – I love this day-to-a-page diary. It beats squeezing in the day’s happenings into a calendar planner!! Today was the hottest day ever!! I woke up & got brekky then felt wet under my arms. But, I didn’t feel it much later. I spent most of the day cleaning out & packing up things in Nana’s room (the coolest room), then when Petra came up after lunch, we went to tidy up the house. We swept it all up (the dust & dirt) & took out all the sawhorses, wood , & tools etc. Came home & had shower. Am now ready to go to Diane & Kerry’s for tea.

Saturday 5/1/85

Late night last night. I think I might have only gotten 8hrs at the most!! Was alright (the BBQ tea). Diane’s (& Geoff’s) sister, her husband & her son were there. I used her son (13) as practice on my confidence. I did well, I thought, but I was still not talking. We had to play doubles in a tennis game. I should have talked then. Today was hot. Last nite was not our last night in this flat. The electricity hasn’t been turned on so we can’t of course, move in. We think tomorrow night will be the last night. Today we just shifted 9/10 of our belongings & furniture up – was tired out. Diane & Kerry came for a drink (& everyone else) HOT!

Sunday 6/1/85

Gosh, this flat looks empty now. You can even hear an echo in the rooms when you speak. I’ve been thinking about Fiona & Jemima a lot lately, wondering if they like me at all. They must have enough patience to put up with me all this time. I wonder if they’re always deliberately trying to hurt me. I don’t think they like me at all. Why me?? What’s wrong with me that I can’t get them as best friends? It’s not fair. Nobody likes me. It’s around 7.45 now. I rang Fi to ask her again if she was going to collect her Xmas presents She hasn’t rung back yet. Today was boring. Just unpacked. The water pipe has a leak. Think tonite is our last night here.