camping – Page 2 – A Life in Words

‘Spaß’ at German Camp (23-29 July)

Published on May 15, 2013 by Elissa Coxen2 Comments

Monday 23/7/84

Boring! Fi bought my 8 patty cakes to school & I ate 7 of them. UMAH! Am now excited about the German Camp (commencing Thursday 9.15 till Saturday 2:30 (pm)) Almost finished my mile-long list! Went to town in pm & got new joggers (Addidas – dark grey with light grey stripes & built-in arches. sub-title “Road Trainer” VERY VERY COMFY! Also tonight watched a special 90min episode of Sons & Daughters GOOD!!

Tuesday 24/7/84

Toni came today with a pussy cat! They found it on their porch in the morning. We let it out but it came back in the arvy. Boring skool day. Am tired. Went to town & got a pair of white $4 shorts! I ♥ them! And 2 shirts both of which do not fit. We’ll take ’em back tomorrow, I think…

Wednesday 25/7/84

Took back the shirts – got an aqua T shirt in place of the yellow one & an orange striped “sweat” T shirt instead of the purple striped one. Today went ‘moderately’ fast. Little excited. Went to Julia’s “Joseph” [and the Technicolour Dreamcoat] concert. Rebecca P & Natasha were there. Natasha said she’d not packed yet like me but Rebecca had. After concert Mum went to a National Trust meeting so I stayed up a while and packed in a few things.

Thursday 26/7/84

Sooo excited that I felt sick this morning – didn’t have brekky – ran round frantically packing. Fi’s mum took us to school. At the Dorm’s (Scout Club) we unpacked, had fruit for morning tea & group 1 (me, Fi, Beka, Becca P. Lucy, Natalie P. & agnes) made gingerbread hearts. Then started our paper mache puppets. sammys (sandwiches) for lunch & made Blackforest cake – arvy tea & swim. Wade & Shane swam out to an old log (soggy) we followed. Shane took off his shoe to get some “snails” out & Wade told Fi to climb up she swung up & with force grabbed the branch – it snapped & Wade, Fi & Shane toppled into the water. They swore like hell at her – was all so funny! Had a shower & free time. After tea watched a german film with sub titles. Was treadly.

Got to sleep 12:30 after swapping dorms (dormitarys) & talking and sticking our heads out the back doors etc

Friday 27/7/84

Woke 7:30 instead of 7:00. After run & exercises, had brekky & spent all morning on paper mache puppets then swim then free time & after arvy tea we held the puppet plays on video Shame! After, had showers & played bingo. I won 2/10 games! And our group (the gang) won 7/10 altogether! Had tea then disco where Beka won another choccy so we had 8!! Justine, Beka & Wade ‘rapped’. [That’s rapDANCING, not ‘singing’ just to clarify] Justine couldn’t 4 nuts but Beka & Wade were good. We feasted on the 8 choccy prizes tonite in our Dorms. Lucy didn’t want one so we all had 1 each. Got to sleep at 1:30.

Saturday 28/7/84

(sad to leave german camp – was ripper fun.) Up late again, did run & had brekky. Free time then went hiking. After swim & lunch, everyone started leaving. At home I rested until the Bluelight (was BORING) & I mean boring.

Sunday 29/7/84

Watched Olympic Games opening. I didn’t find it so “emotional”. Went to Dad’s after Rod was there – they were taping music for his & Margie’s wedding. Watched Countdown “Beat Street” finals, had tea & Margie came so I had a late night cos’ she rattled on about rap, breakdance, family trees etc… Forgot to bring my bra, undies & shirt stoopid

14-20 May 1984

Published on May 1, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Monday 14/5/84

Didn’t want to go to school. Long boring morning. Rebecca P. sprained her ankle in PES. Lunchtime was lively – pushed each other around. Was fun. Long, boring (noisy) german lesson. Got home 3:45. Rebecca used our phone to call her mum to pick her up. She was out so her dad’s apprentice came instead. Mum showed me the plans. A few changes & I love it now! Also the new $1 coin was released today. It’s GRAND!! 92% Cu, 6% Al & 2% Nickel!

Tuesday 15/5/84

I got a new $1 coin (for Thursday’s pocket money) Neat! Lucy was away, getting her braces put on. Yep! Luc!! Boring day. Got another english assignment, this time on our set reader. Lunchtime went to art room. Mucked up!! Mum bought a whole new outfit.

Wednesday 16/5/84

Hectic day. Toni, Rebecca & Lucy were away. Got to bus stop – was empty!! Thought I’d missed the bus until Karen came down 3mins later. Late to tennis. All wingeing about cost 45 mins for $1.50. Rip-off!!!! Bus was strangely empty. Rode to speech. Mim & elisia were all dressed up. Was good! Late night!

Thursday 17/5/84

A Life in Words — hand drawn copy of sticker originally used in my calendar planner

NO!! Miss Woods extended it until Monday, now!!! Everyone who was away yesterday are here today (Lucy, braces’n’all.) She says they hurt. Went late night. Bought tracksuits and gloves & beanies for Irvinbank. Nice’n’warm’n’cosy!! Froze in the airconditioning at Earlville!! Had tea there. Battered fish & scallops – GREASY!! Must write a list of things to take tomorrow at school.

Friday 18/5/84

Pretty rushed day. Panicked when got home (cause I forgot to write a list). Can’t wait to get there. Am pretty stisfied with what I’ve packed – am still worried about pastimes. Bought lunch today. PES – played another basketball/netball game. Mrs Connors says I’m good (Ha! Ha!) We’re about to go now – bye!!

Saturday 19/5/84

Last night was cold – breathing vapour! Woke 6:30. Had big brekky, did some HW, then went for a walk to the old Vulcan mine. Was so deep! After some fossicking, had lunch, then went to the School of the Arts, where began a tour of the town & new mine. At camp, had shower. Read until went to dance. SLACK!! All country’n’western music. Girls about my age were smoking, hanging around men. Bed at 11:00.

Sunday 20/5/84

Woke 7:30 & read, until went (in 4WD’s) on the outer town tour. Went to the cementry, then Ghost Town (Ghost town alright – no buildings left at all!!) Fossiked & looked around the remains of the old tin smelter. Had lunch at the School of the Arts. After, packed up & left around 3pm. At Herberton, I was ready to chuck up, but after a long stop at the Joss House, gained strength & made it to Yungaburra Hotel where ate chips’n’nuts galore. Slept on the way home. Missed out on the movie “Superman”. Was too tired.

7-13 May 1984

Published on April 30, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Monday 7/5/84

Went to Fi’s at 9:00. Went to mim’s at 10. Still asleep. Came back 9:30. [what the?!] Polly said she woke a minute after we left! Went to beach with Brewers. Rough & strong rip. Visited the beachside shop now & then. At home, hurriedly dressed to see Julia off on her Lizard Island Camp. Shane was going, too. I think he tried to make me notice him. Got an ice block on the way home. Fought over the house plans. Mum wants it her way; always her way. Did essay. Wrote about when I came back from Outward Bound Camp & Julia told me mum was leaving (Gr6). [Well THAT’s a surprise to me. It proves how irrelevant Time is to your consciousness, in the long run. Memories blur into each other. I ‘d could’ve sworn I wrote that essay in Grade 7 (1982), as I have said previously. Also, I know my father & mother’s relationship disintegration spanned some time but I’d never have guessed it was 2 years (1981-1983). How terribly painful for them both] After, cause of fatigue, got shitty when something got in my eye & still won’t come out. Tried everything. I’ll just go to bed & hope it’s gone tomorrow.

Tuesday 8/5/84

Speck is still there, but I’m used to it. Wrote out essay neatly before school. Ants got into my lunch – starved in PES. I was also whacked in the jaw – PAIN! Fi & me stayed in at art at Big Lunch. Got my haircut. Short with a scungy ratstail. It’s too small – looks silly. Watched Last part of “Return to Eden”. Was good.

Wednesday 9/5/84

Woke late, feel tired. Wore Julia’s peach & white striped Tshirt in PES! Got a bad graze & bruise on my leg, when at little lunch a boy pushed his mate into us & as he fell, stood on my leg, [we were sitting on the ground] pinching it to the ground. Stayed in art again, before leaving for tennis – “I’ma gettin’ betta!” Lenny couldn’t start the bus this arvy – fooling around with a spanner when the problem was the handbrake was still on! Got home 3:55 LATE! Wore mainly Julia’s clothes to speech – UMAH! Was fun. After, Lucy, me, fi & mim rode playing “follow the leader”. Geoff staying for tea.

Thursday 10/5/84

Yesterday, I accidentally walked back into Kel M. – he put his arm around me & said “Orr, Sorry Darling!” I ignored him – a bit!! Slow day until Jules came back from camp. Slept 3hrs & was delirious saying things like, “Is dad home?” “I don’t wanna go back”, “everyone hated it”, “no water”, “salty baths”, “dry island” [which it is – there is no fresh water source on Lizard Island. I’m no doctor, but it sounds to me like she was pretty dehydrated]. DISCO was great but I was wierdest dressed. Michelle S. & Sandra E. & Shaun H. laughed at my shoes. Didn’t get BP updated UMAH!!

Friday 11/5/84

BP book was almost complete when handed in. Busy little lunch – ate ½ lunch, changed shoes, changed into blouse & handed in my maths folder! Big lunch, all sat under our tree & talked. Finished “stained glass window” in art. Looks TERRIFIC!! Lotsa stupid jokes in German got Miss Schmieman mad. This arvy rang mim 10 times & Fi 2. neither were home. I knew they were together. Upset that they didn’t get me. However, I cried…..(but what’s new?) Watched the movie “Smoky & the Bandit. TRIFF!!

Saturday 12/5/84

Tennis was okay. 1/3 games. I’m getting better. Went to mim’s after. Had a swim, all played a game. Was great! Now are all going to camp out in Mim’s Nanny’s Yard. Am so nervous – don’t know what to take! Will it be cold? Will we be alright? Hope mim’s nanny doesn’t mind.

Sunday 13/5/84

Was great! Mima & Fi wre uncomfortable so slept in the house – Beka & I didn’t. Packed up, went back to mim’s where had brekky and played games all day. Beka left around lunchtime. After, we had a swim, then made patty cakes for our mums. Was dark & all kept hearing things, like someone calling “mima!” Scared to death! When got home, mum got uptight about me being away all day on MOTHER’S DAY. Feel so guilty. Mum worked all day – on mothers day.

24 April 1984

Published on April 24, 2013 by Elissa CoxenLeave a comment

Tuesday 24/4/84

At Fiona’s, went for a ride, then had a picnic up at our block. Played a game on our bikes, then decided to camp out tonight in our backyard. Gathered Fi’s stuff & got back (after cleaning her room, as well) to “set up camp”. The tent went like this: Looks unreal!

This -> is to celebrate the opening of the international airport.