1968: POLNAREFF'S NEW SINGLE — 1967-1968: Diary of a Posh Schoolgirl

Monday, 16 Jan

We tried on the costumes for the play in the Powder Room. My dress is miles nicer than I thought - it has leg o'mutton sleeves!

R.I. was quite interesting, we discussed the existence of God. Sandra P thinks that everyone is God in himself. She also thinks that going to church makes sense even if you're praying to someone who doesn't exist. It shows you're grateful to be alive.

Anya and me went to first dinner by mistake, so Martha wasn't around to go on and on about Malcolm. Instead, Anya and me had a hilarious time talking about skiing. Later we all sat around in a crummy little group. Honestly, for the ten minutes I stuck it out, the conversation did not turn from Malcolm and Anya, and how she's gone off him. I really wish I was in the same form as Claire, Joanna, Ruth and Sarah Rae.

Anya said Emmanuel, the French boy she met skiing, may be visiting this summer. Why is it when I meet a fab boy on holiday nothing comes of it?

Went to Rumbelows after school - I just had to see the 'Mes Regrets' cover! The fair-haired chap was there (he's rather nice). He didn't understand my marvellous pronunciation of 'Mes Regrets' at first - then, finally, he did. "Oh," he said, "Mes Regrettes"!!! I asked him if it'd be possible to take it home and bring the record-token in tomorrow. "I should think I could trust you," he said! The photo is super, even though it's black and white.

I can't stand school at the moment, exams are so near and what's so awful is the La Fontaine project is right on top of them.

It's lucky I love home.

Tuesday, 16 Jan

Took the big glass jar with teazels in it to school and put it at the bottom of the stairs in the Unit. I must say, it looks super.

Honestly, Martha is fantastically possessive of Anya. She (Anya) only has to say one word to me and Martha is off with her corny remarks, trying to wheedle Anya away from me and pay full attention to her. She's even jealous of Emmanuel!

Dinner was fun. I went along to the Powder Room where Claire did my hair as practice for the play. She's done it very well but I've got no fringe. I look so fierce, it's dreadful. Then Christa came in and proceeded to put on make-up. She's got about £10's worth of Mary Quant stuff, and she piles it on every dinner-break! She has two pairs of eye-lashes plus a 12/11- eyelash thickener. She's absolutely obsessed with the stuff. Then Vanessa, Debbie and Ruth came in, and we all chatted. Christa seems to go to world premieres and things every week. The lucky thing's got a rich actor boyfriend, not long ago they flew to Paris to see a play!

We talked about Liz Taylor - I seem to be the only person who doesn't think she's beautiful. Sarah thinks that below all the make-up she has got beautiful eyes. I wish she wouldn't ruin them with make-up then. I like Julie Christie but nobody else does much.

On the bus home Martha and me discussed postponing the school-leaving age until 1973. I think it's mad but she doesn't. For another five years children will be expected to go out into the world and fend for themselves from the age of 15. It's ridiculous.

At 6.30 we left for Leatherhead Theatre. Had dinner there first as usual. The pantomime was Babes in the Wood. I didn't think it was as good as usual - the dame was a let-down. It was adorable though when all the little children went up onto the stage to sing. In the row behind us were two boys and one was the most gorgeous snazz - like Dutronc but older. He really was fantastic.

Wednesday, 17 Jan

Anya brought the Piz Buin sun cream in today. Oh, it's gorgeous! It brings back Austria and Dutronc just like that!

At dinner break Pat R told me all about the cruise she went on last July to Russia. She said she has never had such a fantastic time, the life on board ship was even more enjoyable than the excursions ashore! They were treated like school-children but nobody took any notice so it didn't matter. I honestly cannot wait.

BBC2 was installed today. I hope Daddy doesn't mind the aerial on the roof.

Ma and Pa went out in the evening and I worked in my room. The TV was on downstairs. Suddenly I thought I heard the front door bell ring. Chump and me went down and I answered it, but no one was there. Then a man's voice from the drive said, "sorry, I've got the wrong house." It sounded like Mr Barnes but then I realised it wasn't. Chump said before he rang he did three ghastly slow knocks - it all seemed a bit strange. I'd been back in my room for about five minutes when I heard the most ghastly gasps from Chumpy - "oh no, oh no." She'd been about to go up the stairs when staring in at her from the window was the man. He was scruffyish and fat and he scared the daylights out of her. We whizzed around locking all the doors and windows and then decided to ring Ma. Pa answered and said he'd ring Mr Reid. Mr Reid came round and he rang the police. The police came round and asked us about it, but they didn't know why he'd come back. For the rest of the evening we shuddered at the slightest noise.

Chump says she'll dream of that horrible face at the window tonight!

Thursday, 18 Jan

Everybody very interested about the would-be burglar.

Got Philosophy essays back. I got B-. Terribly disappointing - I spent six hours on that essay. He said it was "a brave effort."

Had lunch with Mary, Rosemary and both Sandras. Discussed Alison - apparently she's become very dowdy since she left school - and Jean, who is bored with her job in the bank (no wonder). Later I sat in the coffee-bar bit entirely by myself as I can't stand the boring-ness of Martha and Co.

Had Prep for sixth period, which was super because Claire came over and sat with me. I've just realised she's the most similar girl to me in the whole of the Lower Sixth. She's slightly more sophisticated than Joanna, not so dreamy as Ruth, and not so energetic as Debby. She looked very pleased when I said I was also going on the cruise - it's nice to know you're wanted!

Did masses and masses on the La Fontaine project. I've got 16 pages of 30 different topics to put in order, and I've got to add quotes from everywhere. The sorting to be done is incredible.

Saw Top of the Pops: 'Ballad of Bonny and Clyde' (Georgie Fame) is No. 1 - revolting. I like 'Everlasting Love' by the Love Affair but the singer's such a weed - he's 15!!

Friday, 19 Jan

In French Conv. Mlle Tronchard told us that in France, if your parents can't afford the university fee, you have less of a chance of getting in than if they can. It's incredible.

The play meeting with Christa was super. I shared my hot chocolate with Vanessa O and we chatted in the rest of the rehearsal. It's rather extraordinary but she gets the 406 every day and I've never seen her. Even more extraordinary, she lives ten minutes away from me! She's got exactly the same complaint about living in the area as I have - there's nothing to do; she has a boyfriend but he's away at university. She was interested to hear Ma and Pa met at the Polytechnic - her parents met at college too.

Christa was in a flustery mood. "This, that and the other is on my mind," she said, "and I've got to go to bed with my boyfriend tonight" (!!!). She criticised everyone like mad, but I'm terribly pleased because at the end she said I was "very good"! We've all decided we hate the play, why I don't know, perhaps it's the very fact that it's American, or that it's very stark and unfriendly, or both. Also you can't get into the characters, they're so shallow.

Vanessa and me got the bus down to town. She's so terribly nice! She said her family used to go skiing, but now they have a summer holiday instead; they always go camping and she said it is fantastic. They've been all round Europe, and the best time she's ever had was when they spent four weeks in Italy. If only I could get in with Vanessa's lot. I don't suppose they'd accept me, they seem quite happy as they are. It would be marvellous if I could go home with Vanessa every day though.

Saturday, 20 Jan

I'm so longing for the cruise, skiing, and the summer holiday. Just thinking about them makes me feel better.

At supper we discussed Liz Taylor and who we thought was beautiful. I've come to the conclusion that women who are 'beautiful' as opposed to 'attractive' or 'pretty' have to be striking-looking. As a result, they are likely to look rather harsh and rather bitchy (like Liz Taylor). It's the same with men. Really good-looking men are foul, they've got the sort of accepted classical good-looks that I hate, for example, Alain Delon.