1968: GETTING THROUGH TO POLNAREFF!!!
Persevere: 'Maus und Elefant' has sound.
Monday, 29 Jan
Ma and me went into Reigate to look for beige boots. No luck.
French grammar till tea, then German.
Heard Radio Luxembourg's Hit-Parade. Rather crummy songs including one horror called 'Maus und Elefant'!
I'm worried about Daddy - he can't relax. Every evening he worries about the office. The trouble is, the practice is about three times too big - there are 45 architects now and 12 secretaries.
Tuesday, 30 Jan
Went up to U13 to reivse Andromache with Jill. Went downstairs at break and chatted with Claire; rather fun. Then did Les Fables, but didn't get much done - we couldn't stop chatting! Had lunch with them. Claire completely sympathises with me about Miss Leopold - she had her for a year.
Jill got awfully worked up before the exam but it wasn't too bad. We had to do three questions out of four; I did a context one of ‘Andromache’, an analysis one of ‘Le Lion Devenu Vieux’, which was lovely, and a ghastly one on La Fontaine preferring animals to humans.
Went home with Vanessa and Jill. Vanessa showed us the photos of her sister's wedding; she had her hair up to be a bridesmaid and looked super. Then they talked about all these people they know in Kingswood; they're so lucky, they go to tons of parties. I have to admit it, I was a fool not to accept invitations when I started getting them. But I wasn't ready, it would have been undiluted misery. Now of course it's too late.
Last term we spent every break time cut off in our form-rooms. Now we all meet together using the coffee machine, lounging in the common-room and having lunch! I don't think we could stick going back to the old classroom system now.
Did masses of German grammar - foul. It's 12.20 and I'm still not in bed.
Wednesday, 31 Jan
German was rather foul - the proses were very hard. The trouble is, I find that I give up before I've started and haven't the heart to try my hardest. Also, I was awfully chilly.
Decided not to stay for lunch because Vanessa wasn't going to. She looked at my exam paper and thought the time (two hours) was ridiculous. We decided to have some coffee in Epsom so we went to the Kenya place opposite Pa's office. What should we find but we were ten minutes too late - would you believe it. The place was empty. Exactly the same at Fuller's. In the end there was this little place opposite who said we could if we didn't take too long.
Vanessa only wants to go to University because it's the only way to get a decent job; what she really wants to do is get married. I wouldn't have thought she'd be silly enough to get married so young. The main reason I want to go to University is to meet interesting people; but maybe she does already. Ruth, the sister who looks like her, couldn't go to University because her German wasn't good enough. Instead, dreadfully dull people with good 'A' Levels go there who aren't even interested in the work, that's what's sickening. Really, it's so unlikely I'll go.
Saw a rather nice programme by John Betjeman (he is a hilarious little old man!) on Marble Arch to Edgware Road, which was super. I know it pretty well from the Polnareff mission on July 15th! But it's so sad that lovely little places like Middlesex have more or less disappeared.
I've got the most foul taste in my mouth. Exams must be having an effect on me. What bliss when they're over.
Thursday, 1 Feb
It's so sad. Miss Wright died last night.
Spend half an hour with Jane Davies washing up cups and saucers for Miss Morse. We were sort of forced to do it, I mean, what else can you say when she comes up to you and says, "I don't suppose I could ask you to help me with all the washing up?" Later I revised German upstairs with the sun pouring through the windows - got terribly hot. Went down to the lounge and Vanessa called me over which was super; she'd just had a Latin exam. Debby and Sally H were in the middle of a very heated argument on the difference between Greek sculpture and Henry Moore. Superbly intellectual! Debby was trying to persuade Sally that Henry Moore's hasn't got physical beauty (I don't think I agree with that) but it has got more spiritual beautify than the Greeks'. Debby thinks Iris Murdoch's novels are good for the same reason: the meaning behind them isn't immediately obvious (if obvious at all). She's read The Bell too, and liked it.
The exam wasn't too bad.
Got home and turned onto S.L.C. Pure luck - what should Bernard say but... Michel Polnareff will be on tomorrow - answering questions over the 'phone!!! So I charged downstairs and booked a call for four o'clock. Whether I'll be able to get through or not I don't know.
'Everlasting Love' is No. 1 - I adore it. And it was quite extraordinary: that little singer came on and I felt so much for him. Although he managed a brave smile he looked terrified, and at the end, absolutely worn out and dreadfully relieved it was over. The show-business world is grim anyway, but for a 15-year-old who's been in the business for precisely four months it must be hell. I don't expect he thought for a moment they'd shoot up to No. 1. The strain must be fantastic. Another record I adore is 'Bend Me, Shape Me, Any Way You Want Me' by Amen Corner. The singer - his voice!
He's so like Gillian, their mouths are identical.
Friday, 2 Feb
Skipped Prayers to revise. Felt practically sick when the exam came. It was foul, even the compo. The worst bit was talking about it afterwards - the number of stupid mistakes I've made. Oh it's horrible, made me so miserable. Told Tig I'm going to ring Polnareff tonight; at least that would cheer me up.
Washed hair. I suddenly realised it was nearly four o'clock, got a bit worried, and then the phone rang. It was the call to Paris! It was the same nice girl as yesterday. He hadn't arrived yet so she said she'd book a call for five o'clock. The next half hour was spent anxiously and frustratingly listening to the radio and all those lucky people getting through. At five she rang again, and I stayed on the phone for the next hour. Every time she tried to get through I could hear the telephone girl in France saying, "ce n'est pas libre, Mademoiselle." It was so disheartening, but the girl was marvellously patient. Then suddenly - I was through! I held on for another 20 minutes. The girl was terribly decent because when someone else said they'd got lots of people on the line already, she said, "oui, oui, mais de Londres - c'est quelque chose!" The next thing I knew, a French chap was going, "'allo, 'allo"... and it was him!!! "Oh hello, when are you coming to England," I said, "because we want to give you the present... d'you remember, nous avons un cadeau?" "Yes, yes, I remember! But what is the question you are going to ask, you know you have to give me a question." "Yes, well," I said, "it's when are you going to sing in England? When are you going to become popular here?" I said, "will I be able to speak to you on air?" "Yes, yes," he said, "'ang on" (!!!)
Then the telephone noise that comes on before anyone speaks came on, but I didn't know if it was for me. Finally a man said, "quand il dit 'hello', vous parlez." The next thing, I was through to Pol, but I didn't know if I was on air - or not! I got in a muddle saying my name. "Please speak a little louder," he said, "I can't hear you." I could hardly hear him either, he gabbled away (in English) and I could hardly understand a word. Then, at last, he said (I think) "bye bye, I see you soon" - and that was it!!! I felt ecstatic. I could hear Mummy and Chump coming from the study, and was just about to call them when someone said, "ne quittez pas" - they wanted my name and address so they could send Pol's new record to me!!! "Oh thank you," I cried - will you tell him I love his new record!"
Mummy said I didn't make a fool of myself at all, but it was difficult to hear me. Such a pity, otherwise I could have spoken to him longer. There are so many other questions I wanted to ask. Of course I rang up Anya - she, A-M and Sandra had been listening! She knew more about it that I did, and she's going to make out a whole draft of the conversation! I must say, I do have the greatest luck where Pol is concerned. I just wish I'd make it clearer (for listeners' benefit!) that I knew him. If only he'd gone at the start, "oh hello"!
The Bensteds and the Rictors came for dinner. Needless to say, my little wireless debut was brought up. Through the main course we watched Tomorrow's World for a large-scale discussion with the heart surgeon Dr Bernard - Mr Batchelor was on!!
Saturday, 3 Feb
Went down to Grandma's for the day. Sat in front of the fire most of the time and read Nova. There's this article on these schoolgirls who are only 13 but who look about 18, I think it's awfully sad. One of the girls actually said she suddenly finds she's behaving like a 13-year-old and has to watch herself.
It's incredible how Grandma can talk of nothing but gossip and the price of food.
Pa, Grandpa, Chump and me drove to the Marina to have a look at the boat. I didn't have a coat and I was freezing. Also went to Russell & Bromley in Chichester for beige boots. Great luck, I found some - with square toes!
Listened to French radio going home and heard Polnareff four times. I think his new record is very exciting. Just like the Beatles, his music is never the same. So wish I'd told him that. Adamo's fantastic but his style isn't changing.
In the evening Mr Reid came round with the most depressing news: they're going to move, and their house is sold. It's going to be foul without them, and the awful thing is, they're probably going to Scotland. In other words, we may never see them again. Chump and me felt fed up all evening.
Ma and Pa went out. We put on the Otis LP and danced.
Sunday, 4 Feb
Stayed in bed for ages day-dreaming about making love with Polnareff!
Got a tiny bit of La Fontaine done. At 2.15 I walked to Jean's. We had coffee and chatted in her room, mostly about Universities and people we used to know. It was very interesting. Jean can't stand Peter Pinches either but apparently he hasn't got the message! You've got to get two B's to get to Bristol so that cancels me out. She showed me some pictures of her school, which sounds good as boarding schools go: you can wear your own clothes, go up to London in the evenings, and driving lessons are compulsory. She was staggered to hear about the phone call on Friday - when she heard a few months ago that I'd met Pol, she and her friends could hardly believe it!
We walked to my house. My nose and hands froze. Had tea. Mr Wilson and Mr Dixon were also there; Mr D is so nice. Chatted mostly about the transplant discussion with Dr Barnard last night.
Chump and me went next door and discussed the unhappy news with Mrs Reid. She says it's their friends they'll miss most of all.
Mrs Goldman has asked Ma and Pa out again (to lunch this time). When will I ever see Mark?
Looking forward to Anya's draft of the phone call tomorrow.
