Day 20

Waited for and got my Giro. M came round in the afternoon.

Day 19

Giro tomorrow: I should have £38 free after necessities. I'm saving £5 a fortnight by changing to rollies.

D's letter may well come too - these things have a habit of arriving with the vital green oblong.

Day 18

They elected Betty Boothroyd as the new Speaker today. Ted Heath (now knighted) conducted the proceedings (as Father of the House). It was a strange occasion - nice to see T.H. gaining recognition again. Perhaps Labour will now wake up and realise they have 70 more MPs.

Day 17

Got the paper; was so annoyed by an article in the supplement that I burnt it. I am often provoked to violent rage by things in the Observer, but as so often during the uni years I can never quite resolve to get the Independent On Sunday instead. (Although about a year ago I frequently went up to the garage for the IOS about 4pm, bored out of my skull by revision.)

Got to sign on tomorrow. And to do something soon about those dismal Jobclub failures.

Day 16

IPSWICH ARE PROMOTED!

Day 15

A good Friday. Rang up M to see how her revision was going: went round for the afternoon. Had a long conversation. S came round while I was there and told us all about orthodontistry.

Day 14

One of those moments when you realise things are as bad as they seem. Broke into my emergency tin and spent £2.40 on 4 Skols. £14.30 left.

Day 13

Walked into town again, same thing again. What's going on? Three doors - one locked and the room empty, one the Gents, one with frosted glass and marked 'Private'.

Day 12

Walked to the Jobclub, found it closed.

Day 11

Nice warm sunny Bank Holiday. Jobclub thing tomorrow: you never know, it might turn something up, and at least it'll be something to do.

Now Benny Hill is dead. They're dropping like flies.

Day 10

Thought perhaps the Jobclub on Tuesday might yield some results - I might get the job of administrating it.

Frankie Howerd is dead. Titter no more.

£15.70 left.

Day 9

After dinner went into town to the library, found it closed. Went round to M's, gave her the £3.20 I owed her from forgetting my money yesterday.

Day 8

To Colchester in the evening. H. drove very dangerously and when I pointed this out he was so annoyed he ordered me out of the car. I called his bluff by asking him to drop me off at a phone box, and he relented.

Went to this pub called The Hole in the Wall, packed with studenty types. Good view from the balcony.

Day 7

Terrible news in the morning - I've got to join the 'Jobclub' on Tuesday.

Good episode of Pris. Shame to see Jude back inside though.

Day 6

Collected my giro - £65, a £2.20 increase rather than £4.40. Discussed this with mum, who reckons it's been calculated from April 6th. Spent £14 and put aside £9 each for this weekend and next weekend.

S. rang offering to provide drink and food if I visited, so I'd only have to pay for the fare. Of course I can't afford that, so I pretended to be very depressed over a mythical poll tax demand and said I couldn't face going anywhere 'for the next few months'.

Day 5

Went for a walk in the afternoon.

Giro tomorrow - not such a bad wait again this time.

Day 4

Went to sign on. Borrowed £1.60 from mum for ½oz. of Old Holborn. M came round saying she felt depressed and paranoid, gave her tea, roll-ups and sympathy.

Can of lager with dad in the evening.

Day 3

Managed to read the papers. Realised that from my next Giro I should get the income support increase for being 22.

Day 2

From the bits of the news I couldn't avoid hearing I gather Major Major Major Major has reshuffled the cabinet and there've been two massive bombs in London.

Day 1

Tories eventually got an overall majority of 21 (down about 70, which isn't bad). Neil Kinnock is 'considering his position'. Refused to watch or listen to the news all day except to hear the final result.

Went to Asda for Private Eye; felt unwell.