Day 51

To town with M in the afternoon. Party in the evening, it wasn't very interesting.

Day 50

Out with M in the evening, ran into Theresa McCarthy who I haven't seen for ages. She mentioned she was applying for a post-graduate computer course, and M immediately insisted I do the same. I suspect in the cold light of morning it won't seem nearly so attractive.

Day 49

Went to the station to check on train times for tomorrow. In the evening listened to listened to On The Hour, went round to M's where she insisted on getting out our junior school class photos.

Walked drunkenly home reflecting that a year ago I was celebrating finishing my finals.

Day 48

Collected my Giro money. Watched a bit of Lovejoy and came up with an interesting theory that not watching telly causes eccentricity, as one isn't part of the psychic gestalt.

Day 47

Went round to mum's for lunch - just as I arrived, she returned from wherever she'd been, having been given a lift by B, who I haven't seen for months. Talked to him for half an hour.

Day 46

Walton was great - swam in the sea, drank warm canned Lambrusco and mineral water, ate French bread, smoked, built sand-castles. Barbecue at J's in the evening.

Day 45

Read The Road To Wigan Pier again. Went round to mum's in the afternoon. While I was there M rang inviting me for drinks with her and J. Borrowed £3 from mum and went.

We agreed to go down to the seaside tomorrow Bank Holiday - must be up early tomorrow. Home via mum's again to find my swimsuit.

Day 44

Short thunderstorm after tea. Out with M and J in the evening. Spent a long time talking to quite an old woman and her boyfriend/stepson.

Day 43

Went down town with M. She was going out with her ex again in the evening, so I read Lucky Jim and Tortilla Flat.

Day 42

Cycled to Gt Saffield and back. Still hot and clear, very hot in fact.

Day 41

Went out for a long bike ride. On way back met M in Galen Lane, talked for about an hour.

Day 40

Felt much better today, perhaps because of strange dream that I was back in my student bedroom which was full of people from 6th form. I was so angry - I had a hammer and I was hitting them with it and shouting 'Get out you bastards'.

About 4.30 the bike shop rang; my bike was finally ready. Cycled round to M's. She was wearing a Newcastle football shirt.

Day 39

No word from the bike shop.

Mondays are a bit of a pain in this routine - the first in a fortnight I can usually afford to go out, but it's purposeless; the second I am depressed by signing on. I wish there were some real way to get a congenial job or even anything else to do. Still, at least I've got the extra £8/fortnight these days.

Day 38

Went for a long walk in the afternoon, came back past M's to see if she'd got back yet, but her car wasn't there so presumably she hadn't. In the evening listened to the phone-in for the first time in ages.

Day 37

Rang the bike shop in the morning, still not ready. In the afternoon to the library, called in at the bike shop - come back on Monday. In fact they took my number and offered to ring me when it was ready.

Day 36

Went to collect my bike. It wasn't ready.

Day 35

Took my bike to the shop again, this time it was open. Should be ready tomorrow. Walked back in intense heat.

Day 34

Collected my Giro. Took my bike to be repaired, found the shop closed. Came back.

Day 33

Went for a long walk.

Day 32

Dreamt I was in Wentworth. Woke up. Signed on.

Day 31

A pity M's gone away again, I had got quite fond of her. Got to sign on tomorrow. Ah well, a chance to go to the library at least. Roll on next week, I can take it.

Day 30

Went round to M's. She was watching the FA Cup final with some bloke I've never seen before. Coming back it struck me how unusual it was to be out at at 5.30 pm on Saturday, felt like I was 14 or 15 again.

Day 29

Another good day, plucked from the jaws of Fate. Went round to mum's - after my last visit she'd found a tenner on the floor. We couldn't work out whose it was so we split it between us. That left me £16 so I was able to go out with M and J and have a great evening. Really drunk now.

Day 28

Went to Asda via the new footbridge: admired the view from the top. To M's in the evening, watched Harry Enfield. 10 months 1 day of unemployment.

Day 27

Went to Southend with M and her brother as he wanted to look at mountain bikes. We went on to Hadleigh Castle (which I'd never heard of before). It was a beautiful Spring afternoon, sunny and very clear. You could see right into Kent and just make out the bridge at Tilbury. The tide was right up and the sun was shining off the estuary. Canvey Island actually looked like an island and the coastal flats spread out below the castle. We climbed over the stones, looked at the remaining towers and were generally impressed.

Day 26

Beautiful spring evening - went for a walk down the river with M, past the old weir where we had a fag and talked about how simple things used to be.

Day 25

A year since that very dull but virtuous Bank Holiday. This holiday was altogether sunnier and more pleasant. Flipped through my Private Eye collection.

Day 24

Not such a bad day for a Sunday really. What will next week bring me?

Day 23

Was left to my own devices in the evening.

Day 22

Now 36 people have been killed in Los Angeles. As the bloke on the news said, Bush has now sent troops into Panama, Iraq and LA. Capitalism in its last phase, I hope. Just now I heard Rodney King, the black bloke who was beaten up by the police to start with, talking to the world's media and generally saying 'Please stop.'

Re-read What Katy Did; some great ironic moments that I'd missed before.

Day 21

Went out for a walk in the evening, met M. She'd finished her exams and was very drunk and happy. Went round and watched Harry Enfield and had a rollie.

Now sixteen people have been killed in Los Angeles in the riots.