10th June 1961
Dear Diary
I got another letter from Alan this morning. It seems we are back where we started. Went to Rainham Town with Michael tonight. Had one great discussion which turned into a very heated argument.
Chris Barber & Ottilie Patterson – Six Five Special
8th June 1961
Dear Diary
Last Tuesday a letter from Alan was waiting for me when I got home from work. He seemed so pleased because I had written to him. I can’t remember exactly what I had said but I don’t think I meant to give him the impression he has got, that things are back to normal. He has put off giving me instructions for sweater til ‘his next letter.’
7th June 1961
My Dear Maureen,
Went swimming this morning by Lady’s Mile Beach and it was really a morning well spent. If you are wondering what or rather how I managed to escape work, well it’s just a little thing called leave, all three days of it. Some of the Squadron lads are working down by the Water Ski Club so I had door-to-door transport there and back, so to speak. Arrived down there just after seven in a Landrover and after finding myself a neat little spot amongst the sand dunes went straight into the cool, cool water. It was wonderful. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the sun was more than hot as the morning drew on.
6th June 1961
Hiya Honey!
Danke fur Ihren Brief. It’s ok. I’ve just remembered I’ve got to write to my German pen friend and I thought I’d get in the mood. (for writing to my German penfriend, of course.)
5th June 1961
Dear Diary,
Went to see the Bank Revue with Mike, Clive & Carol, Penny and Richard. It was a rotten show. Carol and Clive walked out during the second half. We went for a drink with Penny and Richard afterwards.
4th June 1961
Dear Diary,
Known Alan 5 months today.
Went to Phoenix with Mike for a drink. Met his mum and dad there.
3rd June 1961
Dear Diary
Only one clear month left before Alan comes home.
Michael came round after his exams on Wednesday and again Friday evening. Dad made his usual remark last night ‘Getting his feet under the table.’
3rd June 1961
Dear Lena,
Thank you very much for your letter and the bookmark. I read a lot so I will find it very useful. I expect you have received my present by now I hope you like them. Also, I hope they fit.
3rd June 1961
Hello darling,
It was real good to hear from you again so thanks a lot for writing all them there pages. Believe me Maureen I’ve been feeling like a new man these past few days. When I received your letter it seemed like a dream or something. Anyway darling I want you to know I still and always did think that you are the tops for me.
30th May 1961
Dear Diary
I posted the letter this morning. Mum took great pleasure in reading out my stars which said something like ‘favourable time for love. Pleasant news.’
At work Pat was thrilled to bits and kept remarking how much it would please Alan.
29th May 1961
Dear Diary,
6 pm went up to my bedroom and finished said letter. After an hour or so Mum came up to see what I was doing. When she saw the pages strewn over the floor she just said ‘oh! In a very understanding way and left.
28th May 1961
My dear Alan,
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..Thought I’ve better wait a few lines so you don’t miss anything while getting over the initial shock!
The Platters – Only You
Alan, 1961
28th May 1961
Dear Diary
This evening I’ve got myself involved one step deeper in the eternal triangle. I don’t know whether I was in a bad mood this evening or whether Mike was worrying about his exams tomorrow but we didn’t get on very well when we went out for a drink. To add to all the difficulties I got it into my head that I wanted to wear my lilac two-piece and so, by finishing it made myself 75 mins late getting to Michael’s house.
27th May 1961
Dear Diary
This morning I was woken up at 11.45 and informed that Vic was downstairs waiting for me. Taking a few minutes to rouse myself I donned my blue silk housecoat and strolled in to receive my guest. He stayed talking for about half hour, though he had actually come about the Chris Barber LP. I told him I didn’t get paid until next Wednesday so he said he’d come back then.
26th May 1961
Dear Diary
Last night Michael and I went to the Sports Club to play table tennis. Not much came of that, as, after 15 mins we played records. Finally met Vic who Mike is always talking about. He is nice, much better than the crowd of last Saturday.
22nd May 1961
Dear Diary
We started 10.30 am, loaded with sandwiches, camera etc. Mike in slacks and sweater, me in new trousers and ‘horse blanket’.
We decided to catch a 145 bus to Chingford and walk through to Epping Wakes Arms. We got to the Royal Forest Hotel OK, had a shandy and started walking. The unfortunate part was that we were walking in the wrong direction! We did find out when we were in Buckhurst Hill, ‘cos we walked around it 3 times.
Guy Mitchell – Singing the Blues
20th May 1961
Dear Diary
Michael arrived in the afternoon, full of plans for where we are going in the evening and on Monday. He had been drinking with a crowd of friends at lunch-time and half agreed that we would go out with them Saturday evening and Monday. He checked with me and then phoned Peter Wilson and ok’d the evening.
19th May 1961
Dear Diary
As arranged Michael came to the house at 6 o’clock to take me to see South Pacific. After a bit of a tussle about what time we would get up to the West End, I was wrong and we were early. It was a bad start and could have deteriorated into a bad-tempered evening but anticipation of seeing the film overrode any impending argument. We went into this old decrepit type bar just off Tottenham Court Road and had a drink to while away the half hour we had spare.
Andy Williams – Can’t Get Used to Losing You
17th May 1961
Dear Diary
There are exactly 100 days left before Alan gets his demob. How I wish that I could have waited til then before we met. Every morning and every evening I look for his letters. It still hasn’t registered that I won’t be getting any more.
15th May 1961
Dear Lena,
Thank you very much for your letter.
I have also heard that many foreigners stay at the holiday camps on the south coast during the summer, though I’ve never met any myself.
Maureen, 1961
13th May 1961
Dear Diary
Cards from most of the family arrived this morning but not the one I wanted. I even paid up my bet with Jennifer without a word.
Mum and I went to Ilford and bought 4 lots of fabric including lilac for a two-piece. Auntie Bet and Janet came round and Jan sat in the kitchen with me while I washed my hair and we caught up on all the scandal.
Jim Reeves – Am I That Easy To Forget?
12th May 1961
Dear Diary
My 18th birthday and what a ghastly day it has been. Jennifer brought my cards up to me this morning and amongst them was a parcel. Oh, it was such a disappointment when I saw it was from Germany and not from Cyprus. The only card I got through the post was from Michael, which was sweet of him. I’m pleased he remembered me. What a mingy lot of relations I’ve got.
11th May 1961
Dear Diary,
Carol came in to work this morning bursting with what she considered ‘great news.’ She and Clive had been talking about Michael last night and Carol remarked that he was quite a gadabout. Clive denied this and said Michael was settling down now. ‘All his friends are going steady and Michael is getting serious.’ Carol was choked when I told her I knew that.
ALAMORE 