You are currently browsing the monthly archive for April, 2005.
Right, the protest was fantastic. Such a good atmosphere. I left home last night at about 2000hrs. On the way, mum and I listened to some techno music chosen by me. I navigated us to park on a small road off Trafalgar Square. We got all our jumpers on and stuff and walked to Whitehall. There were people crowding outside. Apparently the doors had been closed because there were too many people. We were outside on the grass with nothing to do. I looked around and saw a group of children of my age sitting on the grass around candles singing. I felt so left out. They were all here with their friends enjoying themselves. I had nobody that I could do similar events with. I so wished I was part of their clique; just to join in and be accepted. They were all Goths or Emo-kids and were dressed for the occasion. There was not a Chav in sight.
We walked off to find a coffee. The only place open was pizza express and they said that we had to eat something in order to be served coffee. I obliged and had a pizza.
We returned to Whitehall at 2300hrs and everyone was on the grass square in front of parliament. We lit our candles and stuck them in jam jars. This worked really well. We walked to Downing Street with about 25,000 other people and had a party. Everyone had a candle because people were giving them out. We were crushed in and we jumped up and down shouting. Lots of people had whistles and drums so they were making as much noise as possible. At midnight, the oddest thing happened; everyone knew there was meant to be a minute of silence. The crowd was being so loud I thought that they never be quiet. Suddenly, they fell silent and you could hear the chimes of Big Ben. It was so silent one could forget he was in a crowd of 25,000 people. Only one person was still speaking but he was miles off. The silence was held for one minute precisely and then there was the biggest roar and everyone was shouting again. We made our way back to the square. We knew there was a comedy show happening in the Methodist Hall. We went there and saw a huge crowd around the door.
The building was full. We sat around that area and met one of mother’s friends. Together we walked to another venue. That was also full. Disappointed, we searched for somewhere to have a coffee. We walked down Embankment and past Denmark Street to another venue. That was full as well. We walked for ages but found nothing. We looked for another event at the Odeon but it was full, much to my surprise. We made it to china town for a cup of tea and attempted divination.
We went back to the grass area and I found great amusement in playing with the candles.
Mum ran to the car to get sleeping bags for it was getting late. The atmosphere was great. This guy needed some light so he came over and asked if he could use our candles. There were people juggling fire and glowing balls.
We went to Downing Street again at 0400hrs. Everyone had their candles again and was shouting. A conga line went past and I felt there was no alternative but join it. I always wonder where I should put my hands on a girl in front. Shoulders or hips? I settled on jumper. We went past a camera filming for the BBC. I went back to mum and her friend. We tried to sleep again. At one point, marshals for the march came around with free (fair trade) chocolate.
I didn’t sleep so when 0800hrs came, we got up and joined the queue of people in the procession. There were so many people. We had joined after 5000 people and there were many to come. At 0830hrs movement began. We marched past Whitehall, Parliament, and the bridge at Westminster, down Embankment and past the MOD building. Then we stopped at Downing Street to shout a bit more. It was at this point that mother and I broke off and went back in the car. We drove home and I slept all the way.
We got home and went straight to bed. I woke up at 1230. I then went to some friends to baby-sit. I watched Alien vs. Predator and Little Britain. I realised that some of the scenes had been filmed around my house. I then slept and when Mandy came in at 0100hrs, she drove me home.
Boring day again. I told Sean about the protest. He said he would love to go but he couldn’t. It was a bit late notice. I could walk a lot better now my blister is gone. In PSHE we talked about politics. I now have a slightly better understanding of how our government works. At break time Nick invited me into the music house. I had only been in there once before and had been thrown out. Anyway, we sidled in avoiding detection. We had a great time. It was all warm and nobody bothered us.
In German I worked out I have a C in my coursework. I have asked to do some extra pieces to boost my grade to an A. I only need a 14 and a 16. I shall do this tomorrow.
We went back to the music house at lunchtime. We just sat and talked. At the end, we had piggy-back races. It is really relaxed there.
I gave my physics coursework in and promised to do one more graph. In biology, Gavin was poking Geoff with his lip piercing. He is going to sell me his claw ring. It sounds highly cool.
I cycled home and on the way I saw a ‘police, slow’ sign. It turned out to be a policeman standing in the middle of the road. I pulled over and asked him what had happened. He said there had been a fire. I was told to go around, but I informed the state official that my house was on the road in question and he let me through. I continued down the road and saw three bright red fire trucks with the lights going. They had a ladder going over the roof and on it was a fireman in full respiration kit. This was odd to me for nothing unusual happens on our road. I got home and told mum. She didn’t know anything about it. I had chilli for dinner and am now going to the protest. I will report on how it was tomorrow
Not much today again. Nothing interesting happens at school. We did radioactivity in physics and we saw a few samples of radioactive rocks. We tested them with a Geiger counter. During lunchtime Duncan, Simeon and I went to play where others play ‘manhunt’. Some of the other children pinched the lower year’s ball and ran around the playground with 50 children in tow. For giggles, I waited until a year nine student came near and then screamed at them. The child victim didn’t seem to mind and ran off.
I attended the science revision class after school. It was on genetics but sadly I know all that I was being taught. I think that the revision classes are for delinquents who promised their parents that they would go.
I came home and mum told me about a protest match at Whitehall. It would be for fair trade. I decided I wanted to go. I have never been to anything like that and it could be fun. It is tomorrow.
Before bed, mum got a sterilised needle and lanced my last remaining blister. It feels so much better. I think mum enjoyed doing it too much. She was all fascinated by the medical stuff. Sadly the juices from inside sprayed everywhere when she popped it.
Not much happened today. I woke up late and had far too much breakfast. School was dull. I came home and drew a picture of an eye on my computer. Father showed me the new version of the British Airways safety video. I have decided that if I write a book I would like either Martin Jarvis or Stephen Fry to read it.
Not much interesting happened today. I was back at school. I woke up and helped mother apply more dressings to my feet. I had four plasters, one bandage and a knee support. To compliment theses, I had a gait not unlike that of a penguin. I cycled to the station and sat on the platform in the sun texting Harri. I had a fairly long conversation with Kim on the train. I believe it is the first time since we broke up. Got to school and waited for ‘Big Mike’ and ‘Master P’.
I had a good laugh at our stand-in form tutor. He is Swedish or something and there were only five of us there. When he called out names, Giles (a delinquent) just said ‘yeah, I have seen him’. The substitute tutor didn’t catch on that it was a joke and marked most of the class in. Most of the lessons were just revision. GCSEs are a bitch. We played a revision game in biology. Paz was the question master and for every question, ‘Batty Mattie’ just responded with ‘semen’. Funny to start with but grew old very quickly.
Duncan and I, finished plans for a post-GCSE London trip. Now the plan is that we go to an amazingly upper class restaurant all dressed up, medals and all. Then we go a to heavy rock concert. This is our idea of fun.
On the train home, Nick was planning to go ice skating on Sunday with some friends including Duncan’s current love interest.
Duncan is 16 and has never had a girlfriend. This makes me feel pity for him. I know I shouldn’t and that it is a really condescending view to take. He never leaves the house. I know more girls that live on his road than he does. He never opens his windows or curtains. He is the most rude, arrogant person I know. Positive attributes include the fact that he has plenty of character.
All interest of a female nature has come my way through fluke alone. All my girl friends have left me or circumstances have become such that I can’t see them any more. I fancy Harri at the moment. I don’t know if she is aware of that or if she feels similar about me. I need to talk to her. I am going to see her in a few weeks time. She is the closest thing to a soul mate I have ever had. We met once when we were doing a Duke of Edinburgh expedition. She was already at our campsite. I arrived cold and wet. It was the wettest weekend of that year. Within four hours of first seeing each other, we kissed. It was the craziest thing I have done in a long while.
It was just so natural. We seemed to fit together. There was something that clicked. I have not seen her since. It has been five months. I hope our next meeting will bring more love. I have felt really lovely over the past month with the expectation of the rendezvous. I could really do with a hug.
I got home and did some history revision and then spoke to her online. Turns out she fancies a guy called Mat. But she cheated on him and he doesn’t like her very much for that. I ain’t really sure where I stand with her. I think I am just a good memory of a fleeting weekend five months ago. I watched TV and then set my alarm and went to bed.
Got back from Costford last night. It was one of the most taxing things that I have done. Not so much physically as mentally. It was a 50 mile march over two days. Trying to stand up and march again after a break was rather demanding. However I feel it was worth it. At the end, marching through the gates there were two girls of my age sitting on the sun bathed grass. When we marched passed they clapped. There was nothing but admiration in their eyes. We then marched to the finish line and the whole crowd applauded. We saluted an officer and halted. When we stopped, I felt such a feeling of pride. I had done it and my team had done it. We had done what was the most difficult part of the entire course. We sat down in a state of shock. We removed our webbing and congratulated each other. One girl was in tears. I wish I could have cried but I would have been ridiculed for being weak. We moved to a different area of the parade square and applauded the other teams coming in. Some high ranking officer gave a speech about personal achievements. At this point I really needed a piss. They wouldn’t let me go so I sat there in absolute pain until he had finished. We then moved and sat under a model of a Spitfire and were given our medals. I got mine and shock the officer’s hand. I sat there for about five minutes just staring at the medal in its plastic bag. All my effort in the training marches and the briefings. All my work for the prize I now held in my hands. I wondered if anyone, when they saw the medal, knew the pain and suffering we had been through to get it. We had our photo taken next to the Spitfire and then went home. At home, I stumbled into the house, sat down and tried to take my boots off but I couldn’t. Mother had to help me. Father just stood there in his dressing gown. He acted like he had no idea what I had gone through. This made me cry last night when I went to bed. A foolish and childish thing to cry over, but I cry over the lack of attention and love from my father. For all I know it could be there, but I am not sure he knows how to show it. I had worked so hard. I had marched for eight days and had covered 166 miles (266 km). I woke up this morning and had breakfast at 12:30. I had caught up on much lost sleep. I wondered back upstairs and looked at the photos I had taken when at Costford. I was disappointed for the focus was all wrong and many were blurred because I had taken them whilst marching. I am going to make a CD of all the photos I have taken and will take while marching. I hope I get on the Nijmegen team. I should find out in about two weeks time. In the meantime, I am doing the Spitfire march in Folkestone. At 1500hrs, I had a much needed bath. There were not many washing facilities at Costford. I added salt to the bath to try and cure the wounds on my feet. I did a biology practice paper and chatting online for a while. I now owe Harri a hug when I next see her at High Wycombe. I had pancakes and saw father’s photos from his ‘three peaks challenge’. I then read my book and went to bed.
