31st January (Thursday)

Well I'm finally a big Grade '12'.  It feels good but not much different really.  It was good to go back to school and see all my friends again.  I'm in two, maybe three classes with Karina which is really good because last year I wasn't in any with her.  I met the exchange student from Switzerland.  He's not exactly as cute as I hoped but I guess he's not really bad.  He's very, very, very tall and wears glasses.  His name is Nicholas.  He's from a French speaking area.

I found out today that Donna Willett was put off her part-time job because she'd turned 18.  I enjoyed going to work with Donna.

I'm going to try to get a part-time job at a hairdresser's and give up my job at the supermarket.  I'm hoping it'll give me a better chance of getting a full-time job there next year.  But I doubt I'll get a part-time job there, let alone a full-time one.

Mum rang Jan Myall this afternoon to see if her son, John, could start piano lessons on Monday.  I know she will be much more reliable than Mrs Flynn.

30th January 1985 (Wednesday)

Today I made a chef of myself.  I cooked a chocolate cheesecake, the same one we made at Joanne's.  Then I made the potatoes for tea.  I learnt a new way, also at Joanne's.

I start school in the morning.  I don't mind.  I'm looking forward to it really.  I'm also looking forward to asking Paul to partner me.  Only if he says yes!

29th January 1985 (Tuesday)

Mum went into town today.  I got her to get some things for my cooking tomorrow.  I've only got one day of holidays left.  It was Melissa's first day at high school today.  I drove down to pick her up from the bus stop.  She loved it.  It'll be good having her at the same school.  I've been to school for eleven years and only three have been at the same school as her.

I read the book Donna lent me today.  It was really good.  I read the whole book in one day.  Karina rang me today.  Right when I was cooking potato salad.  I burnt it!  Anyway she couldn't stop talking about Brad.  Their Rural Youth Group went on a camp on the weekend.  I was crying when she was talking to me.  She didn't know though.  She was saying how she thinks Brad's mum wants her to ask Brad to partner her for her debut.  It was really depressing me.  Mum rang Aunty Pat (Mason's mum) last night to see about him partnering me.  He's taken on a lot at uni so he probably can't do it.  So it looks like it'll be Paul Street (Eric's brother).  I really want him to, I think he's very nice.  He may not be able to do it because he goes to boarding school.  But he already knows how to dance so he wouldn't be disadvantaged if he missed a few practices.  Aunty Kaye (she & Leonie train the Catholic debs) said boys from boarding school have done it before so I hope he can.  Aunty Kaye was very sympathetic towards my finger.  She's really nice.  She's a terrific aunty.  I told her how I wanted Brad to partner me but Karina wanted him.  She told me to get in before Karina.  I like the way she says things like that.  Mum never would.

28th January 1985 (Monday)

Donna & Joanne made cushions for their beds today & I read a condensed novel from a magazine.  I'm home now.  I came home after tea.  I really enjoyed myself at Willett's.  Donna gave me a book to read & I wrote out a few recipes before I left.  They're all such good cooks down there.  Donna is training to become a Home Economics teacher.

27th January 1985 (Sunday)

We went up to the Tooradin store today to do some shopping for the cooking we did afterwards.  Mum rang to see when I was going home.  I told her about my finger and said it didn't look too good so she came down to have a look at it.  She used to be a nurse.  She said it would be alright and redressed it.  I'm having a great time down here.  We muck around all the time.  I wish I lived here.

26th January 1985 (Saturday)

Today I had fun.  I went to the ambulance.  I cut my finger on the meat slicer at at work.  It's not very bad but it's a good play for sympathy.  Although I push my luck at times!

We went to mass tonight in town and Eric was there.  I talked to him for awhile.  I asked him about Brad and he said, "You're not still chasing him are you?"  I don't know why he's telling me to forget him.  He wanted Brad and I to get together earlier on.  Donna, Joanne & I are sleeping outside tonight so we can gossip. 

25th January (Friday)

Aunty Kaye and Uncle Frank came down here for tea tonight so we made a cheesecake this morning.  Then we rang home to see if the boys and Melissa wanted to play tennis.  They did so we played tennis and then we played handball.  It was good fun.  They went home today.  We had to walk home on the road.  We only got one offer for a lift.  Of course we said no.  Then we cooked more when we got home.