He picked me up and swung me round and asked for a birthday kiss – 10th & 17th November 2002

Sunday 10th  Well, my last full week of being 19 wasn’t all that exciting. I helped Jonas make a model of a straw house and stayed at his a couple of times after spending most of my time doing coursework. He said he loves me lots. 🙂

Archie’s mate Tim came to say on Tuesday. We went to the bonfire at Storthes and it was a pretty good firework display. I saw a girl in my room that I had last year. We went to Visage afterwards but there was nobody there and Tim wouldn’t dance.

Archie knows Jen fancies him (because it’s blatantly obvious) but he didn’t know what she did with Kevin. I thought he did because she said she’d told him so I was talking about it. Oops!

Bye!

[IDST was only ever going to be my cringeworthy teenage diaries but, as it turns out, I was no less embarrassing after my teens… so I might as well keep going.]

Sunday 17th  Well, I’m no longer a teenager anymore. I’m 20!! Wow. That sounds quite old. I still feel the same as I did when I was about 16!

On my last day of being 19 (Monday), Jonas’s Peugeot (Lily) failed her MOT. It’d cost him £300 to repair so it’s not really worth it seeing as he only paid £100-ish and has no money anyway. Jonas came round for a last drive in Lily and to stay over.

We stayed up until 12:14 am on 12th November (my time and date of birth) and Jonas made me go and hide in my room for a bit.

[Blurry selfie of the exact minute I turned 20.]

He then put his hands over my eyes and guided me into the kitchen. He’d bought me a Tweenies cake (because Michael said I remind him of Fizz when I get excited) with 20 candles and sand Happy Birthday to me. He’d also got me a huge card and he had to cover up Howley with a heart inside. He said Paul interrupted him while he was writing it and he’s accidentally put his full name on!

[My birthday card and Tweenies cake. I thought I was SO OLD.]

He’d bought me 3 presents too. A kung fu hamster, a beady necklace and 3 beady bracelets. J I love Jonas! He got me the Caesar III computer game too for my laptop because I used to have it at home. It was all really nice. He kept saying he loves me and happy birthday and cuddling me. Mmm! 🙂

I was woken up by a Happy Birthday from Jonas as he left in the morning for work on Tuesday. Jen had made me some Happy Birthday signs and stuck them around the house. I also had 3 cards and 3 texts. My tickets for Visage arrived too.

Abby came that afternoon with Mum and Dad. I got some money, tops and cushions from them which was good.

That evening, we all dressed up and went off to the school disco at Visage. We started in Milton but everyone else was in normal clothes so we didn’t stay long. I didn’t buy one drink! There were loads of people out too which was nice.

[Me, Abby and my tiny Nokia with a battery that lasted about a year.]

Marc out of my flat last year introduced me to his girlfriend, Jodie. I already knew who she was because she’d got off with Ben and stalked Jake apparently.

Pierced Sam was going round kissing everyone in Visage. I got a big kiss on the lips but then so did Jonas so it didn’t really matter!

Jonas turned up quite late actually but said I looked really fit. I got lots of snogs from him too. 🙂

Some guy Jen knows was also 20 in my birthday and when he found out he picked me up and swung me round and asked for a birthday kiss. I said no. He was a bit of a prick obviously. I actually felt very light-headed and had no appetite. It could’ve been because I came on my period though. Typical timing on my birthday!

I skived uni on Wednesday and Abby went home. Jonas stayed over. Not much happened for the rest of the week. I saw lots of Jonas though.

I had a major go at Kevin today. I got back from Jonas’s to be told that Kevin hadn’t phoned British Gas to sort the boiler out again. He also hadn’t bought any bread or milk as usual. He just stood and listened because there was no way he could defend himself as it was all true. Jen didn’t bloody well help. She just stood at the top of the stairs and listened. Both she and Archie said he deserved it though. I know!

Bye!

She’s held a grudge against us ever since – 19th & 20th May 2001

Friday 19th It’s my mum’s 50th birthday on Monday so our family plus Jake and Connor all went to the Yang Sing Chinese restaurant in Manchester this evening.

Before we went, I got upset because I’d just found out Abby and Connor went to a kickboxing weapon training thing today but they hadn’t told me about it. Even if I hadn’t have gone, it would’ve been nice if they’d checked. Then Mum started mithering me to take Mollie for a walk while I was trying to wrap her presents. I just got pissed off and ended up crying all over Jake.

The meal this evening was really nice though. They made up a banquet for us when we got there and we had all sorts of food. We had the usual ribs and rice and stuff but then there were other things like mussels, squid, scallops and ostrich. They ostrich meat was sooo nice! I’ve never tried some of those things before and I was a bit wary at first but then pleasantly surprised when I tried them.

Bye!

Saturday 20th I went to Manchester with Jake today in search of a dress for my college leaving do in June. I didn’t end up getting one though. I really can’t shop properly with him cos I’m aware of him getting bored and then it rubs off on me! All I got was 2 bottles of nail varnish and an O’Neill purse to replace my other one that’s bursting a bit.

On the train, Jake told me that Matt Carrera and Samantha Breck (his mates) want him to go and stay with them at Huddersfield Uni sometime soon. I really don’t want him to go. Initially, I was worried that Samantha will have loads of girly mates and they’ll fancy him cos he’d be someone new to them and good looking.

Then I realised that if he goes now then he’ll know his way round by the time we both go in September. That wouldn’t be much fun with him telling me everything cos he always seems to do stuff first (e.g. snowboarding) that he says we’ll do together. I’d rather discover it all WITH him and don’t want him to spoil that too.

Then there’s the fact that Samantha has a definite bitchy streak and has showed it to me many times and I don’t want her poisoning him against me. She tried to put me off going out with him in the first place, even though she’s his “best friend”. I found out tonight that she even told my sister that it might not be a good idea for him to get into a relationship with me. Grrr!! I didn’t listen to her, obviously!

The reason she doesn’t like me is pathetic anyway. About 4 years ago, on the way back from the Austria ski trip, my best mate at the time (Emma T) ripped Samantha’s magazine accidentally and she’s held a grudge against us ever since. Sad!

Anyway, I understand that he wants to see his friends and stuff, and it’d be really selfish of me to stop him going but I still don’t like the idea.

Bye!

It’s my 18th birthday today!! – 12th November 2000

18

Part of Auntie G’s present →

Lottery

Yes, that’s right, it’s my 18th birthday today!! I’ve got loads of money and loads of presents!! Jake bought me a pink Quiksilver jacket that I’ve like for ages, I got lots of little presents off Mum, Dad and Abby and jewellery off everyone in Wick.

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[Sporting my pink coat at a later date with Abby and Rhian in Wick.]

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[Still got the box decorated by Mum and filled with 18 little presents. It’s now one source of hideous teenage photos that I add to these posts.]

Jake and I somehow ended up in Chester just wandering round. It was a bit boring, rainy and cold but very nice!

Bye!

At least 3 of them were very, very fit! – 8th to 11th November

Wednesday 8th I went to the doctor’s again today and he thinks it’s a trapped nerve, possibly caused by me banging my elbow on something. I’ve got to go back in 2 weeks if it doesn’t improve. He mentioned something about nerve conduction tests. They don’t sound too good!

I missed half of college today cos I couldn’t write.

Bye!

Friday 10th

TicketTicket

I got this ↑ from Mr Smith’s nightclub in Warrington plus 8 of these:

Ticket

[They had such a strict over 18s policy that they invited me on a night when I was still 17. Good old Smith’s!]

So, a load of my mates and I went tonight. Jake didn’t come cos he hates it there but I wasn’t that bothered. It’s more fun with just my mates. Quite a few people didn’t get in in the end but all my main friends did.

I really enjoyed myself! I had loads of lads trying it on with me (and at least 3 of them were very, very fit!) but I rejected them all, of course!

Bye!

Saturday 11th Work was awful today! Q (a chef) was being a right bastard as soon as I arrived and then I kept dropping things cos of my hand being numb.

I saw Jake for a bit and Auntie G and Grandma S came to visit.

Bye!

Certain things are now legal – 12th November 1998

Thursday 12th I’m 16 now. It’s no different though, other than certain things are now legal which weren’t yesterday. I got loads of pressies and loads of cards and I’ve had an okay day so far.

People were trying to make me go in the Music rooms at lunch coz Ewan was in there. I would have done too if they hadn’t have kept going on at me. Rach said that he was telling them to drag me in there but I wouldn’t let them. I wish I had now.

He did sign Emma’s card →

And when he walked past me after school we smiled at each other and he said, “Happy birthday Tess.” Roxanna told me he would.

Rach also said that she tuned into a conversation Ewan was having with Harry Preston. He said, “…and it’s her birthday today.” Then, “Do you think I should talk to her?” Yes, please do. I’m fed up of people telling me to talk to him. If he’s that desperate to speak to me, he can make the first move.

I really like him now though.

BYE!

P.S. Emma announced this morning that she’s going out with Davis. I was right, yet again!

I do quite like Ralph – 12th November 1997

Wednesday 12th I’m 15 years old today. I got up this morning and opened the presents from Mum, Dad and Charlotte. I got

– an Umbro top and black pants
– glow in the dark stars to stick on my ceiling
– some bubble bath or summit
– Sunchyme [God, that one takes me back!]Torn, As Long As You Love Me and Jimmy Ray CDs
– and…er…choccys

July 1997 - Backstreet Boys

When I met Emma, Zoe, Leona and Poppy this morning, they started singing Happy Birthday so I told ‘em where to go! [Charming.] I got to school and my friends gave me cards and I got the Clueless film on video from Emma, another box of chocs from Cat and £5 of Freda. Everyone seemed to know it was my birthday. I don’t know how coz I didn’t tell them!

When I was going out of my tutor room at break, Dougie and co were walking the other way and I heard someone yell, “Look Ralph! There’s Tess!” Then someone whistled. I think half the school probably heard!

At lunch, I went up to the Home Ec. Room with Emma so she could sort out her cooking stuff. I forgot Ralph was in her group so I had a shock when I went in and saw him in the kitchen with Emma. I had to go out again to stop myself from laughing so I went and got the chocolates so I had something to take my mind off laughing. I ended up giving most of them to Ralph, Emma and Cat though coz I only really like the cream ones. I finished the whole box.

Freddie came up too. He’s just so funny. I don’t know why coz it’s just stupid little things that he says. Hayley came up for a while too and told me she thinks Ralph fancies me so Sarah told him that I fancied him, just to make matters worse. Then Emma asked him if he fancied me and he said no. Phew! I s’pose he was hardly going to admit it if he does though! [Bit disappointed there, young Tess?]

Geography was boring coz Dougie doesn’t say much but he asked Neil Kennedy to the cinema. So, after school, I went back up to see Emma’s cakes and I asked Ralph if he wanted to come coz I don’t think Dougie really gets on with him. He said he might then I realised what a stupid thing that was to say coz he’ll think I want him to come coz I fancy him. [I DID WANT HIM TO COME COZ I FANCIED HIM! I even admit in a minute.]

It was funny when he was tasting Emma’s cakes! They must have been awful! His face just screwed up and he legged it to the bin! His cakes looked really nice though. I think he’s gunna be a chef.

I asked him again about the cinema and he said he might come so I told him who else could be coming. He changed his mind to “no way” when I told him Ed, Davis and Neil are going!

I hate saying this coz he’s not exactly fit but I do quite like Ralph. If anyone that knows me or him reads this, I’m begging you, PLEASE don’t say anything. I’ve had pretty good taste in lads up until now and it could get very embarrassing. Okay?

BYE!

October 1997 - Party bye