Phantom

My No.1: ‘Phantom’ – The Sisters of Mercy

 

THE 30^TH + FINAL DAY OF JUNE 1988 WAS:

 

KAT … LEIGHTON … ORANGE BEETLE … ‘PHANTOM’ … GHETTO BLASTER … THE KING’S LYNN WALKS … CIDER … CINZANO …  A-LEVEL TEXTS … FRANK + JOYCE … DANNY BLACK … THE EMPTY COMMON ROOM … PISSED … KISSING … CONFESSIONS … SECRETS … LOVE … TAKING THE PISS OUT OF JUSTINE … DRIVING AROUND … ‘PHANTOM’ … WISBECH RAIN …  THE STORM … A REHEARSAL WITH FRIENDS … SKIRTING BOARD FUNGUS WITH YOGHURT ON … GATEWAY CAR PARK … REGRET … SEPARATION … HAPPINESS … SAD AND MELLOW … MIRANDA WASP … BREAD ON TV … DOCTOR WHO … FLASH ON THE PHONE … BERWIN AGAIN … ‘PHANTOM’ … FLASH PLANS … FRIENDS …

 

AND, HOPEFULY,

tHE fUtURE…

 

My favourite record is ‘Phantom’ by The Sisters of Mercy.  Why?  I don’t know.

 

Later:

 

‘She’s So Fine’ – Jimi Hendrix

 

Today was great.  I waited patiently in King’s Lynn, until Kat ‘n’ Leighton arrived in the Beetle.  There was no Willock, thankfully; he was still at Naomi Bell’s in Norwich.  We all went and sat in the park with the nice monument and the ‘shelter’ in it.  The mood was strange, though, as we sat among the flowers.  It was like we were all happy, but at the same time sad and mellow.

 

We then walked into College, where I returned all my textbooks.  The place was so dead, but with a trusty bottle of Cider from Gaywood Spar, we sat on the front lawn and drank.

 

Kat and I started to get very close.  As the alcohol took affect, she and I went for a little walk and I told her of my recent, scattered and fractured ‘love’ history.  I wanted her to know all about Justine and Suzi and Nat and Belinda and all the other bits and bobs, so she could see it from my perspective.  I want her to understand that I am NOT, in fact, a WOMANISER.

 

She does understand.

 

‘If It Wasn’t For The Reason That I Love You’ – Miki Anthony

 

I then asked her for advice on the subject of JUSTINE and I having slept together behind Leighton’s back.  She suggested I tell him all about it if the day went well.  You see, I really felt I needed to tell him.  I like him so much now.  And before he and Justine got together we were mates.  The whole thing just got messy and now that neither of us is involved with her, it seemed right to address the matter.

 

Kat and I touched, and we were embracing as Leighton came around the corner.  But he’s nice.  He said he doesn’t care what she or I do (they’re best mates, see?), and if Willock finds anything out or turns sour and causes a furore, then Leighton promised he’d stick by me.  He is a good chap.

 

We returned to King’s Lynn and bought some CINZANO and peanuts.  As Leighton went to check on his car, Kat and I went to The Walks, where we kissed beautiful kisses of enormous power, whilst ‘Phantom’ by The Sisters Of Mercy played on Leighton’s Ghetto Blaster (which I had been carrying).  ‘Phantom’ is great.

 

Kat told me she loves me more than I could ever imagine; never wants to lose me; NEEDS ME.  We embraced again and, once again, Leighton came around the corner.  Kat then walked off, really upset.  Leighton went after her and spoke to her.  After a minute or two, I went and joined them.  Tactfully, Leighton left us to it for a bit.

 

Alone, Kat told me that she loves Willock but can’t understand why she constantly feels the need to be with me.

 

There is so much between us.

 

‘In Search Of Peter Pan’ – Kate Bush

 

Totally wazmodic, we returned to Tech and spoke to Danny a lot.  He’s great, is Danny.  We then, totally + utterly, took the continual piss out of Justine.  Doing impressions of her walk, and later shadowing her bus home with the Beetle.  She was on the back seat, and fully aware that we were following, so I held up a sign saying, ‘ARE YOU ON DOPE?’  It was bastardish, I know, but Kat and I were well weelehed and in stitches.  On reflection, I shouldn’t have done it, and I probably wouldn’t have if Justine hadn’t been such a bitch to me the other day.  I felt really guilty afterwards.

 

We drove to Wisbech, where it rained.  Kat tried to ring Willock.  No answer.  We passed Dan, who gave me the Tower keys, so we could sit in the dry.  In the Tower, I sat and ran my hands across Kat’s legs and up her skirt as we cuddled. 

 

Kat and Leighton stayed for the first half of our rehearsal.  I was CRAP. 

 

When they left, I saw them off from Gateway Car Park.  Kat was very upset at having to leave me.  But the storm was nice and beautiful.

 

One day we will surely have to be together.

 

I finished the rehearsal feeling totally missing Kat.  I believe we’re all going to become really great friends. 

 

‘Wow’ – Kate Bush

 

I saw Miranda Wasp – she looked a MESS!  I mean, she’ll always be really attractive, but she looked tired and scruffy, which isn’t her at all.

 

Flash rang and he’s coming to stay soon, which is groovily exciting.

 

Later:

 

‘When The Wind Blows’ – David Bowie

 

SO THE BIRTHDAY MONTH ENDS.

 

JUNE WAS:

 

EIGHTEEN … KATRISHA HILL … NATALIA WNEK … NORWICH … PARTIES … DOCTOR WHO … LITERATURE … A-LEVELS … C’EST LA VIE … LEGS … LEIGHTON HOLT … BERWIN GROOMSTOOL … THE RETURN OF FLASH…

 

WHAT WILL JULY BE? 

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: ‘July 1988…’

Still In My Heart

A.M.

 

‘You Baby’ – The Mamas & the Papas

 

A fading memory of Suzi and her narrow, cat eyes, her powdered cheeks, her pouting lips…

 

KATRISHA, we shall write THE ULTIMATE, BEAUTIFUL PLAY.

 

I AM WiNteRfooD.

 

YOU ARE ALL MY PAWNS.

 

Later:

 

‘The White Room’ – Cream

 

Today, Natalia and I communicated over the telephone for the first time in ages.  She’s really nice and likes these diaries.  We’ll see each other next Saturday, which will be nice. 

 

In a way I cannot understand, she is still in my heart. 

 

And, Nat, if you and Mark do finish this weekend, feel free to cry on my shoulder.

 

Later:

LATE.

 

Oh, I saw Danny Chegwin.  It’ll be a reunion at Joey’s 18^th, I reckon.

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: ‘Phantom…’

Dirty Debbie Watling

‘Dancing In The Street’ – The Mamas & the Papas

 

Go and see DARK IS DESIRE – THEY ARE CHUFFING ACE!

 

Rehearsals were good.  ASH’S BIRTHDAY (27^TH JUNE) – he is, in fact, 23!

 

A letter from Berwin Groomstool tells me he’s living in London because he’s now a famous film director and that I must be jealous because he has loads of girls all to himsen and he’s more famous then me and because he can fight me easy.

 

I think Flash is perhaps involved. 

 

Oh of course Flash’s my best mate.  I am a gay, aren’t I?

 

BUT DOCTOR WHO SKILNESS!

I WATCHED THE MOVIE THAT’LL BE THE DAY, AND IT WAS ACE.  DEBORAH WATLING (who played Victoria in Doctor Who during the late ‘60s) WAS IN IT AND SHE IS GORGEOUS!  I SAW HER BREASTS AND I LOVE HER! 

BEAUTY DIVINE!

 

‘Oh To Be In Love’ – Kate Bush

 

KATE BUSH IS SKILL!

 

SO IS KAT.

 

GOODNITE.  I’LL BE TIRED.

 

GOTH AGAIN, SOON?  UP TO KAT.  WE’LL SEE…

 

Later:

 

‘Night-Scented Stock’ – Kate Bush

 

Leighton rang this P.M.  He is alright.  P’haps he, Kat and I shall soon become very close-knit friends. 

 

DOES THE FUTURE BODE WELL?

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: ‘Still in my heart…’

Three Years From Now: 27/06/91

THREE YEARS FROM NOW...

 

My No.1: 'Waiting For The Sun' - The Doors

 

Rainy day life.

 

I watch the world from the corner of my life and I can taste contempt in the seat of my mouth.

 

Where do you live, Lilith?  Where are you now?  What are you doing?  What are you thinking? 

 

What do I have to do?

 

Instruct me.  You are in control.  I could so easily be, but things seem to tune-in a little more when you're at the helm.

 

I could easily have taken so much control last week. 

 

God!  A week ago!  I would have loved to have removed your 'body' and kissed you, licked you all over, tasted every part of you; made love to you and fucked you all at once.  I need to bond with you physically, emotionally, and psychically.  But - and I think this is unique to being with you - I feel scared of my feelings and the things I want to do when I'm with you.  I'm scared you'll be offended by my wanting to make love to you, to kiss you and inhale you - to taste your sex...  I can't take these risks if it means losing you.  But then maybe I ought to.

 

Next time, I'll try to take control.  If there is a next time.

 

'Roadhouse Blues' - The Doors

 

My feelings and my love lie with you, Lilith.  So now I have a problem called POLLY.

 

She rang last night, and she's moving back to King's Lynn on Saturday.

 

I don't want her to. 

 

I love Polly but I don't think I'm IN love with her.

 

I'd hate to hurt or upset her.  I don't want to be known as the 'bastard' here.

 

This feels like a very desperate and dangerous situation.  I have to be resolute and firm about it.  But how?  What will happen?

 

Rainy day women.

 

Lilith and I should talk - PROPERLY.

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: ‘Back to 1988…’

Ouija Board Panic

‘Fall In’ – Adam and the Ants

 

The day began at Naomi Bell’s video party in Norwich…

 

When the film Witchboard ended, we began an extremely scary OUIJA.  Leighton refused to join in, respecting Suzi’s fear of such things following a recent ‘bad experience’.  So they went and sat in the car, and Ben was asleep by now.  So Willock, Naomi and Ady watched as Stan, Kat, Zig and myself did the Ouija…

 

OUIJA BRAINSTORM NOW:

The spirit/ghost, one Roco.  True?  No.  Stan Wincensa (Sten Vincenzo?), accident, very soon, VW (Leighton’s Beetle?  This scared us!).  Who would have the accident?  Stan.  Who else involved?  Jez, Jez, Jez, Ritcherd, Jez, Ritcherd.  Physically injured?  No.  Emotionally?  No.  Mentally?  No.  Age of spirit?  19.  From when?  Future.  A future spirit from one of the life essences present in the room.  Who?  No answer.  After the accident?  Stan dies young, and then.  By now, Stan was in tears, I was in tears, Kat was in tears.  Zig wasn’t in tears – he’s the big, manly type – but you could tell he was feeling very uneasy, because all his lovely humour and bravado had gone.  Anxiety had replaced the niceness of the evening and we were all shitting ourselves in terror.

 

‘Navel To Neck’ – Adam Ant

 

We stopped as Kat and Willock left with Leighton and Suzi.  We promised not to continue the Ouija until they rang us safely from home.

 

Outside, on the way to the car, Leighton cried on my shoulder, worried about the VW letters that had come up.  He is to drive to Diss on Monday – alone.  I told him everything was going to be fine, and I think he appreciated me caring enough to say so.  As I turned, Kat kissed me, our mouths briefly interlocking.  Again, that beautiful kiss upon my unworthy lips.  We shared one final embrace and off they went…

 

‘Libertine’ – Adam Ant

 

By now it was daylight, so Alex, Zig, Stan and I went for a walk, just to get some air.  On returning, Ady had joined Ben in the land of sleep, and Naomi was sitting alone, feeling terrified.  But she told us that all our friends had rung, and had arrived safely home.

 

They survived, thank god!

 

So we continued with the Ouija...

 

No, not Leighton’s VW.  Another VW.  Who dies?  Someone in the room.  Someone near and dear to N. Bell.  Who?  Stan Stan Stan.  Was spirit Jez from future?  Yes.  Is Flash involved?  Yes, in life force.  Are they spiritually the same?  No – bodily.  Is Jez a reincarnation of Stan?  No, Stan of Jez.  So reincarnation can occur before, during or after a ‘previous’ body’s lifetime?  Yes.  We then stopped, because Zig felt suddenly ill.

 

I refused to be the one to rip up the letters, so Alex upturned the glass and Stan helped him destroy the papers.  Later, as Zig sat on the floor, he saw one letter that had escaped the cull – and it was the letter ‘Z’.  He shayte his pants, basically.

 

‘Spanish Games’ – Adam Ant

 

We all agreed that none of us had ever done a Ouija board before that had generated quite this much energy.  Stan and I told our friends about the Ouija we did with Gerry Gordon at Gordon Villas on Feb 15^th 1987, and they concluded that perhaps Gerry possesses some mystical power, some of which remained within Stan + myself.  The coming together of us both for this Ouija probably utilised latent, siphoned energy from the Gordon working and generated the power that everyone was feeling this morning.

 

Whatever, we went to bed at 6am.  Ady + Stan slept in Naomi’s room.  Ben slept on the sofa.  Zig slept on two wicker chayres.  I slept on the sofa bed with Alex – the one Naomi used to have at her mum’s place – and tried to work out which stains were his and which stains were mine.  It was an odd thing to do, but we both found it ridiculously funny and giggled quite a lot.

 

‘Parisienne Walkways’ – Gary Moore

 

I awoke at 12pm.  Ben had already gone when Zig and I said thanx to Naomi and left her (and the other 3) behind, to walk into Norwich.  She probably hates me again by now, esp. with Stan left behind to do some stirring.  I s’pose.

 

[Some months later, in about September 1988, Venus, Leighton’s girlfriend by that time, was involved in a VW crash.  She escaped unhurt, but Jeremy, the brother of our mutual friend Lee Stanmore, did not.  Sadly, he was badly injured and died.  He was a close friend of Naomi Bell  – Ritcherd, 1991]

 

Later:

11.30pm.

 

‘Baby, Let Me Scream at You’ – Adam Ant

 

ADAM ANT IS SKILL.

 

SO I’M HOME, AREN’T I?

 

WHERE’VE I BEEN?

 

NORWICH (OF COURSE)…

 

Once home, it was nice when Kat rang me.  She told me she wanted to kiss me on our Chippy visit, also.  I told her I was glad we kissed goodbye, and she said she was too.  We both confessed to liking each other a million times more than we did before, also. 

 

We talked of our desires, and I mentioned that I would love to own a huge mansion with lots of acreage, horses, stables, fields, hidden gardens, etc.  This revealed my desire to become the true 18^th or 19^th century gentleman.

 

We talked about my plans to go to Europe.  She said she’d come if she had the money.  She also said she would be in mine and Flash’s GROOMSTOOL VIDEO.  And I WILL STAY AT HER PLACE SOON! 

 

I OWE HER A SAUSAGE!  I SAID SHE CAN HAVE MY SAUSAGE ANY TIME SHE LIKES.  SHE TOLD ME I CAN GO ON A RAMPAGE WITH HER ANY TIME I LIKE!              

 

She cried a lot on Sunday morning + argued with Willock.  It was a ‘oh you care for Jez more than you care for me’ argument.  In fun, she asked him who he’d like to make love to other than her.  He said, Belinda, Naomi Bell + Alice.  He asked her, but she didn’t answer.  She thought she heard him say ‘Jez’, but changed the subject because, yes, she does want to.

               

GOSH!

 

I’ll see her on THURSDAY.

 

‘Doctorin’ The Tardis (Minimal)’ – The Timelords

 

My Doctor Who ‘connexions’:

 

Betty (my mum) meeting and talking at length with FRAZER HINES (JAMIE).

 

Betty smiling at COLIN BAKER (THE 6^TH DOCTOR) in the street.  She even thought of going up to him and getting me his autograph, but didn’t bother.

 

Kat and her mum knowing MIKE CRAZE (BEN).

 

Jenny Taylor babysitting for (THE 7^TH DOCTOR) SYLVESTER McCOY’s kids (and smacking one of them for being naughty!).

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: 'A trip to the future...'

Naomi Bell's Video Party

‘Ant Music’ – Adam and the Ants

 

YES!  IT SEEMS THE OLD WINTERFOOD/GORDON CURSE OF NOT GETTING TO NORWICH ON TIME STILL HAUNTS ME…

 

I missed the 12pm bus by about five minutes and so had to wander around Wisbech, meeting many a stare (no one is quite used to GOFF at the extent to which I was deliberately cliché-ing it today).

 

So I went in BACCHALLY’S – which was packed – and ate Lasagne and French Fries with Grapefruit Juice.  I was so ‘out of place’ there (it’s very polite), but I carried off my Victorian Gentlegoth pose to a seemingly fine art.

 

Then a note fell onto my table:

 

‘NO TIME RING U TONITE?’

 

Nat.  She was incredibly busy.  On the way out, I handed her vols. I + II of my 1986 Diary, in her Jiffee bag.  I told her not to ring, but that I’d be in touch.  All v. brief.  I think we are creating a gap that can sit nice and neatly in-between us.

 

‘Christian D’or’ – Adam and the Ants

 

I then went to the Library, and spent up until 3.25pm reading Peter Haining’s Doctor Who: A Celebration.

 

I eventually got the 5.25pm to NORWICH and it arrived two hours later.  Luckily, Kat + Willock had rung my home to find out why I had not been on the 12pm, and I had left a message with Betty explaining my travel options.  So, when I arrived, they were waiting for me at the Bus Station.  Willock and I did not speak, and Kat left him with his friends as we went to the Castle grounds to ‘work on her A-level monologue’.

 

There, we sat upon the moist grass, and she was wonderful.  We leafed thru’ the script, briefly, but then talked about the last few weeks apart and how we’d both been dying to see each other.  Then we traversed the grounds, looking over the hillside and across Norwich, acting silly.  In my Goth get-up (I think it’s the frilly shirt and the tail-coat that do it) we decided I was a combination of THE DOCTOR, THE MASTER, SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE EMPEROR OF THE UNIVERSE, and PROFESSOR HIGGINS from Pygmalion.  KAT was my ELIZA DOOLITTLE!

 

‘Prince Charming’ – Adam and the Ants

 

So there we were – Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn – talking and laughing and squirming; speaking of our true feelings for each other.  I told her how something had clicked into place from the moment we started going round with each other on the 4^th June (was it the 4^th?).  And since then, it has been growing.  I told her that she is my MOONCHILD, and that the KISS we shared was beautiful.

 

We adore each other; it’s plain to see.  There is such a bond.  And I so much wanted to kiss her, but the VICTORIAN GENTLEGOTH gave me a sense of HONOUR, which prevented me from doing this.  She loves Willock so much, but cannot understand why she continually wants to be with me.

 

She wants to share her life with me.

 

KAT is one of the few: NAT, FLASH, CHIP… KATE BUSH… EMILY BRONTE…

 

‘Stand and Deliver’ – Adam and the Ants

 

It was great at the Castle, but soon we had to meet the others in THE RED LION. 

 

When we got there, Belinda called me a ‘womaniser’, saying I ‘get around’.

 

True, I get around, but I resent being called a womaniser.  I adore women, it’s true, but I cannot help my feelings for them or if relationships prove unsuccessful.  I’m eighteen, for god’s sake, and life is for living!  What am I supposed to do?  Get married?  Become a monk?  A eunuch? 

 

I AM DETERMINING THE RIGHT PERSON FOR ME, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RIGHT MOMENT.

 

I may as well add here that it was stunning how many times Willock ‘n’ Kat had bickering little arguments to varying strange degrees all evening.  I am beginning to dislike him more and more.

 

Anyway, it appeared that Kat and Willock and Leight ‘n’ Suzi were suddenly invited to a ‘VIDEO-PARTY’ at Naomi Bell’s, but it was all secret so that I wouldn’t go!  But Stan opened his gob and told me all about it, telling me that neither myself, nor Greasy Joe Hertford, were invited – the only two in the town not invited.

 

Stan took great pleasure in telling me this, and I wanted to break his smug little face.  He’s such a wanker.  It was crap when he saw my ‘tails’.  He, quite obviously, decided I was ripping him off.  I shrugged him off by saying, ‘Oh, I just decided to be a Goth for the day.’

 

‘Look at me,’ he said, trying to impress, ‘I’ve been a Goth all week.’

‘Yes,’ I said.  ‘It’s crap, innit?’

 

And it was.  It suddenly felt very dull.

 

‘Friends’ – Adam and the Ants

 

Eventually, in spite of Stan’s pleasure at telling me I was uninvited, I decided to try my luck and charm my way into Naomi’s ‘party’.  So, Kat, Willock, Suzi, Leighton and I clambered into the orange Beetle and went to NB’s place.  Kat and I sat in the car, as Willock ‘n’ Leighton begged Naomi for my admittance.

 

Anyway, Naomi came out to the car and said ‘hi’ to Kat, and, ‘What are you doing here?’ to me.  All I could do was grin at her like a lesser-spotted dillon plant.

‘Okay,’ she said, ‘come on in.’ 

 

As we entered, Naomi said, ‘Jez, I want to talk to you later…’

‘Oh?’ I gulped.  ‘Is it bad?’

‘No,’ she said.  ‘Look, come here…’

 

So she took me to the back yard and we made our peace.  She immediately apologised for her recent bad attitude towards me and for being bitchy over the last four or five times our paths have crossed.  She said she had realised how much she had cared for me, and didn’t want us to be enemies.  She also realised that her recent bitchery was just problematic ‘love’ confusion (and its side effects) over me and Suzi, Belinda and Kat, etc.  She had remembered the old times, when I had said that if we ever separated I never wanted us to hate each other.  Apparently, Legs had helped her too.  When Naomi was slagging me off at Nicki’s last week, she had been saying I was a BASTARD.  But Legs said, ‘No, Jez’s outward appearance + views may change, but fundamentally he remains the same…’  I think he’s right to some major degree, but not 100%.

 

Anyway, I apologised, too, and Jo and I embraced.  I think it showed that we still care.

 

She is nice, is Naomi.  I know it.  But maybe the edge of menace has helped over the last few occasions.  Mind you, I find it very much easier to be nicer to her than EVER now.  It’s good to know we’re friends.  It’s great.

 

‘Ant Rap’ – Adam and the Ants

 

She says she hates Stan, who apparently forced himself into the party with 3 girls Naomi DID NOT invite.  She was dying for him to go home.  HOW WE LAUGHED AT THE FACT THAT HE HAS SKID-MARKS IN HIS PANTS!  AND IS IT REALLY TRUE HE NEVER BUYS BOG ROLL, ALEX?!  SCOGG-URGH!

 

So who attended Naomi’s ‘video party’?

Ritcherd ‘Jez’ Jon Winterfood, Katrisha ‘Kat’ Hill, Naomi Bell, Stan Flowers Lampwick, Alex Morgan, Willock, Suzi, Leighton Holt, Ben Duffy (who fell asleep), Zig (who was a newcomer to me), and three mystery girls who only stayed for a short while.

 

The first video was The Party Animal…

…but halfway through, I realised I was hungry.  I decided to go to the chippy and asked if anyone else was interested.  They all piled money and orders on me, but only KAT volunteered to come along. 

 

So off we went, walking around for a while and talking intimately of HORROR FILMS, THE MUNSTERS, etc.  She then interlocked her arm with mine, and I swear, with our amazing hair and excellent clothes, we looked so brilliant, so regal, so powerful together.  And now being a GOTH felt good.  GREAT STUPH!

 

She looked good; I said so.

I looked good; she said so.

We looked FABULOUS together.

 

And I still wanted to kiss her.  So much!  But I defended her honour.  Patience is a virtue.

 

‘Goody Two Shoes’ – Adam Ant

 

We returned from he chippy to No.52, and watched The Video Dead, which was really good, but not to be taken seriously! 

But during this, Kat and I touched ‘hidden’ hands, arms, legs and breasts in the darkness.

 

Willock was nice with me and we drank all Stan’s wine.  Then Ady arrived and we piss-pulled from Nyall, Sage and Smith.  Sad they weren’t there.  Then some smelly-Goths hassled the door and stuff for about half an hour, but we wouldn’t let them in, so they pissed off at last.

 

We then watched a Ouija film called Witchboard. 

Kat and I sat close together for this, whilst Willock drunkenly festered in corner.

 

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1987

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1986

WHAT RITCHERD IS UP TO IN 1985

 

[Images subject to control of individual Copyright Holders including works originated by Elton Townend Jones, but excluding any images or design attributed to ‘The Situation’ which are copyright of The Situation (see specific acknowledgements in the ‘Thanks to…’section below) / ‘Berwin Groomstool’ is an iteration of the Situation character‘William Whicker’ and falls under joint copyright of Elton Townend Jones and Waen Shepherd / Based on true events and designed as a study of parochial British cultural and emotional life in the late 20th century, this blog is a work of fiction – cultural icons excluded, all characters and incidents featured are entirely fictional / This blog is non-profit; all video clips are used for illustrative purposes and always come from YouTube / No copyright infringement is intended – just trying to get things into context. Never forget: no man is an island. If you think anything I’ve used is damaging you in any way, please comment and immediate action will be taken to minimise offence / This notice was amended on 1 July 2012 and is intended to cover this and all posts on www.25yearstoolate.blogspot.com that precede it]

 

Next time: ‘Ouija Board Panic…’