The following are meticulous records of my Sunday school
activity, taken from my 1981 diary (1 February – 1 November 1981). All entries are
(mostly) verbatim.
In order to retain anonymity, I have deleted or changed the names of my family members and I am writing under a pseudonym. For clarity, Eve is my twin.
In order to retain anonymity, I have deleted or changed the names of my family members and I am writing under a pseudonym. For clarity, Eve is my twin.
Mrs. Lackie is the church warden who oversees the
Sunday school classes. Delia and Anita are other Sunday school teachers.
I’m 15 when I begin my teaching. Unless otherwise
stated, every day is Sunday.
The diary entries illustrate my physical and psychological niggles
about doing Sunday school teaching, explained
in another article.
My
Sunday School Records: Winter Period
 |
| 1 Feb 1981: Mum arranges me to be a Sunday school teacher |
8 Feb Wore blue split skirt and blue blouse. Got ready for Sunday school teaching. A rainy day. Got there by 10.55am. Watched Anita teach them. Another new teacher was there. Got home with a load of books in Mrs. Lackie’s car. (Later painted a picture of a house which ends up resembling ours).
12
Feb (Thursday) Mum helps me do Sunday school preparations.
15
Feb My first Sunday school teaching. I have
3 boys and 1 girl. Did pictures etc. Mrs. Lackie took me home. I was nearly
crying coz the swimming baths was only for families on Sundays.
22
Feb Got ready for Sunday school halfheartedly. My feet froze. Mum was there, asked if my youngest
sister Mazie could join. She was accepted in my group. But only 7 children turned
up. 3 were mine. We decided to give it a miss (because of snow). I’m indoors
all day doing homework. My twin Eve and I play snowball fights & made a snowman
at dark.
1
March Got ready for Sunday school. I wore a
brown split skirt, brown t shirt and pink shoes. Went to Sunday school. Read a
story. They drew pictures. Came home, cut them out and
stuck them on background. It was freaky weather, thick black cloud, thunder,
lightening.
8
March Got up at 10pm. Mum gone to church.
Wore skirt, tights and blue top and hooded cardigan Went to Sunday school after
reading Mum’s notes. Did Mother’s day cards with the children. Arrangements
were made for me to meet at Delia’s on 7pm on Tuesday. (Later) Sat all afternoon
in cords not feeling too well. (Had bedroom table out and did patterns).
15
March Got up to go to church as agreed with
my brother but he let me down and stayed in bed. Waited until
11am then went to Sunday school. Rosie (my niece) started today. They did as
many pictures as they could of the jobs their mums do. The most is the winner.
The kid enjoyed themselves. (Later I took my youngest sister for a walk to the East of the
village).
Sunday
School Teaching Spring Period
29
March Mother’s day Wore black skirt,
jacket, blue blouse and burgundy shoes. Got up to see Mum open pressies…Went to
church at 10.45am thinking I was late. Found out it doesn’t start until
11.15am. Eve came. Saw Mum in parish hall. Went to church. Sat on left front
pew with 6 children (Mazie) there. Had their Mother’s day cards. They sang in
front of everyone and collected cards from church (they were a bit noisy). Got
home, wore baggy cords.
5
April cloudy day, cool. Wore grey split
skirt. Went to church with Nicholas to see Mazie and Mum in choir. Had no
breakfast. Sat in church with a dread of Sunday school. Thought I’d be late
coming out of church (forgot bag) so arranged to leave after Communion missing
last hymn. Found I wouldn’t be late but to hurry and get bad. Hole in tight,
changed ‘em. New girl, Sharon. Taught the Story
of the Creation. They started drawing. (Later) Eve and I argue in bedroom because
I wouldn’t help her tidy (later). Mum came back from church with large paper
and information for some posters I have to design: ‘All Welcome to Village Church when Olivert to Calais will be sung, Palm
Sunday 6.30pm’. Dad lends me felt tips. Watched Tales of the Unexpected.
12
April (Palm Sunday) Wore grey split skirt,
blue T-shirt and grey jumper. When to church (Eve thought it was Monday). Went
with Nicholas. Sat in church Went to Sunday school. Parents of the children
came and were seated. Me and Mazie at front. We sang hymns with vicar. Got
home, changed into piped jeans. Mum is doing the census. I see my paintings in
the local gallery. Nan comes to stay.
19
April (Easter Sunday) Cloudier than
yesterday. Mild. Wore piped skirt, blue blouse, grey cardigan. Got up early
this morning (7.30am) because I couldn’t sleep. Saw program about Mount St
Helen’s this morning. (It was) Good….Went to church streaming cold, felt
miserable. Forgot my stickers for children’s service. Popped in Sophie’s car.
(Rosie is here). Rushed and got the, got the children’s service, sat on floor
most of time. I was at church 2 hours today…Came home, had a thumping headache
felt giddy…Felt awful, laid upstairs. Had no tea. Headache goes later, but
still had blocked nose. I CAN’T STAND IT! (At this time, I doing a painting
called Nature Scenery with Plants
which I felt unwell to do today).
 |
| 19 April 1981: I'm feeling unwell, can't sleep & forget things |
26 April Woke up with a shock! Snow outside. All settled with a bitterly easterly wind. No Sunday school today. Day’s off. Stayed in bed and chatted with Eve. (Nan goes back to Aunt’s. Rosie stops the night. I play with Mazie & Rosie. Eve goes to a youth disco; I do word games and quizzes at home.)
3
May Wore grey skirt, blue T-shirt and
cardigan. Went to Sunday school. Had no breakfast. Went to the tea room at the
back of parish hall (where it will take place from now on). Spent most of time
with children singing then a few mins teaching. Got home then went to parish
hall again with Mum, Nicholas, Eve and Mazie to have dinner. (Tried to revise
later. Can’t concentrate.) Saw a rainbow.
9
May (Saturday) …Tried to revise, nothing could be
revised, vacuumed and washed up while Mum went out (to a wedding). Did word
games with Mum and helped her weed & plant flowers in trays. Did some
pictures in black pen (blossom and laurel)... I’m dreading Sunday school. Want
to quit.
10
May I was on at Mum about leaving Sunday
school. I went but I said nothing because Mrs. Lackie didn’t look too well.
(Later at home, everyone goes out until 5pm). Eve, me and Mazie left…played
sardines, 3 goes each. I hid in Dad’s room, under Eve’s bed (squashed behind
devan) and in porch. Then we considered having a look in the loft. Went further
than expected. Eve climbed up first through opening in Mum’s bedroom then Mazie
(both lifted on my shoulders) then I heaved myself up. Light bulb we took with
us. It was great. No spiders, planks (divided in two by chimney one above Mum’s
bedroom. Two extensions above our bedroom. Got dirty .Went down after a while.
 |
| 10 May 1981: After Sunday school teaching, I hide in Dad's room |
17 May Wore jeans but black skirt for Sunday school. Went to Sunday school. Three of the parents came…A new boy came. He said he likes it. The Sunday school turned out well. Mrs. Lackie said she couldn’t do it without me. Dad saw my poem on The Railway Station and thought I was a quotation of a famous poet.
24
May no Sunday school today because it’s
Whitsun hols. (I revise Man for All
Seasons then Visit Aunt May.)
31
May Got up (10.30am) wore black skirt,
white T shirt then cords and jacket. Went to Sunday school. It rained. Took umbrella.
They taught them a sermon Sunday hymn all lesson. Only spent 10 minutes with
the children…Couldn’t eat much. Went upstairs, changed just lid on bed vowing
I’d revise in a minute. Hours later, I sat on the swing revising Mayor of Casterbridge. Went in Dad’s
bedroom. I couldn’t revise. (Later) Felt off with headache.
7
June (Whitsunday Pentecost) Wore black skirt, blue
T shirt then wore cords (after Sunday school). Went to Sunday school. Mum at
work. Did about Adam and Eve. Got
home. (Later I prepare hardboard in my bedroom ready for Butterfly Mural. Dad, Eve and I went for a 10 mile bike ride.)
14
June Wore grey skirt, T-shirt and coat. Went
to Sunday school. Did Adam and Eve (last time). A boy took a series of bibles
for children. It was good. Most people weren’t here because of Brownie’s event.
Found out that Helen and Carol’s mum thinks that ‘I’m great’. Walked home with Carol
and Mrs. Lackie. Delia has left (she only did teaching to gain a Guide’s badge)
Anita hasn’t come again (3 weeks). Mrs. Lackie needs me here. Got home rather
flustered. Wore piped jeans.
Sunday
School Teaching Summer Period
24
June (Wednesday) Went to church in the morning with
Mum. Sat in the choir pews. Went home early. (Later I forgot to attend a
meeting re Sunday school: Noah and the
Ark. I paint the background to Jungle
Mural including the lemurs, leaves and butterfly).
28
June Wore black skirt for Sunday school.
Went to Sunday school. Did Noah and the Ark Forgot to go to a Sunday school
meeting on Wednesday. Mum at work. Sermon Sunday next Sunday, then no more
Sunday schools until September. (Dad burnt the bike shed in the garden.
Finished Big Ben jigsaw and another jigsaw.)
5
July (Sermon Sunday) Wore black skrt suit
and shirt at sermon Sunday service. Went to church. Nicholas and Roseie came.
Sat in pews. I had to sit at front with teachers and kids. They sang the
Butterfly Song. A sermon about Freedom. Went home. (Later) Went to Parish Hall
at 2pm with Mum and Mazie to a farewell party. Mum made egg and mayonnaise
sarnies. Children came. They played farmers in the den. I got chosen. Had
visitors. …chatted with a woman. Played musical chairs and tug o war with bell
rope. Choirmaster played piano. Did skipping and high jumps…Did nearly 3 sides
of Rubik Square…Put my butterfly painting in the corner of the room. Painted a
red butterfly & fly agaric. Took photos of view from bedroom window. (The
painting is Butterfly Mural)
No
Sunday school until 6 Sept for Summer Holidays
(These entries are abridged)
3
Aug (Monday) I go to Port Meriden for the day where
the TV drama, The Prisoner with
Patrick MaGoohan was filmed. The series, aired in the early 70s used to
terrify me due to Rover the balloon entity that would suffocate its victims.
 |
4 Aug 1981: I'm feeling unwell & want to quit Sunday school
|
4 Aug (Tuesday) I wear a denim skirt. Had no breakfast. Slight discomfort of stomach at morning. Got moody in the afternoon, which caused argument. Fed up but nice weather. Doing 10 posters for charity event to raise money for choir robes and church organ. My twin Eve does other posters. I argued with Mum about the church posters and being a Sunday school teacher. I paint upstairs.
5
Aug (Wednesday) I have disagreement with Mum about
Sunday school teaching again. I sat outside in the sun. Fed up. Yelled. Dread
Sunday school. Want to quit. Mum said she’d be cross if I did. Plucked up
courage to knock on door of Mrs. Lackie’s but she wasn’t in. We had a quick
thunderstorm. Had an awful stomach ache like something leaning in it all day.
Felt ill, down & fed up. Spent hours doing a painting, finished it.
27
Aug (Thursday) Felt terribly moody. Feel ugly.
Long droopy face & feel moody (about Sunday school teaching). Got worked up
& cried a lot at afternoon. Went for walk with Eve. Kids are in the pool.
They had good time splashing. Sunny. I went on garret roof. Sunbathed on
playhouse roof & on deckchair.
29
Aug (Saturday) Upset and moody again. I wear baggy
cords. My pictures didn’t sell in coffee shop. My prank on Heath from phone-box
is taken badly. Tell Sophie my feelings about Sunday school. We moved our beds
for Nan coming. Mazie is in our bedroom. Depressed.
3
Sept (Thursday) Got up earlier than usual. I chat
with Mum and Nan. I get worked up about Sunday school again. Went to Mrs.
Lackie’s house and rang the bell 3 times. No reply. I later learn her doorbell
doesn’t work. Nan sat in the playhouse to knit. I painted tin sheeting for Dad.
Sunday
School begins after Summer Holidays
13
Sept Wore skirt and black shirt. Went with
Dad and Eve in car to take Nan back to bus station. Went to Sunday school with
slight dread for obvious reasons. Met outside Parish hall. There was a
historical exhibition. Showed kids round church and parish hall. Walked home
with Carol and Helen (Mrs. Lackie on hols). (later) Had a few dizzy spells. Had
hot bath, washed hair, ironed blouse and skirt for art college.
20
Sept Wore skirt and T-shirt for Sunday
school. Went into church and the children sang hymns etc. I had a go on a
Rubik’s cube for Helen (only 6 children came). Walked home with Helen and
Carol. I decided to have a crack at my story. Wrote more of story in rough then
wrote in best. Mum at work.
Sunday
School Teaching: Autumn Period
4
Oct Got ready to go to Sunday school. Went
into the church at 11.15am. The children came up front to sing an autumn hymn.
Got home. Continued my ink drawing of a forest scene in pen (began yesterday). Did
the tree in the corner.
11
Oct Got up (a bit late). Went to Sunday
school. There were 2 new ones. Did about harvest. They did leaf rubbings. Got
home. I practiced drawing a portrait of the choirmaster for Mum which didn’t
look like him.
18
Oct Got up rather late (10.30am). Gave
Sunday school a miss. Headache, felt off and discomfort in stomach. Had a hot
water bottle.
25
Oct Got up (late). Went to Sunday school.
Only 2 in my class. They did about Halloween or bonfire night. Anita asked me
and Carol what we were doing as though we were stupid. We had to sing. (Did
puzzles at home. I feel unwell later.)
1
Nov (Day 2 of my periods). My stomach felt
sensitive. Wore skirt to my final Sunday school. Got dolly mixtures first. Started
off with my 2 children but because Anita wasn’t here, I had to take over hers
too (8 kids). We did about Remembrance Sunday. Wrote notes etc. then they sat
round piano and sang. Choirmaster was there. At end, I shared dolly mixtures
between them. Mrs. Lackie took me home.
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