Packed away somewhere in a plastic crate at the top of my wardrobe is my 1981 diary, which was written back then using Pitman's shorthand. It was purposefully recorded in shorthand for privacy, knowing that my every thought could be conveyed truthfully and honestly on paper, without the scary feeling that someone else might read it. I intentionally added all the vowels into my shorthand strokes so that I could one day read it back easily (shorthand writers will understand what this means). Shorthand is a skill that I've never lost and I occasionally use it subconsciously when I need to write something quickly.
I've never really looked at my diary since, and I'm surprised it hasn't been lost throughout so many house moves. I was 15 at the time and it was written during a year of great change and I recall: moving from Townsville to Brisbane at the beginning of the year; commencing Grade 11 at a new school; leaving school midway through the year; a day later starting my first full-time job as a Stenographer (shorthand writer); and moving out of home towards the end of the year. Quite a lot happening for a young teenage girl.
So now is the time to revisit my teenage memories from 1981; the year when Ant Music and Bette Davis Eyes were my favourite tunes.
I've never really looked at my diary since, and I'm surprised it hasn't been lost throughout so many house moves. I was 15 at the time and it was written during a year of great change and I recall: moving from Townsville to Brisbane at the beginning of the year; commencing Grade 11 at a new school; leaving school midway through the year; a day later starting my first full-time job as a Stenographer (shorthand writer); and moving out of home towards the end of the year. Quite a lot happening for a young teenage girl.
So now is the time to revisit my teenage memories from 1981; the year when Ant Music and Bette Davis Eyes were my favourite tunes.