Sunday, 24 April 2016

Notes from the past

Scratting about in my drawers for a notebook, I found one lurking at the back from years ago that I'd never filled. Incredibly, it seems to be about 20 years old, because there are notes in it I made when I worked for the Adult Learning Service. And I reckon I'm not a hoarder...

When I did my secretarial training back in the days of manual typewriters, we were taught only to draw a single line through old notes on our shorthand pads, just in case we needed to refer to them, a habit I still have. This means that I can look back and see what I was up to in the last century.

Some of the notes still make sense - for instance, there is what is clearly a list for my son's birthday party, including the names of now forgotten friends who needed invitations, together with party bags, balloons and cake, the latter being underlined twice.

Others are more unfathomable. This list looks like one of the 'random words' writing challenges:
  • Doc Martin
  • JCB
  • John Timpson (who?)
  • Weetabix
No idea!

Then there are quite extensive notes that seem to have been made on a time management course, including this gem:

'Look in any mirror and you'll see your biggest time-waster.'

There's also a couple of pages of ideas for a short story set in a pub that I don't remember at all, alongside the detail that a Cheeky Vimto is made from equal parts of port and Blue WKD! I'd better get writing.



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11 comments:

  1. Teresa Ashby24 April 2016 at 13:12

    What a lovely find. I sometimes look at current pages on my notebook and find my notes unfathomable! I love your mirror quote - it is so true :-) xx

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    1. Julia Thorley26 April 2016 at 08:29

      I can't decipher it all, Teresa, but some of it is very intriguing.

      Delete
  2. Tim J24 April 2016 at 19:57

    I love looking back through some of my old degree notes to see how many scribbles of cock and balls got sneaked in by the person sitting next to me while my attention was on the OHP slide. Happy days.

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  3. Maggie May25 April 2016 at 05:48

    That's brilliant, to be able to look back and wonder! My note books only go back a few years as when I run out of drawers, I have a clear out. I'll try to hang on to more of them now. Do you remember typing to music to get a rhythm going? I still use my Pitman New Era skills when I need to keep something secret!

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    1. Julia Thorley26 April 2016 at 08:31

      I've still got my basic shorthand, too. Did you learn on a typeewriter that had blank keys so there was no point in looking at them? Ah, those were the days.

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    2. Maggie May26 April 2016 at 15:56

      A friend of mine says that her keys were covered up so she couldn't see. Honestly, I can't remember, but in those days if you were told not to look, you didn't!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous26 April 2016 at 18:33

    That's hillarious, Julia. I keep old jottings and they make me howl. The amount of times I write, Had a lazy day today:00)Or, cleaned out the shed. Ha ha.

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    1. Julia Thorley27 April 2016 at 07:37

      You never know when old scribblings will come in useful, though I agree that 'had a lazy day' doesn't sound like the start of a particularly exciting story. On the other hand, 'Cleaned out the shed ...'.

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  5. GlenR28 April 2016 at 08:35

    Like the quote about the time waster. I will keep it in mind. Haven't so much time left that I can afford to waste it.

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  6. Julia Thorley29 April 2016 at 08:19

    None of us has, Glenis.

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