On this day in 1982 - 10 July

I had been in London a few days, staying with my friend Mouse, who lived in one of the Herne Hill towers overlooking Brockwell Park. Later this day Stuart, who I had met near the end of my stay in Leeds two and a half years ago and with whom I had corresponded quite prolifically, was coming down to London; we were going to go hitchhiking around Europe. But first we were off to see The Birthday Party.

The Birthday Party were my favourite band at the time, but I preferred their first two albums to their newest stuff (Junkyard). I had completely forgotten that the Sisters opened; I did change my mind about them later. 

I was still a bit jet lagged and the night before Mouse and I had gone for a session at the Chelsea Potters. We stayed at Mouse's boyfriend Paul's flat in Streatham; I had met Paul at the Marquee (where he had worked) in 1980 and had discovered he was the cousin of my high school friend Marie - small world!

My friend from LA, Walter Spencer, was living in East London. Neither he nor Mouse had a phone.

Missing the last tube was not fun back then. Night bus service had recently begun in London. But for the first couple years or more, most of them ran in the wee hours every night except Saturday! I think it had to do with the keep Sunday special campaign, but was rather daft!

10 July 1982

It was morning and I woke up in a strange room. Mouse had been up for hours (and didn't remember the night before!) There was no food for breakfast; I made tea and I think I talked Junior [Paul's flatmate] into getting some bread...

We sat around for a while... Paul was playing some really great reggae. They wouldn't even walk us to the bus stop!

We somehow managed to find it but there were no buses in sight so we started walking. We stopped in a pub to use the toilet and ended up staying for a vodka & orange. [Gak! Can't imagine doing that now!]

I think we got a bus to Brixton, then went through the market. Mouse saw a jacket she liked. By the time we got back it was past two and Stuart was sposed to be there between 2 and 4. I had to have a bath, and the whole time I was in there I was sure he'd arrive. But he didn't... And he didn't by 4:00. Or 5:00. Or 6:00. Finally I started getting ready. I had given up on him coming.

I was almost ready - except my hair [which means another hour probably] - when the doorbell rang. I was really surprised.Stuart was wearing his yellow and black shirt and army trousers and he looked a lot better than I remembered/expected. I got really nervous and would barely look at him. I went and did my hair and then we left.

We took the bus partway - we passed the Fair Deal and when I told Stuart that the Clash were playing there he wanted to go there instead! I was surprised.

Then we got a tube and it's so stupid - Stuart just made us walk through, but then we had to go thru Warren St. or whatever where you have to go out and in again so we ended up having to pay 2 x 40p rather than 60p!!!

But we found the Zig Zag Club okay - and Walter was outside. He had come by Mouse's once [when I was not there] and had phoned [my friend] Debby. He had guessed I'd be at the Birthday Party.

Stuart was on the list but couldn't get me in. When I was paying, Spizz was next to me in the queue. I said hello; he didn't remember me. Oh well. [I had met him in 1980 in LA, so it had been a while!]

Walter bought me a drink and I bought a couple more, but I couldn't get drunk. I wasn't too impressed with the Sisters of Mercy - they were a lot like Insect Idol. [sort of lame as in too serious band from LA]

We sat on the balconey for the Birthday Party. I wanted to go down up close but I was so tired... plus I wasn't really moved ... I was somewhat disappointed! Not by Tracy Pew - he was wonderful with his over the top pelvic thrusts! - and Rowland was so cool, and Nick danced like me [??!] - it was the music! The only old stuff was The Friend Catcher, Nick the Stripper and Release the Bats, and I wasn't all that impressed with the new stuff...

Stuart was though - he loved it!

Talked to Walter afterwards. Then I think we couldn't find the right bus stop plus Stuart delayed us by getting chips... We decided to go back to the tube station... Well, we could only get a tube to ... I can't remember! I think it was somewhere on Oxford Street ... We started walking and it was sort of, what are we gonna do? I was really tired but I wasn't really pissed off about being stranded like Stuart was...

We walked and walked and walked and finally got to Trafalgar Square. It was then we learned that the night bus to Brixton goes every night but Saturday!!!!! It made no sense!!!

We went and climbed up around on the lions. I felt so free and it was so warm; I could've stayed there all night! But we went to Leicester Square. There was an all night coffee shop now, but there was a ridiculous minimum.

There was a night bus to Victoria and we waited a while for it. But that was less than half way so finally Stuart offered to pay for a taxi. Had to knock for ages to wake Mouse!

Short-lived and now, long since demolished...