Recording my life in diaries and photographs, from heady days as a student in London in the 1970’s to being a pensioner on a low income today. My writing is a mixture of insight – from knowledge & experience – and history. I explore my professional and personal interests – energy & climate change, history, politics, music, film, food & drink… the list goes on!
After a day of doing almost nothing I suspect I am likely to achieve little today. I am recuperated and could get on with finishing a task that has occupied me for much of the week but, even if I get started on that, I shall be interrupted by having to leave home at a quarter past one to get a bus into town. I have an appointment. Furthermore, this break in my day, which need be no longer than two hours, will be extended by at least another two because I rashly suggested to my son that I could meet him in town for a drink afterwards.
I have learned this lesson so many times in the past: do not make commitments unless you know you are definitely going to be able to keep them. The reason? I do not like to let people down. I pick my words carefully, so ‘I will see you at 2 on Wednesday’ is definite, whereas ‘I may be able to make it on Wednesday’ is a possibility – no promises.
However, for some people the words ‘possibly’ ‘perhaps’ and ‘maybe’ are heard and recorded as definite set-in-stone covenants. My mother is one of them, and as a result I have learned to rarely make plans at all, if only to save upset when a tentative plan is perceived as ‘broken’.
As a result of my rash suggestion it is highly unlikely that I shall be cooking my Scottish smoked haddock for dinner tonight, and I shall be no further forward with my current task. But on the bright side I will have a brand spanking new haircut and enjoy good conversation. I think this might be called Living in the Moment, and it would appear that it can be quite recuperative.
One of the best guitarists around – then and now – is Gordon Giltrap. Seeing him for free – to promote the new album ‘Visionary’ – was a a real treat. The new album was something of a departure from the complex folk tunes he was known for up to that point. He was drifting into rock, and even prog-rock.
Earlier in his career he was managed by Miles Copeland, who also managed Wishbone Ash, one of my favourite bands in the early 1970’s. Later in 1976 I was to see him again – supporting Wishbone Ash on their tour.
Gordon Giltrap ‘Visionary’ – the album we were to hear previewed for free!
This was a day of interesting and enjoyable lectures, some of which are prescient 50 years later. For example, before Giltrap I was in a Geomorphology lecture on sea-level change, which would prove useful when I came to my M.Sc. course in 2002 on Climate Change. The following Soil Science lecture was also interesting and, once again useful for my 2002 studies – soil being one of nature’s critical ‘free’ services that we are, sadly, eroding right now – at the risk of future food security.
This evening was the GeogAss dance. GeogAss was the Geography Association, and we had a reputation to live up to! Of all the clubs and societies at the LSE GeogAss threw the best parties, with good music and wall-to-wall real ale. They were also the best attended, but my diary records a ‘disappointing’ turnout of only ‘100 or so people’. Sounds okay to me. The 50p ticket included a disco and a band – tonight the unpromising-sounding Country Vince. I have no memory of the band but my diary records them as being ‘not bad’.
Apart from the 50p GeogAss ticket I spent £1.20 on beer, which would have been quite a few pints, and 17p on lunch. Interestingly I paid £8 in rent, which I suspect may have been for the month. At the time I shared a flat with two others, so that sounds about right!
Friday, 20th. February 1976 One of the best guitarists around – then and now – is Gordon Giltrap. Seeing him for free – to promote the new album ‘Visionary’ – was a a real treat. The new album was something of a departure from the complex folk tunes he was known for up to that point. He was drifting into rock, and even prog-rock. Earlier in his career he was managed by Miles Copeland, who also managed Wishbone Ash, one of my favourite bands in the early 1970’s. Later in 1976 I was to see him again – supporting Wishbone Ash on their tour.
Gordon Giltrap Visionary – the album we were to hear previewed for free! This was a day of interesting and enjoyable lectures, some of which are prescient 50 years later. For example, before Giltrap I was in a Geomorphology lecture on sea-level change, which would prove useful when I came to my M.Sc. course in 2002 on Climate Change. The following Soil Science lecture was also interesting and, once again useful for my 2002 studies – soil being one of nature’s critical ‘free’ services that we are, sadly, eroding right now – at the risk of future food security. Thanks for reading Colin’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. Share This evening was the GeogAss dance. GeogAss was the Geography Association, and we had a reputation to live up to! Of all the clubs and societies at the LSE GeogAss threw the best parties, with good music and wall-to-wall real ale. They were also the best attended, but my diary records a ‘disappointing’ turnout of only ‘100 or so people’. Sounds okay to me. The 50p ticket included a disco and a band – tonight the unpromising-sounding Country Vince. I have no memory of the band but my diary records them as being ‘not bad’. Apart from the 50p GeogAss ticket I spent £1.20 on beer, which would have been quite a few pints, and 17p on lunch. Interestingly I paid £8 in rent, which I suspect may have been for the month. At the time I shared a flat with two others, so that sounds about right!
The Alexandra Theatre has always been one of my favourite buildings in Newton Abbot and, as you can see, Market Street was a busy traffic thoroughfare in 1981.
My LSE Diary posts – reflecting life as a student in the 1970’s. I was at the Joint School of Geography – King’s College & the London School of Economics.
Not only that but also 30 years living in London – life on a south London council estate… and more!
I love music – especially live – and tend to home in on bass, although I also like ambient music which is generally bass-light. Blues, reggae, jazz, funk, soul have been a constant thread throughout my life but you will also find me writing about prog rock, punk and other styles too.
Pictured left: a snap I took at an Ashburton Blues event 2025 – The Robert West Band
Everything from saving energy to gardening, interior design to lighting. I love my home. Sometimes I will feature previous homes, including my 10th. floor flat in a south London council block. You will find useful tips and advice. I love my home!
A Devonian with stories to tell and a love of history, science, philosophy, environment, & entertainment.
An increasing number of people I know are either down the rabbit hole or caught in its event horizon, which I find distressing. I prefer the real world and, like a frantic sponge, I cannot help but soak up knowledge, insight & quality.
Colin Anderson 