29th August 1977: Day 1 of a residential course in Windsor to learn how BASIC computer programming worked. Punched cards only. 28th August 1978: My aunt and cousin came round. Played with our Matchbox Hot Wheels on the Superfast track. 27th August 1979: Went up Porlock Hill. Crossed Tarr Steps. Unimpressed by the drum majorettes at Dulverton Festival. 25th August 1980: Packed my collection of old bus timetables into a new box. Watched Captain Beaky's World of Words and Music.
31st August 1981: Walking in the Quantocks again. A lot of heather. Bought postcards in Dunster. Rabbit for dinner! 30th August 1982: Hill climbing in the Lake District. Followed the Fairfield Horseshoe. Chocolate eclairs in Ambleside. 29th August 1983: The first time a bank holiday ever meant a day off work. Wrote an escape room programme for the ZX81. 27th August 1984: Day out on the Severn Valley Railway with my new uni mates. Sampled the real ale at Arley. 26th August 1985: Coco Pops for breakfast. Scored 10 on Bits & Pieces. Chicken for lunch. Edna had a relapse on Brookside. 25th August 1986: The wettest ever Late August Bank Holiday. Rained all day. My uncle's just become a grandfather.
31st August 1987: My last day on the dole. Proper chips for lunch. Taped Girlfriend In a Coma off the radio. 29th August 1988: My brother's last day on the dole. Great Yarmouth was full so we drove to Lowestoft instead. 28th August 1989: Mum had to wash my jeans because there were beetroot splodges on the leg. High score on Mr Ee! 27th August 1990: Listened to the launch of Radio 5. Cut my fingernails. Salad for tea. Played Chuckie Egg. 26th August 1991: Went up the paper shop. Watched the Doctor Who pilot episode. Hoped I'd be buying a flat tomorrow.
31st August 1992: Stung on the elbow by a wasp inside my shirt. 'TV Hell' with Angus Deayton. Pint of Scrumpy Jack at The Ship. 30th August 1993: On a date in Cambridge. My all-black outfit impressed. Fad Gadget and Kraftwerk LPs were bought. 29th August 1994: On a date in Stockwell. Lasted one drink before we both said 'I don't think this is working'. 28th August 1995: Out nightclubbing in Bedford. Dodged the request from the stripper. Spotted a fox. Home by 3. 26th August 1996: Brother and family came to visit. Lunch at Charlie Chalk's. Watched a Barney the Dinosaur video. 25th August 1997: Won a Fawlty Towers video in a packet of Ritz Crackers. Sent new-fangled 'email' to college friend.
31st August 1998: Breakfast on Dartmoor. Lunch in Cornwall. Booked a hotel room for the total eclipse next summer. 30th August 1999: We stayed over at my brother's. Tried not to let on our relationship was irretrievably combusting. 28th August 2000: Dished out presents from Disney World. Pink Minnie Mouse a big hit with niece. T-shirts a bit too big. 27th August 2001: Second day in my new flat. Mopped floor. Filled fridge. TV reception awful. Visited internet cafe on Oxford Street. 26th August 2002: Out nightclubbing in Brixton. It's no fun if you haven't taken anything. Waited too long before leaving early. 25th August 2003: Quiet day to recover from mass-socialising up-country. Failed to complete tax return.
30th August 2004: Bought books and CDs from Borders on Oxford Street. Listened to the FM radio on my new phone. 29th August 2005: Ventured to the Notting Hill Carnival. Summoned away to underwhelming pub by BestMate'sOtherHalf. 28th August 2006: Day out to Quainton Junction, Verney Junction and Claydon. Inevitable conclusion somewhat disappointing. 27th August 2007: One circuit of Snetterton Bank Holiday Market. Avoided burgers in favour of BBQ in brother's back garden. 25th August 2008: Day trip to Isle of Wight. Rode tube train and steam train. Lost £1 coin through slats on Sandown Pier.
31st August 2009: Off to Norfolk. The last time I said 'Hello Mum'. Walked round the stud. Eldest nephew almost my height. 30th August 2010: Walked a lost river. Looked round Chiswick House. Tesco closed early so made do with opening a can of salmon. 29th August 2011: To Gressenhall Workhouse for their wartime theme day. I knew one of the contestants on Only Connect! 27th August 2012: Hastings, St Leonard's, Bexhill, Eastbourne, Newhaven, Brighton, Shoreham, Worthing and Littlehampton. 26th August 2013: Walked to fete in nextdoor village. Silver band played. Rapid retreat from field of bullocks on return trip. 25th August 2014: Tour of Neatishead radar museum. Shuffled round hangars at Flixton. Defrosted lasagne for tea.
31st August 2015: Day trip to Oxford. Looked round college architecture, the Pitt Rivers and a picture gallery. 29th August 2016: Admired the new London Bridge station. Joined the crush at Carnival. Watched the parade. No goat thanks. 28th August 2017: Walked the Seven Sisters east to west. Humpy. Chalky. Glorious. All the way to Seaford for a change. 27th August 2018: Plans to go out in Norfolk met by repeated indecision. Many boardgames played. Eventually hit the craft pub. 26th August 2019: Hottest August Bank Holiday on record. Once round Crystal Palace Park. Opened the emergency ravioli.
31st August 2020: No big plans allowed. Walked to Wanstead flats and back. Managed most of the prize crossword. 30th August 2021: Train (not yet Crossrail) to Abbey Wood. Walked 12 miles home via Thamesmead. 29th August 2022: On Brighton seafront by 9am. Walked up next year's A-road. Super downland views, south and north. 28th August 2023: (repeat of one of the above)
