September 11 Tuesday

Had my school photo taken.

 

Two albums at the time where the new releases of the Allman Brs., and the Rolling Stones (with the dreadful song 'Angie').

 

Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" was the album of the day, though I never really did like him.

 

Dave and Donna were going to get an apartment together (which they never did), they looked at ones across from John Rennie (Pardo Apartments).

 

Larry did get an apartment there. We'd go over there after school. This is when Danny and Pat appear, they were going out at this time. The parties there began to get out of control, until in early October? Heather? pulled the fire alarm. Larry got the boot (see Ralph's letter October 3, 1973).

I did acid at Larry's one night, we had to leave early and I spent the night tripping alone in my room (late September-early October).

 

The Wackers, a local Bowie rip-off, were popular. Larry liked them.

 

Larry lent me "A Passion Play" by Jethro Tull, which was the last album I liked (sort of) by them.

 

Larry, someone else and I smoked weed (from a pipe, and the resin was getting in our mouths) in the field across from Pulp and Paper (on St John's) one afternoon after school.

 

In a field near Dave's I got stuck in a treehouse and couldn't get down, because of drugs and platform shoes. Andy thought it was pitiful and he was right.

 

Sometimes we'd go to Dave's after school, and watch 'Match Game'.

 

Because of drugs, Gillian was sent to Bishop's in Lennoxville to go to school.

 

Letter from Gillian [to Ralph], postmarked Lennoxville, 6 PM, 11 IX, 1973. The letter was written on Bishop's College stationary.

 

[Written across the top of first page]

 

P.P.P.S. Tell everyone to write. When I get the letters, then I will write. I promise.

 

Dear Ralph;

 

How goes it? Here it is fine but every night you go to bed dead beat. I will explain a typical day.

6:45 WAKE UP

7:15 breakfast

8:00 Chapel

8:20 first class

There are 9 periods which take us up until 3:10. We have a twenty minute break from 10:25-10:45 and lunch we get in the 7th period.

 

4:00 - Crease - This is a complete sports workout + practice. It is compulsory. Supper is at 5:30. We have to be in our houses at 7:25. We have prep from 7:30-9:30. This is for doing homework. You have to stay in your rooms during this time and you can't talk. The housemaster checks on you from time to time. Prep is just another word for homework. I have finished mine + so I will continue writing until prep is over in about an hour. There are exceptions to the times I've shown you. On Wednesdays, classes finish at noon and grade 11 + 12 are allowed to go into Lennoxville until supper. On Saturdays, we can go out for up to six hours at a time as long as we [are] in by 11:30. Sundays are the same except we have to be in the house at 8:30.

 

You can get caught for having smoke (cigarette) on your breath. A friend of mine got caught with smoke on her breath and she had to run for half an hour with half a brick in each hand. Guys have to carry a brick in each hand.

 

It is strict, but it is good. It may sound like no fun but that isn't true. It is fun but it's bloody hard work and at the beginning it is almost unbearable.

 

Since I have been here (5 days) I have only had 4 complete cigarettes and a few hauls. I am losing my craving although it will be back soon. I know that I will not last with other people smoking around me.

 

I share a room with one other girl. She is from Yellowknife. She is a really nice kid. The guys here are all right but some leave alot to be desired. Dave Hampson is in my french, history + english class and I think my N.A.L. but I'm not sure. I didn't even see him until the third day I was here and then I met him on Saturday when we climbed Mount Orford (no shit). We climbed from the bottom to the top right under the chairlift where there are cliffs and stuff. The cable for the chairlift is 5500 ft. which is just under a mile. Anyway, it took us about two hours. Some people walked up by the road and then it is three miles but almost no slope at all. They made it in one hour. Anyway Ralph, you must write + tell what is happening at John Rennie + on weekends there. When you write, also tell me about the love affairs, eg. Andy + Sue, Donna + ? Yes do tell me who Donna is after this week. I miss the Peyton Place of it all. Cathy Molson goes to this school. She is a really nice kid. Last year Robin Bronfman (12 years) came here. She belongs to the family that built the Sadye Bronfman Centre + all that. She got kicked out for making trouble and drinking. She is not allowed in any of the private schools in Montreal. Of course, her family won't send her to a normal school like John Rennie.

 

I am glad there are uniforms here because if there weren't, you could imagine the competition there would be in clothes. Well prep is drawing to a close and so must this letter. It is bedtime, believe me.

 

See ya soon

Please write

Eternally yours Walph

Gillian (baby)

Danny Hinves and Pat Ford