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READ THIS FIRST!

READ THIS FIRST. I am new to blogging, so this is a kind of trial project. During the Falklands conflict of 1982 I found myself writing down my thoughts about it from time to time, much as bloggers do now. Recently I found these papers and because it's topical I thought some people might be interested in what was going through the mind of a typical Guardian-reading thirty-something in 1982. It's occasionally quite surprising!
My plan is this: to reproduce the pages facsimile, so readers can see it's genuine; then to transcribe so readers can read it; then to make comments clarifying the text where necessary, explaining things, and giving my opinions (for what they're worth) on what it all means.
I shall try to upload each instalment on the date it was originally written, but 30 years later. There are 21 pages, in six bits, between April 28 and June 12.
Problem about blogs is that they are always backwards, so if you are new to it, for a linear story like this you have to go right to the bottom and work backwards, or use the dated links on the sidebar.
It's lots of text, not very bloggy, but that's its nature. And sorry no pictures!
I'm not expecting many comments for this particular project, but of course they are welcome.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

A Falklands Diary from 1982

During the British military campaign in the Falklands in 1982, I kept an occasional 'diary' simply to record my feelings and opinions at the time. As I wrote, I did not of course know what was going to happen, so it has a certain 'innocence' and shines a light on contemporary events both then and now.

The diary, consisting of 21 handwritten pages on lined foolscap paper, was not written for publication. But since we are now 'celebrating' a 40-year anniversary I thought it would be interesting to dig it out and paste it into the blog, with comments and annotations.

My plan is to publish the first few pages, dated 28th April 1982, somewhat earlier in April, then further 'instalments' on the actual dates, but 40 years later.  I shall reproduce the actual MS, but also provide a typewritten version that will allow explanatory notes for obscurities, and a hook for further contemporary comment, from myself or from guests on the site. To give you an idea, the first page is shown here.

Being a completely new blogger, I am not sure exactly how it is going to work, but I'm open to suggestions.