Oh, crap.

It's my first GCSE written exam tomorrow. English literature. That in itself I'm not worried about; I like books, I like war poetry. OK, An Inspector Calls was sleep-inducing, but I can't have it all, can I?

But I'm digressing. I am, however slightly worried about everything else. Revision is, frankly, really bloody dull, and I am entirely incapable of doing any more than an hour at a time (although I'm managing to find willpower somewhere to pull of four or five hours a day). The good thing is, though, my parents are being very supportive about the monumental struggle in which I immersed. Example: my mum took me for a clotted cream tea with lots of scones as a 'keep it up' gift. And my Dad just keeps firing out advice in the manner of a WW1 machine gun: "Now, don't overdo it, will you?"

"Yeah," adds Matt, "Slow and steady wins the race." He says this as he sprawls on the sofa, watching South Park and reading the Wisden. Hard graft isn't his favourite thing.

I do love South Park though.

. . .

Thnaks to the ever-reliable British weather, cricket matches are being rained off left, right and centre. Mostly the ones I am at. For the past two Saturdays we have driven to Tester's house, with Matt, Danny and Joe squished against each other in the back, with my mum turning into a road-raging maniac ("Get out of the way, you fat freak!"), whilst Danny giggles manically behind me like Damien from The Omen.

But at least I am civillised now, with no more paint in my hair or on my shirt or up my nails. Even Sophie, who forgives me most things, came around after the art exam, took one look at me and, with a shake of the head sighed "You are just so messy. Have you been painting on yourself?".

"Actually, no. But I am a very serious, important artist. So shut up."

We'll see, though, when the grades finally come through.

I have discovered Nick Drake. If it was summer, his songs would be perfect. Actual summer, I mean, as opposed to gale force winds and pelting rain. I blame global warming. Go nuclear, etc, etc.