'Too much, too young'

On from 1980 - when they got married Elaine and her husband put their names down on the council house waiting List. It sounds such an anachronism now but there were council houses available to people back then. Initially they didn't get anything and they lived with the husband's sister and her young family. Little children running around everywhere. Good practice for Elaine and husband.

The birth of baby Jack propelled them up the List and on up to the 14th floor of a tower block. I went to see her a few times before I left to go to University. It was a strange place, grey and bleak from the outside but once inside the flat it was fine. The flat had a good view and plenty of space. There were other couples with young families there and she made new friends. The down side was that the lift was constantly breaking down and Elaine had to struggle with a baby and buggy and shopping up 14 flights of stairs.

She spent her days looking after the baby and phoning Tony Blackburn on his morning phone-in show on Radio London. I never heard her but I expect she was very witty on the radio. She was a clever girl my friend.

I didn't worry about her. She seemed happy enough. I went off to University and life moved on again for us both.

For Elaine it moved on to another baby.