Author Description

In the year 1981, at the age of sixteen, I embarked on a year-long journey of self-discovery, independence and youthful exploration. Living in a council house on Lower Compton Road in Plymouth, I wrote down my daily experiences, emotions and interactions in a Letts Diary given to me for Christmas. Leaving school in May marked the beginning of a transformative year, filled with friendships, love and heartache. Immersed in Plymouth's vibrant music scene, I frequented the Abbey Hall Freak Shows and found enjoyment in the steady presence of my father, renowned artist, Robert Lenkiewicz. Through the pages of my diary, I offer a candid and raw glimpse into my world, a world shaped by the rhythms of rock and heavy rock music, the allure of the alternative culture and the complexities of family relationships. Despite my youth and innocence, I grappled with the challenges of growing up and navigating the dynamics of friendship, romance and parental expectations. As I revisit my teenage self through the diary's pages, I am struck by the contrast between my past and present perspectives. The diary serves as a time capsule, transporting one back in time, before mobile phones and the internet when communication relied mostly on letters and phone boxes and music was experienced through live bands, vinyl records and tapes. Now, decades later I share my diary with the public for the first time, inviting readers to journey alongside me through the early 1980s - a time of innocence, exuberance and the joy of discovery. Through familiar places, music and cultural references, my book offers readers a poignant reminder of the passage of time and the enduring power of youthful memories.