Grandad – Ethel went to DLM.
Mum – Pelmet fell down in kitchen. Put hinge back then hung gate. Alan not well – not wheezy – just tired he says. Went to see Dr W at Tuckswood. He thinks Alan may be anaemic – to go & have blood test. I was very depressed but could talk properly. Dr W told me to go & see him again. Went to OM coffee morning then to see Jean & Peggy at Dr Days – agreed to write letter to ask for filing cabinet & to be “fenced off” then to Cathedral for “Chain of Prayer“. FR rang in aft. Coming tomorrow. Took 2 Tryptizol at night – no Lentizol.
Notes
Grandma Went to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting (DLM)
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. DLM refers to Drayton Ladies’ Meeting which was a weekly women’s meeting held at Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
Gate Blown Off Its Hinges
Mum repaired the gate which had blown off its hinges the previous day, see Chapter 126. Mum also noted that a pelmet had fallen down in the kitchen.
Alan Was Unwell
Alan refers to my brother. Mum noted that he was unwell although he was no longer wheezy as he had been the last few days. Dr W refers to Dr Welch, mum’s GP. The Mile End surgery operated a small clinic in Tuckswood, see Chapter 116.
Mum Was Depressed
Mum noted that she was depressed as she had done previously on the 16th, see Chapter 116. She noted that she could talk properly which perhaps implies that she sometimes couldn’t when she was depressed.
Tryptizol is a brand name for amitriptyliine which is still used for the treatment of depression. It appears mum was taking these. Lentizol is the brand name for a slow-release form of amitryptilline. It seems mum was also prescribed these but did not always take them.
Mum Went to an Overseas Missions Coffee Morning
OM refers to Overseas Missions. I presume this coffee morning was at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
A Letter at Dr Day’s
Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum worked as part-time receptionist for Drs Downes and Day, see Chapter 121. I assume Jean and Peggy were other receptionists there. It seems they agreed to write a letter, presumably to Dr Day, asking for a filing cabinet and to be “fenced off“. I am not exactly sure what being “fenced off” meant but presumbaly it was to be seperated from someone, possibly other staff or more likely patients.
Mum went to “Chain of Prayer” at the Cathedral
I am not exactly sure what this “Chain of Prayer” was, see Chapter 124. The term can refer to people praying at specified times to create an uninterrupted chain. It can also refer to praying every week at a specified time to create a chain. In January 1975, a “Chain of Prayer” was established in Ballymena in response to the showing of the film “The Exorcist“. I don’t know what the specific “Chain of Prayer” mum attended was.
Rev Dowson
FR refers to Rev F R Dowson. Frederick Rodham Dowson entered the Methodist ministry in 1936. He was born in Haxby, York on 5 August 1912 and he died in Selsey on 4 September 2011, aged 99. I believe he was superintendent Minister for the Park Lane circuit from 1968 to 1974. He and mum were close and they spoke and corresponded frequently, see Chapter 114. Mum noted that he was coming to Norwich the next day.
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