Grandad – Very foggy all day. Ethel did not do any washing, too damp & foggy. Put on my overalls, first time for a year. repaired the trolley.
Mum – Jean off work but Peggy didn’t tell me until 11.30. Very hectic surgery at night. FR rang to say it might be Fri or Sat not Thurs. Roy rang to speak to Roger in evening. I don’t know what about.
Notes
Grandma Did Not Do Washing Because of the Weather
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. She usually did washing on a Monday but grandad rarely noted this in his diary. However, on this occasion, he did make a note that she was unable to do washing because of the damp and foggy weather, see Chapter 126.
Grandad Repaired the “Trolley” He Had Made Us
Grandad was very “handy” particularly in terms of woodwork, see Chapter 126. He had a purpose-built cabin at the back of the bungalow where he worked, see Chapter 85. I presume he wore overalls for this and that he had not worn them for a year because of his poor health, see Chapter 116. He put them on to repair a “trolley” he had made for us and which my brother, Alan, and I had brought to him the previous day.
He made us a variety of trollies/go karts over the years, see Chapter 85, and I assume it was one of these that needed repairing. The last one I have a record of him making, for Alan, was in April 1973, see Chapter 109. Perhaps it was this one that needed repair.
Drama at the Surgery
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. On this occasion, it seems Jean was off work but mum was unhappy that Peggy had not told her until 11.30. I am unsure whether Peggy had a responsibility to tell mum or when exactly mum was at work that day. It seems she was there for evening surgery and it was “very hectic”.
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. On this occasion, Rev Dowson rang to say that instead of coming to Norwich on Thursday (Thurs), it might be Friday (Fri) and Saturday (Sat).
Dad Rang to Speak to Me
Roy refers to my father Royle Drew, Roger refers to me. Dad phoned to speak to me and it seems neither dad nor I told mum what it was about which clearly frustrated her. I recall that conflicts and frustrations related to how I interacted with different parents were common at this time, see Chapter 114. My guess is that it probably related to going to Wembley to see Norwich in the League Cup Final, see Chapter 123.