Grandad – Ethel & Dolly went to Norwich shopping.
Mum – Roger got back about 4. He can’t wait to go to London to tell Roy things he can’t tell me. He gloats over damage they did in hotels. What should I do? Went to choir practice at night. Alan went swimming in aft with Nigel. Very depressed in evening.
Notes
Grandma and Auntie Dolly Went Shopping in Norwich
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. Dolly refers to Dorothy Rose who we knew as Auntie Dolly although she was my grandmother’s first cousin. Grandma’s father (Charles Cirket) and Auntie Dolly’s mother (Lois Rose née Cirket) were siblings. Auntie Dolly visited grandma and grandad often coming by bus from where she lived in Bedford to Norwich bus station, see Chapter 122. She had arrived on the 2nd. She and grandma went shopping in Norwich, see Chapter 125.
I Got Back from a School Camping Trip in France
Roger refers to me. I had just got back from a school camping trip in France, see Chapter 118. Mum was clearly frustrated that I appeared to want to tell dad (Roy) things about the trip that I couldn’t tell her. For me, I still find these words difficult and I feel show how I was stuck in the middle of the conflict between mum and dad, see Chapter 114. It also shows that I got on better with my dad at this time than I did with my mum.
No doubt, this was partly a matter of proximity. But, I also felt that dad was more understanding of being a teenager and less rigid and strait-jacketed than my hyper-religious mother! I think this is a case in point. I certainly would not have described myself as “gloating over damage done”. But, we did have fun and no doubt there were some high jinks involved! I think it is pretty clear that my mother couldn’t understand this whereas I felt my dad did.
Mum Went to Choir Practice
Mum was an active member of St Peter Park Lane Methodist Church’s choir. She attended practices regularly, see Chapter 124.
Alan Went Swimming with Nigel
Alan refers to my younger brother. He went swimming in the afternoon (aft) with Nigel. He had two freinds called Nigel through church that I know of, Nigel Harris and Nigel Finnemore. I think the latter is more likely as they were also friends through Boys’ Brigade, see Chapter 124.
Mum Noted Being Very Depressed in the Evening
Mum had severe struggles with her mental health during this period, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She was on the tricyclic antidepressant doxepin (Sinequan) at this point.
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