Grandad – E had 26 cards for her 74th birthday. E went to wom’s meeting.
Mum – Very depressed in am. Spoke to Dr W on phone – to take 5 Sinequan – see him Friday. Washer serviced £12.19. Finished wallpapering kitchen, only kitchen cabinet to paint now & generally tidy up & put curtains up. FR rang in aft. Had brief talk. Neck & back very panful.
Notes
Grandma Was Keeping Grandad’s Diary at This Point
Grandad had not been very well, see Chapter 116. I think this means that grandma filled in his diary for him although he may have made the odd entry. The evidence that grandma was mostly keeping his diary is the change of handwriting, some of the topics discussed and also that, sometimes, she referred to him as Gordon and not as “I“. Grandma completed grandad’s diary quite a lot when he was sick, see Chapter 113. However, she was not always consistent. Sometimes, she referred to herself in the first person and grandad in the third person while, at other times, it was vice versa. On this occasion, grandma is referred to in the third person as E (Ethel).
It Was Grandma’s 74th Birthday
E refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. She had been born on 8 May 1901, see Chapter 16, meaning that this was her 74th birthday. She received 26 cards.
Grandma Attended a Women’s Meeting at Drayton Methodist Church
Grandma went to a women’s (wom’s) meeting at Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. Grandad usually referred to this meeting as DLM for Drayton Ladies’ Meeting but I don’t think grandma herself used this term.
Mum Was Very Depressed in the Morning
During this period, mum had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She noted she was very depressed in the morning (a.m.). Dr W refers to her GP Dr Welch. She spoke to him on the phone. At this point, she was taking the antidepressant doxepin (Sinequan). She had been trying to reduce it from three to two tablets per day. On this day, Dr Welch told her to take five tablets and see him the next day.
The Washing Machine Was Serviced
Mum had her washing machine serviced. Mum noted that this cost £12.19. I am not exactly sure what washing machine mum had at this point. Grandma and grandad had got a new Servis twin tub in 1967, see Chapter 93.
Mum Finished Wallpapering the Kitchen
Mum had been decorating the kitchen for a few days, including wallpapering, see Chapter 126. She noted that the wallpapering was now finished. She had a few jobs left to do including painting the kitchen cabinet, tidying up and putting the curtains up.
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, he phoned in the afternoon (aft) and they had a brief chat.
Mum’s Neck and Back Were Very Painful
Mum frequently experienced various aches and pains at this time and, most times, no cause could be found, see Chapter 116. It seems there may have been links between some of her physical symptoms and her low mood/poor mental health. On this occasion, she complained that her neck and back were very panful.
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