Grandad – Ethel & Dolly went to Norwich. D bought a new hat.
Mum – Went to Chairman’s in am. Car wouldn’t start in city – 845am – rang AA something wrong with ignition – OK after he’d done “something“. Hair set in am. FR rang in aft. Typed & duplicated in evening. Mrs LeFevre said Mr L would bring Roger Gary & Simon back tomorrow. I agreed. P had 4th driving lesson. S L & H tabs.
Notes
Grandma Had Been Keeping Grandad’s Diary
Grandad had not been very well, see Chapter 116 and grandma had been keeping his diary. However, based on the change in handwriting, I think he resumed making his own entries today.
Grandma and Auntie Dolly Went to Norwich
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. Dolly and D both refer 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 a few days earlier. They went to Norwich.
Auntie Dolly Bought a New Hat
Auntie Dolly (D) bought a new hat, see Chapter 125. She had tried unsuccessfully to buy one two days earlier.
Mum Worked for Rev G T Eddy
The Chairman refers to Rev G T Eddy who was the Chairman of the Methodist District. Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum did some part-time secretarial work for him between 1973 and 1977, see Chapter 121. On this occasion, she went there in the morning (am).
Car Problems
At this point, mum had a Simca which she had bought in February 1972, see Chapter 110. This morning, the car wouldn’t start in the city. So, mum called the AA who fixed the problem, see Chapter 127.
Mum Had Her Hair Done
Mum noted that she had her hair set in the morning (am).
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 rang in the afternoon (aft).
Mum Typed and Duplicated in the Evening
Mum typed and duplicated in the evening, see Chapter 121. According to her CV, see Chapter 105, she ran a typing and duplicating business from home until 1975. She also did typing and duplicating for church.
Pick Up from Youth Hostelling Holiday
I was away on a youth hostelling holiday with two school friends Gary Wood and Simon Lefevre, see Chapter 122. We were due back the next day. Mum spoke to Simon’s mother who said that Simon’s father would pick us up and bring us back the next day. Mum agreed to this. This is slightly odd as I had phoned only two days earlier to say Simon would not be coming back with us! Presumably, whatever conflict there had been had been resolved.
Fourth Driving Lesson
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). She was in the process of learning to drive, see Chapter 127. Mum noted that she had her fourth driving lesson.
Mum’s Tablets
During this period, mum had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She was taking antidepressants and sleeping tablets (tabs) and I think this is what S, L and H refer to. S refers to the antidepressant doxepin (Sinequan), L to long-acting amitryptilline (Lentizol) and H to the sleeping tablet clomethiazole (Heminevrin).
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