Grandad – Wet day. Ethel not too well.
Mum – Went in city in am. Bought denim jeans from C&A £2.75. Size 18. Rang FR in evening. S L & H tabs.
Notes
Comment on Weather
Grandad commented that it was a wet day.
Grandma Was not too Well
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. Grandad noted that she was not too well, see Chapter 116.
Mum Bought Jeans
Mum went into the city in the morning (am) and bought jeans from C&A, see Chapter 125. She noted that they were size 18 and that they cost £2.75.
C&A is a major Dutch multinational clothing company, see Chapter 68. It was active in the UK from 1922 until it withdrew in 2001. Apparently, it suffered from a perception of being unfashionable and its strategy of selling budget clothes in city centre retail stores. For me, C&A was one of the iconic stores in Norwich during my childhood. It occupied the space on Hay Hill where Next is now. It was also known for the fountains in front of it which were regularly sabotaged by putting foam in.
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, mum rang him in the evening.
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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