Grandad – Had my OP about 15.30. Mr Ashken rang Sheila to say it all went according to plan. No visiting.
Mum – Work all day. Mr Ashken said he thought I should have the same wages as Barbara £1.20 an hour. 20p increase. Mr A rang me after dad’s operation to say all OK. Y W – AGM at night.
Notes
Change in Handwriting
There had been a change in handwriting a few days earlier. Based on this, it seems likely that this, and subsequent entries, were made by grandma even though this is not stated explicitly. If indeed, the entry was made by grandma, she refers to grandad in the first person using “my operation“.
Surgery
Grandad was in hospital having been admitted three days earlier with symptoms related to a further urinary obstruction, see Chapter 116. About 3.30pm, he had his surgery which was carried out by consultant urologist, Mr Ashken. He had told mum that this would involve stretching the bladder neck.
Sheila refers to my mother, Sheila May Drew, née Parkin. Mr. Ashken phoned mum to tell her that the surgery had gone to plan. No visiting was permitted that day.
Mum’s Work
Mum worked all day. The previous week, she had started a new job as part-time medical secretary for the private practice of two surgeons, Mr Ashken and Mr Stephens, see Chapter 121. This practice was based at 41 Newmarket Road. She worked all day on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and half day on Fridays.
Wage Increase
Mr Ashken told mum that he thought she should get the same wages as Barbara which was £1.20 per hour. Mum noted that this was an increase of 20p per hour. I think Barbara was Dr Batty Shaw’s secretary and that she and mum started at the same time. Recently, I found the advert and this stated that there were two posts and that salary depended on age and experience, see Chapter 121. I don’t know Barbara’s age. Perhaps, it was initially thought that Barbara was more experienced than mum but Mr Ashken seems later to have changed his mind on this.
Young Wives AGM
YW refers to Young Wives which was a group, to which mum belonged, based at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. They held their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
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