Grandad – A little better but op not very successful. Mr Ashken said he was sorry but would try something else. E came also Irene & Sheila.
Mum – Had letter from Cecil. Wrote back. On way from hospital to Drayton car made a shrieking noise. Put it in garage then got it out on Recreation Rd & rang AA. He said its something in the alternator gone. He towed me (down Grapes Hill) to Reliance Garage – left car there. He brought me home – 10.20pm. Fighting depression all day.
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 herself in the third person as E (for Ethel).
Operation Not Very Successful
Grandad was in hospital having been admitted a few days earlier with symptoms related to a further urinary obstruction, see Chapter 116. He had had surgery to stretch the bladder neck. This was carried out by consultant urologist, Mr Ashken. Although he felt a little better, it seems that the operation had not been very successful in terms of relieving his urinary obstruction. Mr Ashken said he would try something else.
Visitors
E refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. She visited, see Chapter 116, as did Irene Bell, who lived next-door-but-one to grandma and grandad at 162 Drayton High Road, and my mother (Sheila).
Letter from Cecil
Mum had a letter from Cecil and she wrote back. I am not entirely sure who Cecil was. It was someone to whom mum was close at this time. They corresponded frequently. I wonder if it was someone she knew through Christian Guild Holidays, see Chapter 114.
Problems with the Car
At this point, mum’s car wasa Simca which she and dad had got in February 1972, see Chapter 110. On this occasion, it seemed to develop “a shrieking noise” on the way from the hospital to Drayton, presumably to take grandma home, see Chapter 127. It seems mum must have got to Drayton and back as initially she put the car in the garage but then moved it to Recreation Road. I assume she did this so the AA would come to her as I recall that they would not come if the car was at your own home.
AA
Mum was a big fan of the AA, see Chapter 95. On this occasion, the man from the AA said there was a problem with the alternator and he towed her, down Grapes’ Hill, to Reliance Garage, He brought mum home, by which time it was 10.20pm.
Reliance Garage
Reliance Garage was located on Heigham Street. We used their services a few times in the 1970s but this was the first time recorded in mum’s diary. It appears to still be operating at 22 Heigham Street as a Dacia/Renault garage as part of the Holden Group.
Fighting Depression
During this period, mum had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She noted she was fighting depression all day.
Leave a Reply