Grandad – Baker came – all was well. Mr Ashken told Sheila I could have a bag permanent. If so I need only go to hospital for the catheter to be changed. He wasn’t very hopeful that I should manage without. E went to Hethersett by coach. Arthur came to stay. Tom cremated.
Mum – Lovely morning. Got paid. Mr Stephens in in afternoon. Lonely at night. Long to talk. 2 Hem at night.
Notes
Change in Handwriting
There had been a change in handwriting at the end of June. 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 writes about herself in the third person as E and grandad in the first person as “I“.
Grandad’s Health
Grandad had had an operation to stretch his bladder neck early in July, see Chapter 116. However, this had not been very successful and he had been sent home with a catheter in place. “Baker” refers to Mr Baker, a male nurse, who came to see grandad to check on the catheter. On this occasion, all was found to be well. The surgery had been performed by Mr Ashken, a urologist for whom mum worked, see Chapter 121. He told mum (Sheila) that grandad could have the catheter in place permanently. If so, he would only need to go to the hospital to have it changed. He was not hopeful that grandad would be able to manage without it.
Grandma Went to Hethersett
E refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin. She went on a coach trip to Hethersett. I assume this was organised by the women’s group she belonged to through Drayton Methodist Church, see Chapter 124.
Arthur Elsegood
Arthur refers to grandad’s friend Arthur Elsegood, see Chapter 116. He came to stay with grandad while grandma went on her outing.
Tom Wilson
Tom refers to Tom Wilson. With his wife, Amy, he was one of grandma and grandad’s closest friends. He had died on 18 July 1975, see Chapter 116. He was cremated and, perhaps surprisingly, neither mum nor grandma went. Mum would have needed to take a day off work and grandma was caring for grandad who was also unwell. However, it is surprising that mm does not mention the cremation in her diary and that grandma was able to go on a women’s outing but not to attend the cremation, although the latter would have required a much longer journey.
Mum Worked for Mr Ashken and Mr Stephens
A few weeks earlier, mum 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. As this was Wednesday, she worked all day. She noted that it was a lovely morning and that she got paid. She does not specify that the two things were linked but they possibly were! Mr Stephens was in in the afternoon.
Lonely
Mum had been troubled with loneliness since she and dad split up in 1973, see Chapter 114. She found it helpful to talk about herself and her problems and she longed to be able to do so.
Sleeping Tablets
During this period, mum had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She had trouble sleeping and tried a wide range of sleeping tablets. I think she found clomethiazole (Heminevrin) the most effective and she noted taking two tablets at night (Hem).
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