Grandad – A better night. Baker came & chatted this time. I feel a little better. Irene, Ken & Linda went to Ashbourne.
Mum – Hair set in am. P R A & E went to St Augustine’s at 8am. I took them. Work in aft. Saw Mr A at hospital later. Took P & Eliz Cowell to Sally’s at Sheringham for beach barbecue in evening. I went & spent evening with Isabel Cross. Quite nice. She made me welcome.
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 this entry was made by grandma, she writes about 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. Since then, he had not been well but, on this occasion, it seems he had a better night and felt a little better.
Mr Baker
Baker refers to Mr Baker, a male nurse, who came in to check on grandad’s catheter. On this occasion, the diary notes that he chatted, see Chapter 116.
The Bells
Irene, Ken and Linda refer to Irene and Ken Bell and their daughter Linda. They lived next-door-but-one to grandma and grandad at 162 Drayton High Road. They went to Ashbourne, see Chapter 122.
Hair
Mum had her hair set in the morning (am).
Swimming
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia), R to me, A to my younger brother Alan and E to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). We all went swimming at St Augustine’s, see Chapter 122. The previous day, Alan, Liz and I had also gone swimming but although they had gone to St Augustine’s, I had gone to the outside pool in Lakenham. On this occasion, we went at 8am. Mum took us.
St Augustine’s
This swimming pool opened in 1961 and was closed in 1997, see Chapter 92. The building was later demolished. For some more great photos of St Augustine’s see here.
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 Friday, she worked in the afternoon (aft). She must have gone to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for something as she saw Mr Ashken (Mr A) there.
Beach Barbecue
Mum noted that she took Tricia and her friend Elizabeth Cowell to Sally’s in Sheringham for a beach barbecue, see Chapter 122. I believe Sally was a friend of Tricia’s from school but I don’t know much more detail. She is mentioned a couple of times in grandad’s diary. In December 1972, she and Tricia had tea at grandma and grandad’s and then went to the women’s meeting grandma attended to play violin for a Christmas sing-song. In January 1973, Tricia had gone to see Sally which meant she did not go with the rest of us for tea at grandma and grandad’s, see Chapter 106.
Isabel Cross
It seems mum took the opportunity to visit Isabel Cross. I assume she lived in Sheringham and I guess mum knew her through church. However, this seems to be the only time she is mentioned in the diaries.
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