Grandad – Ethel & Amy after dinner had a walk to the village. I did more at the trolley, got it running.
Mum – Typing in am & sorted some Coeliac Christmas cards out in aft. Rang FR at 9.15. Nice. We all went to YW barbecue at Sue Bannings in evening. Then went back to Fergusons. Finished pinafore dress. Put thick nightdress on.
Notes
Amy Wilson
Ethel refers to my grandmother Ethel May Cecilia Parkin and Amy refers to Amy Wilson, grandma and grandad’s friend from Mansfield who we knew as Auntie Amy. She had come to visit grandma and grandad the previous day, see Chapter 122. This was the first time that Auntie Amy had visited grandma and grandad since her husband Tom Wilson had died in July 1975, see Chapter 116. Grandma and Auntie Amy had a walk into Drayton, the village in which grandma and grandad lived.
Trolley
Grandad had a purpose-built cabin at the back of their house that he used for practical tasks particularly woodworking, see Chapter 85. Over the previous few months, he had been less able to work on it. However, a few days earlier, he had started some work repairing what he described as a run-about that he had made for my brother Alan. I believe this refers to a four-wheeled run-about he had made for Alan in April 1973, see Chapter 109. He continued to work on this referring to it as a trolley. He noted that he got it running.
Over the years, grandad made us a number of such run-abouts which were various forms of trolleys/go-carts/wooden bikes and which I recall as a child, see Chapter 85.
Typing
According to mum’s CV, see Chapter 105, she ran a typing and duplicating business from home until 1975. She also did typing and duplicating for church. On this occasion, she noted typing in the morning (am).
Coeliac Christmas Cards
Mum sold Christmas cards on behalf of the Coeliac Society, see Chapter 116. I am not sure if this was for the Coeliac Society locally only or if she was responsible for this nationally. I do know that she sometimes roped us in to help. For example, in November 1977, I helped my brother Alan deal with requests for Coeliac Christmas cards. That took us to more or less tea-time as there were lots. On this occasion, she noted sorting out Coeliac Christmas Cards in the afternoon (aft). I am not entirely sure what this involved.
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 at 9.15, presumably pm. Mum said this was nice.
Young Wives’ Barbecue
YW refers to Young Wives which was a women’s group mum belonged to at St Peter’s Perk Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. In the evening, she went to a barbecue at Sue Banning’s. She said that “we all” went. I am not sure who that refers to but possibly us four siblings. I find this a bit surprising as I am pretty sure I would have wanted to avoid an event like this but possibly I was not given any choice or was won over by the prospect of food! After the barbecue, mum went back to John and Heather Ferguson’s.
Tartan Pinafore Dress
Mum finished making the tartan pinafore that she had started two days earlier, see Chapter 126.
Thick Nightdress
Mum noted that she wore a thick nightdress that night. I wonder if this was another indirect acknowledgement that the nights were getting colder. She had noted having a hot water bottle the night before.
Leave a Reply