Grandad – I was a shade better but had queer turns. The Doctor not coming again until Monday. Mr Pearce came. WBO. Jim rang.
Mum – Hair set at 9. P fetched Roy, R A & E back. Work in aft. Mr A came in twice. Roy signed deeds of house to me – at last. FR rang in aft – briefly – hopes for 14/15 Nov! Came to bed early – very tired. Trying with 1 Tryptizol tonight – no Lentizol.
Notes
Grandma Was Keeping Grandad’s Diary
Earlier in October, the handwriting had changed meaning, I think, that grandad was not well enough to keep his own diary and grandma did this for him, see Chapter 113. Grandma referred to grandad in the first person as “I“.
Grandad Was Not Very Well
Grandad was quite unwell having had a stroke a week earlier, see Chapter 116. Grandma noted that he was a shade better but he had “queer turns“. The doctor was due to come again on Monday. One of the nurses, Mr Pearce called. I am not exactly sure what WBO means, possibly washed bladder out, as grandad had an indwelling urinary catheter at this time.
Frank Seville Phoned
Jim refers to Frank Seville. Although his first name was Frank, so was his father’s. As a result, he was always known within the family as Jim. We called him Uncle Jim although he was actually grandma’s first cousin, so my cousin twice removed! He phoned presumably so see how grandad was, see Chapter 116.
Hair Set
Mum had her hair set at 9am.
Tricia Collected Us from Bacton
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia), Roy to my father Royle Drew, R to me, A to my younger brother Alan and E to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). Tricia collected us from Bacton where we had been on holiday in a chalet belonging to dad’s boss, see Chapter 122.
Mum Worked for Mr Ashken and Mr Stephens
During this period, mum worked 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 it was Friday, mum worked in the afternoon. She noted that Mr Ashken (Mr A) came in twice.
House Deeds
Mum noted that dad signed the deeds of our house, see Chapter 117, over to her. This issue had been dragging on for some time, see Chapter 114, and she commented that this had been done “at last“.
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, he rang briefly in the afternoon (aft). Mum noted that he was hoping for 14/15 November and I assume this refers to a possible visit to Norwich. I am not sure why this merited an exclamation mark.
Medication for Mental Health
Mum noted that she went to bed early as she was very tired. Mum had taken antidepressants on and off for a long time, see Chapter 116. On this occasion, she noted taking one amitryptilline (Tryptizol) but did not take any long-acting amitryptilline (Lentizol).
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