Grandad – Dolly went to DMC at 11AM. E did not leave me. Sheila & fam came for tea. I was no better.
Mum – Communion steward am & pm. Had to use Ribena at night! Went to Elijah practice at C/Fld in aft. V good. Bit depressed at night. Went to Drayton for tea – dad not very well – I’m “afraid” to be with him. 1 Lentizol at night.
Notes
Grandma Was Keeping Grandad’s Diary
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/me” and to herself in the third person as E.
Grandad Was Not Very Well
Grandad was quite unwell having had a stroke in October, see Chapter 116. Grandma noted that he was no better. Mum described him as not very well. Grandma (E) did not leave grandad even to go to chapel. Mum commented that she was afraid to be with him. I am not sure why. Perhaps she feared that he would die while she was with him.
Auntie Dolly Went to Drayton Methodist Church (DMC)
Dolly refers to grandma’s cousin, Dorothy Rose, who we knew as Auntie Dolly, who was visiting grandma and grandad at this time, see Chapter 122. She went to the morning (11AM) service at Drayton Methodist Church (DMC). They used to have two services each Sunday, morning and afternoon. Grandma usually attended both but she did not go to either presumably because of grandad’s health, see Chapter 124.
Sunday Afternoon Tea
Sheila refers to my mother Sheila May Drew née Parkin. We went to grandma and grandad’s, in Drayton, for tea which was our usual practice, see Chapter 122.
Mum Was Communion Steward
Mum was communion steward at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church at the morning (am) and evening (pm) services, see Chapter 124. While I think they usually used special non-alcoholic communion wine for these services, mum noted that, in the evening, they had to use Ribena, presumably as they had no communion wine.
Ribena
Ribena is a well-known blackcurrant-flavoured juice that was first produced in 1938.
Practising “Elijah“
In the afternoon (aft), mum went to a practice of “Elijah“. This was held at Chapelfield Road Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. She thought the practice was very good.
Depressed
During this period, mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. On this occasion, she noted that she was a bit depressed at night.
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