Hair set then to Chairmans. Then met mum & had lunch in Jarrolds. Then went shopping (didn’t buy anything!) then to work – no one in but plenty to do. Had Pippa Dee party at night. Heather Ferguson, Margaret Culley, Nancy Papworth, Janet Battle, Mrs Morgan & daughter & Mrs Ireson & friend came. Sold nearly £70 – profit of £6 to Coeliac. Roy rang to say he was coming & could he sleep on settee – as E has gone to Drayton for weekend, he can use her room. 1L.
Notes
Hair Set
Mum noted that she had her hair set.
Work for Rev Eddy
Chairman refers to Rev G T Eddy who was the Chairman of the Methodist District. Based on her CV, see Chapter 105, mum did some part-time secretarial work for him between 1973 and 1977, see Chapter 121.
Lunch at Jarrolds
Mum then met grandma in Norwich and they had lunch at the well-known department store Jarrolds. This was established in 1770 and is still running, see Chapter 93.
Window Shopping
Mum noted that she went shopping but that she did not buy anything, see Chapter 125.
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, she went into work in the afternoon. She noted that no-one was in but she had plenty to do.
Pippa Dee Party
At night, mum hosted a Pippa Dee party. She had hosted similar parties before, for example, in February 1969, see Chapter 92. I have vague recollections of mum hosting Pippa Dee parties. They were organised on a similar model to Tupperware parties where a local agent organised events to sell to friends and family and received a commission for what she sold. Apparently, the company had 13,000 women working in this way in the 1970s. According to the Companies House website, the company was dissolved in 2022.
Mum’s friends attended, particularly from St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. I recognise some names including Heather Ferguson, Margaret Culley and Nancy Papworth. However, there are some names I don’t recognise.
Janet Battle
I think mum also knew Janet from church. She is mentioned twice in the diaries. On the second occasion, in January 1977, she gave mum a lift home from choir practice, see Chapter 124.
Mrs Morgan and Daughter
I think Mrs Morgan may have been someone who lived in Aylsham who mum knew through the Coeliac Society, see see Chapter 116
Mrs Ireson
I do not know who this was. As far as I can see, this was the only time she was mentioned in the diary.
Money Raised
Mum noted that she sold nearly £70 worth of items and made a profit of £6 which went to the Coeliac Society that mum supported, see Chapter 116.
Dad Was Coming for the Weekend
Roy refers to my father Royle Drew and E to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). Dad phoned and said he was coming. He asked if he could sleep on the settee as he had previously. Mum noted that Liz was away in Drayton for the weekend, presumably at grandma’s. Mum said he could have her room, see Chapter 114.
Antidepressants
During this period, mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. She was on antidepressants. On this occasion, she took one tablet of long-acting amitryptilline (Lentizol, L).
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