Roy said he’d thought of asking us to go to Birmingham because he missed the kids & found money difficult. I told him I couldn’t. We decided on R’s suggestion not to tell E that Roy came but he left her a note which upset her. I was cross. Because of his money problems I told him I’d pay for Roger’s glasses (see Wed 26) but could he give P something for her driving lessons. Went to Drayton for tea – filled in probate forms. P took part in service at night with Ken Tickle, Sister Marg & Martin Fuller. Mr R looked very bored in hymns. Seems to avoid me.
Notes
Dad Had Thought of Asking Us to Go to Birmingham
Roy refers to my father Royle Drew. He was staying for the weekend. Mum noted that he said that he had thought of asking us to go to Birmingham because he missed us children and found money difficult. Mum said she couldn’t. I don’t recall this ever being discussed with me. It again illustrates how confusing mum and dad’s relationship was, see Chapter 114.
Finding Money Difficult
Dad told mum that he was finding money difficult, see Chapter 114. As a result, mum said she would pay for my (Roger’s) glasses. She still wanted him to give my sister Tricia (P for Patricia) something for her driving lessons.
I find her willingness to pay for my glasses surprisingly understanding of mum. I am not sure exactly what dad’s money problems were but he would have had costs of buying or renting what was essentially a second home and it seems he had a pay cut when he moved to Birmingham. However, on the other hand, he managed to find money to go out for a drink every night and for other activities, such as greyhound racing and speedway. He also gambled but I am not sure how much he spent on this or if it ever became problematic.
Not Telling Liz That Dad Had Visited
E refers to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). She had been in Drayton over the weekend so had not seen dad. Mum said that “we” decided on a suggestion I had made,namely that we would not tell her that dad had visited. However, dad left her a note. This upset her and, as a result, mum was cross.
This incident illustrates a few things, see Chapter 114.. First, given that I was only fifteen at this point, it seems inappropriate that mum placed the responsibility for not telling Liz on me rather than her and dad deciding on a course of action together. Second, although mum thought they had agreed not to tell Liz, it seems pretty clear that dad had not actually so agreed. Third, the fact that mum was cross over this shows how fragile any apparent thaw in their relationship was.
Referring to Wednesday 26
Mum’s comment “see Wed 26” denotes that her entry for Sunday continued below her entry for Wednesday. In the extract above, I have copy pasted the additional part below the entries for Saturday and Sunday.
Drayton for Tea
As was our usual practice on Sunday afternoon, we went to grandma’s in Drayton for tea, see Chapter 122.
Probate Forms
While in Drayton, mum filled in probate forms relating to grandad’s death, see Chapter 116.
Evening Service
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). She took part in the evening service at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church, see Chapter 124. Others who took part included Ken Tickle, Martin Fuller and Sister Margaret (Marg). I believe Sister Margaret was some kind of deaconness within the Methodist Church. I don’t know who Martin Fuller was. This was the only time he was mentioned in the diaries.
Rev Ream
Mr R refers to Rev Ream who was the senior Minister at St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church at this time, see Chapter 124. I don’t know if he was bored during the hymns. He and mum did not get on and she often openly criticised and opposed him. It is very possible that she misinterpreted his demeanour. It is also highly possible, even likely, that he did avoid her!
Leave a Reply