Roger went to work. I washed & tidied up – in attic as well as downstairs. P & A went to lecture at UEA in aft. E went to a party & then to pantomime. Went to BB Carols in evening – quite nice – but sat completely alone. Very lonely & depressed at night. R went to party. 1L.
Notes
Working at the Scientific Anglian Bookshop
Roger refers to me and mum noted that I went to work. At this point, I had a Saturday job at the Scientific Anglian bookshop on St Benedict’s, see Chapter 119. However, I also worked there on school holidays, especially in the run-up to Christmas when the shop tended to be busier.
Washing and Tidying Up
Although mum did not always note it, both she and grandma tended to do washing on Mondays, see Chapter 126. On this occasion, she also tidied up both downstairs and in the attic. At this point, we were living at 192 College Road, see Chapter 117, which stretched over three floors including two attic rooms on the second floor. At this time, one of those rooms was mum’s office while I think the other may have been Tricia’s bedroom.
Lecture at UEA
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia) and A to my younger brother Alan. They went to a lecture at the University of East Anglia (UEA) in the afternoon (aft), see Chapter 120.
Party and a Pantomime
E refers to my younger sister Liz (Elizabeth). She went to a party and then to a pantomime, see Chapter 122, which I believe was “Aladdin” at the Theatre Royal. If so, it was that pantomime’s opening day.
Boys’ Brigade Carols
In the evening, mum went to the Boy’s Brigade (BB) Carols, see Chapter 124. She thought this was quite nice but noted that she sat “completely alone“.
Lonely and Depressed
During this period, mum had had severe struggles with her mental health, suffering with depression and anxiety, see Chapter 116. Also, mum had been troubled with loneliness since she and dad split up in 1973, see Chapter 114. She noted that she felt very lonely and depressed at night. It seems that her feelings of loneliness especially were made worse by social events of this nature.
Party
R refers to me, Roger. I went to a party. Mum did not give any more details and this may be because I did not tell her! I would have been 15 at this point and I recall attending more “grown-up”, rather than children’s parties from about that time, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, see Chapter 122.
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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