Mum – Hair set in am. Then typed. Work in aft. Mr A came in briefly. Went to Blackfriars Hall at night to concert by High School Orchestra & Heilbronn (Germany) Orchestra – v good. Rang FR at night. Posted letter. 1S.
Roger – Got up before the girls and Geoff dropped Gary, Bob and I outside the Metro. Went into the museum at Les Invalides. Gary and Bob left early but I stayed there till 20 to 2. It was very interesting as it presented the war from the French point of view. Then bought some lunch and ate it under the Eiffel Tower. After that went to the Arc de Triomphe & went to the top. Spent some time messing about on the metro then came back. Had something to eat & went out in the minibus to the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. At the Eiffel Tower I bought a leather bracelet thing for 6F (70p). Did a round tour on the Perepheric which is the Paris ring road. It is motorway all the way round and has no traffic lights or roundabouts. It took us 27 minutes to do the 20 miles. Came back and had a sandwich then went to bed. Got to get up early tomorrow as going home. Have been up early past 2 mornings as sleeping in minibus which although comfortable lets in all the light in the morning.
Notes
Hair Set
Mum had her hair set in the morning (am).
Typing
According to mum’s CV, see Chapter 105, she ran a typing and duplicating business from home until 1975. However, she did typing and duplicating after this date, particularly for the church, see Chapter 121. On this occasion, she noted typing in the morning after she had had her hair done.
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. On this occasion, as it was Friday, she worked in the afternoon (aft). She noted that Mr Ashken (Mr A) came in briefly.
Concert
Mum noted going to a concert by the High School orchestra at Blackfriars’ Hall. Also performing were an orchestra from Heilbronn in Germany. Mum noted that it was very good, see Chapter 118.
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 at night and mum posted a letter to him.
Senokot
Mum took one Senokot (S) presumably for constipation, see Chapter 116. Senokot is a senna-containing medicine for the treatment of constipation.
School Camping Trip in France
It was the final full day of our school camping trip in France, see Chapter 118.
Les Invalides
I got up before the girls and Geoff Cheeseman dropped Gary Wood, Robert (Bob) Bonwell and me outside the metro. At the start of the trip, I referred to Mr Cheeseman. By the end, it was Geoff! We went into the museum at Les Invalides. Gary and Bob left early but I stayed there until 1.40pm. I found it very interesting as it presented the war from the French point of view.
Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe During the Day…
I then bought some lunch and ate it under the Eiffel Tower. After that, I went to the Arc de Triomphe and went to the top. I spent some time “messing about” on the metro then came back.
…And at Night
We had something to eat and went out in the minibus to the Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower and Montmartre. At the Eiffel Tower, I bought a “leather bracelet thing” for 6F (70p).
Pérephérique
We did a round tour on the Pérephérique which is the Paris ring-road. It is motorway all the way round and has no traffic lights or roundabouts. This clearly made an impression on me as this was before the opening of the M25 in 1986. Work on constructing the Pérephérique began in 1958 and was completed in 1973. Although originally the speed limit was 90km/h, it was lowered to 70km/h in 2014 and to 50km/h in 2024. It took us 27 minutes to do the 20 miles.
Sleeping in the Minibus
We came back, had a sandwich and then went to bed. I noted that we had to get up early the next day as we were going home. Also I noted that I had been up early the past two mornings as I had been sleeping in the minibus. I recall this. My understanding was that Robert Bonwell and I did this because our tent had been damaged. I noted that, although it was comfortable, it let in all the light in the morning.
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