Mum – In D hos. Pain bit better – but still bad. Still on injections. Had straight xray – sure its a stone. P started job in City Treasurer’s Dept.
Roger – I spent all of my time at work today serving in the shop while Mr Peake and Andrew, a music student, sorted out the music section. Tricia started work today at the city hall but I judge from her mood today that she didn’t like it. Mum is a bit better but she wants to go private & she wants to come home. Watched the Olympics. Brendan Foster has won a bronze medal in the 10,000m. We now have 2 golds, 3 silvers and 3 bronzes.
Notes
Dunoon
Mum and my two siblings Alan (A) and Liz (E for Elizabeth) were still in Dunoon. They had been on a two-week holiday at Dhalling Mhor, the Christian Guild place in Dunoon, see Chapter 122. They had been due to travel home the previous Saturday but had been unable to because mum had been unwell.
Mum’s Illness
Mum had been unwell with vomiting and severe left-sided back pain. The previous day, the GP came at 10 am and sent her to Dunoon hospital. She was admitted and given four-hourly pentazocine (Fortral) injections, see Chapter 116. On this day, mum noted that the pain was still bad and she was still having injections. Mum noted that she had had a plain xray, which she referred to as a straight xray, and this confirmed a renal stone.
In my diary, I noted that mum was a bit better but that she wanted to go private and also wanted to come home.
Dunoon Hospital
D hos referred to Dunoon Hospital. Although there has been a hospital in Dunoon since 1885, the one mum was admitted to was a purpose-built hospital that opened in 1966. It had 74 beds, mainly configured as four-bed wards. It has been known as Cowal Community Hospital since around 2008.
Tricia’s New Job
P refers to my older sister Tricia (Patricia). Mum noted that she had started a holiday job at the City Treasurer’s Department, see Chapter 119. Interestingly, this part of the entry is in a different colour probably denoting that mum added it later.
Elsewhere in her diary, mum noted that Tricia got this job through Joe Woodrow who worked there and who mum and Tricia knew through St Peter’s Park Lane Methodist Church. Tricia worked there until 24 September 1976 and then again in the holidays in 1977.
In my diary, I also noted that Tricia had started working at city hall. However, I noted that I judged from her mood that she hadn’t like it! However, I don’t think Tricia had said this explicitly and I could well have misjudged her mood.
Saturday Job
At this time, I had a Saturday job at the Scientific Anglian bookshop, see Chapter 119. I also worked there on some other days during the holidays as here. I noted that I spent my time serving in the shop while the owner, Norman Peake, and a music student, Andrew, sorted out the music section. I don’t know much about Andrew except that he worked on a small number of occasions at the Scientific Anglian.
Olympics
I noted watching the Olympics.
Bronze in the 10000m
I noted that Brendan Foster won bronze in the 10000m final. The race was won by Lasse Virén of Finland with Carlos Lopes of Portugal second and Brendan Foster third.
Britain’s Medal Tally
I also noted that this meant that we, Great Britain, as of Monday 26 July 1976, had two golds, three silvers and three bronzes.
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