My Granddad is Keeping Busy

Today is another red letter day. I had the plaster changed and those awful clamps and splint taken off. Tomorrow, please God, I can walk on it and get home to Nell.

It is five weeks today since I came into the hospital. Please Got, it will the the last. Dear Nell came again tonight. I hope and pray I will soon be back home with her.

Yet another Sunday has come but it seems just like any other day. Nell and Dot came to see me which was very pleasant. Harry Welch also came to see Len. Also, Len’s wife.

Doctor Lewis came round this morning and told me that they would take the plaster off and go home Wednesday. No visitors last night but saw Mrs Welch , been to visit Len.

Another day as the others. Sid Faulkner came to see me this a.m. and gave me an ounce of Four Square. Nell and Dot came tonight. So nice to see them both.

A day just like all the others. Nothing unusual happened. At night, Les Cottrel, Ern Williams and Bill Smith came to see me. Mrs Welch and her daughter came to see Len Davies.

Partridge never came round today so I’m as wise as ever. Nell came and all will be fine between us when I get home. Les Davies from Puddington came in today.

They never came to change my plaster but maybe all for the best. Keith came to see me tonight. Nell never came. I don’t know why. May have missed the bus.

A day much the same as the others. Dot and Ron came to see me at night. Not much news. Hoping to have plaster taken off tomorrow but I have my doubts.

A day much the same pattern as the others. Nell, Lou and Les came this afternoon. It was very nice. A choir came to sing for us tonight. It was very nice. Mr Stuffings with them.

Another wet Saturday again. Nell and little Jane came to see me this afternoon. They both looked lovely. Saw Doctor Lewis this morning. Said it may be next Tue or one after.

Day follows day in the same routine but I suppose it will all end soon. Nell and Ron came tonight again. Had Xmas bonus from the firm. Very nice.

A day much the same as all the rest. Full of boredom. Leg seems to me to be going on ok. Sam went home today, Lucky him. Bill Edwards and Keith came to see me tonight. Quite nice.

A day much the same as the others. Saw Mr P. Said he didn’t know if plaster would come off next Tue or one after. Please God it’s next. Nell and Dot came. Never saw Jane.

Moved down the ward a bed today and Sam moved to the end of the ward out of sight. Nell, God bless her, came again tonight. How I longed to go home with her. But with God’s help, it shouldn’t be long now*.

(*I never heard Granddad say a prayer or really mention God at all, so this is interesting.)

Got moved today into hut six, along with the others. Nell and Dot came tonight. Also Ted Williams and Atfield. Things go on just the same in this ward as the others.

Not a very good night last night for sleep but leg seems to be doing ok, thank God. All the family came to see me this afternoon. Also Miss Robb. Her friend had the same op.

A day of heavy rain. Dot and Jane came to see me this afternoon. They both looked lovely. Nell was at Fellowship sale and Ron went to Burnley to watch Liverpool play.

(Liverpool won, 1-5, including a hat-trick from Roger Hunt)

A day much the same as the others. Three more blokes went home today, leaving only six in the ward. Nell and Ron came tonight. All is well at home but it seems an age until I can go.

Leg feels better today, thank God. Day follows day and each day some one gets discharged so my time will come. Nell came tonight, God bless her. Gave her 19/-* collected from work. Get a perm.

(* not sure if this is 19/- for £9. Quick Google suggests a perm might have cost £2 in 1964, so neither seems to make sense)

Saw Partridge this morning. Got to stay in bed until fortnight today. Have a walking plaster on. It seems a hundred years away but I suppose it will pass. Please God it’s ok.

Another red letter day. Went to theatre to have stitches removed and new plaster on. As well as having clamps tightened. Got a bit of pain in it again. Nell never came tonight.

A frost this a.m. I believe. The day much the same as the rest. Terry Downes got beat.* Ron brought Nell in to see me. All is ok at home. The time goes very slowly and it seems ages to wait.

* World title, light heavyweight fight in Manchester against Willie Pastrano. Downes was knocked down twice in the 11th round, while reportedly well ahead on points, and Pastrano retained his title. Downes then retired, and had a number of acting roles, as a thug, including appearing in Derek Jarman’s “Caravaggio”.

Still the same old routine. Leg progress slow but sure, I hope. Nell came again today. Got bless her. Also Dot, Ron and Jane. Jane came in for a bit.

Much as the day before, one just like another. Nell, Dot and little Jane came this afternoon, and Ron came at night. It does break the monotony a lot.

Day follows day much the same. It seems ages since I first came in but the time will come. Nell came last night. Also Les Pinager and Harry Welsh. He has got to have an op.

A day much as yesterday. Birthday card from Lou and Les. Alf Gerrard and Bill Edwards came to see me. Alf brought 2 bottles of brown ale in. Nell gone to the housey. Heavy rain outside.

Went for an X-ray today. Sam Pugh came in yesterday. Saw Mr P. Said I could get on leg as soon as stitches were out but never mind. Nell, Dot and Jane came to see me today. Bless them.

Another day similar to yesterday. Leg appears to be going on ok, thank goodness. Did some reading. Joe and Ted Evans came to see me tonight. Also Dot and Nell. Will see Mr P in the a.m.

Another day following the same pattern. Leg not too bad. Asked for heat treatment on the other knee. Nell and Ron came, also Ron from work and Mulley. Very nice of them.

Will have the first week over today. Thank God. Had a lot of visitors yesterday. Lou, Les, Frank, Dora and of course, dear Nell. Phil Barnet and Gaynor came at night. Brought 2oz of bruno.

Leg improves slowly. Still sore. Miss Shakto came in and brought Barry. Very kind. Dot and Ron brought little Jane to see me. Days pass slowly here. There seems no end to the time.

Leg a bit easier today, thank God. Though still some pain. 3 of the chaps went home today. Ron brought Nell to see me at night. All is well. John took money.

Leg is still very bad today but must put up with it for a time. Hope that it will be worth it. Nell and Ted Williams came to see me at night. Ted brought Bal.

A bad day. Leg causing great pain. Had to had more injections. Nell, Dot and Jane came to see me in the afternoon. I did not feel much like visitors but God bless them.

The big day today. Went down about 2.30. Got back about 5.30. Leg very painful all night. Had to have injections. A really bad night. But still, only to be expected.

Got up at 8am. Mrs Harris came to bring me to the hospital. Got me ready for the op. Not nervous at all, thank goodness. No visitors.

A cold day with strong winds. Went to Hugie Warburton for a form for sick pay. Ron, Dot and Jane came for tea. Went back at 7. Never went out. Stayed and saw tellie.

Day off today. Rather cold. Went to see the doctor to get signed off. Dot and Jane came about 4.30. Ron came to take them home. Went to Sheaf on the bike. Saw Mick.

A mild day with some rain. Car cleaning. H. and T. G,B1 in the week making 234 to date. Word go to hospital on Monday. Cleaned both flues.

A lovely day, nice and mild. Did some car washing. T.G.B1. Cleared the silage lab out again. Truck load. Did all the Ts again. Leg bad again today. Stayed to dinner.