My granddad died in 1983. For the previous 20 years, he kept a diary, recording his day as a farm worker and then through his retirement. We are lucky enough to have his notebooks, all the entries in block capitals, often in pencil. He always tells us about the weather, sometimes about what is going well at the allotment. We get updates of how Liverpool are doing and the occasional political thought. He suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, was always in pain, but you would never know from these entries. My mum once described him as a contented man. Who knows, really, but certainly, there is something soothing about these entries. So I thought I would share them with you. We have a few years to cover so buckle up.
A nice day again with sunshine. Washed T car. Rest of the day working on No 2 burner. No oil going through the nozzle. Don’t know what the Hell.*
(*Not sure Hell is the work here. The pencil writing is a bit unclear and it doesn’t sound like Granddad.)
A nice mild day. No rain. Tom Birch died. Joe going on hols tonight. A big pig in to burn. Went with John and got a load of firewood for incin. Cleaned the stump out. Did Ts.
Rain for most of the day. Rather cool. Went to the doctor’s this a.m. Going to see Mr Partridge. Only washed one car. B. making 102 to date. A lot of chick boxes in to burn. Did all the Ts.
Got up at 10 a.m. A rather cool day. Hoed the small rose bed and rockery. Dot, Ron and Jane came. Jane having a bit of teeth trouble. Saw old Jim in the Wheatsheaf.
Day on today. Got done about 10. A mild day but wind still. Went to vote for Mr Green. Went to P in the p.m. Did the mowing and started to put out bedding plants.
A very strong cold wind blowing today. Car washing. A, first time for new car. H.G.S. in week making 101 to date. A calf in to burn and lots of other stuff. Did the Ts.
Another mild day with a few showers. Did some hoeing under the rhodies and borders opposite from door. Did all the Ts. Dot and Jane at home. Lovely surprise. Saw them on 4 bus.
A nice mild day again. Some rain in late p.m. Did some hoeing up the drive. Washed S car and did the Ts. Chester Cup* run today. Not a lot to burn. Some for Mrs H.
(*Chester Cup, first run in 1824. Winner in 1964, Credo.)
A nice mild day again. Sunshine but a strong wind. Cleaned both jets. Two lambs in to burn. A lot from Hans Hall. Did all the Ts and cleaned two drains by Howarth’s office.
A nice mild day but strong southerly wind blowing. Car washing again. B polished. K, Mc making 99 to date. Atfield new car, a blue Hillman. Did the Ts. Lots fo burn.
My Granddad is Keeping Busy 