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 lovely mild day. Got moped back from Cameron’s last night. 12/-. Seems ok now. Old Dot passed her test yesterday.* Car washing K, B2, H. making 14 to date. Did B1, A, G in the week.
(At aged 90, my mum had just turned in her license. As she frequently reminds us, she’s never had a fine or penalty in 61 years of driving.)
Lady Day (Quarter Day)
A nice day but started to rain about 4pm. Washed two cars. B1 and G. Cleaned the silage lab out. Came push bike again. Stayed dinner. It’s dammed hard work, peddling with one leg.
More rain again today but nice later on. Came to work on the push bike. Stayed dinner. John took moped to Cameron’s. Won £1 on the sweep on the St Ledger. Cleaned A’s car. Did all the usual chores.
Rain all day again but warmer. Jack Earle came to do moped last night but it conked again at dinner time. John going is going to take it to Cams*. Cleaned No.2 jet. Came back from dinner on bus.
(* Cams, garage in Neston)
Came to work on the bus this morning. F16. Got here about 10 to 8. Man came from Liverpool to see about boiler maintenance. Cleaned No.1 jet.
A heavy fall of snow in the night. Earle never came to do the moped. Still sleeting and snowing for most of the day. Dot, Ron and Jane came for tea. Went to see Jack.
Day off today. Tried to get the moped going but no luck. Heavy rain all day. Changed to snow at night. Went to the WSheaf for a bit. Nell went to bingo. She asked Earle to come and do moped.
Not a very nice day. Drizzling all the time. Did Gay’s car. Moped packed up. Getting a new plug for it. Best down here about the ventilation. Miss Robb got engaged Wednesday.
A nice mild day again. Dot and Jane at home. Cleaned the lab bins out and a lot of rubbish from glass room. Moped missing bit. Have to get it seen to.
A nice mild day with some slight rain. Ron put a new door on the boiler room. Chopped old one up. Cleaned the incin. stump out. 600 galls of oil.
My Granddad is Keeping Busy 