Got up about 9.30. A very cold wind again. Did some digging. Not much. Too cold. Frank and Dora came to see us. Also Dot and Ron. Big fight. Pender won on points.
(Paul Pender, American middle weight boxer)
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.

Got up about 9.30. A very cold wind again. Did some digging. Not much. Too cold. Frank and Dora came to see us. Also Dot and Ron. Big fight. Pender won on points.
(Paul Pender, American middle weight boxer)
Day off. Cold and wet. Not fit for any garden work. Nell went for new coat. Gave her £10. Went to P in the afternoon. Did the mowing. First time. Boat race, Cambridge won.
Another day of bitterly cold winds with hail at times. Car washing again. H.K.D.B. making 82 to date. Girlie rang me up in the afternoon. No sign of my poor little cat so must give up hope of seeing her again.
A strong bitterly cold N.W. wind blowing and rain most of the morning. Painted both the vet lab bins again. Cleaned both the jets. Also the complete inner assembly unit.
A cold wind today with heavy rain at times. Burnt some rubbish up at old battery. Raked sticks off the lawn for Len to mow. John and I took wood home for the fence.
A much milder day today with plenty of sunshine. Only one burner on. Washed and polished B. car. Broke up two big crates from out of the garage. Crows building on drive.
Wind still cold and rain all day. Too wet for cars. Cleaned both jets. Helped Gordon catch 50 birds for shack. 600 galls of oil came. X. Paid 3/9 3 weeks canteen.
(“50 birds for shack” – no idea)
Got up at 10 a.m. Strong bitterly cold wind blowing. Showers, sleet at times. Nell went to Dot’s. I had a very nice afternoon by the fire watching tele. Met Nell off 10.30 bus.
Saturday on. Still very cold. Got done at 10. Grand National. No luck. Went to P. Put the dahlias out and forked borders. Cat still missing. Went to Sheaf at night.
New leather. Another day of cold winds but sunny. Put some early spuds in last night. Saw first daffodil out in the wood. Car cleaning A.S.D. making 78 to date. Daffodil one month later than last year.