Wednesday 1st January, 1964
Another year begins today. Please God it will be a good one. Cleaned jets and changed pumps. A nice, mild day so far. A lot to burn again, Oyster Catcher in the pm lab.

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.

Wednesday 1st January, 1964
Another year begins today. Please God it will be a good one. Cleaned jets and changed pumps. A nice, mild day so far. A lot to burn again, Oyster Catcher in the pm lab.

Another mild day with a few light showers. Washed Bond’s car. Did all the toilets out. Lot of fowl from Hanns Hall to burn. Last day of the old year.
Total number of cars washed in 1963 – 234.

A mild day with a strong South wind blowing. Lot of cloud. Car washing. T.Mc.K.A. making 233 to date. Did all the Ts. One in lab been decorated.
Got up at 10.30 a.m. Nice and mild. Ron came for us at 11.30. Had a nice day with him, Dot and Jane. Jane very funny. Came back on the bus 7.30.
Day off today. Slight frost last night. Mild in the day. Got up about 9.30. Played with little Jane all morning. Never went to P’s. Had afternoon at home.
Xmas over again and work again today. Frost again last night but mild through the day. Ron came for me at noon with Dot and Jane. Only one car H. making 229 to date.
Came home about 11 a.m. Dot, Ron and Jane came. Jane walking with the aid of her brick box. Came to see if the boilers were ok. Went for a drink with Ron at night.
Went to the Port last night. Bitterly cold wind blowing. Next door froze up. Had a nice, quiet Xmas day. Never went out. Much warmer than last night. Got a cold.
Another bitterly cold day with East winds. 11º of frost last night. Went to Shrew last night. Not many there. Finishing at noon for Xmas. Loaded trailer with rubbish.
A very heavy frost last night. Freezing all day. Did some more white washing down the boiler room. Did all the toilets and cleaned both jets.