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.
On again today. Got done about 10 a.m. A lovely warm day again. Went to P in the p.m. Did the mowing and some weeding. Ron took Girl, Joy and the kiddies* to Chester.
(Assume this is Granddad’s sister, Jane, but known as Girlie or Girl, her daugher Joy, and Joy’s children, my second cousins.)
Dull at first but bright later. Car washing H.A.K. making 115 to date. Did all the Ts and swept up round the bins and steps. Dot, Ron and babs home today.
Rain all night and for most of the day. It will do a lot of good. Went to Tom Jellicoe’s for a load of firewood and cut it up. Did the Ts. Men starting on the car park.
Another lovely day, warm and sunny but started to rain just after five with some thunder. Cleaning borders by the entrance. Did all the toilets and started on the 2nd rhody border.
Another lovely, hot, sunny day. Scything grass in between the poultry houses. Loaded a lot of rubbish on the trailer. Did all the toilets. One of the directors round today.
Another lovely, lovely warm, sunny day. Car washing again. S.B. Got tar off Bond’s and then polished it. 112. Only time for two toilets. Cleared some stuff out of Mr Davies’s R.
Got up at 9 a.m. Another very hot day. Ron, Dot and baby came. Went to see Frank and Dora but they were out. Girl called while we were away. Wire broke off pylon. No electricity.
Day on today. another very hot day. Screws bad. Dot at home with the baby. Ron gone to Manchester races. Went to P in the afternoon. Did mowing and hoed the drive. Very hot indeed.
Another very warm day with sunshine. A heavy thunder storm in the p.m. Lightening struck top of the mill. Car washing. H.A. making 110 to date. Did all the toilets.
(The mill is in Willaston. It was built in 1800, and my Granddad was born in a cottage in its shadow.)
Another lovely day with plenty of sunshine, Ladies’ Club Day. Dot, Ron and babs to Ness today. Got a hell of a cold on me. Hoed under the rhodies. Did toilets. Got post for Ron.
(Neston Female Friendly Society was established in January 1814 and continues to this day as the Neston Female Society, although it is known locally as Ladies Club. The annual walk, is held on the first Thursday in June. My sister and I used to go every year, wearing our best dresses. I think there was a fair too.)
My Granddad is Keeping Busy 