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.
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.)
Another lovely day again. Sunny and hot. Did some scything up the drive. First day of the Cheshire Show. Had to get through windows this morning. Did all the toilets. Not much to report.
Another lovely day. Very warm and not so much wind. Car washing. B.Mc.K. making 108 to date. Did all the toilets. Swept round bins. A lot of stuff to burn. Ron is on holiday this week.
Still lovely weather. Cut my garden hedge. Dot, Ron and Jane came. We went to Delamere Forest. Quite nice. The Pope died*. I’ve got a bit of a chill on my tummy.
*Pope John XXIII
Another lovely day. Wind still cool. Got up 9 a.m. Did the mowing and some weeding. Dot, Ron and Jane came. Jane grows lovelier. Got some plants off Ted Gray.
Day off today. A lovely sunny day but wind rather cold. Cleaned the rose beds. Went to P in the afternoon. Did some hoeing drive and new rose beds. Mrs P still away.
A lovely warm sunny day all day. Only washed one car. H. making 105 to date. Did all the toilets. Brushed down boiler room and round the bins. Ted Evans not been in since Monday.
Not so nice today. Cooler with some rain. Little sunshine. Finished cleaning the boilers. Emptied the box of paper. Did all the toilets. Hoovered down the boiler room. No luck on the Derby yesterday.
Another lovely day with lots of sunshine. Still working on the boilers, cleaning down for summer. Loaded the trailer up with rubbish. Refused to do a burner at Lydiate. Derby day.
(Won by Relko)
My Granddad is Keeping Busy 