Community

Resumption of local walks; a new dress for £6.99; paid with a joint;  “a concoction of my own”; Ship Canal shares from Gilbert; Crossbills at Woodfidley; “dear old brother”; sadness and sympathy; friends and frustrations, and an ambition fulfilled.

January 12th 1977: Gran always looks forward to new stamp issues but today’s are not her favourite:

New stamps were issued today, Racket Games, Tennis, Badminton, Squash and Table Tennis, but I think they are spoilt by the “stroke lines” on them, which look like scribble.  I sent the usual to Penang and Australia.

On the 13th, she tells us that, “In northern, eastern and western areas it has been the worst Winter’s day for fourteen years, with snow in some places ten feet deep”.  It is frosty in Chandler’s Ford but rain sets in later and Gran walks to Hillside for the whist drive there, “… going in Wellington boots and my old, long tweed raincoat which Jane gave me over twenty years ago, and taking warm slippers with me”. [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 153)

An engagement is announced; a holiday is planned; Nastase – a “rotten sport”; Katie does well; sad news of “a kind and understanding friend”; Christmas dinner – but leave the washing-up; Rob is impressed on HMS Victory; birds on the Ibsley floods, and “one of the darkest threads of life”.

Book 165

On October 23rd 1976 Gran takes part in an outing with the Southampton Natural History Society, looking for fungi in the Otterbourne area – her first such outing since her hip operation, and at the end of the day declares it to have been a great success and to have thoroughly enjoyed it.  She had been given a lift there by a kindly but unknown couple, who saw her waiting at the bus stop, and had been brought home by S.N.H.S. members Pat and Peter Heppleston.

On the 30th:

Barry, just back from the Scilly Isles, rang to tell me what a marvellous time he and the boys from Haberdashers’ Ornithological Society had enjoyed.  Barry had seen nine new species as well as many exciting but previously recorded ones, mostly American, but I cannot remember all he mentioned.

Heat and drought; no more sticks; the Schneider Trophy; back on the bike; a resignation; disapproval at a banquet; trying to save Beattie’s field; a new bird at Keyhaven; “Granny” Pickford is 90, and budgie match-making.

The 1976 drought continues and Gran writes on August 8th, “Oh for a few days of gentle rain!”.  Two days later she has a dental appointment and writes gratefully:

It was very hot indeed and the surgery was not yet open – it was ten minutes to two – so I went into the V.G. stores… I asked if I might wait in the cool shop and was kindly offered a stool to sit on by the cold counter.

And she adds that, “Trying to water the garden is a heart-breaking job in this driest Summer since 1727!” [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 151)

An operation; convalescence; a wedding, and home again.

The time for Gran’s left hip replacement is nearing, and during the week before it she receives countless expressions of good wishes from friends and neighbours, several of whom she barely knows but who have seen her going about the district on her crutches over the last few months.  On May 24th 1976, Gran’s husband, Bill, drives her to the Royal Masonic Hospital in London, her place there enabled through his activities in the Masonic movement.  “I clocked in”, she says:

… just before two o’clock this afternoon and was soon taken to my ward, a pleasant four-bed one on the third floor.  Happily my bed is by the window and, though I look out on other parts of the hospital, I can see a tree-lined road at the end and the sky telling me about the weather – with Swifts flying round.

X-rays, blood tests and various examinations follow, and then: [Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 150)

Misplaced credit; Vera gets wet; Sue loves the garden; Paddy Hine “fixes it”; an Oakley Easter; a heron at Radipole; Saints win the Cup; a green wedding invitation, and tennis at Bournemouth.

Gran, needing to find indoor things to do while still on crutches, writes on March 19th 1976:

I found out the lacquer-covered Japanese album of coloured and black and white prints which Daddy gave to Mother in 1897, and mended the damaged back and stuck in two loose prints.  I believe it would be quite valuable now and Enid wants to see it.

Ten days later her writing reminds us of a strange family anecdote about a family friend who, perhaps luckily in retrospect, avoids publicity about his role in giving the Loch Ness Monster, never officially seen by anybody, the scientific name, Nessiteras rhombopteryx.

A letter from Jane and a Mothers’ Day card from her and Stuart were very welcome.  Jane’s letter included an article and pictures of the Loch Ness Monster, written and photographed by Alan Wilkins, Stuart’s Best Man, who had seen the creature more than once.  It was he who supplied this information to Peter Scott and other scientists who took the credit and publicity, which was due to Alan.  It will be interesting to see if further proof of the existence of the monster is forthcoming.

[Read more…] about Forty Years in Chandler’s Ford – a Journal (Part 149)