I was busy playing my double bass on the first day of the month. The third was a Monday, and I woke up feeling very ill. I stayed in bed while Tiggy did the breakfast; I couldn't face any. She took the dogs out without me. She had a nine mile hike to organise for her Girl Guides, and this took her most of the morning. I stayed in bed. Eventually I got up and went to see doctor Evans at the Magdalen street practice. When we saw him he said it was either a stomach ulcer or an infection; he gave me a prescription for some medicine. This we bought from the chemist, and on taking it I was immediately sick. At 29 Surrey Street there was a payment from British Railways. Tiggy went off in her car to Bullockshed Lane, to see if any straggling Guides needed a lift (the didn't).
I went to bed early and by midnight I felt even worse. I phoned up Dr Beveridge; imagine speaking to a doctor that late today! He only suggested drinking milk however. The next day I still felt ill; all my friends were very concerned about me - even Alfred Dennis. (He was the ex-shoe factory worker who organised one of the orchestras I played in.) On Wednesday I felt much better.
On Friday the 7th of August I went up to London, intending to meet my nephew Tim. He was flying over from Calgary. He was only 14, though nearly 15 years old. I went to Victoria station to meet up with Tim; while I was there I met my erstwhile friend Giles Large (now a journalist), who was on his way to the lift. There he was to attend a meeting to report on BA's record loss. Unfortunately, and unbeknownst to me, the arrivals centre at Cromwell Road had very recently been closed, and so I was unable to meet Tim there. He was able to make his way to Liverpool Street station, where he was helped onto the just-leaving train by a helpful porter. Tim tipped him with a ten pound note - more than the cost of the ticket. We eventually all met up at home.
The next day we went to CULFORD with Tim, who was to spend the next week with his Anderson cousins. Christopher, the eldest, was not there, and Jonathan was in BURY ST EDMUNDS doing a washing-up job. William and Rachel were present however. With their father David the three of us walked to the Greyhound, where I had a couple of pints of Abbot Ale. We walked back for lunch of Lasagne and salad. In Bury St Edmund's I went to the Promenade music shop, where I bought a violin chin rest for £1.95. Tig and I drove home and bought a fish and chips for supper on the way.
At 12.30 on Saturday the 15th we drove to Snettisham, having lunch on the way. There we met David, who had brought Jonathan and his friend Mick with Tim. We all had a cup of tea and then David left in his Mini. Tig and I went in the sea with Uncle Eric and Auntie Jean, but Tim stayed on dry land. We later had drinks with Uncle Eric. We left in the early evening and I drove home with Tim. He tried to phone cousin Jane but only got an engaged tone.
On Sunday Tim did get through to Jane, and we arranged to visit her in the afternoon. He also tried to phone John Montague. Tim is going to see him when he gets to London on the 4.15 train on Tuesday. I lit the barbecue and we had beefburgers for lunch. I drove us to Harleston for tea; Tim got on well with Jane's two children. Later Jane and Doug gave us a tour of the town; they are both very keen on local history. Then we went home. While Tig was cooking the rabbit pie for supper I got the hosepipe out and filled up the water butt.
On Monday we had a phone call from David; he had found an anorak and some shoes and wondered if Tim had left them behind, but he said he hadn't. In Norwich he was busy going round the shops and buying last minute presents to take back to Canada. He git a copy of The Hobbit for himself. I took him round Strangers Hall, which he appeared to find interesting. On Tuesday the 18th Tim left for home; he went round to see Mrs Matthews before leaving for Norwich, where Aunt Olive called in to say goodbye. He caught the 4.15 train to London.
On the 22nd Tig saw a stoat just about 400 yards from home, by Spruce's farm. For breakfast we had sausages, then I played my double bass. We were paid with a cheque from the GPO for their order. In the afternoon we drove to Southwold. We took the dogs across the common, then we looked round the shops where we bought a bottle of maple syrup and some Kiwi fruit. We went to Blackshore where it was high tide. Then we came home.
On the 26th I got a phone call from my school friend Peter Fargus; I arranged to go to BARNHAM BROOM to see him on the 27th. I had a couple of whiskies with him and his girlfriend Denise Arecho. When they were married I knew her better as Dee. Her surname is Italian, but she comes from Scarborough. Peter's cousin and her husband were also present; they live in Postwick. On the 28th Tig and I drove to Yorkshire to spend the Bank Holiday with Bill.
JOSEPH MASON joemasonspage@gmail.com
THE BLOG FOR MEMORIES OF EAST ANGLIAN LIFE
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