My Life in 1985

As told by Florence Eveline Jenner (1901-1994):

I go behind Mary (Home Help) after she's done the washing up - She's terrible for washing up - She just chucks the things into the water, and when you pick something up, like a fork, it's still got good stuck to it. So once a week I put strident of Parozone in the cups and mugs, and then put them in soak in boiling water. She doesn't brush under the sofa either, so once in a while I clean that by using my specially adapted dustpan and brush, with long handles. Although she's a terror for doing the washing up, she is good to me, and would do anything for me - When I have a bath she washed my back for me. Mary says, "You always get plenty of visitors -well it's better to have company". Blanch always comes on Fridays and shares fish & chips with me, and when the doctor comes he always grins because there's always four or five here. Well I would be a lonely old duck if I didn't get the company!

Since I've had the operation on my throat my voice has become deeper. It's handy on the phone though -As sometimes they think you're a man. In fact I purposely make my voice lower than normal when answering the phone (as an old lady living on her own she feels more secure by pretending she is a man when someone phones). On one occasion someone phoned, and he seemed a bit funny (fishy) -I thought, I don't like the sound of you mate. After a while I said, "You have the wrong number", but he kept on, and on, so I shouted out "Oh Ted, you better come and see to this, it's beyond me" -the phone went down `flop', sharpish like. On another occasion I accidentally pressed the wrong button, and got the police - I was in bed at the time - I couldn't get rid of them -I kept saying I'd press the wrong button but they wouldn't go. So in the end I just had to put the phone down on them. I think it's lovely when I'm in bed and the phone rings, I feel real posh like -like a Duchess - And its got such a lovely trill - much better than the ring on the ordinary phone. If any body comes to the door now I always take my hand held `burglar alarm' with me. If there's any trouble all I have to do is press the button - You can get done now for throwing pepper in their faces.

I can get out and about now, for the first time since last summer, now I've got my wheelchair. I had it new from Social Security, and I had an air cushion with it - Eadie's (her sister) was only 2nd hand, and she hasn't got an air cushion wither. I almost came out of it the other day, because the chap pushing it didn't know how to take it down kerbs. And I had to hang on for dear life. Norman (Eadie's husband) knows how to use it of course, because he has to push Eadie around in hers all the time now.

I'm much stronger on my feet now than I was last year, but I still can't get my balance yet - But I get around pretty well. When the doctors here I have to use the walking frame, but as soon as he's gone I use my walking stick.