At Work

At work:  Ron Bradley and Mike Howell are in the front office, with their secretary, Sandra, and the Chairman, Richard.  In the back of the building we have Terry Rose, John Ellis, Robin Ebers and Mary Brooks – myself and Barry and another mad from Clydesdale called Cyril.  Things are very much as they were at Gillespies i.e. Mary is the ‘grumbler’ and most of the others are all right.  I like my work here and am quite happy.  Mostly I work on the computer now, but when Mary is on holiday of off sick I have to do her urgent work so spend more time on the typewriter and sending faxes and telexes etc., I would describe myself as an elderly girl Friday because I do bits and pieces of anything and everything, which makes the job very interesting of course.

My Financial Problems

Needless to say, I have had the usual financial problems.  Boy, it that an understatement.  I came a cropper with my rates this year – a demand for the full year for near £400 bowled me over and gave me a bank overdraft of £600, which meant I was inhibited to a great extent from settling other household bills as they fell due.  In the end, because it began to affect my physical state, Ron Bradley took me in hand and arranged for a company loan, which I am paying back at the rate of £60 a month over a period of 3 years.  It has helped me in that all my old bills were paid up to date and all future bills will be paid when due, but it has greatly restricted my ‘spending’ cash as you can imagine – this is where I really do miss Charlie’s £25 per week I used to get for the office cleaning.  One day…. Perhaps I may be able to get another cleaning job in the West End, but I shall have to get myself really fit before I take on anything like that.

Health Issues

I have got very run down this year, although I think it was mainly due to the fact that I am diabetic and my blood sugar has been so high – very unstable – Anyway, I have had several boils and two abscesses, the last one being on my side and this was one was cut out under local freezing on July 31st, since when I have been going back to Guys every other day, including weekends, to have the dressing changed.  Although this can be quite a bind, it is much more convenient than going to my own Doctor’s where I would have to take time off work every other day; by going to Guys I can go before I go to work i.e. catch the 7.20am train, be at Guys by 7.50 – go straight in have it changed and be back outside by 8.30 in time to get into the office by 9am [or 9.15 if I decide to stop to have a breakfast in a café first!]

Grace Russ - 15th August 1986