And They Thought I Was a District Nurse!

Gosh! Almost overdid it this morning. Alarm went off ok but I just lay there – suddenly it was 6:25…same as yesterday, but 10 minutes later AND I had to put the rubbish out, but got the 6:52 train, it pulled in as I arrived… Good timing. Poor Meg would no doubt be horrified! She rang today to say she is having a day’s leave tomorrow – I had to keep her waiting for a few minutes as I was halfway through a message to the Bahamas on the telex. Quite a heavy work load today but took my lunch hour and sat in the kitchen and ate with Maxine. Has a salad for my lunch and had braised lamb shops for my tea/supper at Villiers Street. The place was full when I arrived at 7:30 and I had no choice but to sit with the little old Jew. He had his usual Goulash and I found it very irritating the way he chomped and sucked – he eats with his mouth open and makes such a noise. I think Ernie may have ate with his mouth open, but it is so long ago now I can’t really remember. I know he used to eat funny because of only having the four teeth in the front – top and bottom – don’t think he made such awful noises as the little Jew does, or if he did, it didn’t get on my nerves. I must be developing into a pernickety old maid! Must watch that – I’ve known a few in my time and I DEFINIETLY do NOT want to become like those I knew.

The little Jew told me he “has it on good authority” that Mrs Thatcher is to “resign” in a few months’ time, but I put it down to just wishful thinking on his part. Because he wouldn’t stop nattering I nearly missed the train and had to dash for it, but when I got into the station I found it had been cancelled anyway. As there is no Waiting Room at Charing Cross I sat on one of the benches to wait for the next one at 8:57, just afterwards I was joined by an old man who just sat and scratched – nearly every part of his anatomy seemed to have an itch and I was dying to have a good scratch myself but told myself it was `all in the mind’ so didn’t give in to the urge. Just then they announced the fast train was being stopped at additional Stations so I caught that. What a mix up – at Charing Cross they said it would stop at Blackheath, but at London Bridge they said it wouldn’t – there was nearly a punch up between one of the Passengers and the Guard, it delayed the train for ages and only when the Police were called did we set off for home, leaving the very irate Passenger at London Bridge – and the train DID stop at Blackheath after all, so all that fuss was for nothing.

I got home just in time to hear the last 5 minutes of `Among Your Souvenirs’ and there was a good Band on tonight too. The weather is still warm, but feels as if it might be about to break. Will have to wear my shoes tomorrow anyway – can’t really go to the AGM at St. Marks Hospital in my slippers. Meg thinks they have mistaken me for someone of more import, to be invited to the AGM. She could be right, especially after the mix up at Hackney Hospital when I was shown one of the Patents Notes, and later at Guys when, after being kept waiting for ages, they apologised and said they thought I was a District Nurse! In both instances I was wearing my bottle green gabardine Mac and I think this helped to cause the confusion. Still, I shall wait and see what transpires on the morrow!

When I first got in tonight and listening to the last 5 minutes of `Among Your Souvenirs’ as I was feeding the casts, I was singing along with the radio in the kitchen and, I thought, giving a fair rendering. However, the dog started to howl so she obviously didn’t think so. I told her that since the “Caller Herring” episode in my Singing Company days I need `encouraging’ NOT criticism, but she looked at me with big doleful eyes, begging me not to continue with such torture…so I just `hummed’ instead and she was able to tolerate that. The cats never seem t mind, but maybe, like me, they are tone deaf anyway! Am now playing my Band records – the Heathrow Airport one – it is now one of my oldest records, being purchased when the Band was playing in Finsbury Circus in 1976 and being signed by the Soloist (the sleeve autographed – not he record). It is still one of my favourites. They were a very good Band, one of the best, but went downhill after their original Conductor left. He was a tiptop bandsman and made the band. Never hear of them now.

Grace Russ - 19th May 1982