of thirty-three or four or five who looked so hale
and hearty. They thought I should get a job, not
go begging around the streets with a penny whistle.
Some of them told me so, too. One man went so far
as to knock me down in the gutter, saying he hadn’t
fought the war for beggars, or something like that.
So I showed him my disability, and then he — Oh,
filth, utter filth! Even in France in the first
War I never saw such filth. In front of everyone, too.
Filth. Though she looked as
though she enjoyed it.
Not me, no feels.
Listen to her!
No, doesn’t matter
~ ~ ~
Ivy Nicholls age 79 marital status widow sight 65 % hearing 55 % touch 65 % taste 80 % smell 70 % movement 75 % CQ count 10 pathology contractures; asthma; osteoporosis, mainly of limbs; inguinal hernia; bronchitis; osteo-arthritis; among others.
… we had then, good friends, who used to come and see us,
just drop in there and then, never mind what was happening,
once they nearly caught me and Ted on the job, oh, that was
comical! We had to shout to them Hang on! while
he got his trousers up, but I went out and talked to them
without my drawers on, I just didn’t put them on, and all
the while we were talking there was Ted sitting across from
me, knowing I had no drawers on, on tenterhooks as to whether
I should uncross my legs too boldly, but Len and Enid knew
what we’d been doing, I’m sure, though not that I’d left my
drawers off, and we all laughed and had a good time, oh, we
enjoyed ourselves in those days! The
cocktails we used to get through! Every week there’d
be a new recipe for a cocktail in my women’s book and we’d
try it, invite the friends round to try the new one, oh those
were good times, the friends made up for not being able to
have children, and soon I began to prefer them, all the
trouble that children can be, I saw, and at least the
friends didn’t have dirty nappies, though they were sick
in the bathroom sometimes, the friends, that was a mess to
clear up, wonder I’m not sick like that after food like
this, then she’d have another sort of mess to clear up
after me, then she’d have something to complain about, the
old bitch!
I’ve a good
mind to make complaints about her and this food she gives
us, to my friend on the Council, I still have friends –
all the treats of our Social Evening, indeed, just like
any night is what it’ll be, as usual, give me a good book
any time, I just want to read.
There she is
again! Hurrying us up, I’d leave some of this if I wasn’t
so hungry. Never mind, Ivy, Doctor’s coming
tomorrow, how I love him touching me! Let
me try to work out a way so he has to touch me a lot when
he comes.
Difficult.
I’ll think of something, come the morning.
Last scrapings, horrible plates, not like the good china I used to keep for best, not even like the everyday stuff, either.
There, finished.
I’m finished, clear up, must help Sarah to clear away and
then I — oooh, my arm, the creaking, it gets set one way
and is so painful to move any distance at all after that,
aaaah picking up these plates
She’s left more than usual.
All right, Sarah, don’t wet your
knickers!
As soon as I’ve cleared up I’ll get my book out and have
a good read, I do enjoy a good read, we are allowed books
here. If that Sarah will let me read, that is, chatter,
she does chatter, all emptiness, on and on. Not like my
old friends, all of them, dead now, as soon as we’ve cleared
I can get down to a — Now she’s dropped it! Now she’ll
be in trouble, I’m glad. That’s it, give it to
her, silly old thing thinks she can move, ha ha ha ha ha!
the idea!
That dog. She’s dotty over that dog.
Right, last things, clear
up, let’s get started on the washing up, three volunteers
are better than an army of pressed tongue, as they used to
say, off we go, how’s your father.
spoon, spoon,
fork fork spoon,
knife, fork,
knife here’s a sticky one, who’s been
doing what with this one? The joys of
life, music while you work, used to listen regularly,
funny how radio’s just died out, really, no one listens
like they used to, so quick, too. Used to sing,
too. when we had friends round, to the piano, Ted could
vamp a little, we used to enjoy strong
Throughout old age, however long:
If only we can cheerful stay
And di-dum welcome every day.
Not what we’ve been, not what we’ve done,
What matters most is that we’re errrr
The joys of life continue strong
Throughout old age, however long.
The most important thing to do
Is stay alive and see it through
No matter if the future’s dim
For dum di dum, di dum di dim
Oh, di di di, di di di deer
OH, lucky us, that we are near!
The most important thing to do
Is stay di dum and see it through!
She didn’t notice, did she? No sign!
Ah, a good sing-song does
you no harm, no harm at all.
Yes, yes. Ivy this, Ivy that,
why do I do her running around for her? Get the
fancy goods boxes. Over in the cupboard. Right.
This glue is nasty. Paste rather than
glue. Attracts the mice, I shouldn’t wonder.
And the rats!
Easy for her. Not so easy for
some of us. Though I can do it all right. I can
do more cracker cases in ten minutes than some of
these can do in a whole evening. Not that I’m
proud of it. Won’t be able to read
now until after we’ve finished work. What a pity.
I do enjoy a good book.
Yes. I’ll give out the work,
carry round the boxes. What were
you doing yesterday, Mrs Ridge?
Yes, this must be yours then.
What about you, Ron?
Here you are. I can’t help it
if you don’t want to work, Mrs Ridge! Tell her,
not me. She’s the one who makes you, not me.
And you! The cheek of it!
I don’t have to do this, you know!
Here.
Wake up, dear.
Yes, I knew it, there are mice dirts in the bottom