Me & the Corona virus in Salisbury

Lots of things to write, just only found the time. About five years ago a lady came to give a talk at Serum Academy, her name was Ann Widdecombe.  I have seen her on the TV lots of times, and she was on Strictly.  I used to go to Sarum Academy when it was still known as Westwood.  I got bullied a lot there, then I went onto Rowdeford boarding school.  I did speak to her, but she's not the sort of women I could work with, she's she's very vocal and terrifying.  I was with the Human Henge group at the time, a lot of the building has changed since I was last there. Now its in the news that she got killed by someone who broke into her house.  Apparently she was whopped on the head several times, I didn't agree with a lot of her view's but she didn't deserve to be murdered.  They arrested one guy from Yorkshire but let him go, they have another man; I hope they have the right guy.   Ann Widdecombe murder probe: What we know so far There were some ...

Still grey and miserable, wouldn't believe we had a heatwave a week ago; yes a heatwave. Started 2 weeks ago, I was coming out of Merry memories at Pinewood community centre, and it was glorious. I also went to the Dean land Living museum with GDO. It's where they film The Repair shop, it was a very hot day and got up to 32D in some parts of the UK 🇬🇧  There's lots of reconstructed houses, like the Tudor farmhouse, victorian cottage. Took loads of photos. Went on the Sheidhall ship with AnnMaria. Took a train to Southampton docks, It was very warm. It's an old steam ship ran by volunteers, I didn't like the horn going off. We passed the Vertuosa cruise ship who sounded her horn. When we got back to Salisbury,  there was a steam train on platform 4. The drivers face was covered in soot, and was as black as the ace of spades.  Train drivers dont know how lucky they are today,  working in temperatures over 100d must be horrendous. It went off in the direction of Lond...

Im sat in Charlie's writing about something I  should have done  a week ago.   On April 1st, Nasa launched Artimis 2 wirh humans on to look at the moon. Artimis 1 was a test launch to make sure nothing went wrong. A couple of things went wrong on Artimis 2 which were quickly fixed, including the toilets and aomthing which was leaking. Me and mum watched a program on it and it was amazing!  Today these people made history by doing a slingshot round the moon, and watching an earth's eclipse.  Seams like they've gone back to late 60s style take off. They didn't use a shuttle, they used a rocket.  Apparently they say they want the minerals off the moon, as ours is running out. I hope they don't start drilling as it could affect climate change, a high is buggered already. They still fot this needy idea about human contact with Mars. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260417-apollo-v-artemis-how-the-earth-changed-in-58-years Aunt Joan came to stay. She's w...

I'm off to Oxford tomorrow,  being picked up at Brown Street carpark. But first here's somthing i wrote for mum. It's called one day. I keep thinking about it… not now— but one day. One day you’ll just be a picture in a frame, smiling the same smile, never growing older… while everything else does. One day you’ll be a memory that lives only in my head, and nowhere else. And I’m scared— I’m really scared— that one day I’ll forget the sound of your voice. Like… how do you hold onto something like that? How do you keep a voice from fading? One day I’ll walk into a room and it’ll be too quiet. One day I’ll be on my own in a way I’ve never been before. One day I’ll catch myself looking at your chair— and it’ll just be… a chair. And that thought— that moment— it terrifies me. Because one day… you won’t be here. But today— today you are. You’re still here, still talking, still laughing, still filling the room like you always do. So maybe today… I listen a little more. I stay a lit...

There was a dog show in the market square today. I didn't think it was going to go a head because the weather was overcast with a damp feel in the air. We left Clifton Road in 1980. I remember dad went back one evening to get the last of our stuff.  There was a lot of memories lingering behind. First house my parents moved into after they were married in 68. Gran used to visit, but she stopped after a while and we ended up visiting her. Right up until she died one afternoon. The last time me and mum saw her, was at the hospital fate in Victoria Park.  Everyone wanted to see Lady Chichesters camels, I think there was a baby camel. Gran moved to Hudson road in the 1970s. Grandad didn't want to move and wouldn't help; they had to move because the houses were condemned. He was born in that house in 1899, his parents lived in 71 Windsor Street. Great aunt Kitt used to visit me and mum, then she died of a brain tumour. There are so memories at Clifton Road. I remember i got fasci...

Went to the stitching and sewing show with GDO last Thursday. It was gloriously sunny, about 16d. There was an accident on the M3 involving a spillage from a tanker. We went via Islington,  past The Royal British library, the black gate has carvings all over it. Also passed The Royal school of music, Madam Tassauds and Regents park; I saw post office tower which is a listed building from the 1960s. The top is a cafe or resturant which slowly rotates. Took 30m to get through Shepherds Bush, then past King's Cross underground. Stopped at the London business centre of textiles where the show was. An Angela Tours bus was in, they are based in Southampton.  I dont think I will go again,  its mainly for stitches and fabric makers. I found one yarn stall, lots of sewing machines. The bathrooms are wierd, including the hand dryers which are built into the sinks. The flush is operated by waving a hand in front the screen on the wall, the red light turns green. I suppose us country...

There was a fog over Bemerton Heath this morning. Went and saw Saving Mr Banks at Everyman yesterday. Went to Ottery St Mary garden centre with mum and GDO, it was sunny and sheep and lambs were out in the fields. Went to Sidmouth afterwards, what a change in weather. It was misty and windy. We found a craft shop, I also showed mum the Fort cafe I went into when I stayed at Exmouth. I always feel like I've come home when im in Devon. Me and mum are going to Cornwall in June, need to sort things out.

 I was talking to dad once about some of my reletives I knew years ago.people like my grandparents,  great aunt Kitt , uncle Mike , Elizabeth , Pat from the RDA . Dad said their all gone which made me sad, now dad's gone himself im frightened of the future.  Mums not getting younger, one day im going to be spending Christmas on my own. All my family will be gone, apart from Karl and Alan . I still want to retire to Teignmouth or Dawlish one day in the future.  Man came to my fuse today, my bathroom door needs fixing as the floors now higher its sticking. I read in dad's journal how he got excited when they got their first colour tv 📺  You have to understand that most TVs were black & white, you only saw colour in guest houses and hotels. We get excited over digital TV, until another fancy gadget comes along.

Today marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. A service was held at the Guildhall Hall,  which i went to. Would have got there earlier if the first bus hadn't been cancelled! Supposed to be there by 9.30, but Reds took the 9.00 bus off: gurr! Rained heavily, just made it in time, like sardines the bus. The hall was dimly lite with purple lights, had  readings etc.  Went with Annmaria to Costa then onto the Odeon to watch a film called desperate journey. I was desperate  for the loo!  Keep Pissing every 30 to 60 minutes, hope these antibiotics will help. Sometimes its a trickle, other times its like a tidle wave 👋 (not that sort of wave) Oh well, I better go to bed, before my bladder wakes me up again 🚽🧻

Aunt Joans new car came on Monday, me and mum walked into town afterwards. I remember me and mum and dad after dinner used to walk into town. We would go up Roman Road, through the cemetery and down Devizes road.  It seams such a long time ago now. Keeps raining, hate getting wet. Washington is under 10ft of snow according to the news, still rough in Devon. I put in my will I want my ashes spread along Teignmouth seafront near the sunken garden area by the pier. Or should I say where the pier 'used' to be.

I watched storm Geni thrash Dawlish and Teignmouth last night on the webcam. It was nightime, but I could see the huge waves.  The water came right underneath the bridge, only one wall separating a person walking along the pavement from the ocean! It was on Facebook and Five news, thets now a gap on Teignmouth Pier. It's a privately owned victorian Pier built in 1865. Owners should be ashamed, I take it 4-5 years before its gone. I've so many happy memories as a kid on the pier. It's heyday was in the 1960s, a totally different world then. Used to have the ladybird ride, and toy speed boats. You would never believe there was once a ballroom at the end. Me and dad used to walk over to see the boats, i'm so sad; I miss him so much. Got an upsetting message on WhatsApp Thursday. I used to be part of Creative carers which met first Monday at Salisbury Methodist church. Not anymore. Linda has thrown me out because she says several people won't come if they know im going ...

I went to Ringwood with mum yesterday. It's not a big town but thers a few charity shops and a fabric habdashery shop there.  I was very surprised to see a butchers which still hangs meat in the window, and a fishmonger; none of which exist in Salisbury now. The smell of cut meat is unmistakable.  We found a lovely cafe called Luna, its important that me and mum spend time together. Went onto Boscomb afterwards, their market has almost vanished. Used to be many stalls, only one or two remain now. Everything's going online, I like to feel what I buy. Lots of rubbish by where AnnMaria lives, seems nothing is being done about it. Two mattresseses just thrown on the grass,  a lot is left over from Christmas.  News: Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland, the natives ain't happy about it; will he invade instead?

Here i am again writing, haven't wrote since last year. So much has happened, so I'll start with September. I used to see a guy called Fred on the bus occasionally. Mum knew him at school, he was in the younger class. He had bad curvature of the spine, and spoke with a raspy voice. Won't be seeing him anymore, got ran over by 2 lorries after leaving the betting shop in Fisherton Street one morning. I was on the R1 and we had to get off by the city hall and go via the Playhouse to get into town. I remember it eas raining or drizzling at the time. Fred used to get off the bus at bottom of Devizes road , some said was a bit rude to people. I went to Comicon at the city hall with Catherine, dressed as a Starfleet medical officer. Met Colin Baker from Dr Who who probably thinks im a right wierdo.  My own fault, I interrupted 2 blokes, due to my autism I fail to notice im doing this. Had fun and games at Christmas. I went to Poole day before aunt Joan drove us to Rugby . ...

On Bemerton Heath on Gainsborough Close, we have the most amazing community garden. Robin who began Rise 61 started it, I got into gardening during lockdown. I'm planning to do Lavandar bags to sell at the bash in September for 50p. I have been waiting for them to dry out, I just need to add drops. We went to Bowood today, what an amazing place. It's where oxygen was first discovered by Joseph Priestley in 1774.  The room (once a laboratory) is still there, now looks a bit different. The grounds and lake are lovely,  but the rain spoilt it a bit. Been lovely weather until today, hope it's better tomorrow. Dad's anniversary of his death is on Thursday, it will be hard for me and mum ; I miss him so much.

I looked at my dad's journal today. He started it in 1968 when he married mum, he describes a lost world of places that no longer exists. In it he's written an inventory of things he bought from Teignmouth and Rugby. I will make a separate blog of it so it's not lost, I will describe what each item is and what it did. I was sad when he described the loss of Jinky our dog, I know Jinky meant a lot to him; they are both together in Heaven now.  I noticed  how excited dad got when he and mum got their first colour tv. You have to remember that a lot of homes in those days had black and white tv's, colour only existed in hotels and guest houses. I know dad got upset when his bike was stolen, mine was pinched too from the shed at Sanctuary. Have a solar motion light over the door now. I got my work cut out now trying to save all this, and I will.

Being a carer means I don't have a lot of time to sit down and write things that's been happening.  My boy came to stay with aunt Joan, I was a bit anxious about it but I did want to see him again.  All this time I've been told I'm not allowed to have anything to do with him, then suddenly it all changes.  I'm so proud of him and things he's done, but they don't tell me everything. He had to spend the first night at my house as his job coach spoke to him on the computer the following morning, it was sweltering in my flat I couldn't get his laptop connected to my PC so he used my PC.  Set up the camp bed for him, it sits in my airing cupboard taking up all the room. I'm cross with David at the moment because he chucked Karl out on Wednesday, Liz would never allowed this to happen.  Apparently Karl had a dream that he stabbed David and David took it too heart, I have since looked up the dreaming which means to cut ties with someone.  Instead of contact...

I feel a huge responsibility on my shoulders  Me and mum leave on Saturday for Newquay, and I'm looking g after mum. I have arranged everything,  so I hope it runs smoothly Had a talk about The Young gallary at the history talk in library upstairs. I wanted to go to Chaplins in Boscomb on Friday, but mum got upset. I'm a bit fed up, I'm her carer now dad's gone, but it's becoming too much. At my age (51) I feel i should go places without having to report to anyone! I spend weekends up there but she wants me to go up every bloody night. I love mum but I'm starting to get burnout, it's left soly up to me to deal with everything. Mums getting worried about the gardener, but I'll sort it out. I done some weeding in the community garden. Thankfully we were in the shade, somone was on their front lawn sunbathing.  On the news it appears there's faults with Air India planes. Most people are scared to fly at the moment.

What fate is worse then death itself? Watching someone whom you love very much, dying in front of you. I Found out last week That my friend Brian who used to live at Devisees Road in Salisbury, died just before Christmas.   I found a note pushed through my door last Saturday written by Carol Telling me that sadly Brian had passed away. I was a bit confused at 1st, as I thought she meant my ex boyfriend. Then it dawned on me, that it was my friend Brian. I inherited his beloved photo album, which has photographs that he took of me and Penny. A lot of memories came back as I flitted through the pages, but then sounded sadness. I'm glad I knew him for the length of time that I did, because he did teach me a lot of things. I 1st met Brian when I went to Catherine's Spencer's housewarming party in Trinity Street. At the time he owned a green Ford Range Rover, At the time of his death he owned a blue Toyota which he had driven all the way from Plymouth on purchasing it.. I think ...

Apparently there is a deadly heatwave in Europe, in Salisbury it's apparently boiling which I'm not looking forward to coming back too.  There are some lovely gardens in Cornwall, a lovely place to sit you get that villagy feel with the sea views thrown in. I hate being in Salisbury, it's not so easy to get out for the day not without Annmaria getting stroppy because I've gone elsewhere on my own without her.  I used to have a life before she came along. Went to Falmouth for the last time this year, went to their lounge for lunch and  sat near a window overlooking the street, I'm going to miss the call of seagulls; occasionally I may here it in Salisbury but it won't be the same.  

Boiling hot again today, I've got a usb fan from Amazon. Haven't told mum as she'd complain about it. Im really missing Teignmouth at the mo, it's dreary in Salisbury. I went to Weymouth yesterday,  it was buzzing better then Bournemouth. Wish I could of stayed longer but I had to get back. There was an Indian event going on today in the market square. Loved to stay longer as the music was really good, but mum said it was hurting her ears so I got rushed off to the bus. People think I'm going to live in Salisbury forever. I don't think so! I know where I want to live out my twilight years, it's not Salisbury or Wiltshire. I've always liked the Devon coast,  and the way things are between me and AnnMaria I'm tempted to go now if it weren't for mum. I miss the sound of the gulls, the smell of wet sand and seaweed.