SCOTS Project - www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk Document : 1468 Title : Diaries of William Young: 1964 Author(s): William Young Copyright holder(s): Mary J Price Content label: This document contains language which some may find offensive Text JANUARY 1 WEDNESDAY Quiet New Year Mum ill with us. 2 THURSDAY Ma worse. Weather mild. 3 FRIDAY Ma Hep dies 2. a.m. R.I.P. 4 SATURDAY Working around house 5 SUNDAY To 10. Mass. 6 MONDAY Funeral Crem. Large crowd. May she Rest in peace On to Birkenhead after funeral. Boys meet me at station. 7 TUESDAY Start on section in Cammel Lairds. Frank thinks of everything 8 WEDNESDAY Not much doing. 11 SATURDAY To Liverpool V. Chelsea. Great game. 12 SUNDAY To [illegible] church in N. Brighton Quiet day. 13 MONDAY To work More to do. 14 TUESDAY Stay in watching T.V. & studying 18 SATURDAY See some houses Rock Ferry & New Ferry Poor places. Seems will have to pay more to get what we want 19 SUNDAY See 2 good houses Dalton Rd. (17.50) ** Grosvenor Dr. (24.50) ** 20 MONDAY To Barrow. Nice run. Get into work afternoon. Nice place. 21 TUESDAY Change cheque Send M.O. to Cath & [?]washing[/?]. Digs fine if a little crowded. 22 WEDNESDAY Getting lined up for run home. 23 THURSDAY Everything goes to plan. Leave Barrow 4.30. Catch north train Lancaster 6. pm on board. Meet Cath Kdy 11.3. 24 FRIDAY Nice to be home again. Break up furniture. A.M. Siesta P.M. Phems afterwards Scouts evening O.K. 25 SATURDAY Moving new furniture Breaking up old. Confession evening. A FINE DAY 26 SUNDAY To 12. Mass. Breaking furniture A.M. To Joe's P.M. He has got a T.V.! Poor soul he hadn't adjusted it properly. Did so & he is grateful. 27 MONDAY Back to Birkenhead have nice journey including sleep. Report. P.M. 28 TUESDAY Plenty of work Hit SNAG. 29 WEDNESDAY SNAG solved Work proceeds 30 THURSDAY Quiet day. 31 FRIDAY Work A.M. Busy. Cheque arrives (Deo Gratias!) Send M.O. to Cath £50. FEBRUARY 1 SATURDAY To Sandon Rd. Not bad but near sea. 2 SUNDAY To 11.am. Mass. To Chester p.m. Good run. 3 MONDAY See house (Thirlmere Drive) get viewing permit 4 TUESDAY View house above but it is taken - pity it was a good house & in good order. 5 WEDNESDAY Busy today in house evening. 6 THURSDAY Prepare for home leave & get off at 3.30. pm good run I am home at 11.p.m. 7 FRIDAY Break stick AM. Clean Box Room PM. Siesta P.M. * Scouts evening. - Alan & Derick complete Queens Scout. 8 SATURDAY More wood breaking A.M. To Joe's pm with Cath & Dog. Caroline makes rock cakes, they are good! 9 SUNDAY To 10. Mass. Walk Dog after. PM to Jim & Jo's Good time. 10 MONDAY Travel back with Yank for company Train late by 50 mins. 11 TUESDAY Plenty of work Pancakes for tea. 12 WEDNESDAY Up to Church evening. Very posh. Usual inarticulate congregration. 13 THURSDAY Plenty to do. Study in between. Worried about cash (or lack of it!) 14 FRIDAY STILL no cash. Now I am in a pickle! 17 MONDAY Get £7 from Cath. 22 SATURDAY See fine house with central heating at Bedford Rd. Hope we have a chance of it. To Confession evening. 23 SUNDAY To Commun. 9. Mass. Get wet house hunting afternoon. Call again at Bedford Road. 24 MONDAY Cath 'phones she is definitely coming weekend. Send off Birthday Card & flowers. also £28. 25 TUESDAY Apply for Cath's warrant. Working on Exam questions. Can concentrate better this time 26 WEDNESDAY Get warrant & post same. 28 FRIDAY Cath down. We start the search. 29 SATURDAY Still searching. Found house Devonshire Park MARCH 1 SUNDAY Again searching 2 MONDAY Fix house Devonshire Park 18 Hawthorne Rd. Apply for loan to Northwich. 5 THURSDAY Home evening. 6 FRIDAY To lawyers. approve sale. 7 SATURDAY Working around house 8 SUNDAY To 10 Mass & Comm. To Joes. 9 MONDAY Back to Birk. 19 THURSDAY Go to Church but no Mass. Apparently this is not a H. of obligation here! 21 SATURDAY To Grand National at Aintree a good day although I backed losers all the way. A great sight but a long wait. 22 SUNDAY With Frank & his wife house-hunting. See a bit more of the Wirral. 23 MONDAY Do a bit more studying. Still no word of Loan. 24 TUESDAY Norman arrives wife & daughters. We go out to help unload but they don't turn up. Tuesday turn up early. 26 THURSDAY Up home. Travel in guards van. Crowded. Home at 8 from 12.35. 27 FRIDAY To 3 Service. Good. Weather - cold. I cut my finger nail goes in. 28 SATURDAY Still cold. We have a spending spree. Good to have money for a change. Go to hospital & get 2 jags anti-tet & penicilin. 29 SUNDAY To 10 Mass & Comm. At Jim & Phems afternoon. Caroline & Mary stop out with Eliz late. APRIL 3 FRIDAY [NOTE: entry scored out] Get electric switched on. Water & heating OK. Toilet OK. 4 SATURDAY Get key & go to Hawthorne Rd. A bit depressing but I know we will make a difference here. 5 SUNDAY At house sketching it as not bad in fact a good house 6 MONDAY Get OK from Building society Sign contract 7 TUESDAY Frank sick 'flu expect cheque from Guild tomorrow. 8 WEDNESDAY Cheque not being released until date of entry for purchasers be given! 9 THURSDAY Get electricity on. I am in a pickle Try to get Lawyer to get vendors to let me in Pay over another £100 10 FRIDAY Lawyer shy about asking other Lawyer. Agent tries & says he thinks it will be OK. Electric on water on 11 SATURDAY Get sweep to do chimneys Start on window cords with Fred B. I spend 24/- on utensils 12 SUNDAY To 8 Mass & Comm. With Fred Rod & Phil to house We fix more windows Phil & Rod start to clean up 13 MONDAY I clean up & find it hard work. On my own - Fred & Rod at Barrow. 14 TUESDAY Again at house Get front Bedroom finished Get coal (a lot) 15 WEDNESDAY Electric survey Plugs haywire need new ring main. Clean up scullery - part. 16 THURSDAY Receive Deeds for signature for Kdy. 17 FRIDAY Ring lawyer. Advises hold deeds until Monday when he can give me date of entry. 18 SATURDAY To house with Phil - more scrubbing. Rod & wife & Fred call. To Confess at St Josephs. A good day mild sunny 19 SUNDAY 9 & Comm (a SSP & P) Cooler. Rainy. Phil & self & Fred Clean up. 20 MONDAY Ring lawyer - still stalling - sure tomorrow. 21 TUESDAY Ring lawer - no answer from Vendor - Ring Cath. She is most dissapointed. 22 WEDNESDAY Decide to store furniture & move family here to Mrs. B. Ring Cath she agrees - Pack up. Lift 29 Down 30th. Lawyer pleased. 24 FRIDAY Travel home. 25 SATURDAY A fairly easy day to Jim & Joes for tea. 26 SUNDAY Set to work afternoon - packing things. 27 MONDAY Packing. See Joe. Sorry to leave him. 28 TUESDAY Packing. 29 WEDNESDAY Furniture removed. We say goodbye to 22 Balsusney Rd. May our new home be as happy as this one. 30 THURSDAY Leave 8. am. Jim Phem Jessie Catherine & Elizabeth at station. Good train down. Arr N.B. 3pm. MAY 1 FRIDAY We settle in at Mrs. B's for a time. See Headmistress at girls. They start Mond. 2 SATURDAY Cath & girls to Liverpool for school dresses. I watch Cup-Final with Fred & Meri. Frank & wife with Cath & I on Friday for a spot. 3 SUNDAY To 10 Mass. Fred takes us to Chester in car. We walk around. Everyone delighted especially Meri. 4 MONDAY Receive Cheque. £10 70 from W.D&B. Go to Bank & open account. 5 TUESDAY Not much doing at work. Home for lunch now. 6 WEDNESDAY Again home for lunch. Girls settling fine at school. 7 THURSDAY Make £600 cheque out to G. F. Lees & Sons. Pay Solicitor. 8 FRIDAY Receive keys for house. Hurrah! We celebrate evening. 9 SATURDAY We visit Market for paint & proceed to scrape & fill holes in plaster & wood. Return tired but happy evening. 10 SUNDAY To 10 & 11 at St P P. Pitch & Putt afternoon with Rod & Phil. Furniture arr. Tuesday! 12 TUESDAY Furniture arrives & chaos reigns for a time. The chaps are good & we are pretty well sorted out by late at night. 13 WEDNESDAY [NOTE: first line scored out] Furniture due. Sorting out. 18 MONDAY / 19 TUESDAY Very busy in house 22 FRIDAY Painting 23 SATURDAY Finish dining room 25 MONDAY Painting JUNE 6 SATURDAY We get a Record Player. Dansette V-G 9 TUESDAY Phil & family arr. between 4 & 4.30 pm. with cat. Arr. OK. Cat & dog do not fight! 11 THURSDAY Send for Concert Hall Record Club membership 13 SATURDAY Repair door & flooring at front 14 SUNDAY We have Fred & family over. Good time had by all! 15 MONDAY Lagging. Inspectors exam 16 TUESDAY To Pics. 17 WEDNESDAY See Cub Pack in Mersey Park - Give me [?]2 Bdge Xmas[/?] 18 THURSDAY Mary's Birthday. She gets shoes & buys a record. 19 FRIDAY We go to see start of sailing race to I. O.M Arrive in time to see the last of them leave! 20 SATURDAY Get wood etc morning. Afternoon shopping. I am checked in Grange Rd. & we are nearly run down in Borough Rd. Car drew up to let us cross Zebra. Other car nipped around him & nearly run us down. 21 SUNDAY We sleep in. To 11 Mass. To Fred's in afternoon. Nice run around then tea & fun at Fred's. 22 MONDAY We finish Guest Room. 27 SATURDAY Jean from Falkirk arr. for holiday. Nice to see her & its a great thrill for her. 28 SUNDAY We have a quiet day To Park Gate evening. Not bad. 29 MONDAY Exam during day Work evening. Arms sore with sawing Cath Jean girls to Chester. 30 TUESDAY Same again. Get shelves ready. JULY 1 WEDNESDAY Catherine coming on 10th Great. All family together again. 3 FRIDAY Lounge finished. 10 FRIDAY Catherine & Elizabeth arrive. The 4 of them with Cath go to Liverpool to see the Beatles. Thrilled to bits. 11 SATURDAY Jean leaves having enjoyed her holiday. 12 SUNDAY To Bidston hall. We see Anglesey and Snowdon. 25 SATURDAY Jim & Phem arrive. 13 D, 14, D, 15, D. Go up Bebington 97. (Kings Lane 26 SUNDAY To Park gate. Not bad. 29 WEDNESDAY Sweating! 30 THURSDAY Centre - LIVERPOOL Group C. 4-6 pm. Arithmetic Exam. Seems easy enough 31 FRIDAY 10-1 m 1st Tech Paper 2.30 - 5.30 2nd Tech Paper Get on not bad. AUGUST 1 SATURDAY To Liverpool Cathedral & Speke Airport. Fine time. We 'lose' Caroline in Cathedral tower. What a fright. But she is found afterwards. 2 SUNDAY Quiet Day. Jim argues about Local Geography! 3 MONDAY To Bidston, West Kirby & Hoylake. Good walk over Sands. 4 TUESDAY To Chester, by train. A grand day. Cathedral, walls & River. Great time. 5 WEDNESDAY To Southport. On Big Dipper & in Pool. Cath, Phem, Jim & Catherine on bus tour of town. 6 THURSDAY To Port Sunlight evening - very nice. 7 FRIDAY Jim Phem & Elizabeth off back to Kdy. I go to Walker Art Gallery. Fine. 8 SATURDAY We do shopping. Nice to be clear of visitors for a few days. To Maid of the Mountains. EMPIRE - V.G. 9 SUNDAY A lazy day. But I do a six-mile walk with Meri in the evening - smashing. 10 MONDAY Jessie arrives 9 pm. She has had very cramped journey. But is soon at home with us. 12 WEDNESDAY We are very busy at work. Phil is sick. Dai Fred & Dave on leave. 13 THURSDAY To Bromborough to see Phil. He is better. They have a nice house. 15 SATURDAY Working all day. First O.T. on the job. Confession tonight. 16 SUNDAY To Communion. Nice walk after with Meri. To Moreton Shore with family & Jessie. Fine time. 17 MONDAY Birthday. Get Cards. Shirt from kids. Fags - Jessie and a hat (at least a sketch of one!) from Cath. 18 TUESDAY Not so busy at work, thank goodness. 19 WEDNESDAY Looking out camp gear. Staying from Fri night to Monday Morning. 20 THURSDAY Packing for Camp. 21 FRIDAY To St. Asalph to 3rd Birkenhead camp. Good welcome. Cold overnight. 22 SATURDAY Backwoodsman Bdge. 3rd Birk. Fine time. St Dukes St Asalphs. I run c/f evening. 23 SUNDAY To St. Asalph R.C. Church Duncan bumps car on return. Boys pass cooks & do a fowl backwoods style. 24 MONDAY Cub gets hurt. Duncan takes him to hospital so we are held up. Car breaks down going home but we make it! Eric, Eleanor, Joan & Duncan OK. 25 TUESDAY Cath & Jessie to Manchester 26 WEDNESDAY We go to Thurstaston Hill. Kids & Dog. Then walk to Caldy. Nice in sands. Good time. 27 THURSDAY Meet Mrs McInch at Exchange. She is very brisk for her age. 28 FRIDAY To Bidston Hill with Jessie & Mrs McInch. Good walk. 29 SATURDAY Quiet day. To Confession. 30 SUNDAY To 9 Mass with Cath (Communion). Afternoon take the ladies to Williamson Art Gallery. 31 MONDAY To Liverpool. Both Cathedrals & University. I am half-dead with the slow pace. To see Tranmere (V. Notts C.) evening with kids. SEPTEMBER 1 TUESDAY About house all day. Make compost heap. Ladies & family walk to Roman Rd. Storeton etc. Jessie sticks on style! 2 WEDNESDAY To Liverpool with Mary to book Jessie's seat. Fine time in Lewis's. 4 FRIDAY To Tranmere V. Crewe. Good game. Fog descends like smoke. 5 SATURDAY Jessie off. She meets Lizzie & Bill - good. Mrs Mc leaves at 4 We spend afternoon on ferry to Seacombe. 6 SUNDAY All clear till tomorrow! 7 MONDAY Jim & Jo' arrive p.m. They are very pleased with everything. 8 TUESDAY Go out for walk evening. 10 THURSDAY Cath Jim & Jo over to Liverpool. 11 FRIDAY Jim & Jo leave a.m. 12 SATURDAY Working most of day. 13 SUNDAY Nice walk to Oxton. 14 MONDAY Chesterfield - Working. Block fireplace in side bedroom. 15 TUESDAY As above evening. 16 WEDNESDAY Scottish Country Dancing. Town Liberal Club. Claughton Rd. Left at Methodist Rd. As above evening. 17 THURSDAY Night off till cement hardens. 18 FRIDAY To Tranmere V Hartlepool 5-1 - easy. 19 SATURDAY Dave over for spanner Spend rest of day making one & go up evening with it. Also pick rest of pears. 20 SUNDAY To 10 Mass & Comm. Walk true park to Irby, Pensby & Thingwall. 23 WEDNESDAY 7.45. Town Liberal Club C/D. Very good - nice crowd & plenty of fun. 24 THURSDAY Park Hotel [illegible] 7.30. 25 FRIDAY Wrexham. Win 6 - 0 Tranmere TOPS! 26 SATURDAY Cover pipes in S.B. with hrdbrd. No time for more. 27 SUNDAY Mass Comm 11. To Irby with Cath & dog. Walk over Thursston Hill to Caldy. Have afternoon tea in Garden Cafè. Very nice! 28 MONDAY Arrange eye test. I chase Alsatian away from Hallway. Dog in danger of being badly mauled. 29 TUESDAY Eye test - OK. I am to get reading glasses. Weather fine for a month now. 30 WEDNESDAY See slater re. roof - OK. To Sc. Dncng - another great night. Tom drives us home. OCTOBER 1 THURSDAY New hours of work begin. 3 SATURDAY Working today. Busy scrambling over unit. Confession tonight. 4 SUNDAY Mass & Communion. To near Heswall via footpath from Storeton. Great autumn weather. Find Hazel nuts. 5 MONDAY Very busy at work. Lag pipes - side bedroom. Must bash on regardless! 6 TUESDAY Finish woodwork window, skirting, etc. Side bed. - Deo-Gratias! 7 WEDNESDAY Country dancing good but am not in mood. 8 THURSDAY Liverpool Philharmonic Concert Very good - Catherine & I enjoy it. Beautiful Hall. 10 SATURDAY [NOTE: first line scored out] Chose fireplace. Not ready for fireplace yet. Cut hedge. 14 WEDNESDAY Get glass in front door - nice. C.D. [?]dance[/?]. Nice time. 15 THURSDAY Get B&D drill. Now for some work! 16 FRIDAY Bradford C 17 SATURDAY Working. Phil & I fix up flex. Decide on Parkray for Morning Room. 18 SUNDAY Work on S.B. in B&D. Sanding unit. 19 MONDAY V. Doncaster. 3 - 0 A dull game. Caroline, Mary & Pal (Leslie enjoy themselves 20 TUESDAY See Plumber re. fire arr. of Thursday. Visit.d Mr. Stevens 4th Bebington re - Scouting. 21 WEDNESDAY Country style C.D. very good. But pestered by Spastic girl. 22 THURSDAY Days leave. Work all day on window frames. 24 SATURDAY Finish off windows & paint, also front door. To Confession. 25 SUNDAY To 10 Mass & Comm. Walk to Woodchurch via Oxton & Noctorum V.G. with dog. Rodney & family visit. 26 MONDAY Barrow. Plumber discusses heating. Advises boiler in kitchen & 3 radiators - plus hot water - app. cost 110-120. 27 TUESDAY Begin to learn German spare time. Work slow to move. 28 WEDNESDAY Halloween Party C.D. Girls enjoy themselves. 29 THURSDAY To Dave's evening. A nice night. Dave & Pat have a nice house. 30 FRIDAY Torquay 1 - Tranmere 3 Best game of season at Prenton. Mary & Caroline at dance at St. Werburgh's. 31 SATURDAY Working. NOVEMBER 1 SUNDAY Dave & Pat over. Julie not well & they leave early. See Plumber a.m. & sign forms for Loan etc. Cost £142. 2 MONDAY Julie has measles! 4 WEDNESDAY Working till 9.15 tonight. 5 THURSDAY RW in D.D. Memo - caja la boca! 7 SATURDAY Working. Caroline sick with headache. 8 SUNDAY To 11. Mass. Nice walk pm. Sort heater in Bathroom. Looks like chickenpox for Caroline. 9 MONDAY It is Chickenpox! Dr. in & confirms same. She has about 3 weeks in before she is clear. Heater OK. 10 TUESDAY Caroline in a bad state. I know - remembering 1936! 11 WEDNESDAY Trying to keep everybody happy. Cath not too good. 12 THURSDAY Receive ok for Loan on heating. See plumber. He will not be able to start for at least a fortnight! 13 FRIDAY Mary in bed - off colour. 14 SATURDAY Tranmere V Lincoln. FA Cup. 1st Round. Goal-less draw not exciting. Fell Pear tree in back garden. Caroline better. Cath bad with back & bronchitis. 15 SUNDAY To 11. Mass. Family all in bed. a.m. Prune other pear tree. 16 MONDAY Cath bad this morning. Send for Dr. She says Cath has had 'flu & bronchitis. Bed then & take day off. 17 TUESDAY Rain today. Busy at work. Caroline up. 18 WEDNESDAY Cath still in bed. 19 THURSDAY 21st Birthday Re-union 1st Fife. Kdy. Can't go. No cash & busy at work. Good job too wtih so much trouble in house. 20 FRIDAY Cath ricks her back getting up to see to dinner. She is practically immobilised. Doc says bed (hard) & gives her tablets. 21 SATURDAY Work in house a.m. p.m. walk to ARNO PARK. Cnfsc. dexl. 22 SUNDAY Comm. 10. Seem to be cooking breakfast for hours! Cath a bit better. 23 MONDAY Cath surprises everyone by getting up in the evening. She is still shaky. Mary is'nt so well. 24 TUESDAY Mary still in bed. Cath up & Doc calls p.m. very pleased with her, but gives strict orders re no lifts, no stooping etc. 25 WEDNESDAY St. Andrews. Dinner, Dance, Coop. Brknhd. We go. Dinner good - Turkey etc. Cath has a quiet time but enjoys herself. 26 THURSDAY I.C.P.S. Dinner Heswell. A great night. Cath is fine & everyone most friendly. 27 FRIDAY Tr. 4 - BRIGHTON 2 Tired out today! Bath & early to bed. 28 SATURDAY Rain & sleet showers don't get much done. 29 SUNDAY To 11. English parts in Mass today. Fell ash & trim trees in front. Also remove old tree at gate - by hand! 30 MONDAY We toast Scotland in wine! B. Hagart & Bill - Judge the Come Dancing. DECEMBER 2 WEDNESDAY Cath not fit for C.D. 3 THURSDAY To Liverpool Phil. V.G. Trip up stairs at Central! 5 SATURDAY Rain all day. Mild. To Contes. 6 SUNDAY To 10. 1st time hear Mass in English. To Freds p.m. A Good evening. To Clipper - a nice pub! Mild rain. 9 WEDNESDAY Plumbers begin to install new hot water & central heating system. 12 SATURDAY Working. Do Vestibule wall evening. What a job filling in holes with plaster! 13 SUNDAY Caroline's birthday. Party with Fred's family & Leslie. Great time and everyone enjoys it. 14 MONDAY Very busy work. Work in house progresses. 15 TUESDAY Ditto. 16 WEDNESDAY Working 9.15. To Scottish afterwards. Good fun. 17 THURSDAY Plumber. Work in house held up. Emergency elsewhere. 18 FRIDAY NEWPORT C. 2 Tranmere 4 Good game spoiled by fog. 19 SATURDAY Working. 21 MONDAY Plumbers still on job. Some progress. 22 TUESDAY All pipes fitted. Boiler fittings causing trouble. 23 WEDNESDAY Boiler righted. Outlook very "dicey" for Christmas. 24 THURSDAY Plumbers finish checking pipes but can only give us hot water over Christmas. 25 FRIDAY A Good Day. Mass at 10. Lovely dinner (turkey) plenty to eat & drink. I get a nice watch & beer mug. 26 SUNDAY ROCHDALE. Snow blots out match but they finish it in a blizzard 4-1 for Tranmere. Girls all there. Mum catching up with the washing. 27 SUNDAY To 11. Then to Rods p.m. He isn't too well. Shovel snow before night-fall. This work is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. The SCOTS Project and the University of Glasgow do not necessarily endorse, support or recommend the views expressed in this document. Information about document and author: Text Text audience Adults (18+): Males: Audience size: 1 Text details Method of composition: Handwritten Year of composition: 1964 Word count: 3534 Text publication details Part of a longer series of texts: Name of series: Series of diaries from 1940s to 1980s Text setting Private/personal: Text type Diary: Author Author details Author id: 1032 Forenames: William Surname: Young Gender: Male Decade of birth: 1910 Educational attainment: Civil service (technical inspector qualification) Age left school: 12 Upbringing/religious beliefs: Catholicism Occupation: Civil Servant / Technical Officer Place of birth: Kirkcaldy Region of birth: Fife Birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif Country of birth: Scotland Father's occupation: Linoleum Worker Father's place of birth: Kirkcaldy Father's region of birth: Fife Father's birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif Father's country of birth: Scotland Mother's occupation: Housewife Mother's place of birth: Kirkcaldy Mother's region of birth: Fife Mother's birthplace CSD dialect area: Fif Mother's country of birth: Scotland Languages: Language: English Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: At work / at home Language: Scots Speak: Yes Read: Yes Write: Yes Understand: Yes Circumstances: At home