My Diary of a day on August 12th 2010

Written on August 12th 2010

Written by Rhoda Woodward, 85 year old from Adderbury Oxforshire.

I woke about my usual time of 6 30 this is my thinking time I try to remember what day it is and what I have to do today. I consider myself a lucky lady I was 85 just three weeks ago and am resonably well for my age. I have a nice one bedroomed house that belongs to Charter Homes . After a cup of tea I have a lovely walk in shower which was put in for me just a year ago. I have to water my front garden mostly pots all Ican manage these days and it might not rain but does later.After cereal and orange juice I get ready for a coffee morning that several of us that are hard of hearing get together in one of three houses and donate to the Hearing Dogs. This week it is a cosy stone cottage out in the countrywith perfect host that provide tea a delicious cakes.

I am picked up for a lift we talk about all kinds of subjects and catch up on each others news . Usualy remanisences of days gone by we are all seniors. After a lift back into Banbury I meet my Grandson and his two boys that are on holiday we all went to Jenny's for a lunch and then for a tour of the Museum which has a display of pupets especialy for school holidays. Having dodged the showers I get the 3 45 bus home to Adderbury. I check my emails having recently had a visit from a distant cousin from Barry st Edmunds and another who is staying with her and comes from Canada we have been able to find out more about our family History mainly where my Dads two sisters have been buried. The one from Canada is still doing research while she is over here and sending it on.

I am also writing a book about Adderbury during the world wars I have been able to find a lot of information from the Parish Magazines as to how the people coped and how in the South African and the first world war they sewed shirts and other hospital requists made splints etc and sent them of to France Belgium Kensington and local hospitals. Something I feel should be recorded so today I have done some editing ready to do more pages another day. For tea I have some ham salad and later watch BBC news Emerdale and a programe about where does are water go then more Emerdale and Coronation Street. I make a drink and find a packet of crisps and try to Watch Victorian Pharmacy but cannot stay awake for the last 15 minutes so off to bed I manage to read a few pages of a book by Donna Jo Napoli called Daughter of Venice a present from my Grandaughter for my birthday.

I have seen many changes from a crystal set my Dad used to let me sit on his knee and share his earphones to Television and a computer. I am still able to keep up with various village afairs I have been a Parish Councillor for 26 years and secretary treasurer for the Over Sixties Club for 31 years also I belong to the History group and library Committees. We have bus passes and are able to book a Dial-A-Ride mini bus to take us ashopping to Morrisons once every two weeks about eight of us go we do have to pay £3 but the driver carry's all our shopping into the house for us so we are quite well catered for Every Sunday when I go to the Methodist Chapel Service I give Thanks for my life and family.