Wednesday 15 July 2009

Monday 15th July 1985


Monday 15th July 1985..Started off as any other normal weekday morning...
8:00am
Breakfast for David and Georgina, cereals ,toast,tea. a little TV watching.
8:30 am
Off to school. It was my turn to do Swimming observing.
10:30 am
I finished my coffee with the staff after swimming and took the 20 minute walk back home. So much to do that day.
11:00 am
Drank some tea when I got back and sorted out what we needed to do in town. There was a knock at the door. "Who could this be?" I thought. " Don't they know I have too much to do today?"
I looked around and saw my youngest brother standing in the hall way. " Stephen?..." He told me I had better sit down...
"Mum has died ..."
"No, she can't have.." I screamed
My mum had been found dead in the lounge of their house by my dad at 8:30 am
Mum had been unwell for a few days with pneumonia, and died from a heart attack.
All I could think of at the time was how could my mum possibly be dead? I felt like I was a little girl again and had lost my mummy. It was the worst news I had ever had.
Mum was only 58.
Those next few days were full of tears, sadness and confusion.
There was the family to notify.. the death to register..Mum's work to go and see..and the funeral to arrange.
I sat in the back of the funeral car and stared at the Hearse in front as we went up to Wilford Hill.. I can't even remember the service itself. I was in a complete daze.
Mum
My Mum had looked after us well. There were 4 children and Mum and Dad.
Me the eldest, then John 6 years younger than me, then Andrew 7 years younger than me and little Stephen almost 10 years younger than me. We always had holidays that were for two weeks. Mostly we went to Great Yarmouth in a caravan or chalet. Though as a young girl, when it was just me, we went to guest houses! Lovely memories. When it poured with heavy rain Mum kept us home from school as we had a 20 min walk to the bus and she did not want us to get wet! We always had to eat our dinner and if we refused Mum would send us to bed and then reheated it for tea time! There was no escape!
What is important in life..
I think I have learnt some important things from my Mum..Truth,honesty,caring, humour,sympathy and love.
24 years on.. I still 'freeze' when I think of that day and I still miss my Mum...
Photo taken on Mum and dad's wedding day. West Bridgford, Nottingham shire.

Saturday 4 July 2009

My house-My home

When you have been living in your house for 31 years it is very much your home. When someone tells you that your house will be knocked down it is very upsetting.
Let me explain....
Redevelopment
My local authority owned, 3 bed roomed house was built 31 years ago. It is actually a maisonette, which is just like a house with upstairs and downstairs. The big difference is,there is another two floored property on top of mine. That is where the problems begin..There is dampness from the balconies above and there has been a lot of anti social behaviour connected to the way the properties have been built. Some from the neighbours above and some from people out in the neighbourhood.Many people have left the area because of it. The roads layout have made it difficult for traffic to move around the area and in and out of the area.
Nottingham city council have decided to regenerate the area by making lots of changes over a long period of time. So subject to funding my house will be knocked down. The people of the area are being kept fully informed of what is happening and we are being fully consulted on the plans. We are being asked what we want to see in our area.

My home
What does this mean for me? Well I can tell you I feel very upset that where I live is to be knocked down. Everything that has happened to me in 31 years has happened here in this place- my home. I will always have my memories but it is very sad to think that this place will be changed for ever.
A new home
I will be able to have like for like. In other words a 3 bed roomed property. This is because we are told we are going to have to move. It would be very unfair to move someone out of a property and tell them they have to live in a smaller property. I will also be able to stay in my area and live in one of the new properties if I so wish...and I do wish to live in a new house! No noisy neighbours above stopping me sleeping! I feel that if they want to knock mine down to build a new one then I should be offered a new one! So I am happy about that. I have been praying for a long time not to have people living above me, so for me it is an answer to PRAYER.

New shops
There are going to be new shops built and the area will be more welcoming to visitors and people who may want to live here. Travel will be easier and there will be new bus and tram routes.
Leisure facilities will be improved and better use made of the Embankment area with new facilities being built.

I think for some time it will be like living on a building site! I am sure it will be worth it in the end!

Time Scale
When is all this going to happen? Well lots of things have started already with the plans and preparations. The main knocking down of properties may start in 3 years time and must be finished 5 years after that. So not long really, but long enough for me to get my 31 years of clutter sorted out! I have been watching all the TV programmes on de cluttering and think I know what I need to do! I am ready for me and Chris to have a new home that is 'ours.' Everything here is mine as I have lived here longest. Chris came here when we got married in 1997 and it will be good to choose furniture e.t.c for our new home.
Hope we can agree on what we want...I think that will be a post for another day!....