Diary summary week ending 15th February 2026

[louisa maud]

Vlctoria
I had to change one of my  medications due to it causing  me to cough, is it worth checking  it out.
Take care
LM

[Viktoria]

Thanks L.M. The awaited medication is for the sinus problems which make me cough as the natural mucus gets much more from the eye drops and runs down the back of my nose,into,my throat.It tickles and hence the cough.
It will get sorted.
I can’t have any eye drops with beta blockers in them, as a slow heart rate already.But Inam well looked after.
They are small problems by comparison ,when I read others’ challenging
conditions .
But thanks for your kind concern.
Look after yourself.
Viktoria.

[radstockjeff]

Yesterday brought back many memories and in particular of the time nearly 60 years ago before we were married. We were saving hard but allowed ourselves the occasional Saturday night out for a meal. At that time there was not the range of eateries that there are now and we confined our Saturday evenings out to one of the local Berni Steak Bars in Bath.
For about 15/- each we could have a rump steak and afters and a drink.
Now 60 years on and to recall those happy days I decided this evening to replicate those times, but sadly on my own.
We have a "traditional" local butcher within walking distance from the house and who keeps me supplied with a variety of his wares. Recently he has been offering his Thursday special , 2 ten ounce sirloin steaks for £20. Now I know that this is a far cry from years back, but I decided to give it a go.
A ten ounce steak is too much for me so I buy the special offer and the cut them in half and pop them into the freezer awaiting my further attention when the time is right!
And so this evening for tea I had atrip down memory lane- steak and chips, mushrooms, tomato and a
Diane sauce, with a nice glass of refreshing orange and mango squash made with Indian tonic water.
Why tonight rather than last night- well to be perfectly honest I was not that hungry and did not want to waste a decent piece of steak.
And tonight.... perfection!
Ah! memories!
rj

[Viktoria]

Oh memories, what would we do without them!
I wander down Memory  Lane very much .
Little things of no consequence at the time but which now are so precious .
Quite comforting whilst making me sad too.
I wish we could do it all again , some sad and worrying events but nothing really came between us -me being bitten by a feral cat in a Rabies area  and my husband speeding back  from a business trip to Germany  I was so frightened, he never stopped and flew into the house shouting my name , we had two boys and a baby girl and I was so afraid I would die and leave
 them . Well all was well but a long wait for the incubation time to pass.
I lost stones in weight in weeks ,I don’t recommend it as a slimming aid!
My husband was marvellous ,I used to bring that to mind if we disagreed ,we were so different there were inevitably a few quarrels but nothing drastic .
His good points were so many and just the odd thing we did not agree on.

How sad when people lose memories.

Glad you enjoyed you steak, and your happy memories it brought back.
Viktoria.

[louisa maud]

Oh gosh Jeff, Berni Inn, my husband I visited one in Brentwood,  the nearest to where we lived at the time, a schooner  of sherry, well only 1 made me squiffy, goodness knows how big it was, pity they closed as we always enjoyed it, don't think we ever went to one after our daughter was born, in fact thinking back we were very stupid, we seldon went out without our daughter, and can hold up one hand as to the amount of baby sisters we had, wouldn't advise  anyone to do that in my opinion,  lost the art of having  a night out, youngsters nowadays have date nights.
Well it is off to the next diary, see ya later !!

LM

 

[BushInn1746]

Oh Jeff

I remember saving hard.

One sixth (1/6th) of the price of my first home, for a deposit.

Today, you would have to have £45,000 saved at 1/6th deposit to buy that same 2 Bedroom house today.

I saved £6,000 plus all the Solictor and Fees (another £1,600) and the Building Society said I didn't earn enough due to the 3 x times annual salary rule.

So I had to waste another £200 to get an Accountant to give me an Estimated Projection of my earnings in the next 3 years.

I never earned anywhere near the estimated projection of £8,000 per year. My Wife earned about £2,000 p.a. before we married, I think, which the Building Society reluctantly added and due to moving never got another job, as she would need a car.

My earnings were so poor in the first of those 3 years that I only paid less than £200 tax for the best year and was entitled to and got Income Support (a bit like the recent Tax Credits) for the part of the next year.

But still kept all the Mortgage payments paid.

We couldn't afford a Holiday or evenings out. We had Mrs's TV and a second-hand VHS Video Player eventually and having one free film, for £1 a week subs was a luxury.

I did all my own car repairs too and managed to talk the Dealer and Motor Factors to give me trade discount on the parts.

Mark

[louisa maud]

Didn't do you any harm,  did it?

My earnings  weren't taken into account when we bought our house,  deposit £25  in 1965 and still in the same house.

Off I pop to new diary .
LM

[BushInn1746]

Hi All

Lovely and Sunny here today, after Apocalyptic dull and wet weather yesterday.

L.M., I am going to come clean   

The size 10 footwear was mine 

Nothing to do with a village Yeti 

I have very high arch feet (first discovered as a little boy) when having my feet measured at the shop of Wallis's Footfitters, I think Mr Wallis was also an Agent for Clarks Shoes and possibly for various other shoe makers.

I can only pull a tall boot around my foot arch on my foot if it is a little larger in size and a wider top.

I seem to recall a bit of a titter with the sales ladies with the Wellingtons when they had to order a set style and size, like the advert on TV when the man is buying ladies underwear and the assistant calls to another, the Gentleman needs this in a size ...

Here is a photo, guilty as charged   

Regards Mark


PS my feet have also been the interest of my past NHS Neurological Consultant.

[Caw1]

I can remember when we used to go to the cinema and a drink in the pub afterwards all for the princely sum of 10/s… hard to believe that equates to 50p in today’s money 😂😂 you can’t even buy half a loaf of bread now for that !
As you say happy days…
We struggled with our first house that was the massive price of £7,000 .. my wages not taken into consideration and OH as a new teacher took home £75.00 A MONTH! You spend that much for a meal out for two these days and not even in a posh place…

Caroline