General Chat

From: Frank

14 Aug 2021

Good morning my love, How are you keeping. ?? I have just heard from Shirl. in Canada. She's fine apart from getting older.

We have told "Biggles "owners that we can't have him anymore, and they will have to find someone else. Ros has enough to do, without clearing up after the dog.

Weathering is nothing special, considering it's August. We are coming down to Devon later this month, when Conrad comes home from Spain. Jan and Conrad want us to go back with them to Spain for a couple of weeks, but I don't think I am up to it.. We will have to see

Take care of yourself

Love Frank
xx.

Todays post from Frank I asked him if I could put his post up and he has said yes.


From: Frank

3:16 PM

Mel. there is nothing I wouldn't share on line, so feel free to post whatever you want.

We are looking forward to spending a little time with Conrad and Jan.They will be with us on the flight out to Spain, and Jan will be with us on out return. We will then spend a night in Devon, before Ros drives us home.

Stay safe and well.

Love Frank

xxx

Mel, yes I miss him a lot when I have to go alone to things we went to together (which is most things). It is hard but will get better I am sure.

I have not wiped my groceries down now for three weeks.

Sounds like you had a nice time and lovely lunch and a good natter. You must miss T so much after all the time you had been together. He's still watching over you Anng.

Had lunch and I still have tins to wipe down so that the first job of the afternoon and then I think I may try and get up the border as there's a lot needs cutting down and a lot that also needs to be tied up.

The walk this morning was very pleasant just under 2 miles. We were walking round a very large park (Pitville Park) in Prestbury, Cheltenham, not too far from home. The park has several lakes and a small river in it so there is boating and swans to see. There is also a huge children's play area with so many different things too be climbed on, swung on zipped across and slid down. And also an aviary. It was absolutely heaving with children of all ages. We were not near the children thank goodness. My thought was 'a good way to induce herd immunity. We had lunch at open air tables, just a snack, I had a cheese and onion pasty and a coffee. I was picked up at 10.15 and home at just after 1,15. It was good to have a chat but I did miss having T with me, he liked that park. And it is still not nice coming in to an empty house after being with7 other people all chattering. Never mind I will be fine!!

I have been up the garden with the trusty walker and picked the last 11 plums and some blackberries for us and some for the chickens which were small. A nice bunch of sweetpeas for the kitchen too.

Have you noticed things have grown a lot taller this year? You talked about things changing colour too and my spirea turned from blue to white this year.

The blackberries are small this year and there's not many apples on the trees.

We had the little stag sitting in the garden this morning and then he went into the orchard and lay down in there for quite a while.

Iv'e still got ironing to dotoo Vera.

Tracking the order it says 11am to 1pm so I hope its not too late and runs into lunch.

Morning AnnG, Mel & all

I hope you have better weather for your garden walk than we have here AnnG. It's cool, gloomy and wet :-(

Neither of us had a good night again last night. Pain in his shoulders and neck kept waking OH and I am just going through a sleepless patch again. In spite of the pain OH does seem quite a bit better. He's never been one for taking pain killers and decided that it was the Paracetamol making him so dozy so he has stopped taking it. I have to say he has seemed a lot more "with it" since he stopped taking them. He has had to take anti-inflammatory tabs on and off for donkey's years so his body is used to them and the stronger ones the doctor gave him 5 or 6 days ago do seem to be helping.

I hope your delivery arrives OK Mel. I see you have several subs again. I wonder why Asda always seem to have so many. My last Tesco order had 2 and they were both items I had ordered. I just got them in a larger size and as they only charge the cheapest of the two prices I came out the winner. Be careful not to put strain on your hip and leg as you are unpacking and wiping down.

I hope you had a better night Ann and your pain has eased. What a lot we are - we've probably got one good body between us.

I've just had a lovely shower and hairwash and had now better go and get on. Now what will it be - ironing, hoovering, washing the kitchen floor? I can see I've got another exciting day ahead of me.

Morning Anng and all,

Did we hear from Mandy yesterday too?

Dull and cloudy this morning and more like an autumn day than late summer.

I have my delivery today and Iv'e got 5 subs some of which I don't want like ruby cocoa bean Magnum instead of my raspberry ones Baked crisps Kingsmill bread instead of hovis and veg soup instead of Minestrone which is ok and something else that I can't remember at the mo, O yes button mushrooms instead of chestnut ones.

Have a nice day today Anng and enjoy your walk.

:-D :-D Vera, of course it is. See! brain dead.

I had a strange night sleeping and waking and dreaming. But didn't lie awake for hours which is good. hope all are well and relatively pain free today.

gill if you are glimpsing the thread please let us know that all is ok it is ages now since we heard.

I do hoe you have a nice day for your trip out with your friends.

See you in the morning hope you all get a good nights sleep tonight and we all feel better tomorrow. Iv'e felt a bit better today but taken pills at the right times and wrote down when I took them.

Love to Frank and Gill.<3

Night night.

Electoral Register AnnG. Have a lovely trip out tomorrow. Hope the weather’s kind to you.

oops just checked it is pick up at 10.15am

Brain is not working Vera, well it is a bit late for me! What is an ER (where you found your man)? I am sure I should know but I don't.

No Annx today, did she have a class? Hope all is ok with them both.

Off to bed now, out tomorrow with U3A garden visits group. Just to Cheltenham Pttville Park for a walk around and a chat.

Might get on before I leave though, being picked up at 10.30.

Goodnight all

Well rooted out Vera.

Oh, that is a sad story Mel. It’s terrible that such an elderly man worked such long hours but I suppose with no state pension to rely on older people were glad of a job.

I have found my man in an ER for 1920 and he is calling himself Frederick Albert. I am sure it is him as he is right next to his wife Isabella’s parents.

He was my gt grandmother's father. Mum knew gt gran and said she was a lovely little lady with pure white hair.

John Labdon worked for the railway from the age of 16 Iv'e seen his papers and he earned 12/- a week.

Gosh Mel age 73 and working at such an important job for sixteen hours. How sad though.

Vera I meant to say I enjoyed your story. I found it harder doing T’s tree than my own what I found intriguing though was that in the 19th century a distant cousin of mine marries a distant cousin of T’s. In Somerset.

Well I enjoyed the story Vera. I always find it interesting knowing something about your trees. I have a Hannabuss who was a Pikeman in the armarda and another interesting one was a farmer and on his death cert it says KIlled by a Cow. I had my 2 x gt grandfather killed on the railway.

Don't know if anyones interested but this is what the papers said.

RECENT ACCIDENT ON THE LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY. The funeral of John Labdon, an elderly man, who was killed on the London and South-Western Railway near Newton St. Cyres took place in the parish churchyard on Sunday afternoon, and was witnessed
12 October 1885 - Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Exeter, Devon, England

Exeter and Plymouth Gazette 07 October 1885

The deputy Cornoner ( H. W Gould Esq) held an inquest at the Railway Inn Newton St. Cyres yesterday on the body of John Labdon who was killed Saturday, on the London and Southwestern Railway, between Newton St Cyres and Cowley Bridge. Thomas Labdon, son of the deceased, residing in Crediton identified the body as that of his father. He was a signalman in the employ of London and South Weston Railway and was about 73 years of age. He last saw him alive about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning. Deceased was then on his way home to go to bed. ********** as going on duty in the morning. Deceased was ***** in his usual health. He had been in the employ of the railway company for 30 years and his hearing was not impaired. Deceased was a married man. James Elders, Labourer residing in Crediton, said he saw the deceased about half past four o'clock in the evening while he was at work *** Marsh Mills? Witness was a day signalman to the plate layers while they were at work and it was his duty to warn them on the aproach of a train. Deceased said "Good morning John" and witness repeated in similar terms. He then let the deceased have the watch which was supplied to the gangers by the Company and the flags, and left the deceased as he wanted to get home early. Witness had known deceased as a signalman for three years A juryman-- What time would he be releived again? Witness-- Not until witness came again in the morning about six o;clock on weekdays and half past seven on Sundays. By a Juryman ) He would be on for 15 or 16 hours. The Corenenor : At what time did the platelayers leave work? - Witness : about three o'clock. Deceased's duty was the same as witnesses James Wilcocks railway guard, residing at Exeter, said that he worked the **** train from Framington to Exeter on Saturday. When at Crediton he was told by the driver of the 8.45 goods-train from Exeter he had seen something on the line between Newton St Cyres and Cowley Bridge. He told the driver to slacken speed and looked carefully along the line. When opposit Marsh Mills he saw something lying on the inside of the up rail. There was a wound on the top of the head: but he did not notice any blood on the face. The body appeared to be quite dead. Deceased's lamp was about seven yards on the Exeter side of the body. The line is a broad and narrow gauge and is owned by the Great Western Railway as far as Crediton. He left the body as he found it and proceeded towards Exeter. When he arrived at Cowley Bridge he adsked the signalman there to telegraph to Crediton. The deceased was very tenative to his duty. John Pomeroy, engine driver, resideing at Exeter said he worked the 8.45 goods train from Exeter to Davenport. While looking over the side of the engin he noticed something on the line but it was so dark he could not distinguish what it was. He mentioned this to the last witness. The deceased duty was to only signal the up trains. John Crocker resideing in Palmington? square Exter said he was the driver of the 4.55 down train from Exeter to Davenport. He passed Cowley Bridge about 7.34?. He was not signalled at this place where they were relaying the rail niether did he notice anything on the line as it was very dark. John Harris stationmaster at Newton St Cyres said he recieved a telegram about ten minuets past ten from the signalman at Cowley Bridge saying that a man had been killed on the line. He went with a ganger and a policeman on a trolly to the spot. He found the deceased on the broad gauge line. He noticed that the watch in the deceased pocket has stopped exactly at 23 minuets past seven Several trains passed during that time deceased was on duty.he time aloud for a train to cross Queen St, Exeter was 2 minuets. William Western foreman of the gangers resideing at Newton St Cyres said he went with the witness and a constable to the spot where the deceased was found. He minded to take him to the Railway Inn. He noticed a wound on the top of the deceased head and he thought on feeling the deceased side that his ribs were broken. A constable named V******* also examined him with witness Vanstone? coraborated the last witness's statments. The jury after a consultation returned a verdict of "Accidental Death" and added a recommendation that men of such an age as the deceased should not be employed as many hours. Inspecter Foster who watched the case on behalf of the Company said he would inform the railway authorities of the recommendation.

Vera, oh yes I used to really enjoy it when I was in the thick of finding out things and tracing them across country (mine never seem to have stayed in one place. Rather like T and I.) But I started doing my tree when I was in my 30s so have been going a long time. In some ways people have it a lot easier now with the information on the internet rather than having to go to register offices and searching on micro fiche. All that original writing was hard on the eyes. But great fun.

Well, OH got his wish as it is raining. I just managed to get the washing in before it really poured. Most of it was almost dry so some is finishing off on a clothes airer and some in the tumble dryer.

Back to OH's great uncle Ferdinand. Having seen a marriage for him on an Ancestry tree I tried to check it out. I could find no trace of a marriage between Ferdinand and this Beatrice Portman anywhere so goodness knows where the tree owner got it from. However, while searching I stumbled upon a real marriage for him. It was a Roman Catholic ceremony in Liverpool in 1917 (OH's family were R.C.) He still gives his address as Sheffield. The odd thing is that under his name is written "alias Frederick...). The name looks like the latinised version of Frederick Alfred but I am wondering if it could be Frederick Augustus, which was the name of his older brother who died aged 19 in 1903. Why would he need an alias? Strangely, the civil registration of the marriage is in the name of Frederick.

Next step was to check the 1939 Register. His wife and 3 daughters are there, still in Liverpool, and wife's status is given as married not widowed, but where is Ferdinand? I can't think that he is in the services as he would be about 51. Is he on the 1939 as Frederick? There are loads of possibles in that case though I haven't yet found one with his birth date.

So after a few years I've moved Ferdinand on from last sighting 1911 to last definite sighting 1917 and he was probably around till at least 1928 when the last of the daughters was born, assuming the 3 girls with his wife in 1939 are his children.

It's quite hard following the ins and outs of someone else's family when you don't know the people involved so I have probably bored you all rigid, in which case I apologise.

AnnG I understand why you feel FH could be a waste of time for you. I don't do a lot these days but I enjoy doing the research for its own sake. I like the detective work involved. You all do your lovely art and craft work but I am useless with my hands so I have to try and find hobbies that use what little brain I've got, lol.