Thursday 7 August 2008

B*st*rd Lady

Yesterday I was down in Sussex, finally clearing the last of Mum's possessions from her old flat.

On the mantelpiece I found a list Mum had drawn up of all her fellow residents and their flat numbers, perhaps when her memory for names was faltering. Looking down the 27 names, I saw 'Joyce', 'Dori', 'Vanda', 'Barbara'........and 'Bastard Lady'.

I was highly amused. Growing up in this family I certainly never heard my parents use such a word, so it's comical to find my prim Mother even thinking of it. I wonder what the lady in flat 2 ever did to Mum?

Anyway, I spent hours moving heavy trolley-loads out of the flat and taking them either to the charity shop or the local 'household recycling point'. The corridor from Mum's flat is long and twisty and there are double doors at the exit that were hard to navigate on my own with a trolley. Directly by these doors is a communal lounge, where a group of about 15 residents were sitting and passing the day together. I recognised Mum's neighbour and several other faces. I got a nod in return for my 'hello'.

No-one asked about Mum.

No-one stirred to help me with the doors.

Bastard Ladies

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

You better be chanting for the bad word you just said, Gregory! :D

*dodging from Greg's punch from calling him Gregory*

On a serious note, your Mom must really had bad experience with the lady in #2... I mean, should could've just leave that space empty or something, but for her to have to write it down like that, she must really wants to "remember" about the incident... very interesting

Greg said...

you really don't want to hear the words I'm chanting, Humphrey

LSL said...

I'm so glad you're blogging again. This day sounds lonely, but I'm just glad to know what you're up to and that your mum is still doing ok.

Greg said...

I'm not posting every day, the way you like, but there are a few here for you, LSL. Sorry to hear you've had a rough week. Hope things get better.