I was a smoker for over 40 years. I started, in earnest, when I met my husband. I was 17 and, up until then, I'd had the odd drag but could take it or leave it.

I was over 60 when I gave up. I knew it was affecting my health and I realised it was going to get worse. I was a bit short of breath and I had a nasty cough, every now and then, but I thought giving up would cure all that.

My nemesis year was 2007. I'd been ill over Christmas with what I imagined was flu but I recovered and carried on working part-time, 3 days a week, which I'd done since I turned 60. In the July I took Laura to Malta for a week. It was tremendously hot and my energy levels had sunk to rock bottom but I put it down to the heat.
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West Ender

I had a phone call at 5 p.m. today. It was the Plumber Senior (Cyril Smith) about the new bathroom. The plumber is due to start work on Monday morning, OK? The conversation went something like this,
Plumber Snr., "We've got a bit of a problem with the job we're doing now. We may not be able to start your job on time."
Me, "So when will you be able to start?"
Plumber Snr., "It might be a couple of days late."
Me, "So about Wednesday instead of Monday? That's not too bad."
Plumber Snr., "Yes, well I'll have to ring you on Friday to let you know. I'm really sorry but we couldn't anticipate this."
Me, "If it can't be helped there's nothing you can...

West Ender

My son rang me tonight. He and his wife live on the far side of Manchester, near Oldham, so I don't see them as often as I'd like.

They've been married 10 years but have, in fact, been together for almost 20 years. There are no children. My daughter-in-law had been married before she met my son and had had a little boy, when she was only 18, who had died at 6 months old. It's complicated but they decided against having a family of their own.

My son's a Rock star. Perhaps "star" is going a bit far but he's a very competent guitarist and plays in an AC/DC tribute band which does extremely well in a semi-pro capacity. They toured Hungary last year (the lead singer is Hungarian) and, apparently, went down "a...

West Ender

I spent most of my spare time, in the Summers, at the nearby farm. The farmer's 2 youngest children, both girls, were good friends of mine and I was usually to be found with them.

The farmyard was a haven for a good many of the local children. At any time of day or evening youngsters would turn up, alone or in groups. A knock at the farmhouse door would elicit, "Come in," from any one of half a dozen voices inside and the visiting child or children would enter another world. There was no electricity to the farm, in those days, in fact it didn't arrive there until the early 1960s. The one room where the family ate and relaxed was lit by oil lamps and warmed by a large range where the farmer's wife did most of the cooking....

West Ender

My earliest memory, honestly, goes back a very long way. It's not all that pleasant, either, which may be why it made such an impression on me, but it ends up all right.

I'm in our living room, at West End, and it must be early evening because the light is on and I'm looking at it. I can't move my arms and my face hurts, just for a moment, and I cry. Next thing there's a bottle teat in my mouth and I can taste the warm milk and my mother is cuddling me. That's it - end of scene. Years later I mention the memory to my mother and she tells me I had a boil, spot, whatever on my cheek and she had to, gently, bathe it and squeeze it. She says I was 9 months old at the time.

I must be around the same age for the next memory....

West Ender