I used to get irritated when transcribing my grandmother's diaries to see how little interest she took in the outside world. I now understand how absurd and unfair my judgement was; it was her diary and she was free to do as she pleased. Besides, I am ill-placed to make such a criticism, for my entries over the last year make virtually no mention of the two great "events" of 2020, indeed of almost any year: the pandemic and the virtual civil war in America.
What on earth is there to say about either of these events that hasn't already been said a thousand times before - and much better than anything I could ever manage?
I was irritated by Gran's contribution to the history of the Second World War - "Bismark sunk", alone amongst all the goings-on in her small Essex village. But in fact what she had to say about everyday life was, I think, really interesting. Perhaps there's a Gran somewhere now recording everyday life during the pandemic?
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