General Chat

Joan - are you as old as I am? I say that because although I said we were expected to wear uniform to school, it was wartime and clothes cost money AND coupons, so strange as it may seem, we all said that our Mums could get us the white blouses and navy blue tunics, none of our mums could afford the coupons to buy ties!
Well, that was our story and we stuck to it. It was our standard excuse if we wanted to wear mufti - mum couldn't afford the coupons to buy us more.
It is also the reason why I have no school photos except for the one taken in 1946. Every able-bodied man was in one of the forces, or in a 'reserved occupation' and those not so able-bodied were used for war-effort business - and that didn't include taking school photos!

Hello all,

I remember those navy blue tunics with a white shirt underneath. Prickly serge, the tunics were made of. No concessions in those days for kids with any kind of allergy: and mine was (and still is) to some types of wool.

Then I went to High School and we had to wear this horrid green dress with a Peter Pan collar, pin tucked bodice and gored skirt with navy gloves and socks; black shoes and a white panama hat with the green under the brim.

Story about shoes. My mother and stepfather were very poor. He had converted a hen house for all of us to live in and it was made very comfortable. We thought it was great because we had a huge yard to play in, climb trees and all that kid stuff. But when I went to High School all the kids looked down on me and teased me because of where we lived. I think these days they call that bullying?? Anyway, I needed a new pair of shoes for school and the only ones they could afford were a pair of Dunlop brown. I loved the shoes, except I kept on getting put on detention for having the wrong colour. When I told my stepfather (lovely, lovely man) that I was getting into trouble for having the wrong colour of shoes he told me to go and knock on the Headmistresses door and tell her that I was getting lot of detentions for the shoes and that he had a message for her. The message was "I once complained that I had no shoes, and then I met a man who had no feet". So I did. She looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face and then dismissed me.

Next day I was called to her office. Quaking, along I went. I'd been called out of class so all the kids knew and were sneering and jeering as I walked out the door.

When I got to her office I found she had a bottle of black Raven OIl (precursor to Meltonion Colour Change) and a pair of black shoe laces. She told me to take off my shoes and proceeded to colour change my shoes for me (Yes!! She did it) and talked to me about me becoming a school teacher. Said I had the intelligence and ability to work hard, get really good marks and get a scholarship to teachers college.

Well, I have to say God Bless Miss Gray. But I never did become a teacher. And you know, when I returned to class with a big smile on my dial no one could work out what had happened. And I didn't tell them either. haha.
Makes me smile still to remember it.

Pam. xx

Hello everyone:-))

The end of a tiring but satisfying week. Yes Tec, I have some really good people who will be working in patient care. So enthusiastic and itching to get started.

How lovely to see you back Persey. Next time you go AWOL I want a note explaining why:-))

School uniforms? I had to wear stockings, black leather shoes, pleated skirt, blouse, blazer, gloves and beret. We did look smart. My children were also well behaved. We took them out for dinner in nice restaurants when we could afford it and they learnt from an early age. My daughter and son also take their young'uns out for dinner and expect them to behave. They are not allowed to run around in supermarkets etc. My daughter also dresses her children nicely to go out and then back into play clothes when they come home as I did. They are expected to say Please and Thank You. I have to say that their friends’ children are the same so perhaps this is a return to good manners. They are also expected to treat us with respect and to excuse themselves when they want to speak. Yes even the twins who aren’t 4 yet.

My parents were very strict and I think we were too. I know that my kids sometimes disliked us for the rules we made – especially when they were teenagers but they appreciate it now. I think:-))

We have had almost constant rain for 24 hours. It rains lightly for awhile and then suddenly there’s a heavy downpour. This has been going on since Monday. Very worrying when you know the family are on the roads.

We had a sick little granddaughter with us yesterday afternoon while mum worked. She was too ill to go to nursery. By the late afternoon her temperature was up to 38 degs. so we rang our daughter and then took the little one to the doctors. He diagnosed a nasty chest infection and gave her a prescription for two antiobiotics, an inhaler to help her breathe and paracetamol for the temperature. He said that her temperature must be taken 4 hourly and off to the hospital if it gets to 40 degs.

Sue xx

Where are you all? Mother will coming looking for you..."evil grin"

Sue xx

Good Morning Sue,
Good Evening CC.
Hi to Everyone,

Sue I'm very pleased that you've got a promising team to train up. What a difference it makes to have people you can rely on around you, otherwise it's an up hill struggle. Most of my working life involved motivating others, and I was always very fortunate in having good and willing people. Likewise when I ran a charity for disabled children on a voluntary basis. The team often went beyond what was required of them to make the charity a huge success. I know that sometimes it's frustrating, and I could write a book about committee meetings, but very satisfying when you see results, and those you care about benefitting from all the effort.
Good luck with the new intake.

CC why are you so shattered - I am too - worked in the garden all day, digging a bank out, and finished watering at 9-30pm this evening.

Tec.

Hello Tec - I am always amazed at how dedicated volunteers are. The presenters always make the new people feel so worthwhile and a valuable part of the team. By the end of the week they can't wait to get started.

Your garden must look spectacular with all the work you're putting in. I love seeing the garden "wake up" after winter.

Sue xx

Good evening to CC

Good morning to Pam, Joan, Persey, Berona and Sue and Aunty Thomasina Cobley and all

And also to any one else that I may have missed :0))

Persey, you are indeed a Gold Star Member.

Yes, my late night last night was because of mt attendance at the Annual Wheely Bin Ball. There were some fantastic Acts and I am trying to conince the synchronised Lid Lifting team to audition for Australia's Whose Got Talent.

The food was rubbish though :0))

At the school I went to we had this real bully, he was called Flashman.

I always thought that was his real name until I read about his Case in the local paper!

Allan

Whooa!

Hastily backs up to say Good Morning Tec

Allan

Your jokes are getting better, Allan.......or is that worse:-)) You make me laugh:-) Don't ever underestimate that gift.

Sue xx

lol Sue

I f i can bring a little sunshine as I pass along the way.

I once knew a Dairy Farmer who brought sunshine when he passed this whey

Allan

I suppose that I should start my stories with "Once Upun a time" :0))

Allan

We could all start our stories that way Allan:-))

Sue xx

Good morning/evening all.
Pam - I rarely paint my finger nails (and then only a natural colour) and I give a quick rub with the emery board when I chip one nail - so when I do decide to "do" them, I do the whole lot methodically.
Years ago, I felt they needed a trim and as I set about clipping and filing, I cursed the fact that there were ten of them - then I remembered that old saying that you quoted about not having any shoes and meeting a man who had no feet, and I realised how lucky I was that I did have ten of them!
Ever since that day, every time I pick up a file, clippers, scissors, etc - that saying goes through my head, so I do the job without complaint!

Good morning Berona

How are you feeling today?

Allan

Hello Berona - I hope you are feeling better with every day.

I have dreadful nails and I really don't care for them as I should. Every now and then my daughter gives me a manicure and pedicure as a thank you for babysitting the children. On the other hand I really like to look after my skin. Not with expensive lotions and potions - just taking care when in the sun and moisturising etc. My mother has lovely skin.

Sue xx

Thanks for asking Allan. It will be eight weeks tomorrow and I'm still very sore. Only light marks where the rash was, but the soreness is still with me.
My brother now tells me that he had it and it lasted five days! Others tell me 'six weeks or more' and I've read where the soreness can last for years!!!
I can wear my normal clothes again now, although certain straps hurt my shoulder blade, but I am forcing myself to live with it and still hope that that will make it go away.
Although people of any age can get it, it's more likely to strike aged people so maybe it's the same as the chickenox in that small children don't have much dicomfort, and older people have a lot. I was 14 when I had it and it was quite different from what I saw in my children when they all had it very young. Then, my OH caught it since we married - he was in his thirties, and he bled from the nose and ears with it.

It has been a long haul, Berona, but hopefully it will not be long now before you are fully recovered :0))

Persey, if you are still looking in, Barbra has asked me to pass on her best wishes to you

Allan

Good Morning Allan,
Good Morning Berona,

Sorry I disappeared - been on the phone to a relative in Hong Kong.

Berona couldn't your doctor give you something like a cream to alleviate that soreness? must drive you mad.

Well it's already midnight in Wales, so must go to bed.
Enjoy your day Sue, Allan, Berona,
sleep well tonight CC,
~~~~~~~~~to Diane who I know is fast asleep already,
Goodnight,
Tec.

I feel for you Berona - it must be very frustrating.

I must be off now and get on with my day. Love to all who are looking in. Have a good day/night.

Sue xx

Good night Tec

I once had an old chair that looked sick and bedraggled: it is now full recovered :0))

Allan