General Chat

Tess
I always smile when I see your name as Bridget the Fidget was what I was called by my mum...she sadi that the only time I ever sat still was when I was reading a book!

We had the rubber button liberty bodices, not thatther was much Liberty...
Smells are very evocative and some that I remember are
cakes cooking in the very old oven.
Life Boy soap. malt and codliver oil which came in a large jar and we had a spoonful everyday.
Bread cooking,
The smell of malt as we walked past the brewery
wet grass
The river Liffey whenever we wnet to Dublin whilst seeing our cousins
Granmas heather bags which were hung in our wardrobe to keep the moths away.
The fish and chip shop on a Friday evening (no eating meat on a Friday in our house as we had to go to confession on Saturday so we could have communion on sunday)

The smell of the gas mantels as they burnt to give us light to read by...we didn't have electricity until I was about 9 or ten.

Grandmas roast dinners..the best I have ever had.
I

I have a raging tooth ache..my own fault. I bit on a plum a few weeks ago and it hit one of my back teeth and broke a chunk off...now as a sensible person I would have told someone else to go to the dentist but what did I do,,,yes you have guessed I kept putting it of until tomorrow. now the tooth next to it is also painful and we go away for a week on Thursday to Ireland and I cannot get an appointment before hand!! so I am taking really strong co codamol and I know that is not the answer!1

Well bye for now as have to get ready for work
I hope that you all have a very happy day and will think of you all in my quiet time at around 11 am today.

Bridget

"Special clothes" yes we did have Sunday best. In those days, women had to cover their heads when in Church, (a sign of humility).
Sometimes my Mum made us girls a new dress for Easter.
She was quite good at dress-making, when researching her family tree, I find that some of her ancestors (and their sibs ) were dressmakers, tailors and weavers!

I can only remember having one pair of wellingtons, my tan pair I got in Ireland when I was six. They were short, (i.e. no where near knee length).
We did however wear horriabe black lace-up shoes, when living in the U.K. together with (knitted) knee length socks and garters!
The garters made marks on my legs, I hated them.

I only had one gaberdine mac. a hand-me-down, from another family.
Liberty bodices, yes we had those too. Two different types, one that you pulled on over your head, like a vest, the other buttoned up, with rubber buttons, very difficult to manipulate.
As it was well before central heating, and winters seemed colder in those days, I suppose that we needed the extra layer.
Somehow they remind me of the smell of wintergreen.

Another smell I miss from those times, is the smell of coal fires (in England) and Turf fires (in Ireland)

I learnt smocking at school, (the nuns taught me) we also did some embroidery, but I don't remember many of the names of the stiches. I'm afraid that I didn't inherit my Mums talent.

My Mum learnt to crochet when knitting became too painful. So was still able to make things for pleasure.

The gardner came today and made a start on clearing the back garden of weeds. He should be coming back on Thursday, when hopefully he will finish the clearing. We can then decide what to do to ensure that it isn't over run with weeds again.

Tess

Oh yes, we used to have our "good clothes" for high days and holidays. My mom was not a knitter or a needlewoman, but I love knitting and also did a lot of embroidery in my younger days, candlewicking too when it was all the rage some years back. I knit throughout the year(when my fingers are not too painful!!) and then at the beginning of winter I give the jerseys to the needy.

I think not many of the younger generation these days knit or sew.



Val in SA.

Did anyone else have "special clothes" those that could only be worn to church on a |Sunday, or if we were going out somewhere special.
My mum used to make most of our clothes and she was very talented. She would go to Roman Road Market or Burdett Road market and she would barter for materail and buy bags of off cuts or the last piece on a roll.
Shewould come home, put the materal on the floor, glance at my sister and me and the draw with tailors chalk our new outfit...absolutely amazing. She also knitted and did embrioidery and smocking.

I learnt to embroider, something I still like to do and aslo liked knitting but my two sisters were much more even knitters than me.!

I wonder if any modern mothers knit and sew?

Does anyone else have memories like this?

Bridget
OOps just remembered we had brown sandles for every day use and Red sandles fo high days and hoildays and white sandals for going to church twice a day on Sunday once in the morning and again in the evening for Benediction!!

Yes, Tess, we are in the middle of winter but where we live the winters are not severe, the night time temperature seldom goes below 6 degrees C and the daytime is between 16 and 24. There are parts of the country where the temperature drops to a minus and where there is snow. I must say I like the winter.

Gee, four and going to school over here the children only start school at 6. Have a nice time at the BBQ.

Bridget, we didn't wear liberty bodices but we wore awful thick black stockings which we really disliked.

Val in SA.

Val, you must be (about) in the middle of winter in SA

My son went there for a few months with the VSO part of an exchange scheme.
He is still friends with his South African counterpart, who came to England for a few months. They shared a home (with the "locals") in both countries.

I'm off out today to a BBQ - birthday party. My sisters grand-daughter will be one tomorrow. I haven't seen her for a few months, she is now walking and getting into mischief. So I might be on protection duty.
How come all little children have extending arms ? i.e. they can reach much further than seems possible.
She has a very proud four year old brother, who will be going to Primary School in September.
Looking forward to it, just hope that it doesn't rain.

Bridget, I will try to get back (probably tomorrow) regarding wellies, liberty bodices and gaberdine macs.

Tess

Bridget the wedding sounds really lovely, from your description the bride was beautiful and your son must have looked dashing in his uniform. It sounds as if you all had a wonderful day. As Tess says a day of memories to treasure.

Take care.


Val in SA.

n

Good morning everyone and I hope you all have a great day.
There are grey skies outside and the temperature has dropped considerably...even the seagulls are hiding away so I am wondering if that is a sign of even more rain.
a memory of when I was a child has just popped into my head...wearing wellingtons when it rained and how they used to chaff my legs. Mum was always telling me to pull my socks up and turn them over the top of the boots but they always slipped down and by the time I would get home my legs were sore. Does anyone else have memories of wellington boots?
we also wore navy blue gaberdine macs to go to school and we hated those as well, what about liberty bodices,did you have to wear them/// Oh there are so many other items springing into my mind but I shall wait to see what others post.

I wonder why these things just jump into our heads??

have a good day everyone

Bridget

Theresa and Ann
thank you for your replies.
Tess i will remember to put the names on when I receive them. I was in such a state that I forgot my camera,
so not perfect afte all ll!!!!

We do understand that the parent caring for the children must have a suitable place to live and all that we want is for her to agree to a three bedroom bungalow in the same road so no disturbance for the children and the very large 4 bedroom bungalow to be sold , which will pay for the new home and give my stepson a deposit for him to buy a small pad...sounds reasonable to me but who knows......

But I am determined that I am not going to be too involved he lives with his MUM at the moment so I have to step back a little...

Bye to you both I have to take the washing out of the machine now.

bridget

What a wonderful day, memories to treasure for ever. This will be helped, of course, by the photos you will have, something special to hand down to your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Remember to date them and keep a record of who is who so that your descendants are not left wondering.!

As to your stepson and the bungalow, the house stays with the parent who has the children, so that it is a home for them.
I hope that he is able to get somewhere suitable to live himself, where he is able to have his children overnight, once all the access problems are sorted.

Take care of yourself, and have a rest, you deserve it!

Tess

Somehow I missed this thread. Oh Bridget, you have had a difficult week in some ways and a lovely one in others.

I am so glad the wedding went well, it all sounded delightful. All the very best to the happy couple.

I hope things work out for your stepson, I thought the law was that the Mother had to have a home for the children, which is fair enough, I didn't think the court wouldn't suggest downsizing for the mother so the father could get somehwere to live a swell. It does all seem very one sided.

Val, Tess and anyone else on here.

We arrived back home about 2 hours ago, the washing is on, OH is asleep and I decidied to send a message to you all re the wedding.

Unfortunately I cannot tell you exactly where it was held but can descibe some of the setting and the joy of the day.

Army son the one getting married had a complete itinary tell us all exactly where we had to be and at what time!!

The bride has beautiful long wavy red hair and she wore a cream dress with a long train which was covered in fine lace with golden flowers embroidered on it. Her hair was up but with whisby bits as well just to soften the look, my son was in his Blues and carried a sword as part of his dress code along )with his campaign medals.
The bride shed tears of happiness and had to spend a few moments outside the room in the register office until she could compose herself.

The service was very personalised and both mothers had a role to play in that they were each given a light hearted poem to read!
We then had a minute or two of silence simply to reflect what had happenend and then another piece was read by my son, for comrades no longer here or badly injured.

Then it was a walk through the town which was full of shoppers, and we headed for the park for the main photo shoots.
The people came out of the shops and called all sorts of good wishes, local people knowing where my son came from were cheering him and his fellow soldiers, the atmosphere was electric, foreigners from as far as china asked if they could take photos and bless the couple, it was so very happy , jolly and inspiring.
We finally had all the photos required and went to a fanatastic restaurant built in 1450 and what a wonderful meal we had.
After an afternoon nap we all met again in the officers mess, more music, drinks , food and congenial conversation...whhat a wonderful day and he couple would not allow the parents to pay one penny!!!

I will not bore you all any more and I will be back tomorrow.

bye for noow

bridget

My word the wind is really unpleasant to-day and as we do not have a gardener any more I have just spent the last couple of hours weeding the garden, I am definitely not cut out for that!! I am going to ask the chap who cuts our lawn whether his labourers can perhaps do some weeding for us even if it is only once a month. It is actually quite difficult to find a reliable worker.

Bridget I hope the wedding goes well to-day and everyone enjoys themselves.

Jimmy is tidying the garage to-day a job which is long overdue I might add, so I am expecting rain!




Take care.


Val in SA.

Well, the gardner arrived, did some work and then had a phone call. It was from a regular customer - they needed his help pdq an emergency of some sort.
So off he went to help them, he will be back on Monday.

Today is THE big day. I hope that everything goes well for the wedding Bridget and that you all have a good time. Regards to Bride, Groom and everyone else.

Tess

Hi Bridget, at least things are getting sorted for your son, re his children. He will be able to prove that he has made payments. He will have news about his children (perhaps his mother will be able ro record the calls).
Eventually he will be able to get access, whatever mood their mother is in. So he will have the opportunity to build up a good strong relationship with them.

Regarding the disappearing post... I had done one yesterday, all about my busy day, so not the one at the top of the page.

Have a good evening tonight and enjoy being mother of the groom tomorrow. I read your posting on Izzy's thread, about the prayer that will be said at the end of the service, very moving.

Val, I hope that you soon get used to your new haircut.

I am expecting a gardner to come soon, to get rid of all the weeds in my back garden, so I am typing this with my fingers crossed!

Tess

Goodmorning Bridget and and anyone else who looks in here to-day.

So nice that your son's business has been sorted, I'm sure it will be difficult not seeing his children for a while, but as you say the judge makes the ruling. He can now look forward and carry on with his life.

I had my hair cut a week or so ago and listened to my hairdresser who suggested shorter at the back and sides, I now feel as if I have fallen under the lawn mower!! I have very fine hair which is difficulkt to manage at the best of times, now it is even more difficult, so will have to exercise some patience now.

I am getting up later these days as the mornings are so dark. Looking out aross the sea this morning the sky was a beautiful pink as the sun was rising.

You must enjoy the wedding to-morrow .




Val in SA.

Good morning everyone
A beautiful suny morning here in Hastings and I have been gazing out of the window for about 30 minutes. There hasn't been much happening, the seagulls flying around as usuall, the trees and bushes standing silently by, the occassional sound of a car leaving the nearby houses and peace reigning.
I find it strange for 07.15 hrs not to see some sort of activity but maybe that is because I am always up so early??

Today is the last day that my youngest child is a batchelor!
Today I cannot believe where those years have gone, I recall the day he was born weighing barely enough to survive as was his twin brother but they were both so full of determination and i look at them now with such pride.

My outfit is ready, we have packed our bags and will be ready to drive away after I have had my hair "done" at the hairdressers. I had it cut recently and it feels good so now need it to look good.!!

I wish you all a happy and peaceful day.

Re son and court.
It turned out to be somewhat different to what was expected, and he has been told by the judge that his wife and children stay in the bungalow until the youngest child is at least 16 years old.
The maintenance will in future be put into a seperate bank account which means that there is evidnece that his wife has received it...he has been giving her cash.
Another meeting is to be arranged re contact with his children but at the moment his contact has been suspended for about 6 weeks. he cannot even telephone them but his mother can make one call a week to speak to them and this will be reviewed.
Well time to go and make the coffee, have some breakfast etc so please remember I will not be ale to access a computer until sunday evening so take care and please keep this thread going

Bridget
PS Bridget the fidget you did post a couple of days ago and I think it s at the top of his page

I thought that I had added to this thread a little while ago (quite a long entry too). Have no idea what happened. But will be back tomorrow!

Val and others who have replied recently, Thank you for your messages.
Well the meeting went well and stepson spoke to the judge and an agreement in place. I think he has resigned to himself
the knowledge that his wife can remain in his house until the youngest child aged 3 is 26years old or 18 if they stay in education. In addition he must pay a substantial amount of money each month for the upkeep of the children.

I do believe that this is erring towards punishing fathers as if the home could be sold it would allow him to have a deposit on a home for himself and his family could still buy a smaller but accommodating bungalow for the 3 children and his wife to live .....but what can one say..the judge has made the decision
So thank you everyone for supporting me and the family we are now looking forward rather than backwards.

Bridget