General Chat

On our last visit to America in 2006 we stayed in a lodge by a lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia. On one of our driving days we went up into the mountains to see where the white-water river boaters started from - OH was dying for the loo and there was a public one near the car park. She went into the shed like feature and discovered a very basic toilet which was seated above a cesspit and nothing to flush - basically a hole in the ground with a seat. OH was astonished that it wasn't better (being in the USA), and was most disturbed she couldn't wash her hands, she wasn't dying for a pee, as she has just reminded me!
:-D
Gerard

Bridget! That poor cat!

I remember well the toilets with a chain. There was often a knack to getting it to flush properly (e.g. two quick little tugs, followed by a MASSIVE pull).

And if you were a child there was always an adult around to call "have you pulled the chain?"
We don't hear that nowadays.

Gerald, what a shock for your OH, I hope that there were some wash basins (and taps) so that she could at least wash her hands under running water.

I recon that this type of loo is still around in country areas. A big lorry coming along every now and again to empty the tank.

This cold weather (we have snow) has made me think of toilets in schools, many years ago.
The children would have to go across the playground to the toilet, which usually didn't have a roof, so was open to the elements and very cold in winter.


Many houses too had out side loos, sometimes shared with other households (eg back-to-back houses).
Most people therefore had a "guzunder" for night time.

Anyone else have any amusing (or sad) stories? Even second hand ones?

We were travelling across a part of Germany. I don't speak German. At a rest area on the Autobhan we stopped and I went to use the loo. As we were only just into Germany I didn't have German currency handy. It was coin in slot in the doors. I must have looked flustered, a large German lady, muttering in German stuck her foot in a door when somebody came out, grabbed my arm , shoved me in the door and slammed it. Oh didn't know what I was giggling at when I came out.

Ann, you made my bellys wobble (with laughter).

Gerard, sorry, just reread your post and seen that there was nowhere to wash hands.

Now that is bad. Did you have to get some water out of the river for her? Or perhaps some bottlesd water was put to good use.

Hope that she didn't have to worry for long.

Well! Toilets in one way or another seem to have got us going again.

Thinking about what other stories we discuss, smile about, laugh about, cry about etc I wondered if we should go through the A to Z.
So I sugest that we all write about the "The Letter A" we could each choose what ever we want. What do others think of this suggestion? I will look in again some time today and see if there have been other suggestions .

Personal request.
A few days ago a person contacted my about a Ryan Tree which has people directly related to her. This tree is about a good friend who asked me to help him as his health at the time was very poor. Better now I am pleased to say. I think the tree was stated about 5 years ago. If anyone could find this tree PLEASE nudge it for me.

Many thanks.

Well time to do some house work so must go

Have a good day

Bridget :-)

A is the letter for discussion then. That’s easy as it is my initial. A for ANN, and I was born in AUGUST so two ‘A’s.

So, what to write about me? Not sure what you know about me but, I was born in Hampshire in the middle of The Battle of Britain. On this day apparently, the day that the Germans called Adlertag or “Eagle Day”, waves of strong attacks at different times over a ten hour period came in against Essex, Kent, Sussex and Hampshire. In the afternoon at approximately four o’clock there were two pronged attacks at Middle Wallop airfield and Southampton. The Germans lost 45 planes and the British only 13, and from these six pilots were able to return to their units. I was born in a nursing home not far from Southampton as the crow flies.

We evacuated ourselves to Purbrook for a couple of years during the war. I must have been two or three when I remember having my own garden patch where I grew seeds, and about the same age when, with my Mother and Aunt Elsie, one of her sisters, I went walking and collecting bluebells in Stakes Hill Woods Purbrook. I was told by my Mother, although of this I have no recollection, that when I was just two I one day let myself out of the front gate and toddled off down the road, crossing a main road before a neighbour spotted me and took me home. Thank goodness for the lack of traffic in those days.

My memories of the war are few really, I remember going into the Anderson shelter (another ‘A’) in Purbrook, sometimes spending all night there. That was an adventure to a three year old, with cups of cocoa and stories read by Mummy or Daddy. I also remember one day being in Portsmouth and hearing what we thought was aircraft going over, making us run for a street shelter, until we realised that what we actually had heard was a heavy horse and cart coming down the road. I remember seeing the ruins of bombed shops in Portsmouth, particularly in Southsea when we visited Bulpitts, one of the larger stores. The girders and gaping basements, full of deep black water, being the images that little girls’ nightmares were made of. And the other memory I have is of visiting the British restaurant for lunch and the all-pervading smell of cooked cabbage that greeted us as we entered the restaurant. In fact I do remember having nightmares where I was falling down the black holes from girders in the ruins. In January 1945 we returned to Fareham, a bomb had fallen in the vicinity of our bungalow and we decided to move back in to clear up all the damage it had caused. I remember the cot that had been left there (my cot) was full of glass.

VE (Victory in Europe) day, May 1945, was exciting for those of us only used to the drabness of war. We had a street party – it was held in Fairfield Avenue just around the corner from us. It was fancy dress and I went as a fairy, wand and all. I can remember afterwards there was a bonfire and the adults were all singing in the street. I was four years and nine months at the time.

That year I started primary school at the Church of England School, a strange choice by my parents as they were Baptists but I presume in their eyes a school where religion was taken seriously was the best option. From there, in 1951, I went to Purbrook High School. But that is another story.




So that is my piece for letter A :-D

A is for Army.

My Dad was a regular soldier in the British Army. My Mum always wanted to travel, I used to tease her that she married my Dad so that she could get her wish to travel in various parts of the world.
All four of their children were born in different places. three in different towns in England and one in Germany.

The only olace I recall living as a child beginning with "A" was Ambrosden near Bicester.
I have many happy memories of living there. It was a new (mainly army estate).
We lived in a wide cul-de-sac, which had large lawns for everyone to use. A great place for children to play.
We did a lot of skipping games, ball games, hide-and-seek and cowboys and indians.

There were also nearby fields etc where we could go blackberrying.

I was there at an ideal age 6-9, where outside play (and lots of it) were all I needed (or wanted).

Dad grew cabbages and potatoes in our large back garden (well, large for a housing estate).

We didn't have a t.v. but used to go next door to watch "Children's Hour"
I loved " Champion the Wonder Horse" plus a childrens news programme, on which I saw that there were women (steam-) train drivers, I think living in the Ukraine.

I know that we often look back on childhood years with rose tinted spectecles, but this was a lovely time in my life.

Don't think that I would have liked it so much if I had been a teenager.
I guess I was just lucky to be there at the right time in my life.

Dad left the army when I was twelve, so we stopped travelling.
At first I didn't have the time or money, now I don't have the energy.

But hope that oneday I might be able to get to Auckland in NZ.

:-D :-D :-D

A is for Army

Now that is quite a good one for me, well least I think so.

My mothers father was Albert Edgar Ford. A proud man for having been in the Army and five of his sons were in the Army or the Navy. One son was not the right person for this and some time ago I wrote about him.

Grandad spent his working life in the Army serving in the far east, WW 1 and was seriously burnt. He was firm, clever and knowledgeable and caring. I often feel sad that he did not live long enough to see some of his grandchildren in the Army, Navy and the Airforce. I do wonder what he would have thought about Girls being in Active work when in the services , not sure that he would have approved!
Our first family male who went into the Army goes back to the Battle of Waterloo who at the age of 12 carried the English Flag. The latest family member is my youngest son born just a few minutes after his twin brother. I am sure that you will understand why I say no more about him.
My younger sister was also in the Navy, met the man she married and then their first daughter also went into the Navy and became a nurse and cared for many personal.

All of my male cousins were also in the Services and I hope that our family continue this line.

I hope this is not too boring

Bridget

Not about A, but I will write about A later.

My grandson has been diagnosed with Psychios, which has been a shock to the family. Thank goodness that he showed no evidence of taking drugs or smoking.
Having looked this up and talking to friends who work in Health departments it seems that this condition is not uncommon and can be alone off sittuaition or can be treated with an excellent result.
Does anyone on here come across this in their or friends family? If so perhaps you would be good enough to add your experiences.

The sad thing for my grandson is that he will now not be able to join the Army.

Must go now but will be back about A subject

I guess that is psychosis Bridget, I have trouble with the IPad printing what it thinks I want to print too.

My Niece has suffered from something similar for many years now but I think hers is Schizophrenia. She is fine as long as she continues to take her medication. But if she stops taking it she ends up in hospital. Is that the sort of thing you mean. I am sure it will be sorted with medication and counselling etc. But I am so sorry to hear about his ambition to go into the army being thwarted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychosis

On a happier note - A is for Addlestone (in Surrey0, this is where I was born, according to my birth certificate.

Addlestone is a miraculous town - first of all it is now three miles from where I was born, but that is not it's fault but the people who give the areas names. When I was seven, my Addlestone place of birth was renamed New Haw, and a further 20 years later, obviously with lots of buildings and new houses it is now called Woodham, Weybridge. This is a bit confusing as the next village is called Woodham, Woking. But there it is almost from A to Z (well A to WW) in less than half my lifetime

Regards
Gerard <3

Gerard, I thought that you would have A for Arsenel (spl?)

I shall have to look up Addlestone on the web.

Bridget, sorry to hear about your grandsons problem.

I hope that he is not to disappointed about joining the army.

Perhaps he will find some other training opportunities (without the guns and fighting), in enginering, I.T, machanics, catering etc.

This would in the long run give him a lot more frredom to chose where, when and if he moved around.

My thoughts are with him.

So far I cannot say that I have had a great year!
Today I learnt from my son who married last year that his wife has broken the upper part of her left arm. The hospital sent her home with medication as they cannot treat her until the swelling has gone down. My son was so worried he called to see if the info and Meds were correct. I explained why and what the Meds will do and that no other hospital would do anything else.

So with daughter and family with their needs now we have number two to try and help. Spoke to son in Wales and thank goodness they are ok. Son in Army and his family are well. Should I expect a number 3 about concerns, I do hope not.

On a good point my only daughter is being very nice and kind to me and has said we must stay in touch each week, that made me happy :-D <3

bye for now
<3 :-) <3

Bridget,
<3

At least your good news in very good :-D :-D

You are so right Tess, I do like to "On The Bright Side of Life" just like the song.

I will be back very soon

Bridget :-) <3

I am back with the A word...Avalanche.

Not long after we moved from the UK to Spain we were somewhat surprised when we had snow at Christmas time. At first it was only very light and the local people were bemused but after a few days the reality arrived.

The snow built up in the country side and up the mountains and then one night the snow was so heavy that people began to be blocked into their homes and work places, the novelty had worn off. The Avalanches started, some not to strong but others caused chaos and fear. Many people were terrified,and fearful. We could hear the sound of the Avalanches even though they were far away. Amazingly the snow reached Peniscola but only for a very short time and the amount would have considered as a sprinkling of snow.

Cars and lorries were left stranded along roads in the nerest town to ours, with the people who were in the vehicles. The fire brigade took most of their vehicles up the mountains and worked so hard in a dangerous situation and were proud that they managed to remove every one. The drivers were taken to the pensioners Cafes which the provided hot food and drinks and many of us helped.

People trying to fly, go by train etc were simply unable to get to work, weddings, etc

However the children were having a great time in the snow, snowmen appeared, photos taken by the hundreds and sent to friends and family. We had some sent from Minorca which showed a family with there 4 children and two sets of grandparents have a great deal of fun!

Sadly several people did die two or three from no heating and living in the middle of nowhere, two who tried to drive and missed the road and several others had broken legs / arms etc. one fear which thankfully did not occur was people not having sufficient medication.

The saddest memory for me was learning that 8 or 9 youngsters who were away from home on a walking holiday managed to find an old shed which they snuggled into, and kept trying to use their mobiles without success. They were found about 30 hours later, one had already died due to the cold, one had broken his leg trying to find a way to start walking to somewhere nearer a village, two were suffering from the serverity of the weather and they others were just about about managing.
The good news was that they were found and after a while all went home safely. Some time later I learnt that two of the boys had joined the Fire Brigade in respect of how these men had saved them. One boy joined the Police, one girl became a teacher and the rest I do not know what they do.

This winter I discovered that they all go to schools, clubs and camps to explain what to do in such an event.

So be aware of what can happen so quickly.

Bridget <3 :-)

A, for anyone around today?
:-D <3

A is for April 1st 2013

Sadly today our Maine Coon/Tabby cross has died :-( whilst OH was comforting him - we have been upset all day, He was 13 years old, ironically the youngest of our cats

Gerard

Oh dear Gerard, so sorry to learn that you lovely Tabby has died. I expect that your other cats will be wondering where she is.

Tess, I have now read your entry several times as it seems to have been a great time in your life, the descriptions are so good. Thank you.

Is it time to go the letter B?

Bridget :-) <3 :-) <3