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Just Me - As it was and is
Of course I must start at the beginning. Born on the 22nd of October 1917. My mother tells the story for the early years. She says I was born whilst she was suffering from Rheumatic Fever. It was hard on both of us but we survived.
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From
To
| 10/22/1917
10/22/1922 | |
Devon
Back to Devon for a time. I really enjoyed myself including letting a herd of cows out so that I could ride on the back of one with big horns. Away down the main street I rode urging the cow along with shouts and smacks on its ...
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From
To
| 10/22/1917
10/22/1922 | |
Family
Of course I had times of being quite happy. When my sister brought home measles and chicken pox I had days of playing without any shouting or crying.
Then my sister brought home little visitors in her hair. We both had ...
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From
To
| 10/22/1917
10/22/1922 | |
School to Stories
So I am five years old and my father decided that I should learn to be a boy. This meant that when he played with an engine I had to stand beside him and hand on the tools he wanted. I learnt a lot while this phase lasted.
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From
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| 10/23/1922
10/22/1928 | |
Stories to Bea's
Of course there were times of happiness but always a walk on the careful side ready for trouble. We went on picnics. Those glorious picnics when we were free. My mother was at heart a country woman and the picnics always meant ...
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From
To
| 10/23/1922
10/22/1928 | |
The Separation
I can still see the shock on my mother’s face. Her screams of defiance still sound in my ears. My father just backhanded her and led Louis through to the living room. When my mother followed and tried to pull Louis away my ...
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From
To
| 10/24/1922
10/22/1928 | |
Come in Cinderella
As soon as my mother had left Mrs. Miller proceeded to tell me the rules. Wash and dress, then a broom to sweep the front path to the gate and then a bucket and mop to clean the front doorstep and hearthstone to whiten the edge. ...
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From
To
| 01/01/1927
01/01/1933 | |
Kenilworth House and the Mauretania up close
The end of my dream world and easy living had come. As had my shopkeeping and useful work.
Fred decided to return to town. He sold the country hotel and bought another in town near Kenilworth House. It was a beautiful place ...
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From
To
| 01/02/1933
03/22/1933 | |
Netball, La Crosse and Baseball but Pinging’s a...
The first thing I did living with my mother was to join a class for Swedish exercises. A drill using wands, ribbons, clubs and hoops; now used in the Olympics but only beginning then. That was on a Monday. Tuesday was free ...
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From
To
| 04/05/1933
10/22/1933 | |
My First Date
Although I didn’t realise it, I now had my first date.
It was at an art show. This young man came over and started discussing the art on show. He then asked me if I would go to a Faraday exhibition with him. As we were doing ...
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From
To
| 10/23/1933
08/22/1934 | |
Staying Back at Work Isn’t Always What you Expect
I was very happy working for the engineering firm until one day the sales manager called me and asked me to stay back and do some work for him. Always ready to help I said yes and when everyone left went down to his office. “Come ...
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From
To
| 08/23/1934
11/30/1934 | |
Dancing on Ice
I was still dancing with Fred but I only had the social club on Fridays and netball or tennis on Saturday. Dance practice was on Monday and Wednesday. I had dropped gym as my feet became so tired. Soaking them in Epsom Salts ...
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From
To
| 12/01/1934
09/22/1935 | |
Going to Play Netball for England
My eighteenth birthday. I really don’t feel any different. To my delight I had been chosen to play for England against France at netball. Was I chuffed.
However the future decided otherwise.
The Speedway was quite an exciting ...
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From
To
| 10/22/1935
04/22/1936 | |
The Accident and Gretna Green
The road was newly tarred and the loose gravel had been left at the side of the road. We hit the gravel and went into a skid. Next thing we were flat on the road.
Ted stood the bike up and then I said “Ted my foot’s gone. ...
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From
To
| 04/23/1936
04/23/1937 | |
Grandma Dring, A Baby Boy and A Declaration of War
Before we knew it Xmas had arrived and it was so good. The local university came and sang carols and everyone went to a dance in the hall. Well nearly everyone.
The Uni rugger team were in dire trouble because when they ...
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From
To
| 03/22/1937
09/03/1939 | |
My Darling Baby Girl, One Mother-in-Law and the Doorstep
War is declared but there was a time of no action.
Where we lived in Bristol was in a direct line with Filton aerodrome. And we didn’t realise how dangerous the position was.
When the bombing started we often had left ...
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From
To
| 10/03/1939
10/15/1940 | |
Bombardment from Every Which Way
Ted hurried us to the shelter but it was full. Even the air raid warden was in there. Ted was furious. He shouted at them all to get out. “I built this place for my family and all you did was smirk and laugh. Not once did anyone ...
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From
To
| 10/16/1940
01/01/1942 | |
Hitting Absolute Rock Bottom
With care I blocked the bottom of the door and put a cushion in the bottom of the gas stove and sat on the floor crying and talking to my unborn baby. Saying we weren’t wanted and there was nowhere to go and I was so sorry ...
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From
To
| 02/01/1942
01/01/1945 | |
D Day, David and A Doodlebug
My Grandmother's Recipes
Christmas Pudding (2 large)
Self raising flour 8 oz
Breadcrumbs 12oz
Suet 16oz
Currants 16oz
Raisins 16oz
Sultanas 8oz
Prunes 3oz
Dark brown sugar 12oz
Mixed peel 3oz
Lemon (rind and ...
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| Comments (2) |
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From
To
| 03/01/1944
01/01/1947 | |
Just Me - John
1942 Just Me - John
So many things happened at this house. I found I was pregnant again and when I told Ted he said “Never mind. It's our love blooming”.
John was growing like a weed and picked up things so quickly. He ...
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From
To
| 11/01/1942
11/01/1943 | |