Drumming in Wolverhampton

Last night we went to our first concert of the year in Wolverhampton. 
We go to Wolverhampton by Metro -  just to have a day out shopping and strolling, although I find the local accent difficult to understand at times. 
Us Brummies know the place as 'YamYam' country, or 'The Black Country'.  The accent is a long drawn out one, often taken for a Brummie accent  - which of course it is nothing like!! lol 
It is known as the Black Country because of all the industry that was in that area, which includes Dudley, (or as the locals say 'Duudlay') including glass making  - that's a story.............. I went to visit my first husband's family in Dudley back in time, lovely couple, couldn't understand a word they said so it all had to be translated by my then fiancé.  Uncle Dave gave me a beautiful glass plate he had made, almost clear glass with a pale blue design round the edge.  When I can sort it out I will post a pic.
Any way back to last night .......... we were going to go in by Metro, I love an excuse to travel in a train along the road!  While DH was at work, someone suggested going in on the 'proper' train, so I sorted out a map of the Theatre and found a pub opposite for tea and off we went.
 

The Theatre and the pub (The moon under the water - ain't that a lovely name!) were opposite each other and only a couple of hundred yards from the train - looked further than that on the map!  It was curry night so we indulged and followed this with pancakes. 

With a full stomach we crossed the road to see the guys - http://www.taiko.co.uk/

What a beautiful old theatre!!

this is the domed ceiling

The theatre itself has been refurbished but I can't find any pictures that do it justice.  

The history of the theatre shows that it has had a long and interesting journey to today, but you would never know to look at it.

 We were seated in row B and  ............ no-one sat in front of us!  The guys were magnificent as usual with a lot more individual drumming and the comedy bits were perfect, Jo is a natural.

There was a new team line up with some of previous shows drummers, Fiona was there but Shona was completing her PHd so was unable to tour and Jo had a short hairstyle.  I spoke with him afterwards and asked what had happened to his dreadlocks (they used to be all down his back!) and he said he cut them off for charity and raised £2500 for Muscular Dystrophy - Way to go Jo!

So we walked back to the train, had another clean, smooth, well lit ride and managed to be back in the house before midnight. 

As DH says - didn't we have a lovely time!!!

Rationing

I have been posting on one of my history forums – Birmingham History Forum – they discuss all sorts there but I just loooorve looking at the old photos.  Someone came on to discuss Rationing during WWII and, not that I was alive at this time, I do have some Ration Books from just after the war had finished.  I have been scanning and posting and having a lovely time.  Here's a few photos.

 

Apparently the coupons were cut out by the grocer and exchanged for commodities. 

I remember seeing on the web a cookery book from those times, issued to help out I suppose. 

My Mother came back to Birmingham at the outbreak of war, she was sent home to England from Gibraltar where the family were living at the time.  She had nowhere to go so had to move back with Grandad and Nanna, who lived in a two up two down house so I don't know how they coped.

I heard stories of course, hiding in the pantry when the siren sounded and one time sitting under the table!!

My Grandad told me that the hole in his left arm was from the war.  He was sitting in the back room when a bomb hit the house on the hill and a piece of shrapnel went in his arm.  They lived at the bottom of the hill in a very quiet road, as I have described.  I don't know how this metal could have travelled so far but I have never known my Grandad to lie.

Yesterday, while on the Forum, someone had posted a link to bombing raids and so I entered Grandad's surname and, lo and behold! up came his name with a detailed report on the night's bombings.

Amazing to find his name just like that!!

John French (Civilian)

Injured during an attack on

70 Blythesford Road, Hall Green,  19 November 1940

Selly Oak Hospital West Midlands Police Records

Raid 43 -19th /20th November 1940

Air Raid Warning Red was received at 6.50 p.m. on Tuesday 19th November and White at 4.29 a.m. on Wednesday 20th November. During this period an intense raid was made on all districts of the City. (C District - Gerrard Street, George Street Garage, ICI Witton;, D-Division - Nechells Gas Company, GEC, Hughes, BBC, Queen Street, Aston Hall Road; E-Division - Coventry Road, Stratford Road) The areas least affected were Kingstanding, Harborne, Northfield, Kings Norton, Stechford, Kings Heath. 18 Parachute mines (4 unexploded), 677 High Explosive, including about 42 Delayed Action type, 243 Incendiary Bomb incidents have been reported. 17 of the incendiary bombs were of the oil type. The first report of a bomb being dropped was at 7.25 p.m. Extensive damage to property was caused by exploding parachute mines, High Explosive bombs and fires. About 100 factories were damaged, including 25 important places. 8 large and 50 subsidiary water mains were broken or damaged, and approximately 150 gas mains were damaged during the raid. Casualties (approximately) 400 fatal, 540 seriously wounded and 540 slightly injured. The following police stations were damaged: Lozell’s Road - Inspectors House was damaged by blast from a High Explosive bomb exploding in the carriageway. Duke Street - garage damaged by incendiary bomb. Hay Mills -damage to windows and roof by incendiaries. In addition to this the Police Social Club premises, Tally Ho, Pershore Road, were seriously damaged by fire from incendiary bombs. New Street Railway Station was damaged by High Explosive bombs and was closed for a short period owing to the presence of a Delayed Action bomb. Snow Hill Railway Station was damaged when a parachute mine exploded in Colmore Row. Other notable places damaged were: St. Phillip’s Cathedral, 3 hospitals (slight damage), a number of bank premises, large store (Grey’s, Bull Street) and other shopping and business premises. Many roads were temporarily blocked by debris and the streets in the centre of the City were covered with plate glass. Birmingham Fire Services Air Raid Action -12.00 a.m. Wednesday, November 20th 1940 Summary No. 81 Air Raid Warning - Yellow at 13.01 p.m. and 18.42 p.m. Purple at 18.46 p.m. Red at 18.51 p.m. and White at 13.19 p.m. and 04.31 a.m. Number of incidents dealt with 378; Number of fires caused by enemy action 338; Number of fires caused not by enemy action 3; Number of A.F.S. Appliances engaged 381; Number of R.B. Appliances engaged 60; Number of Jets 472. General Report: The air raid warning in Birmingham on this night was given at 1842 hours and from 1855 hours when the first fire call was received, the raid quickly developed in an intensive form and was widespread. A turntable had already been sent to West Bromwich from Birmingham where air raids fires had been caused and the Birmingham Services were soon fully engaged. The fires were spread over a large area of the City, including Bordesley Green, Small Heath, and the south side of the City, but these were all under control by dawn. This raid was probably the heaviest so far experienced in Birmingham and several Fire Stations had to be evacuated during the raid as a result of unexploded bombs or mines in the vicinity. Water conditions were not good owing to fractured mains, and water in some instances had to be relayed over long distances. Regional Report: Three stages of the Regional Scheme were operated and a total of 107 Pumps and 2 Turntable Escapes came into the City to assist. The details are as follows: Solihull 1 pump, Sutton1, Dudley 4, Leamington 2, Burton on Trent 3, Shrewsbury 2, Wolverhampton 7 and 1 turntable, Stoke on Trent 5 and 1 turntable, Nottingham 15, Manchester 10, Bristol 25, Reading 23, Coleshill 1, Walsall 4, Bromsgrove 1, Redditch 1. Injuries to personnel: Fatal: Division 4 Auxiliary H.V. Lugg B.12760; Division 6 Auxiliary E. Carless B.12454.

There were 31 other injuries.

Awesome present

Went out with the N, TK and the rest for a meal, nice place, service impeccable and food  - had better but still good.  See this -

I have had to sort this out and wear it all night! 



wanna know why?    

 see that tuft of sticky out hair on the left of my face ........... that tuft of hair should be FLAT like the other side! 

...... note to self: when wearing white STAY AWAY FROM CAMERAS!............

While there presents were given and among them was this:

 a chocolate cow

Reminded me of the time …………..

Ena had a very rich boyfriend, I posted before but this is a detail.  He was a welder and a very good one by all accounts, I have no idea where or how she met him but he was lovely to me ………… I must've been about 11 or 12 at the time, he always had time for me while he waited for Ena to be ready …… she always kept them waiting!! 

He went off on holiday somewhere and brought me back this tremendous present – a large Dutch Doll.  It wasn't your ordinary doll, oh! No!  it stood about 12inches tall, was made of wood or something, highly polished and brightly coloured.  I absolutely loved it!!!

coloured like this but smoooooth like a russian doll (or cow!)

I was told time and time again to be careful with it and not to break it, it was very expensive and it was obvious that my family thought it was too good for me.  Did I care?  Not one jot!! 

I loved this doll. 

More so 'cos Ena was very protective of it and it WAS MINE!

One day I found out that at the bottom was a tear in the plastic and inside was ………………. Chocolate ………………. mm?!

If I was to eat it, no one would know 'cos it was hidden underneath – or so I thought.  Slowly I ate my way up the doll, pressing the shape from the outside so it wasn't obvious that it was becoming hollow.

Then one day my lovey adoring sister picked it up!

Boy! Did I get a telling off!!   Ena, Mam all shouting at me, thank goodness Dad understood and was on my side.

I think it took my sister a long time to get over me eating that chocolate!!

3inch Stilleto Shoes

I am trying to scan in my Cross Stitch Magazines and send the hard copies to a charity.  My wonderful computer doesn't like my new wireless printer and I don't think the printer is very keen on the computer!!!  Between the two of them it is taking forever to scan in these mags, I am so thankful that I am able to download uptodated copies of them now.
The rain has stopped for a while and the sunshine has been most welcome.  I am reviewing my records for my research as I have received a letter from Mrs M to say that they only have the information that I have.  They also contacted South Africa and .......... nowhere.  MrM is in hospital very ill so I am pleased she told me about that, as I can add him to my prayer list.  I want him better so that we can meet under happy circumstances!

Memories:

When I was fourteen, Ena & Ron rented a room in a house near to us, Mrs Sedgwick was a SAHM

and her husband played the cello in the orchestra attached to the Alexandra Theatre in town

They managed to get the rooms as they were a 'professional' couple, another word for 'no children'!  They managed to chug along together for some months and then Ena fell pregnant!  Mrs S was very good and said they could stay but would need to start to look for another place. 

I think V was about 12months old when they eventually moved to a nice place in Shirley.  It needed a lot of work doing to it and when they moved in they had no furniture as such and we used to sit on deckchairs and little wooden stools (a cracket) eating our meals off the top of a packing case – with a tablecloth on of course!!

Anyway, Mrs S and I got to chatting whenever I visited – I used to take V out in her pram for a walk on Sunday afternoons – Mrs S stitched and eventually gave me a load of embroidery silks as they were jumbled up and she didn't have the time to sort them.

 

More importantly, and the reason for this post, she gave me a pair of neutral suede (not black as in photo) shoes. Round toes admittedly but little 'louis' heels – sort of mini stilettos, only one and half inches high.  Sooooo grown up.  I loved them. 

Showed them to Mam, who recognised the quality and admired them. 

Showed them to Dad who said 'You're not wearing them!'

Broke my heart …........... so I learnt to be deceitful to my Dad – betcha he knew all along but … - I only wore them when he wasn't around to see them!!

When I was 15 I applied at the local Woolworth's store for a Saturday job – not old enough.  Tried again when I was 15½  - not old enough. 
Tried again when I was nearly 16 – two weeks before Christmas – got the job!!!

Only 13s 4d per day (sorry that's about 52½p in today's money).  I bought my Mam some Chocolates with my first wages and often bought tiny bunches of violets (which used to be around in season) for her but I saved like mad. 

Next door to the Saracen's Head (timbered building at end of shops) in Shirley was a shoe shop – not pricey ….ok…… cheap -  but in the window was a pair of white 3inch stilettos!!! 

 I adored them, watched them as I saved, only white plastic but soooooo. 

Then came the day I bought them 39/11 or £1 19s 11d – 1 old penny short of £2.  I kept them a secret from my parents for weeks, then one day Dad caught me in the hallway taking them off – I used to take them off and leave them on the stairs while I went in to say goodnight to Mam & Dad.

'What have you got on your feet?' he bellowed at me.  'SHOES' I bellowed back, 'and there's nothing you can do because I bought them with my own money!' 
ooohhh! What a put down! 

Oooh! What power! 

What a tart!!!

He shut up and I never had a problem with my footwear after that!!!

I lived in stilletos for many years, whether they were platforms, wedgies or whatever, high heels were me!!  I still have a pair of red ones - only two inch stilettos admittedly but they do have pointed toes.

Aston Hippodrome

I always wanted to learn to tap dance. 
Eventually I persuaded my mother to take me to a dancing school so I could learn.  She found such an academy (aren't mothers wonderful!) It was a big detached house at the top of Manor Road hill, sitting on the corner of the road.  So we went to discuss details and have a look round, exciting!  Then came the blow!  I  had to learn ballet before I could learn tap!  Even to this day I do not understand why.  So it was arranged that this is what we would do and I had to learn silly old ballet.  Every Saturday morning I traipsed up the hill to the school, there was a dance studio and a little hatch to the kitchen where one could buy a glass of lemonade - such luxury for me who only saw pop on special occasions.
Anyhow every week I had lessons and practised at home, no doubt driving each and everyone of them barmy with it all!!!  I had pink ballet shoes, unblocked as I was only learning - I would've been 10 .......... maybe it was to take my mind off 'the phantom'!!

So I progressed, and then my class was told that we would be taking part in the Pantomime to be held at the Aston Hippodrome.  I had no idea where it was but I didn't care - I was going to dance on the stage!!!  It was madness!  Our class would dance as 'rabbits' in part of Cinderella's dream and then a select few would be 'horses' pulling her carriage.  I was among the chosen eight to pull the coach, such an honour, worth all the practise I had put in.  Mam stitched away at my costume - a white satin 'body' with two different hoods and two different tails.  The hood covered our whole head and was in white satin - bit like a balaclava - had big white ears lined with pink for the rabbit and the second one had short ears and long brown wool, as in mane, down the back.  The tails were fastened onto the back of the costume, for the life of me I cannot remember how, but one was a white tuft of cotton wool and the other a long brown tail of wool.  Oh! how we rehearsed, rehearsed, rehearsed and rehearsed, then went to the Hippodrome to rehearse again!  When we arrived on the morning of the performance we were straight into a dress rehearsal and it was drummed into the 'horses' how to pull the carriage while dancing in time to the music.  We were sorted into position and, of course, this little dainty thing had to be one of the back two (!!!) to slow the carriage down if it looked like it was going too fast.   The carriage was to be pulled straight across the stage, enter right and leave left!

Then came the night!
One performance only!
No second chance!
It was bedlam in those dressing rooms, how the adults coped I will never know, parents were not allowed back stage so there was just everyone helping everyone.  Eventually there we were in the wings waiting to go on - excited, smiling, nervous, giggling - and then ...........
onto the stage we hopped, I know we did a dance, and then we hopped off again to much applause. 
WE DID IT!  WE DANCED ON THE STAGE!!
No time to think we had to get back to the dressing rooms and change our outfits to become snow white horses!!  Back in the wings, transformed into horses, we lined up in front of the coach...... and then ........ on we went .......... prancing and dancing ........... the two at the back panicking half way across as they realised that the carriage was not going straight and was heading for the front!!!!  Oh! my goodness!  ever tried stopping a car by standing in front of it?  don't!! 
Thank goodness the curtains closed and the audience did not see the mishap.  Those poor dainty little blondes at the front didn't have a clue!
Anyhow, we had to change back into bunnies and wait for the final curtain.  The peculiar thing is that everyone was singing this song that we had never heard but everyone else assumed we knew!! 
And it was all over!
Mam and Ena collected me out at the front and we came home. 

I had come to a decision ........... I wanted to be a ballet dancer, pink toutou, pink blocked shoes, pink coronet - Sugar Plum Fairy - that was going to be me!!  Tap dancing - forget it!

For Christmas I had a pair of Roller Skates - wonderful  things, didn't fit properly at times but there you go!  I lived in those things, went everywhere I could go.
One evening, Dad asked me to go to fetch the 'fags' for him so off I went.   He called me back - "Don't go on your roller skates" - huh! no chance!  off I went.

I can remember going round the corner trying to avoid the dip in the pavement, which I knew was there, and then I was in the gutter with some man leaning over me asking if I was alright.  Then Mam appeared and I was uploaded into an ambulance, and 'blue lighted' all the way to the Accident Hospital.

Eventually it was decided that I was ok but had fractured my right leg and had to be plastered up from toe to thigh.  Dad didn't speak to me when I got home but that was Dad, took a couple of days and ............ I still had to have a telling off ..............but then it was back to normal. 

I couldn't be encouraged onto those crutches, when I stood up the blood rushing down my leg caused so much pain, there was no way.  Eventually I was cajoled by my Mam saying that she had arranged for me to go back to school but only if I could manage to get around.  Back to school, not lying on the sofa, not being on my own anymore ........... I managed those crutches and, as posted on an earlier post - did I have good time at school!!

When I eventually was fit enough to go back to ballet, I had fallen so far behind it was decided that I would have to join another class, probably starting again.  Too much ..... the lights and music, pink toutou were all put away, although I did keep my ballet shoes for a while .........
now  I wish I had stuck with it but then ..... I am no balerina, never could've been ........... but when I go to the Theatre to see the 'Nutcracker' and the Sugar Plum Fairy dances onto the stage ....................

 

at last a light ..........

I have been browsing that old memories of Brum website of late and then found a similar one.  Among the old photos on this other site were several of the inside of the old Beaufort Cinema.
You recall my earlier post about the Phantom of the Opera coming to our local theatre - well! it's not playing on my mind ............ not at all!  lol
I would dearly love to go and don't understand why I have this fear.
Looking at the photos made me realise that my surroundings couldn't have helped me at the time.  I was about 9 or ten remember and never having been to this cinema before.

Here is the old cinema,

now see what I have found - think Phantom in scary black and white (not colour and beautiful songs with a bit of comedy thrown in to lighten the tension - oh! no! scary!) and then coming out into this

this is the inside entrance from where you either went through the doors at the back for the stalls, or climb the stairs for the circle.

The stairs and balcony

you had to pass this lion on your way up the stairs.

I REST MY CASE!!

Avengers Assemble ....... film

in 3D as well!!  Getting good at this now, PJ's first decent 3D and we both enjoyed it.  Full of the usual rubbish, which in Marvel Comics heyday was brilliant but on film ........... good fun.  Lots of eye candy in the Heroes as usual, I tried not to think of them all in the gym working out together in their stinky old track suits and trainers - just like our local gym!!!  Back to the film which was full of action although the storyline left a lot to be desired and the 3D wasn't used as well as it could've been.  I will admit that at times I did duck to avoid a few of the weapons and the  .......... ha! oh no!!! I'm not giving it all away, my friends.
The rain stopped so hopefully we can get out in the garden again, but I'm not holding my breath.  We also have to tidy up the garage again, we did check on my doll's house - yes! it's still there under the protective plastic sheet.  It is starting to look very lonely.

I do recall ........

Dad made lots of toys for me when I was a child and also for Veronica, namely rocking toys with duck or horse heads.  He made me a hobby horse one year, and I remember ‘riding’ everywhere, then he had to make Freda one but she had to leave hers at our house. 

One year for Christmas I had a beautiful, magnificent doll’s house.  It was as big as me!!  When I played with it, it had to be put upon two dining chairs and then I would be quiet for hours. 

Dad had not only made all the house and furnishings but had also installed a lighting system, which was powered by a big bicycle lamp.  There were little bulbs and switches in the rooms and it looked beautiful when it was all lit up.  Mam had made me some peg people, dressed up in all their finery, a complete family with baby and young children; my parents must have had the time of their lives making all this for me and waiting to see my face when I got up on Christmas morning.

 I just adored this house, it was definitely the best present I had ever had.  Freda and I loved playing in it and with it and spent lots of happy hours with it, even Christine Jenkins never had anything like this!! 

One day, I came home from school to find the house had gone …… just the people and furniture were left. 

We had run out of coal and so we had to burn what we could to heat the room, lots of logs and my doll’s house and old furniture was burnt.  It took me some time to get used to playing without my house but eventually it seemed the norm and my little house was forgotten ….. not by me though!

My 'new' little house sits in the garage waiting for two old doddery people to take it to pieces and redecorate – why can't we do that with our own houses ……… imagine it all on the lawn at different stages …… nooooo! don't go there …….. it would probably rain!!!

Just wondering cos' I know I can really .....

Was wondering today if I would be able to get this picture restored .... think I will have a look in the Yellow Pages - it's a lovely shot of my Dad, he made me so proud that day.

Reminded me of this - yes! did it a second time, no father escorted me this time!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

and

what about this one?

in beautiful colour!    says it all!!   

25 years this year - amazing how he has put up with me so long, it must be love!  Nah! 

Jesus, you and me.  That's how WE live our lives and it always pays.

Back to the past.......

Auntie Vie was married to my father’s younger brother, she had six children, all older than me but the youngest Ann was about five years older and looked like the rest of us Hollands!  They often used to visit, and all us younger ones were 'farmed' out to the neighbours to sleep – I usually slept in the 'Powers' house with Ann.  They lived in the corner house right by the railway – smashing!!

Ann married an older man and had two boys, but this left her with depression, which is another Holland trait, and being far from family as they lived down south, it was at times very bad and then one day she killed herself.  We were all stunned as it looked as though she had a good husband and two lovely boys.  This isn’t always so and apparently Ann and her husband did not get on but that is only hearsay, she died which is the main part of the story.  Auntie Vie, Marie & Jim, Peter and his wife, Ted and his wife, Joan and Joe all travelled down together by train to Ann’s home for the funeral.  Michael and Maureen live in Burnham on Sea so had to travel from the south coast, Ann and her family living in East Anglia.  After the funeral, Auntie Vie stayed on and Marie, Peter, Ted, Joan and their spouses travelled back together.  During the train journey Peter became ill, had a heart attack and died. 

How that family lived through all this I will never know, we had been upset by Ann’s death – me more so cause we got on quite well – but now we had a second tragedy.
This affected Ena badly as she and Peter had been ‘stepping out’ at one time, (this was frowned on by the family because they were cousins, they were warned off but remained very good friends).  So poor Auntie Vie and Ann’s husband had to travel to another funeral, the boys did not go as it was deemed too close to their mother’s. 

Such a sad time, questions were asked but although the Coroner said that Ann’s death was 'while the balance of her mind etc… ..….' Peter’s was put down to natural causes. 
The questions and debate went on for many years, things like - why didn’t anyone help Ann, was it postnatal depression etc and then if she hadn’t died would Peter still be alive.  Something we will have to ask God when we see Him!

Happy May Day!

Not dancing round the Maypole as I gave that up when I left Junior School - both of them!!!
Anyhow it isn't very good weather for dancing on the village green - ugh!
The weather has matched my mood of late as I have been proper poorly - betcha didn't even miss me  lol 
Went to the Drs today, only 'cos I promised DH I'd go - nothing happening there and another wasted journey ....... caught me for my annual bloods so I have to do those now .....
I am still busy researching the old family tree, it gets so fascinating - looks like a have found a great great back in 1781 - Sally!  When I find a way into the Irish records I will be up all hours but what the heck! I'm retired!
I watched a programme last night where the owner of a self build house said she would probably build another when she retired - got news for you darlin' ...... it don't work like that!!    Especially if our local labour Councillor gets in - he wants to find jobs for the elderly .......... hasn't he heard   WE'VE WORKED FOR THE PAST 50 YEARS!!!!!

DUH!!


Further thoughts........     Not all my memories are of my childhood, some of are recent years and I think these should also be incorporated into here.  Not everyone is aware, even now, of happenings in my adult life and, although I want this blog to keep family stories in the family, there are happenings that are more recent but not involving my current family who may not be confirmable with them. 

But it is part of me and as always, what you see is what you get!!

I think it will be random memories now as I continue to research the family so here is random:

Take my cousin Irene, who now lives in Telford – she moved down from Newcastle some years ago with her husband who was looking for work.  I didn’t really have much to do with her although I was aware that she had moved and then her mother Agnes also moved to Telford.  Suddenly I had some of my father’s family living nearby and so I went to visit Agnes as I felt a responsibility to her. 

We had a lovely afternoon of talking, Irene came round and then when one of her sons came round he started talking to me as he thought I was Irene!!! Yes! The family likeness is there, we are very much alike to look at, even now.  His face was a picture when he realised what was happening and how we all laughed about it, I felt it brought us all that much closer after the years had estranged us.  I don’t think I had seen Agnes since she visited us when we lived in Robin Hood Lane

– now there is a story!!

That lovely sunny day – wasn't it always! - I was doing my washing and went up the garden to hang it out, those of you who were old enough at the time will remember that I had a line that stretched from the Patio right up to the Rose beds. 

So there I am pegging out the washing when I am aware that someone has come through my back gate.  This woman is walking round to my back door and I have no idea who she is or what she wants.  Well!  I am down that garden path crying out “OI!    What do you want?” 

She turns slowly, looks at me and then beckons to someone still standing in the entry.  
 Uh! Uh!  Who’s coming in now? 

A man and a woman come onto the patio by which time I have also arrived there. 

This woman says, with a loud Geordie voice “is that you Christine?”  weeeell!  Someone who knows me but who can it be??!?! 

She starts to laugh as does the other woman who says in a Geordie accent “do you not recognise us?” 

Well I look again and then see that it is Agnes and so this must be Irene with Joe!!!!! “Agnes!”  I say and there are hugs all round.  They come into the house, with me apologising all the time for the mess (I had a twin tub machine then so it had to be hauled out into the kitchen itself, and I usually piled my washing in heaps of the same colours around it).  We stepped across this and went into the back room, we had tea and catch ups and laughter and it was wonderful. 

If you know how it is with the girls and me, then you know how it was with us then. 

I think it was about the time that Agnes was thinking of moving down to Telford and had come to stay for a few days with Irene and Joe.  They had decided to go out for a ride in Joe’s car and as they were quite close decided to call in on the off chance I was there.  What a lovely memory it is. 

I have written a letter to her as Marie thinks her mother may have visited relatives on Dad's paternal side of the family in Ireland.   How exciting!!