Opposite the kitchen, across a small concrete yard, were two creosote-black shed doors. On the right was the coal shed. The coalman used to come regularly to deliver coal, emptying sacks of it onto the small heap at the back of the shed. Mum or dad would go out to the shed a fill theContinue reading “Outside in the garden”
Author Archives: originalearthlady
Monday was Wash-day
With four children under 5 years old, there were always nappies – terry-towelling nappies soaking in buckets, being laundered, hanging on the washing line, and being ironed. How did she keep up with it? Wash day was only once a week, on Mondays, and pretty laborious. Everyone did their laundry on Mondays; it was time-consuming, andContinue reading “Monday was Wash-day”
Another baby sister
Dad went to fight in the Second World War, but can only have been 16 when he joined up. He was stationed somewhere in northern India, close to Burma perhaps. He didn’t talk about the war, but he never wanted to travel abroad again. He had a “war wound”; he’d lost the end of aContinue reading “Another baby sister”
More about Harold
Dad told me once that he never bought anything he couldn’t afford, so he wouldn’t take out HP (a hire-purchase agreement that allowed you to pay in instalments), but instead saved up first for what he wanted then paid in cash. They did have a mortgage on the house, at 1A Newmans Road, and IContinue reading “More about Harold”
Early days
In one of my earliest memories, I’m standing in the living room, carefully placing freshly washed and dried cutlery into the top drawer of the sideboard. The sideboard is teak, and I understand that it was expensive and must be treated with care, as should the dining table and chairs that go with it. AllContinue reading “Early days”
Forty years today
40 years ago today, at a little after 9 a.m., the phone rang in our student house in Hull. I ran downstairs, knowing exactly who and what it was going to be – no-one else would have called at that time of day. I grabbed the receiver from its cradle on the wall and listened.Continue reading “Forty years today”
Original Earthlady!
Earthlady was my very first online username, for a quiz site run by a well-known stationer and bookseller back in 1992. Since then, the Internet has grown beyond recognition, and my username has been appropriated hundreds of times, hence the addition of original! I’ve kept a handwritten journal, intermittently, for many years, and have recentlyContinue reading “Original Earthlady!”
Fading Memories 