In family life, a lot has changed in sixty years. My father's return to civilian life proved somewhat traumatic for all of us. Our domestic routine was quickly reorganised with a program of specified procedures. Each Saturday morning before breakfast, Ringlets and I were lined up for inspection by our very own ex-RSM. Finger nails, backs of hands and knees, ears and back of the neck, teeth; all had to pass hygiene inspection. Allocated duties for each of us were then read out and pinned to the scullery wall. On completion of each task mother was required to make inspection and initial the listing if satisfied. She always was. My weekly duties primarily concerned blacking the grate, cleaning all windows, red leading the front doorstep, and hoovering all rooms. Daily duties involved fire lighting (when directed), emptying of rubbish, and any grocery errands. No personal free time was allowed until completion of allocated tasks. This was not a democratic environment and suggestions were not welcomed. On one celebrated occasion, whilst hoovering under the heavy carpet in the 'best' room, I discovered a small folded piece of blue note paper. On it in my father's handwriting (copyplate - the Christian Brothers) was the statement "You have not cleaned this room". Later that day when asked whether all duties had been completed, I confirmed that they had. Authority replied that he could prove that they had not. At this point Ringlet's thumb went into her mouth. The family trooped into the 'best' room. Under precise instructions, I moved the table and lifted the carpet to reveal the folded blue notepaper. I was then required to pick up the paper and read its contents out loud. The notepaper now contained, in my less acceptable handwriting (joined up – Holbrooks Primary) the words "Yes I have". To protect the sensibilities of anyone with of delicate disposition, subsequent moments are not recorded. -- Smokey Firefox & Thunderbird portals Kerio, CounterSpy & AVG protection

Joe wrote: > In family life, a lot has changed in sixty years. In 40 years too :-) One of my weekly tasks was the ironing. We were a family of 5 and *everything* had to be ironed to "finish" them off - tea towels, vests, handkies, socks and undies as well as everything that showed, even my brothers' school trousers I had to fold each sheet and place that on the ironing board and iron on it, moving it frequently so that it was all done; ditto with the table cloths. They would move and make ironing things like shirts very difficult. And then a crease would appear several layers down where I hadn't made it completely flat. I was even "allowed" to iron my father's shirts. I got them down to a fine art: sleeves and cuffs first, then one side, the back and the other side; finally the collar. My Girl Guide's Laundress Badge was a doddle. Rosemary

My weekly chores were to clean the bathroom to my mothers specifications (I soon found it easier to do it right the first time!!!!) and to bake 5 loaves of wheat bread for the week. I don't bake bread very much anymore, but when I do.... I'm told that I should open a bakery! Just wish I could find some of my old recipes! Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rosemary Probert" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, May 19, 2007 2:58 AM Subject: Re: [BAN] Memories of the 40s >> 60s > > Joe wrote: >> In family life, a lot has changed in sixty years. > > In 40 years too :-) > > One of my weekly tasks was the ironing. > > We were a family of 5 and *everything* had to be ironed to "finish" > them off - tea towels, vests, handkies, socks and undies as well as > everything that showed, even my brothers' school trousers > > I had to fold each sheet and place that on the ironing board and > iron on it, moving it frequently so that it was all done; ditto with > the table cloths. They would move and make ironing things like > shirts very difficult. And then a crease would appear several layers > down where I hadn't made it completely flat. > > I was even "allowed" to iron my father's shirts. I got them down to > a fine art: sleeves and cuffs first, then one side, the back and the > other side; finally the collar. My Girl Guide's Laundress Badge was > a doddle. > > Rosemary > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > http://www.british-history.ac.uk/ > British History Online > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message