Silent Thursday: What is written what isn’t written yet.

Source image by Hugo Kerr on Unsplash

Maggie from, from cave walls wrote: ‘January is behind us and I felt I should give you an update on my conversation with Lauren on the status of our Throwback Thursday posts. “

She has spoken to Lauren who she started Throwback Thursday with about it’s future. They have decided that as Lauren is not well and has enough to cope with at the moment they would suspend Throwback Thursday until Lauren feels she can cope.

So for now Maggie has decided to do a Tranquil Thursday prompt until Throwback Thursday returns. As a I see it out prompt this week is : What is written  in your book and what remains unwritten?

I am not a hundred percent sure if I have read this correctly anyway here goes.

Life… A Terza Rima, what is written. © willowdot21

I did not ask for this life,

It was alloted to me

I walked daily amid madness and strife.

When a child too young to see

I blindly followed every rule

I was fitted with the ties that stop me being being free.

I learned to read and write at school.

Yet they did not want me to think

I was bullied, pushed around, I was named a fool.

I was weak, my armour full of chinks

But I strived to hide my fears

Paint on a smile hide the missing links.

Ambition and aspirations came along the years

Despite opposition I grew wings

Layers formed that gave my life tiers

Dreams I had enough to throw to the winds
Hold on to them as I may they slipped away.

Like so much detritus blown around the bins.

Finding my identity made me strong and whole

I found my voice, written words, my choice

As I strode toward my goal.

I was teased but it didnt hurt, as I said that was my choice

No one was unkind no tears burned me

Quietly my flag of independence I unfurled and hoist.

Married, they all said, your but a baby

I was determined though, afraid to be left alone

So the plans were laid, a start a bridal spree.

Seventeen, and full of hopes ready to leave home

Sister’s, sewing, in-laws arranging cars, cakes, and bridesmaids

Such a lot to do, in a few weeks I shall have flown

For a while all is bright and darkness fades

What the future holds I do not know

I am important for now I have the spotlight before it degrades

The dress is silk and white oh! how it flows

We take our vows and mean forever

Our love so huge it burns and glows.

And so our journey is begun joined by an invisible tether

Into our new life we blindly drive

Ignoring the pitfalls of life, newlyweds wrapped up in eachother.

Young and happy to be alive

Learning lessons daily sharing our new life

It was not easy being a wife

So many compromises to play

Still the love, in those days out weighed the strife.

We had a girl who could not stay

Then a boy who nearly didn’t either

But he did and after a dicey start is with us to this day.

We had to move down west to pastures new

Fresh start with baby on the way

Staying with inlaw’s a tricky thing to do.

Our home, with new babe out of hospital finally okay

Builders, sea gulls in the wilderness

Alone and unsure so much I was under stress and not okay.

Two more babes refused to stay I was thin and depressed

Hubby worked away I was so alone

Then another baby on the way we moved away from the west.

Back to London and my Mum’s home

Finding comfort in family and the old familiar

For most of that pregnancy I was not alone.

At length we managed to secure a home, three quarters of an hour from Mum’s by car.

The previous owners had not left and it was pouring with rain

Screaming baby, soaked possessions but we had our own place again Ah!

The years came and went and we all grew, good times, bad times in the frame.

I watched the boys grow and then ten years on another boy arrived.

Many things happen as a family grows and memories remain.

I had some black times it was never easy but we all survived

As our family out grew our home so we bought a bigger house

Sometimes I just hid inside my head until my soul revived.

I was often scared, letting myself be bullied, I acted like a mouse.

I lost my grip on ambition like sand it slipped through my fingers.

I felt so insecure, try as I might my fears I could not douse.

Hubby suffered with stress , the kind that lingers

The boys grew and flourished they were out life

Then we moved house again to our forever home .

It’s never easy being a mother or a wife

It pushes you and stresses you to your limit

Yet it brings joy and meaning to your life.

Years past, some alone but I coped no longer timid.

The boys grew into men I found myself again

We all need to grow and not be tied down.

The boys have grown and flown but their roots here remain

Family ties get stretchrd and torn

Yet with their choices I really can’t complain.

Twice I break my back, rue the day I was born

Second time I started to write

Words free me from prison I should of done it all along.

Things may not be perfect, I did not ask for this life,

It was alloted to me

But I walk daily content amid madness and strife.

What is unwritten

So now I have wings and I am armed with a pen…. Mightier than the sword? Yes I think so. Writing has opened my eyes and I have made so many friends online. I have grandchildren who are wonderful.

So what’s unwritten? A lot less than is but I shall not waste what is left. I want to publish, I want to cuddle my grandsons I want to embrace my family and life.

This is part of Maggie’s Silent Thursday.

Throwback Thursday # 66 That Was Then And This Is Now

This week Lauren at LSS Attitude of Gratitude said “I’m going through a crazy time in my life right now. I’ve gone from trying to herd kittens to running after a few ducks that keep getting out of line. I have surgery next week and I’m uncertain how long I will be out of commission. So, I’m cheating a bit this week and asking questions like I did in a former Throwback Thursday. They are different questions, but the same style.”

So this week’s rerun prompt is: That Was Then And This Is Now

1) When you were a kid, what were your creative outlets.

Painting, dancing, singing, writing.

As an adult, what have you created that you are most proud of?

Three sons?…I guess you mean creatively…My blog.

2) Have you ever saved someone’s life? Did you ever witness someone’s life being saved? Did someone save your life?

I don’t think I have ever saved anyone’s life…I am not aware of having done so. My Dad saved my life once he pulled me out of the River Isis in Oxford. I was very young but I still remember it. I think I helped to save my mother in law’s life by quickly realising she was having a stroke.

3) Did you ever get lost as a child? How did you handle it? Do you get easily lost now?

I don’t really remember but I probably did as I have terrible sense of direction and I am always going in the wrong direction 😃

4) Did you search out presents your parents hid from you?

Yes indeed we all did in our house!

Did you get caught?

We did but we never got into trouble because we never tried to open any.

Do you hide presents from family members as an adult?

Yes I have !

Are they ever found?

Not to my knowledge.

5) Do you have a special song that was sung to you by either of your parents.

My Dad always sung Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Dad would often change the words ! He often sang: Twinkle Twinkle little Bat how I wonder what your at! Up above the world so high like a tea pot in the sky.

Did you sing to your children?

I did but they’d laugh at me now!

(or pets) Care to share the tunes?

I sing to Ruby it’s usually a made up song.

6) What’s something you were afraid of as a child?

Being lost and alone.

What is something you are afraid of as an adult?

Being homeless.

7) What do you wish you would have learned more about in school?

Everything.

8) Is there something outside of school you were so interested in you taught yourself about it as an adult?

Writing.

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

9) What made you laugh most when you were a child?

Being tickled.

What makes you laugh out loud now?

A good comedian.

10) What’s something from your childhood that helped to shape your outlook on life?

My mum and Dad they taught me so much .

© willowdot21 2019

https://willowdot21.wordpress.com/2022/08/12/dear-mum-and-dad/

Throwback Thursday # 64 Spaces and Places.

Maggie is again, stepping in for Lauren this week. Today we are going to amble around through the places of our youth.

This week’s prompt is: Spaces and Places

Did you grow up in an urban or a rural environment?

I grew up in an urban area, London born and bred.

How would you describe the geographic area where you lived?

One the boarders of W5 and Middlesex. Lots of houses ,shops and even then traffic. There was a large park across the road, it was part of the Rothchild estate.

West Ealing 1960s photo from

Was it mostly buildings or mostly trees?

Mostly buildings but it was a “leafy suburb”

Four seasons, or always warm or cold?

We had four seasons and often in one day!

What about the place in which you resided? Was it a house, an apartment, a mobile home, a boat, or something else?

© willowdot21

We lived in a terrace council house with three bedrooms, one bathroom a tiny garden out the back there was a kitchen with a coal hole, a front room and a backroom and just inside the door was a pantry.. it was mostly full of family and friends. The photo above is of it as it looks now so slightly different to how it really was.

Did you like it and do you miss it now?

I did it was home and I do sometimes miss it but it’s more the people that made that home that I miss.
I don’t miss the winters they were so cold we had ice on the inside of the windows!

What about the bedroom you had in the home? Did you share it with someone or did you have it all to yourself?

Mainly I shared it with three sisters, multiple cousins and the occasional waif and stray who was staying over. We did actually have the largest room in the house because there were always more of us!

If you shared, with whom? How was the space decorated?

I answered this above…how was it decorated?

Mainly my sister’s chose how to have it doe but it was not decorated often.
I remember once my sister Frankie suggested we cut adverts and coloured pictures out of fashion magazines …we pasted them on to a long wall and made a huge collage it looked amazing…I was about eight at the time and I thought it was so cool. Very like the wall in the photo below.

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Another time she got Dad to build window seats and she upholstered them with red and cream regency stripes and she bought deep blue flock wallpaper with her own money and she hung that up herself too. My two older sisters left home by the time I was 5 so I don’t remember their tastes. Not long before I left home to get married , my brother’s and all but one sister had left home so I got a small room to myself. I decorated it orange and purple.
I also painted a mural on my white wordrobe doors.

When you did family activities at home, in what room did you spend your time?

In the room we called the back room. It was the livingroom really. We only had fireplaces downstairs in the front and back rooms so we all huddle round the fire in winter.

What did you do together? TV? Cards? Board Games? Reading?

All of the above. Though we did not get a TV until I was thirteen.

Did your friends’ living situation seem similar to your own?

Yes , some were better and some were worse

Did you prefer to be at your friend’s home or did you prefer your own?

I liked both.

Did your friends like to hang out at your house?

Yes it was always busy.

What kind of school did you attend?

A convent school.

Large or small? Religious or secular? Public or private?

Medium and Religious.

Did you attend church, synagogue, temple, or some other religious facility? If so was it large and ornate, or small and homey? Did you feel comfortable there?

We attended Catholic church our parish church was small and comfy.
Some of the other ones we attended were much bigger and ornate. I did not like them as much .

Did you have a hang out spot? Skating rink? Mall? Burger joint? Bowling alley? Friend’s house?

We didn’t have shopping Malls then, but all the others yes except the ice-rink but usually spent more time in the park or garden.

Where did you typically go on dates (if you dated)? Movies? Out to a restaurant? At home watching tv? Library? Gym? Dances? Clubs? Mall?

The park, at friends houses, or our houses we didn’t do much that cost money because we didn’t have much to spare.

What kind of place did you live in when you first moved away from home.

When we got married we bought a two bedroom maisonette , basically a down stairs flat with a huge garden. We had our own front door into a front garden. It looked like a semi detached house but it was four maisonettes.

Was it a big adjustment or were you ready to strike out

Yes it was a huge adjustment, I was only 17 years and had gone from the family home.
At times I was scared and wondered what had I done…. But on the whole I was ready.

Describe your first place.

The pictures below is a photo of our first how it is now. Sadly we don’t have any photos of it when we lived there. We lived in the downstairs maisonette. We had a tree and crazy paving out the front.

Out the back we had a huge narrow garden of about 60 yards. With apple trees, pear tree, and plum trees. There was also a pond. Under the pond was a disused WW2 air raid shelter… Full of water from the pond.

If you open the door you found yourself in a small hallway under the stairs, the living room was to your left and was the shape of a thrupenny piece.,old money, with a fireplace, two doors and a bay window quite a challenge to arrange furniture.

Then going through the secon door there was another square hall to the left was bedroom , to the right a small hall off of which was the bathroom and our bedroom, the kitchen was across the hall from the lounge. We were very happy there. Over 51 years ago .

© willowdot21

Throwback Thursday: Family Meal Rituals.

This week’s prompt is: Family Meal Rituals and comes from Maggie. As you know Throwback Thursday is Maggie and Lauren’s brainchild…they are both back this week after a short break. Welcome back Ladies.

So Maggie said : “I will give you some questions to help you along. Or, free write if you would rather. You can either respond in the comments or link back to this post. My response will follow.”

Let’s start at the top of the day, breakfast! Did your family have a sit down breakfast or were you more grab and go? What beverages were served at breakfast? What was your favorite (and/or least favorite) breakfast meal?

Breakfast was considered the most important meal of the day in my childhood. When we were all small, we the others not me so much as I was way behind the others, breakfast was a sit down in the front room. As we all grew and had different places to get to , school, college, kindergarten or work it became a relay in the kitchen . There was a blue cupboard/ dresser in there that had a pull out or fold down table incorporated in it….we could manage anything from two to four people ar a time!
Sunday was mostly a formal sit down affair.
Least likely breakfast…boiled eggs, always too runny or too hard.
Porridge not a big favourite either.
I used to love cornflakes and toast and marmalade 💜💜

Did you snack before the mid-day meal?

No not really. At least I don’t remember.

Lunch for most children was eaten at school with the exception of weekends, holidays, or summer vacation. At school, did you buy your lunch from the cafeteria, or did you pack lunch?

I can remember in Junior school having school dinners….they were mediocre at best….lumpy mash, lumpy custard, but there were sausages, and roast potatoes and of course jam rolly poly pudding and custard…nice. When I went to the senior part of the school I took a packed lunch. Sandwiches, apples and in the winter a flask of soup.
Occasionally I went home for lunch, to get away from bullying girls…the walk there and back was about 40 mins leaving me twenty minutes to see mum and eat maybe something on toast. I got me out of school though.

In high school, were you allowed to leave school grounds during the lunch period?

Only with express permission if I was going home I had to have permission.

For times when you had lunch at home, was it sandwiches, leftovers, or a newly prepared meal?

It would be all of the above depending on time according to time.

The evening meal is usually the most formal meal in many homes. Did your family sit down together and enjoy the evening meal or were you more of a TV dinner in front of the TV family?

Dad got in at about 5.30/ 6pm and we all sat down and ate together.

How did your weekend meals differ from your weekdays?

Well Saturday was busy so lunch was a free for all but the evening meal was a family affair.

Sunday was usually breakfast after Church toast and cereal then dinner was at 2pm big roast dinner with all the trimmings, gravy, a sauce reliant to the meat followed by pudding. Tea would be bread and jam, sandwiches or toast

Who did most of the cooking in your household? Did that person also do the meal planning and grocery shopping? Were you taught to cook or were you shoo’d out of the kitchen?

Mum did it all but we all helped, preparing peeling veg and after we did the washing and drying up and cleaned the cooker.
Mum planned all the meals, usually: Roast Sunday, cold meat and bubble and squeak Monday, beef casserole Tuesday, Wednesday was chops or toad in the hole, Thursday liver and bacon, Friday fish, Saturday what ever was about!
Mum taught us all to cook and shop and bake.
Exceptions: Every of Wimbledon fortnight except for Sunday we had salad… Mum loved tennis!
Sometimes on a Friday we had fish and chips from the chippy at the top of our road.

Did you have dessert served at your meals? If so, what types?
Not always but mum did her best with what she had…Rice pudding, summer pudding, fruit pies and crumbles, jam rolly poly, treacle pudding, treacle tart, jam tart, fruit and carnation cream,lots of custard, occasionally cream. All very tasty.

Who cleaned up after meals? Was it a shared responsibility between men/women, girls/boys or was it delegated based on gender?.
We all had to help though some were less willing than others!

How about late night snacks? Okay or discouraged?
Usually toast or creals depending on if we had enough milk or toast. Though mum usually had cakes or biscuits she’d made in the cupboard.

Were dining manners stressed in your household? No elbows on the table, no hats at the table, no belching, please, thank you, and may I be excused?

All of the above Dad was very strict and we were all excepted to be sitting quietly when he sat down . Then we had to say grace …..then we had to be on our best behaviour!

Did you have occasions where you had large family gatherings for meals? What occasions?

Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, New Year. There were so many of us living in that house plus waifs and strays that every meal was a huge occasion?

Did you say grace or have a blessing before meals?

Yes always.

Now for the fun part. What dishes are you glad disappeared over the years? What dishes have you carried forward into your own home?

I don’t miss casseroles, but make stews instead..
Really l still make a lot of meals that were made in my childhood.

BONUS: Care to share any favorite family recipes?
If you want any just ask if I wrote them all down I’d be here another couple of hours 💜💜💜

Throwback Thursday Slang.

Its Lauren’s turn to pick our subject prompt for Throwback Thursday, the brainchild of Maggie and Lauren .

This week’s prompt is: Slang
I think this should be no sweat, but I’ll provide some questions to help you along. You can always free write if you’d rather.

What were the words you would have used to describe something cool or popular.

Fab, Gear, Smart, Chic, Far out, Groovy.

How about those things that were uncool?

Square, Old hat , Dated, Sad,
What were the hairstyles of the day?

Cilla Black Bob I still wear it, fringe or centre parting with longer hair, the twiggy cut, Prtula Clarke cut oh! Yes and the afro and the page boy must look for a photo of the afro….I wore them all.

The twiggy look.© willowdot21

the petula cut © willowdot21

The log parted in middle sometimes with fringe © willowdot21

The Cilla look which I still sport.© willowdot21

Did they have a name everyone used to reference them?

A Bob, curtains, a Petula and a twiggy.
What were the styles of the time?

Mini , Maxi, Midi, Paisley, Op Art, tie dye, bell bottoms, Flairs, ect! Platform shoes , Stilettos , Doc Martens
What word would you have used to describe something distasteful?

Naff, Square, Old Hat. Boring
What about peers you were not fond of or were not part of your tribe?

Geeks, Swats, Oddballs
Any phrases you remember that were used (or overused)?

Man, Fab,Gear, Outasight, Groovy Baby,

Throwback Thursday #54 – Raindrops on Roses

This week’s Throwback Thursday ( Maggie and Lauren’s brainchild) prompt comes from Maggie, she said “Welcome back to Throwback Thursday. Lauren had us dressed to the nines last week, so I thought this week we could be a little more casual and relaxed. I thought it would be fun to remember our adolescence and just think about a few of our favorite things.”

This week’s prompt is: Favorite Things Pick any period of your adolescence and think back to all your favorite things. Feel free to elaborate as much as you want.

Who was your favorite relative? Not to play favorites, but who was the person you connected with more than others? Aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparent, or parent? Why were you closest to them?

Apart from Mum and Dad and the family, my favourite relative was not a real relative. My mum’s close friend Aunty George. As I said she was my mum’s best friend. My mum was not a well woman and she was in hospital a lot and I usually got to stay at Aunty George’s house which was a very posh house! She had two daughters and a son and of course Uncle George. I spent lots of time in that house, I even joined the choir at their church and went there with Christine and Kathryn. Yes I loved Aunty George she was kind, patient and taught me a lot!

What was your favorite TV show? Share a clip if you can find one.

The Woodentots

And Ready, Steady Go!

What was your favorite book or favorite family story?

What Katy Did is an 1872 children’s book written by Sarah Chauncey Woolsey under her pen name “Susan Coolidge”. It follows the adventures of a twelve-year-old American girl, Katy Carr, and her family who lived in the fictional lakeside Ohio town of Burnet in the 1860s. Katy is a tall untidy tomboy, forever getting into scrapes but wishing to be beautiful and beloved. When a terrible accident makes her an invalid, her illness and four-year recovery gradually teach her to be as good and kind as she has always wanted. More information at

What was your favorite, song, record, or album. Feel free to share a YouTube video of it.

I loved The Rolling Stones, The Monkeys, The Hollies, Beach Boys, Adam Faith, zombies, well everyone really!
Favourite Album hard but it has to be The Rolling Stones Between The Buttons.

Who was your favorite teacher? What grade were you in and what subject did they teach?
Miss Jones, she taught Geography in senior school.

What was your favorite subject (not teacher) in school?
English.

Who was your favorite (aka best) friend? What things did you do together?

Anne , she was in the year above me and we got a lot of stick from the Nuns and pupils from our year forms. We had lots of fun together staying at eachother’s homes, shopping, going to youth club, listening to music..
Here’s a song that reminds me of Anne.

What was your favorite way to pass the time?

Listening to music and imagining what life would be like. Hanging out with Anne and helping out at the Library.

What was your favorite holiday? How did you celebrate?

Christmas:
I really don’t know how my mum used to produce such wonderful Christmas dinners, for so many people because money was so tight but she really always came up trump’s.
It all started on Christmas Eve when we all went shopping with mum…. We all regardless of age had stuff to carry home. Everything was bought, then it was home and busy in the kitchen…mince pies were made, veg prepped, turkey stuffed, gravey prepared. The Christmas pudding and cake were made weeks before yet always tasted as fresh as if they had been made the day before. As fast as my mum made mince pies my brothers pinched them!
The Christmas decorations and the tree went up on Christmas Eve too, when I was old enough I went to midnight mass with my older brothers and sisters.
We had a tiny kitchen and how we all got in there to help here was a miracle.
Mum’s old gas cooker was very temperamental and often blew up.. nothing worse than singed eyebrows thank goodness.
There were eight of us plus numerous waifs and strays! No one was ever turned away from our door.
I have always followed my mum’s tradions, her menus and her panicks.
Breakfast : scrambled eggs and salmon with buckfizz.
Dinner:
Turkey and Ham or Pork or occasionally Beef. Stuffing, sausage meat, roast parsnips, carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes, basted with honey.
Coliflower and Broccoli cheese, Brussel sprouts, peas and gravy, Yorkshire pudding, bread sauce and Cranberry sauce, apple sauce and horseradish sauce!
Christmas Pudding, Cheesecake as mice pies.

I remember one year when I was about fourteen years old. Dad was washing up at our Belfast sink ( before they were fashionable) he put the plates on the draining board, we dried them and put them on the dresser behind him. What we didn’t realize was that he was lifting the clean dishes and washing them again 🤣🤣

What was your favorite toy or possession? Doll, camera, radio, bicycle?

My rabbit Osie and teddy Jungles. My best friends and I still have them. Osie’s outfit is made out of one of my Dad’s old socks!

Bonus: What was your favorite adventure? Family trip, amusement park, field trip, or vacation perhaps.

I used to love going with Dad every few weeks to the Barbers. We’d go on the bus and tube to Chiswick Park, dad would have his hair cut and a shave and I would sit and watch. Then he’d buy me an ice-cream from the Italian ice-cream parlour on Chiswick High Street before we went home. I always felt special because it was just me and dad!

© willowdot21. Some but not all of the family. Dad with me at the front.

Throwback Thursday #53 – It’s A Formal Affair.

It’s time for Throwback Thursday again , Lauren and Maggie’s brainchild . This week it’s Lauren’s turn and she said. “While most of us grew up with school clothes and play clothes, there were occasionally those special clothes, aka glad rags. Clothes can bring up strong memories and emotions.”

Strangly I don’t remember much about dressing up for special occasions….I know I was supposed to have been bridesmaid for my eldest sister.. unfortunately I had scarlett fever and was in bed on the day and missed my bridesmaid’s debute.

I always had a new out fit for Christmas, Easter and my birthday often made by my sister Frankie. She was always an accomplished needlewoman and had an eye for style. Below one of my clever sister’s creations, a grey A line dress with bell sleeves, a red tartan bib and red piped around the bell sleeves. I was nine or ten.

© willowdot21

I don’t remember funerals when I was younger but I must of attended a few. I sure mum would of had us all looking smart. We definitely would of all had a bath and had our hair washed the night before.

I have been a bridesmade many times in the family…all shades of pastel which never suited me! The dresses were usually satin .

© willowdot21

© willowdot21

The above photos are just two that I own there were at least another four but I don’t have them! The colour photo was Nov 1966 I was thirteen , black and white one was 1969 the dresses and head scafs were lilac edged with white lace, I was the one in the middle 💜💜 they all involved a trip to the hairdresser’s!

We didn’t have proms in my day and anyway I left school at fifteen and went into an apprenticeship as a window dresser, following Frankie into the fashion trade, she was a designer. But I do have a picture of me at about sixteen at the first party I went to with hubby. It was a long pasely print, high neck , rouched bodice legomtton sleeves and it was pink and blue , I loved that dress. The dog on my lap was my soon to be sister in law’s mother’s dog!

© willowdot21

I did my own hair and make up and I was pleased with the outcome 🤣🤣…. actually what do I look like??

Well that all for now folks .

This is part of Lauren and Maggie’s Throwback Thursday.

Throwback Thursday #52 – Transitions and Modifications

Welcome to Throwback Thursday the brainchild of Lauren and Maggie. This week it’s Maggie’s turn and she said : “Here we are again, taking a trip back in time. This week might take a little memory work to recall a few things, but it should be fun. Part of growing up is finding you own way of self expression. This comes about in many ways so think back. Are you ready? If you care to join us, it’s easy.”

This week’s prompt is: Transitions and Modifications

Think about your first haircut. Were you the kid that cut your own hair? Did you go to a salon or did your parents cut your hair? Did your parents save a lock of your hair?

Right…. Mum was a hairdresser before she married dad she actually had her own salon in Oxford. Like most little girls in those days I had long hair and every night mum would tie it in rags so as to produce long thick ringlets. The trouble was it was a very uncomfortable process and I hated it!
As I got older mum would always cut my hair as she had everyone else in the family. She even did my first perm …. A disaster, I got really teased about that. When I was about thirteen I got my first professional cut at a salon I had a Cilla Black cut! Not unlike the style I have now. In between I have had all sorts and colours!

How about shaving? Fathers often teach their sons to shave. Most girls I know, decided for themselves when to shave their legs and their underarms. Some cultures do not shave at all.

My sister’s gave me tips on when and how to shave , though we also used to use Immac Cream which is now called Veet Cream a lot safer than a razor .

Did you alter your clothes? Cut jeans into cut-offs? Cut the sleeves off t-shirts? Wear graphic tees? Tie-dyes? Sew patches on your jeans?

I used to buy Jeans then sit in the bath until they shrank to my size. I did a lot of tie-dyed, cut off T-shirts and jeans too.

Was there a time you remember challenging the authority in your household. Do you remember the first time you found your voice?

No not really….I can remember arguments with mum …. But never with Dad . I might of muttered behind his back but never to his face.

What about piercings? Girls getting their ears pierced was a rite of passage for girls. Then boys started getting one ear pierced. As time passed, piercings became more mainstream and accepted.

I never had piercings even to this day I have no piercings.

Did you walk on the wild side? Smoking? Drinking? Did your parents know?

Yes I tried both but I was married by seventeen.
At first I didn’t tell my parents but as I got older they knew. I stopped smoking in my late thirties and never looked back.

What about tattoos? Did you get a tattoo while still living at home? Did your parents approve?

Never wanted a tattoo I don’t think any of my brothers or sisters had them either. Two of my son’s have them .

What about language? Was swearing allowed in your family? Did you use the same language around your friends as you did at home with your family?

We were not allowed to swear or blasphem. We also had to speak correctly. Again I found people would take against me if I spoke correctly and they would call me posh . Yes I did speak differently with friends and school to when I was at home.

Think back to high school. Girls, did you iron your hair? Did you color your hair? (using Sun-in counts!) Guys, did you grow a beard or moustache? Did you grow your hair long? Feel free to share a photo of yourself back in the day.

I was definitely au natural at school, we were taught by nuns!!

Many people think our authentic self is the person we were as young children. Are you still inherently the same person you were as a child or have you changed your personality and demeanor along the way?

I am what I am always was and always will be. What you see is what you get …. perhaps a little wiser and definitely a lot older. Now I colour my hair and my nails Dad would call me a painted lady if he saw me now.

Throwback Thursday #51 – Learning New Skills.

It’s Lauren’s turn at bat for Throwback Thursday. She said ” I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to think of something Maggie and I have not done before. I know we’ve talked about learning to drive, learning to cook, and learning to swim. I am going to follow that path and ask about your childhood approach to learning new skills.. As kids we are exposed to a huge variety of learning experiences. We can never succeed unless we  are willing to make a commitment to the process.”

1. When did you learn to ride a bike? Were you self-taught or did someone teach you? Any major injuries on the way? Did you master the skill? Do you still ride? If applicable, did you teach your kids?

I must have been about three when I got the family trike handed down from everyone else…. I think I was seven when I got the old hand me down black and silver two wheeler. Dad taught me to ride that bike over in Gunnersbury Park. I fell off many a time but I don’t think I ever hurt myself badly, just the odd cuts and bruises. I don’t remember having another bike or going any great distances on one.
I helped to teach all the boys to ride, the all rode their bikes a lot. When our youngest was small I had a seat on the back of my bike and ferry him all over the place. Eventually the roads got too dangerous and I learned to drive!

2. Did you learn to play a musical instrument? At what age? Who taught you? How often did you practice? Were you in band at school? How good were you? Do you still play? If applicable, did you encourage your kids to play?

I learned the recorder, we were all in the school orchestra…I was awful, didn’t practice because I drove everyone hairless at home! I wished I had learned an instrument as I love music.
The boys are all musical, goodness knows where that came from. The eldest has been in bands and still makes electronic music . The middle lad is like me but did try to learn guitar during lockdown. The youngest son went to the Guildford Academy of Music and got his degree in sound engineering and mixing. He was also in the church choir for years.

3. Did you sing in a choir in church or at school? At what age? How often did you practice? Did you enjoy it? How good were you? Do you still sing with others?

Yes again we were all in the school choir , I love singing still do, I don’t think I am any good but it makes me happy. Everyone else can wear earplugs!

4. Did you have formal instructions on speaking a second language? Were you fortunate enough to be raised in a house with two or more languages? Did you learn a second language in school? Are you fluent in more than one language?

I learned French and Latin at school I tried hard but Latin foxed me and the Nun that taught by it disliked me!
I learned some German and Italian with one of my sister’s. I can get by in those three languages but really I am not fluent in them 💜

5. Did you to play on a sports team or learn martial arts? At what age did you start? Did a parent become a coach? Did you practice at home? Do you still play sports? If applicable, did you encourage your children to play on a team?

No to all the above I cannot seem to see balls until they hit me, I broke every finger playing netball. My position was wingdefense, I was the girl who did not get picked until last as no one wanted me on their team 😁😁😁 The boys however did everything and loved it. The eldest and youngest still Run and cycle, so does the middle lad but he also plays cricket, football and loves golf!

6. Did you ever take dance, tap, ballet, baton, cheerleading, etc. lessons? When did you start? How long did you take lessons? Did you practice on your own in addition to the lessons? How skilled did you become? Did you encourage your children to do the same?

I learned Ballet and tap from when I was five for several years I loved it, I was not built for it though as I was a tubby child! I was in a big show with the school once though .
The boys never learned to dance but can …our youngest and his wife cut a dash at their wedding!

7. Did you learn to roller skate or ice skate? Did someone teach you or did you take lessons? At what age did you learn? Did you become skilled quickly? Can you still skate? Did you teach your children.

No no no 😁😁😁😁😁 Our youngest broke his ankle skating, and they all roller skated!

One-Liner Wednesday: Dance.

Picture courtesy of Joel Valve- Unsplash

I may not be perfect but I am whole.
When things get too much and depressions wanting fed.
Bugger it I shout and go dancing in my head

© willowdot21

Part of LindaGHill’s One-Liner Wednesday.