I have chosen an Abhanga. A poem in any number of 4-line stanzas with 6-6-6-4 syllables each. L2 and L3 rhyme. The end rhyme scheme is abbc. It is customary to title your poetry. The Abhanga is of childhood memories, mum cooking spring greens.
SPRING GREENS
Such childhood memories The smell in the kitchen I didn’t love it then Mum cooked just right.
Those viridescent veg They will make your hair curl Make you a healthy girl Mum was so right.
The verdant early leaves Fresh like the new season Taste reminds me of fun Mum cooked just right.
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?
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!
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.
We are back again for Throwback Thursday. Maggie is pinch hitting for Lauren today who had some personal things to attend to. She will be back next week.
If you care to join in , it’s easy. This week’s prompt is: Secrets, Hiding Places and Niches.
Now as far as these questions go my answers are I am afraid rather boring. I am sure there will be some really exciting answers from some of you … anyway here goes!
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Did you keep a diary or a journal? If so, where did you keep it?
Do you know I really do not remember keeping a diary or a journal when I was young… Sometimes we’d have to keep one for school during the holidays, strange really.
Did you have treasures or money you hid from siblings or parents?
Again not really, I just was not very secretive. I never had much money!
Did you have a need to hide things your parents would not approve of, like cigarettes, etc.?
Yes when I was older cigarettes but I don’t remember hiding anything.
Thinking back, describe your most creative hiding place.
Oh! Gosh under my bed or the back of a cupboard…. Not very inventive!
Did you have a tin box or safe or a diary with a lock?
No.
What about yourself? Did you ever have a favorite get away spot or hiding place?
No not really our house and garden really were not big enough.
If you did not feel the need to hide away, where did you go for a little alone time?
My room, but I shared a room up until I was fifteen so it wasn’t easy to find space. There was always the crescent outside of our home, a circular grassed area with trees, it was surrounded by railings and bushes. I would spend time there if it was empty.
If you had siblings, did they hide things from you? If so, what types of things?
I really don’t remember.
Now that you are an adult, do you still have little niches where you hide things away, like mad money, treasured letters, etc?
No really I don’t.
When you feel the need to be alone, to where do you retreat?
Lauren is choosing our prompt for throw back Thursday. She said: “We are back in our usual groove now. Last week Maggie asked us about how we were led to the music in our lives. This week we’d like you to think back to those early experiences visiting the doctor and/or the dentist. This topic should again be one that everyone relates to in one way or another.”
This week’s prompt is: Remembering Visits to Doctors and/or Dentists
There are many adults with severe concerns about going to the doctor or dentist. The fear of doctors, known as iatrophobia, is often strong enough to provoke “white coat syndrome.” Normally healthy blood pressure can soar in the presence of a medical professional. Dentophobia, or fear of dentists, often occurs alongside iatrophobia. I’d like you to think back to your early medical and/or dental visits.
As usual, you can respond to the following questions as they are, or you can use them to spark your own memories to write your post.
1) Where doctor/dentist appointments a regular part of your childhood?
Yes they were, we were a sickly bunch so Mum was often trolling off on the bus to see the G.P. with one or other of us. Also mum and Dad were very keen for us to look after our teeth so dental trips, which I hated were regular too 🤣
2) Did you go for well-checks or just when you were ill or in pain?
We only visited the doctor if we were I’ll, occasionally we had just a check up at the dentist.
3) Were you frightened by the medical professionals? If so, were there specific reasons?
I was and still am not happy visiting the dentist. I can remember our childhood dentist now he was a small and very bad tempered man. We were all scared of him.
I don’t remember being scared of the doctor ever, he was always very nice. We always had the same doctor unless it was an emergency. Our family Dr brought all of Mum’s nine children into the world. He knew us all and he was wonderful with mum who could get very nervous. We did have more than one Dr but our main Dr was Dr. Musgrave. He must of been a nice man I remember his name and his face even after over 52yrs. I remember the Dentist’s name too but for very different reasons it was Mr Paul.
4) Were your parents afraid of medical professionals?
I dont think they were ever scared of them but I would say they were in awe of some of them .
5) Was waiting in the exam room stressful to you?
No not really, just boring. It was however very stressful when I was older and waiting with my own children, trying to keep the quiet and well behaved.
6) Did your early visits result in your being afraid of needles?
No but I am not their biggest fan.
7) Does the sight of your own blood bother you?
No, but that of anyone else I know does!
8) Did you ever have the need to go to an emergency room?
As a child, not often. But I do remember one incident when I was about four. My brothers were not allowed to play football in the house but they were kicking a ball around the living room. Someone had taken the fireguard off the fire to empty the hot cinders from the grate tray. …..the ball hit me I fell I put my hand out to stop my fall. My hand went into the fire and boy it hurt. I remember it being wrapped up and then we had to walk up to the bus stop, then wait for a bus. Luckily the bus passed Acton hospital where it was sorted and dressed. Then back home on the bus! We never had a car.
9) Did your early experiences impact your current attitudes about medical care?
No really though I have always had plenty of respect for most medical staff. When I was a child all medical staff were held in awe by us mere mortals. Specialists and Surgeons were treated as tin God’s as we’re Staff Nurses, Sisters and heaven forfend Matron.
Its different these days….sadly not better or even as good. Unfortunately the NHS is on its knees.
Today out the blue my eldest sister sent me a photo she had take of our family outside our home in London. Circa 1956 ! It was such a lovely surprise and it really took me back!
As Teresa was taking the photo and not visible I asked her to find another one but with her in it! She did, this time one of the twins was absent as she was taking the photo ! I look a little older in this one so I reckon it is circa 1958.
Top photo : Elder Brother T with his tongue out,Mum, , Dear Mary now deceased, Elder brother’s Twin F, Brother JP, Dad and me.
Bottom photo: Eldest sister Tess, brother T in long trousers this time, a cousin, brother JP with his tongue out this time, Mary peeping out at the back , another cousin and then me looking grumpy!!
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