It is sad that some of the old traditions are now classed as ‘inappropriate’. The latest I read was about ‘Punch and Judy’. When we took our children to the seaside we watched the Punch and Judy show. A couple in the newspaper said they have been entertaining children and adults with ‘Punch and Judy’ for 6 decades but are now being cancelled as inappropriate or promoting domestic violence. One thing I was glad to hear was that Donkey rides are still going and the donkeys are well looked after and the children are measured so that the animals are not over burdened.
When I see all the adverts on T.V. for soap powders, softeners and stain removers, I remember when we were children (all 7 of us). Wash day was always Monday and this was a full day’s job. There was boiling of whites, dolly tubbing, starching. Now it is so simple as the washing machine does the work but I would say that with all the fancy powders etc., no washing could ever be as good as my mother’s and it was a joy to get into fresh, cotton sheets.
At the beginning of October I was watching the birds in the garden as I did the ironing, and it was an eye-opener. We have 2 bird baths in our garden although no birds ever use them but on that day birds of all sorts were queuing up to drink and bathe in the puddle on the garden path. I have never seen so many species of birds. The Blackbird was the most amusing as he spent time in the water and really enjoyed it.
If all of life was sunshine our face would long to gain, and feel once more upon it the cooling splash of rain.
Marie Cove