I have an old book called “Grandmother’s Wisdom’ – good, old fashioned advice handed down through the ages. One chapter is on ‘Make-up and beauty tips,’ which in my experience was nothing like our home when we were young. Never heard of make-up, as we only had talcum powder and Ponds Cold Cream to protect our faces from cold winds. What we girls did like was face packs and it was hilarious to see us sitting around the veranda table trying not to laugh. We even put one on our little brother but it soon cracked as he couldn’t keep still.
I always look in the local paper to see the planning to see in particular the road works we are going to have in our area as now Galley Common’s roads are like uneven jigsaw puzzles. This reminds me of many years ago when I used to listen to Terry Wogan and he challenged the listeners to count the traffic cones, so this is not a new problem.
My Granddaughter said to me recently, “Grandma, you are the only person I know who has a pantry.” Years ago everybody had a pantry and mine is invaluable to me. Before fridges there was a stone shelf at the back of the pantry where meat, fish etc. were kept cool. Now we couldn’t live without fridges and freezers. I still love my pantry. Where else would I keep my ironing board, large kitchen pots and hang up the coats, jackets etc. out of sight. Soon, however something else will disappear – the front garden.
‘We are all of us from birth to death guests at a table which we did not spread. The sun, the earth, love, friends, our very breath are part of this banquet.’
Marie Cove