tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-207357692024-03-07T05:37:50.514+00:00Past ImperfectPathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.comBlogger2698125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-63835562335192497462021-07-13T15:48:00.001+01:002021-07-14T09:32:04.442+01:00<p> <span class="XHbVAf" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; color: #00838f; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 20px; white-space: nowrap;">Exile on</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span><span class="XHbVAf" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; color: #00838f; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 20px; white-space: nowrap;">Pain Street</span><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> </span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Hi Mark -- lovely to hear all your news and sorry you have been having a difficult time. It must seem very strange</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> working from home after New York. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> It does seem quite unjust that you have to pay for the University experience when that is not what your daughter</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> is getting. At least you gave the girls a wonderful grounding in the Arts when it was possible. They</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> will always remember that.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Sorry about the weird layout. My newish computer has gone quite mad. Or maybe it is me - after three general </span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">anaesthetics.</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">William quite liked Tim - he didn't present a threat.</span></p></blockquote><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">With regard to your question about the plays we saw. I knew if </span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">I went into the attic where most of my memorabilia is I'd be gone for days.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">I enjoyed 'Separate Tables' Eric Portman and Margaret Leighton.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Godspell with a young Jeremy Irons and David Essex.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> Olivier in Othello, Long Day's journey into night and Dance of Death</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">and many more. However one stood out which twice during the matinee at the Phoenix Theatre made me want to</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;"> stand up and yell </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">'YES!" I think it related to something I was going through at the time - an unforgettable experience to feel </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">the elation I felt. at hearing someone voicing those feelings.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">. I must get a copy of Ivanov and relive the experience.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">That's John for you. On a good day knocks Olivier into a cocked hat.</span></p><p><span color="rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.52)" face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; white-space: nowrap;">Stay well.xox JOHN GIELGUD of course.</span></p><div class="mwq99" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); display: flex; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; justify-content: space-between; margin-top: 4px;"><div class="UHwcef Y4iVne" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; color: #37474f; letter-spacing: 0.25px; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 8px;"><div class="kI1fCb sIZtfe" jsaction="click:jmEtue;JIbuQc:jmEtue(hmLkdc);" jslog="33291; track:JIbuQc" jsname="euGutf" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; max-height: 294px; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden;"><div class="Y3tx6e" jsname="i6tyqb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;" tabindex="-1"><br /></div></div></div></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-64826248632892371372021-07-12T14:59:00.003+01:002021-07-12T15:43:36.940+01:00<p> Answers to comments.</p><p>Savannah:-Lovely to have you visiting and hope all is well with you and all your family and you are coping with this very trying time.xoxox</p><p>Kim:- we were fairly sure the culprit was a child although we didn't allow children in the basement without an adult.</p><p>James :- Glad you enjoyed chapter 47 and thank you for your kind words.</p><p>Neena:- <span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #37474f; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px;">Neena: it's all in the book. From our first meeting the danger signs were there and we both ignored them. I'm sure neither of us can truly regret the marriage because the boys meant so much to us. The divorce was fairly straight forward. As our solicitor said the two bones of contention are the children and money. The children had left home and I didn't want any money. I hope Tim is well and happy with a family of his own.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #37474f; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><br /></span></p><p><span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #37474f; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.25px;"><br /></span></p><div class="LgQiCc vOSR6b" data-disabled="" jsaction="dyRcpb:dyRcpb;mTYWXd:vzWA1d" jscontroller="QeBYfc" jsshadow="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(60, 64, 67, 0.3) 0px 1px 2px 0px, rgba(60, 64, 67, 0.15) 0px 2px 6px 2px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; transition-delay: 0ms, 100ms, 0ms, 0ms, 0ms; transition-duration: 200ms, 100ms, 100ms, 150ms, 200ms; transition-property: transform, margin, padding, height, opacity;"><span jsslot="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div class="AVg9I" data-blogid="20735769" data-commentid="4917693304346062939" data-hasparentsummary="false" data-parentid="6164268912888201937" data-status="1" jsaction="rcuQ6b:WYd;MVaktd:k9KYye;HnqD4:O1htCb;aWRkAb:T6My7c;JIbuQc:CCO3rf(paJ2td),nrWgDb(nUV0Pd),szsvA(ES9z0c),szp6ff(Jc6a4),YAglHf(Q3qKbb);" jscontroller="oJLXdd" jslog="33303" jsname="hgSkf" role="listitem" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; display: flex; padding: 16px; position: relative;"><div class="wIhMtc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; display: flex; flex: 1 1 auto; overflow: hidden;"><div class="CLVBVb O3LMFb" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; opacity: 1; position: absolute; right: 0px;"><div aria-disabled="false" aria-label="Remove content of this comment" class="U26fgb mUbCce fKz7Od or4Pue M9Bg4d" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset="0" data-tooltip-vertical-offset="-12" data-tooltip="Remove content of this comment" jsaction="click:cOuCgd; mousedown:UX7yZ; mouseup:lbsD7e; mouseenter:tfO1Yc; mouseleave:JywGue; focus:AHmuwe; blur:O22p3e; contextmenu:mg9Pef;touchstart:p6p2H; touchmove:FwuNnf; touchend:yfqBxc(preventMouseEvents=true|preventDefault=true); touchcancel:JMtRjd;" jscontroller="VXdfxd" jslog="82879; track:JIbuQc" jsname="Jc6a4" jsshadow="" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; fill: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); flex-shrink: 0; height: 48px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s; user-select: none; width: 48px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="VTBa7b MbhUzd" jsname="ksKsZd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-image: radial-gradient(circle farthest-side, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12) 80%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%); background-size: cover; left: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; top: 0px; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(0); transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s, visibility 0s ease 0.2s, transform 0s ease 0.2s; visibility: hidden;"></div><span class="xjKiLb" jsslot="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; position: relative; top: 50%;"><span class="Ce1Y1c" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; display: inline-block; position: relative; top: -12px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="DPvwYc" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; direction: ltr; display: inline-block; font-family: "Material Icons Extended"; font-feature-settings: "liga"; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1; overflow-wrap: normal; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></span></span></span></div><div aria-disabled="false" aria-label="Mark this comment as spam" class="U26fgb mUbCce fKz7Od or4Pue M9Bg4d" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset="0" data-tooltip-vertical-offset="-12" data-tooltip="Mark this comment as spam" jsaction="click:cOuCgd; mousedown:UX7yZ; mouseup:lbsD7e; mouseenter:tfO1Yc; mouseleave:JywGue; focus:AHmuwe; blur:O22p3e; contextmenu:mg9Pef;touchstart:p6p2H; touchmove:FwuNnf; touchend:yfqBxc(preventMouseEvents=true|preventDefault=true); touchcancel:JMtRjd;" jscontroller="VXdfxd" jslog="32516; track:JIbuQc" jsname="ES9z0c" jsshadow="" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; fill: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); flex-shrink: 0; height: 48px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s; user-select: none; width: 48px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="VTBa7b MbhUzd" jsname="ksKsZd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-image: radial-gradient(circle farthest-side, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12) 80%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%); background-size: cover; left: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; top: 0px; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(0); transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s, visibility 0s ease 0.2s, transform 0s ease 0.2s; visibility: hidden;"></div><span class="xjKiLb" jsslot="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; position: relative; top: 50%;"><span class="Ce1Y1c" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; display: inline-block; position: relative; top: -12px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="DPvwYc" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; direction: ltr; display: inline-block; font-family: "Material Icons Extended"; font-feature-settings: "liga"; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1; overflow-wrap: normal; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></span></span></span></div><div aria-disabled="false" aria-label="Delete this comment" class="U26fgb mUbCce fKz7Od or4Pue M9Bg4d" data-tooltip-horizontal-offset="0" data-tooltip-vertical-offset="-12" data-tooltip="Delete this comment" jsaction="click:cOuCgd; mousedown:UX7yZ; mouseup:lbsD7e; mouseenter:tfO1Yc; mouseleave:JywGue; focus:AHmuwe; blur:O22p3e; contextmenu:mg9Pef;touchstart:p6p2H; touchmove:FwuNnf; touchend:yfqBxc(preventMouseEvents=true|preventDefault=true); touchcancel:JMtRjd;" jscontroller="VXdfxd" jslog="83189; track:JIbuQc" jsname="nUV0Pd" jsshadow="" role="button" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border-radius: 50%; border: 0px; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; fill: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.54); flex-shrink: 0; height: 48px; outline: none; overflow: hidden; position: relative; text-align: center; transition: background 0.3s ease 0s; user-select: none; width: 48px; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><div class="VTBa7b MbhUzd" jsname="ksKsZd" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-image: radial-gradient(circle farthest-side, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12), rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.12) 80%, rgba(0, 0, 0, 0) 100%); background-size: cover; left: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; top: 0px; transform: translate(-50%, -50%) scale(0); transition: opacity 0.2s ease 0s, visibility 0s ease 0.2s, transform 0s ease 0.2s; visibility: hidden;"></div><span class="xjKiLb" jsslot="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; position: relative; top: 50%;"><span class="Ce1Y1c" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; display: inline-block; position: relative; top: -12px;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="DPvwYc" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; direction: ltr; display: inline-block; font-family: "Material Icons Extended"; font-feature-settings: "liga"; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1; overflow-wrap: normal; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></span></div><div class="LgQiCc vOSR6b" data-disabled="" jsaction="dyRcpb:dyRcpb;mTYWXd:vzWA1d" jscontroller="QeBYfc" jsshadow="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; border-radius: 4px; border: 1px solid rgb(207, 216, 220); box-shadow: none; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; transition-delay: 0ms, 100ms, 0ms, 0ms, 0ms; transition-duration: 200ms, 100ms, 100ms, 150ms, 200ms; transition-property: transform, margin, padding, height, opacity;"><span jsslot="" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;"><div class="AVg9I" data-blogid="20735769" data-commentid="4094662066365927946" data-hasparentsummary="false" data-parentid="6164268912888201937" data-status="1" jsaction="rcuQ6b:WYd;MVaktd:k9KYye;HnqD4:O1htCb;aWRkAb:T6My7c;JIbuQc:CCO3rf(paJ2td),nrWgDb(nUV0Pd),szsvA(ES9z0c),szp6ff(Jc6a4),YAglHf(Q3qKbb);" jscontroller="oJLXdd" jslog="33303" jsname="hgSkf" role="listitem" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; align-items: stretch; display: flex; padding: 16px; position: relative;"><div class="wIhMtc" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; display: flex; flex: 1 1 auto; overflow: hidden;"></div></div></span></div><p><br /></p>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-61642689128882019372021-06-23T12:38:00.000+01:002021-06-23T12:38:08.134+01:00<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><h4 style="text-align: left;"> An Imperfect Life </h4></blockquote><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chapter 47</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Tim</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b>Both William and I derived much happiness from our children. We had great family holidays and at week-ends visited local sights and fairs and from an early age encouraged them to walk fair distances. During sea-side holidays I would be the envy of all the other mothers as William plunged into the sea like a great seal and endlessly encouraged the boys to do the same regardless of the temperamental British summers. They fished, sailed, climbed, skied on water and snow, swam, did archery, cross country and drove go-carts. I took them to the theatre club and they joined in the children's entertainments beside playing the parts of aristocratic children in a public production at Tonbridge School.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> 'Dreadfully boring!' the elder would say - in character, to be echoed by the younger in his piping little voice. They were so funny; blonde-haired boys in beautiful costumes, angelic in appearance and a handful to control back stage. The little hams started to time their applause.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> When there were just the two of us- and as the boys grew older this was more often the case- things were not so satisfactory. William worked hard in a demanding job and when he was home and the boys weren't around he was happy to hole up in his study with his books and music. I had plenty to keep me occupied with the theatre club and the shop. We were not your average married couple and at times I felt a failure. I think probably both of us longed for love and affection but we were unable to give it to each other. William's brother Wallace suggested that William should take me out more- so we started meeting in town, having dinner and going to a concert at the Festival Hall. After a number of sessions at the same uninspiring(to me)venue I began to long for a visit to some of the wonderful London theatres but this didn't appeal to William, so Wallace's idea had a limited success. However one of my girl friends had gone to live up in town so I used to meet up with her and we saw some great plays together.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> When I first saw Tim it was at a public meeting and I became aware of this unusual looking young man giving me piercing stares. He was actually short-sighted without his glasses. He told me later he though I looked interesting and was trying to get a better look. He was tall but slight, with his shoulders hunched in a porridge textured short overcoat. His severe crew-cut hair was already flecked with grey and his baseball boots completed an unusual appearance. He had a squinting scowl- partly due to his eye -sight and partly due to the ever present cigarette clamped in his mouth. He had a gritty look such as a very young Tommy Lee Jones may have had, although Tim's ears didn't stick out. He looked bookish and introspective. Later when I spoke to him I realised that not only was he very shy but he had been damaged in some way and my compassion was aroused. I was at the age when I really felt for people who were worse off than I was and wanted to do something about it - which is why I eventually became a Samaritan. At the time I had a few lame ducks and was prepared to take Tim under my wing. I was about ten year older and he regarded me for a while as a mentor which helped my somewhat battered self esteem a great deal. When I look back it's as if we were two weak swimmers who had got into difficulties, and who managed to prop each other up until they reached shore. As our friendship grew we confided in each other. Tim was brought up by a very strict. puritanical parents; he was sent away to school and did well academically. He then went to medical school and went completely off the rails, rebelling against his parents. He chucked medical school, made a disastrous marriage which broke up almost immediately and had a rift with his parents. He had also started to drink more than was healthy. When I met him he was in a dead end job which earned him enough money for bed and board and for fags and beer. Underneath all this rough exterior was an artistic, poetic, damaged young man crying out for a bit of morale boosting and encouragement. As our friendship continued and got more serious, he began to blossom and people took the trouble to get to know him and to like him.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We talked about his future and I was delighted when he decided to take an external degree which meant long working hours and travelling up to town after work. He also renewed contact with his parents and would visit them from time to time. With each achievement I felt proud - as if he were a son. Our relationship continued for four years and our friendship blossomed into love. During this time Tim completed his degree and was awarded first class honours. He was given a prize and insisted on choosing three books he knew I would like and presented them to me. He said I had earned the degree. Very soon he was offered a good position which meant his leaving the area and of course I encouraged him to take it. I also encouraged him to meet other people; we were both afraid of how the other would cope in the end. Tim thought we could be friends for life but I felt that once he had left the area we should both get on with our lives. He continued to phone me and tell me what he was up to and eventually he met a girl he thought he could be serious about. I was happy for him and said this was time to say goodbye. I knew he was going to be fine and I had plenty to keep me occupied.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> For a start the shop had outgrown its surroundings and we had to start looking for new premises.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> Life goes on. I had always known there was no future for Tim and me and I knew the end would be painful, but after what I had been through with Jamie - years ago- this was bearable, and I was in the driving seat - calling the shots. I had no regrets and believed I deserved to suffer. It was time to come down to earth and accept that for me romance had gone forever. How little we know! One day, driving through the town I saw an accident; a man was lying prostrate on a zebra crossing. I was overwhelmed with the realisation that if Tim had an accident and was lying helpless I would never know. I had to drive into a side street to have a blub.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> We had outgrown the shop and left our first floor eyrie on the High Street for a street - level emporium</div><div style="text-align: left;">with a huge basement. It was in the road parallel to the High Street and facing the Common.The front of the shop was all plate glass with a small area near the door for a display window. Our accountant told us we could afford it and we enlisted friends and family to help us decorate it. Once more one of the big stores was refurbishing and we acquired three large glass-topped counters and various shelves and cupboards. Downstairs in the basement there were four stalls in the large room, which we made into changing rooms with bright orange curtains. Than there was a room where we kept all footwear - hockey, soccer and rugger boots and gum boots. The riding boots - being more valuable, we kept upstairs - in view. There was a small office, loo and kitchen. the worst thing that happened was the time when we discovered someone had peed in a gum boot.</div><p style="text-align: left;"> On the ground floor our desk was by the window looking out on the Common. We felt naked with all that glass so had a brass pole fitted and hung, what were then fashionable restaurant curtains, which came half way up the window so we could see all that was happening outside. One day I noticed rats on the common and was told that they follow the same tracks for years. No more picnics on the Common for me then. We had fun choosing the type of lettering for our shop sign which ran the width of the shop and was most impressive. That was the easy part; the actual move was a nightmare and I have managed to block it out of my memory. We had to buy lots more hanging rails and vowed this was definitely our last move.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><i>Years later after I had been re-united with Jamie, Julia - my talented friend in the theatre club bumped into Tim on one of her frequent trips to town. They only had a quick chat and Tim was never very </i><i>forthcoming but it appears he was married. Julia told him I had married Jamie. We had been each other's confidantes so of course he knew who Jamie was and was happy for me. </i></p>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-88302742859233668252021-05-11T16:20:00.001+01:002021-05-11T16:20:29.184+01:00<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">An Imperfect Life </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Comings and Goings</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Chapter 46</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"William guess what."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I've had a hard day! I give in!"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">" The theatre club are so impressed by my having done a production course they've asked me </span><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>to</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> produce a play in the autumn."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"How do you feel about that?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"A bit scared - and delighted."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Remember the shop is getting really busy now. You'll be too tired to go out in the evenings and . . ."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "</span><span style="font-size: large;">No I won't! You don't understand - it's only really exhausting in the shop when there aren't any customers and then you look down on all the people milling round the High Street and wonder how you can entice them up the stairs. Once you've got them in - honestly William it's exhilarating. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">William sighed, "Don't say I didn't warn you!"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I thought I had better start with a one act play and as John Mortimer was a big name then I chose his 'Lunch Hour'. We were in the sixties - the era when the "Anyone for tennis?" middle class drama was beginning to look old hat and the theatre of the absurd was rearing its ugly head. <i> </i>I had learned a lot working with Pete on his production of 'The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" especially to keep a hand on the tiller at all times and not allow the wafflers to waffle on and waste valuable time. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> In 'Lunch Hour' there were just three characters - it was a sad/comic tale of a man and a younger woman having a liaison in a shabby hotel near King's Cross. The only other character is the Manageress who, unbeknownst to the girl had been told a long involved cover story of the man's wife having travelled down from Scarborough </span><span style="font-size: medium;">with the children who had been left with a sister -in-law in another part of town.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Unfortunately the girl knows nothing of this and in the course of the crazy conversation discovers she has three children, a sister in law and that there have been family rifts since the wedding. It all becomes real to the girl- she becomes the injured wife, romance goes out of the window and the affair is over before it has begun. It must have been hilarious with the original cast of Wendy Craig, Emlyn Williams and Alison Leggat but whilst my man and manageress were very good the young girl didn't quite get it. However the committee liked it enough to ask me to do a full blown production later in the season. This time I would make sure the key parts were played by more experienced actors and 'The Deep Blue Sea.'and 'Separate Tables'were productions I was proud of.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Pete and his wife Julia were leading lights in the club - both were professionals - Pete worked in Television and Julia earned a living as an actress, writer and director. She was a catalyst and I treasure the day I first met her. One of the club members had thrown open her beautiful garden for a drinks party and suddenly I noticed a strange happening. A dark attractive woman was slowly entering the garden - Julia was always a bit shortsighted - and suddenly the whole party - including me - slowly moved towards her- until she was surrounded and then the party really rocked. That was my first meeting with Julia.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I had been reading 'The Unquiet Spirit' by Jean Jacques Bernard. Gary - who I had met on the production course had even designed a set for me. I asked Julia if she would consider taking the lead.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Julia read it but said it would depress her too much and I understood what she meant and realised we had more in common than I'd thought. She was a member of the Crime Writer's and invited me to go with her to their annual party. It was exciting meeting famous writers especially Kathleen Whitehorn - a journalist I much admired. She had just written a very funny article on sluts(with regard to dress)and admitted she was one of the first order.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I proudly told her that I - at that very moment- was relying on a safety pin to hold up my bra. Julia told me later she was asked who was the girl who looked like she had escaped from a James Bond movie. Not the impression I wanted to give at all.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The sixties were a time of change and people were questioning the beliefs they had hitherto accepted. I became increasingly aware of the gulfs between the haves and the have-nots; of the families who lived their happy peaceful lives without much care for the unhappy dysfunctional people and I rebelled against anything that branded anyone as lesser humans.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd always been receptive to other peoples's worries but now it was a if I had a sign on my forehead saying 'Stop here and tell me your problems.'</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was some time before I actually became a Samaritan and before I befriended someone who helped me to keep my head above water.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Since I left home aged sixteen to start a nursing career, my sister Maddie and I had had a fairly volatile relationship mainly because I had developed a mind and opinions of my own. She and her husband came over most week-ends. I valued her friendship<i> </i>so it was a blow when she told me they had decided to emigrate to the States - a much bigger step then than now. She had our aunt, as a resident - a GI bride who lived in Rhode Island and Liam, Jamie's brother who lived with his wife and family in NY State. Maddie asked me if I ever thought of Jamie and I said the recent experience with Gary had made me think of him. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"If it had been Jamie instead of Gary I wouldn't have thought twice about it. I feel I cheated both of us. But it's all over now," I assured her, "I'm a different person and I expect he is too." I quashed any further thoughts of what might have been way out of my consciousness.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Maddie and I decided to have a few days walking together before she left and we had a really bonding time in Wales - getting to know each other as adults, although I would always be the younger sister to her - dammit! We chose Dollgellau and found an interesting hotel with a lake in the garden. When I told the proprietor and his wife that as soon as I saw the lake I felt Lancelot there was great hilarity. The food was yummy but the heating was inadequate and we almost froze to death. Each night we would huddle in the bar where mine host and his attractive wife would regale us with tales which might have come straight out of 'Under Milk Wood' The locals would come to inspect the two English ladies and the whisky flowed freely. The bedrooms were so icy we dreaded going to bed. It wasn't all decadence - we climbed two mountains; one was Y Garn and the other one's name escapes me. I do remember- when we were at the top, having a blonde moment and suggesting we went another way down, which looked rather pretty. At the bottom we realised we were miles from where we had left the car and had a very long walk in pouring rain before we got a hitch. We were terrified we may have missed dinner(the food was excellent) but our worried hosts had kept it for us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Maddie asked me if later on I would go up to Mum and Dad's with her to soften the good byes. All went well until we were on the station at Manchester and Dad was in a huff - God knows why. As it got nearer the time when Margaret and I had to leave I couldn't stand it any longer and took Dad off down the platform.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Dad you've GOT to say goodbye properly. You may never see Maddie again" By this time I'd lost it and we ended up all hugging each other and smiling through our tears but all the tension had gone. I'm happy to say that the parents visited the States many times for the rest of their lives and later when Maddie acquired a house in Portugal they would spend the winters there and Maddie would visit the UK every year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">At the theatre club I decided to do Shaw's 'The Devil's Disciple' as a big public production which would be presented in Tonbridge School. The character of Dick Dudgeon had always attracted me and I persuaded Alan, who was our solicitor, to play the part. He was a fine actor- more cerebral than physical; I treasure the look he gave me when I asked him to leap onto a table to hold forth. It was difficult for him but we got there in the end. We had an old film actor in the club (he appears briefly in the old film 'The Lady Vanishes,'often to be seen on a Saturday afternoon on the telly) and I thought he would make a great General Burgoyne but Charles wasn't going to give in so easily. He leant over me from his great height, a lank lock of much too black hair flopping over his moustached face.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Who played the original part?"he demanded. I looked up at him, blinking a little.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Laurence Olivier."</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Harrrrrumph!" And I knew that he was mine but he was very high maintenance and I had to provide a pair of bright tan-coloured, thigh-high suede boots before he was happy. Those wretched boots; every time Charles was on stage they seemed to be the focus of attention.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Actors can be a pain at times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I discovered about the play was that each act is written in a different style so in the first act one could get beautiful Chekhovian movement- in the second it's all war,war,war and finally in the third funereal with the Dead March. Still it went down well and was certainly a learning experience. On the acting side my favourite part was Beattie in Arnold Wesker's 'Roots.' A bit near the knuckle but all the more real in performance.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We had a bit of bother at the shop. Someone had opened a shop run on the same lines as ours, in the next town. They were perfectly entitled to do this but they had named it using four words, only one of which was different to ours and then by only three letters. People would come into the shop and say "We went to your other shop." It's called' passing off'</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">as if someone had opened a store called Marks and Spicer. Our solicitor was convinced when his partner said,</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"I see Pat's opened another shop." Alan was great and sent them some strong letters and they had to change it. Cheek!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">All was going well; The family were fine, the shop was booming, I was in demand as an actress and director and then I met Tim.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-3901901045973650792021-03-14T12:09:00.002+00:002021-03-14T12:09:49.690+00:00<p> <b><span style="font-size: medium;">An Imperfect Life </span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Owha tanas siam!</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Chapter 45</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I felt sad driving home. It reminded me of school at the end of the year when I always used to cry at "Lord dismiss us with thy blessings." Would I ever see my new friends again.? Gary probably just wanted another scalp to add to his collection and I had been right to be firm. When I reached home William and the boys were out so <i> </i>I collapsed into bed and slept for hours. No time to mope; there was lots of laundry to do and all the household tasks that had been left for a week. It was lovely to see the boys and hug them. A week apart made us so much more appreciative of each other and they were quite angelic for about 24 hours.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> Mary rang - very excited,</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "We've been very busy now the holidays have started. We're going to have to get more part-time staff so there is always two of us on duty. I've been so busy selling I haven't had time to enter the sales on the clients cards."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Don't worry I'll go in and do it once the boys are in bed."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were both excited and pleased by with the way the shop's fame was spreading. there was a letter for me the next day but I was rushing to drive the boys to school and then to open the shop before half past nine, so I put it in my hand bag for later.</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">As soon as we opened there was a stream of customers. When we first started Mary's father had rigged a buzzer on one of the stairs to warn us when anyone was coming. Now there was a constant buzz buzz buzz and what with the old fashioned till bell it was like an inspiration for Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Mary came in briefly and <i> </i>I was glad of the help but soon she had to go to the bank and I was alone again. Just before lunch time a Persian man - he told me he was from Persia - arrived with his two daughters who were going to be boarders at one of our local prep schools. He handed me a long list of uniform which he required for both girls. We always closed for lunch but I decided to lock the shop as usual and devote my lunch hour to finding everything they needed. It was not easy. He was very demanding and the girls were very shy - hiding behind the changing room curtain we had fixed in the corner - even to try on hockey boots. By the time I had found everything they needed - including lacrosse sticks I was panting with exhaustion. I sank into the office chair to remove all the price tickets and add up the amounts When I told him the total price he MADE ME AN OFFER! I could not believe it. I felt smoke must be coming out of my ears. I had worked my butt off, given up my lunch hour persuading the girls to try everything on, grovelling amongst the hockey boots and he had the effrontery to MAKE ME AN OFFER!</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">I drew myself up to my full five feet four and a half inches and said,</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"> "I'm sorry sir but we do NOT barter. That is the price you must pay if you want to take the goods."</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">He and the girls looked rather startled at my obvious outrage but he slowly brought out a roll of notes He handed over the large amount of cash whilst I tried to control my shaking hands. The thought of trying to match the garments with the tickets if he had decided to leave gave me palpitations. Selling was only part of the job; everything sold had to be entered on the customer's file so she could collect her money the next time she was in the shop. All the articles could have come from twenty different customers so you can see the problem. That taught all of us never to remove the tickets until the very end of the transaction and one was sure the customer was serious</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">Whilst waiting at the school for the boys I remembered the letter. It was from Gary- a poem and a note with a telephone number and the message " Please phone." When I read the poem I was moved and felt my resolve weakening. Surely it wouldn't hurt to phone - it was only polite. His voice sounded just like him - relaxed and friendly.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"Gary it's Pat. Thank you for the poem - it's lovely. How long did it take to write it"</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"> There was a long pause and I thought we had been cut off.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"Well it more or less wrote itself. It's great to hear your voice Pat."</span></h2><div><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">He said he had found one of the books he had told me about - a play he thought I should do as my first production; he had even designed a set for me. When I met him he was different he seemed to have lost the golden glow he had in the college and I felt awkward and uncomfortable. A woman I knew- she was Northern like me and was used to saying what she thought and told me I seemed to have a glass cage around me. Somehow I knew what she meant and she thought that one day I would break out of it but I knew this was not the time. I had been swept off my feet once before and it was not going to happen again. When I told Gary it couldn't go any further he said everyone would assume it had anyway. This riled me and I said the important thing was I knew it hadn't.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">It must have been about a year later when I was browsing through one of my quotation books looking for something apt for a friend's birthday and a familiar line caught my eye. It was the poem which I believed Gary had written for me but my book said it was written by William Blake.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>The Garden of Love</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>I went to the Garden of Love,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i> And saw what I had never seen:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>A Chapel was built in the midst,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>Where I used to play on the green, </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And the gates of this Chapel were shut</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And"Thou shalt not!"writ over the door</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>So I turned to the Garden of Love,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>That so many sweet flowers bore.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And I saw it was filled with graves,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And tombstones where flowers should be;</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And priests in black gowns were walking their rounds,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>And binding with briars my joys and desires.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">I didn't know whether to laugh or cry - so I did both.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>. . .</div><div><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;"><i>"</i>William guess who phoned today. Out of the blue!"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"You'll have to give me a clue."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">" She's married with two boys."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"I need more."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"We've been on holiday with them."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"What's 'er name - Betty er Brenda?"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"Beryl! Remember her husband Gordon?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"Yes! He knew a lot about cars."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal;">"That's right and apparently it has made them very wealthy.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gordon left the engineering firm he had worked for and set up in business with a partner. They've had enormous success and have 'gone public.'</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Beryl said they've got this smashing house near Brighton, they've met lots of exciting new people, they're going to have a big party and they want us to go. "</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remembered Beryl once admitted to me - after a drink or two- that she fancied William - because of his brain, she said. I knew parties weren't William's scene but it was the Swinging Sixties - I wanted to see Beryl and was curious to see how her life had changed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The house was fantastic with beautiful views of the Downs. There were lots of impressive oils on the walls - individually lit and the whole place reeked of opulence. The women were very glamorous with big hair and legs and bosoms on show. The men seemed to be in a uniform of black silk shirts with gold medallions round their necks. Although I was enjoying the party atmosphere I was very conscious of William being bored out of his mind</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">and decided we would leave after supper which looked as if it was going to be delicious. Beryl told me they had an indoor swimming pool in the grounds over which was an apartment where they had two male lodgers who were air-line stewards. I told William I was going for a swim and then we would have supper and leave.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was a fantastic pool with beautiful plants and a hot steamy atmosphere. At first I thought I was alone but I could just make out what looked like two males at the far end and assumed they were the stewards. I have never been a strong swimmer but it was so warm and inviting I decided to stick near the side for safety and do a length When I was about half way there the men got out and I realised to my horror they were completely naked. I lost concentration, gasped, got my mouth full of water and panicked and floundered and yelled as I started to sink. In a flash the men were there and rescued me. They were sweet and said I only had to say I was in trouble. Just as they were lifting my shaking body out of the pool William walked in to see his wife in the arms of two naked men. I wasn't exactly dragged out by the hair but that's what it felt like. We didn't stay for supper, we didn't say good bye and on the journey home I told William how ridiculous he had been. I had been genuinely in trouble, the young men were concerned for my safety and - by the way - they were gay. Later William was dismayed to find he had come away with some of Beryl's precious silver cutlery in his breast pocket ready for the supper we never had. Then I laughed. Of course he returned it by registered post.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> William went off to have a week's sailing on the Solent with his brother. He came back refreshed and rejuvenated and told me he had been given a pep talk by Wallace. Intrigued I asked him what it was about.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "He thinks we should do more things together - go out for a meal and go to the theatre etc,"</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"And what do you think about that? </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"We can give it a try."</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-35813831580491167892021-02-14T15:33:00.002+00:002021-02-16T11:54:23.334+00:00<h3 style="text-align: left;"> An Imperfect Life</h3><p style="text-align: left;">Chapter 44</p><p style="text-align: left;">A Near Miss</p><p style="text-align: left;"> "Pat - Mary's on the phone!"</p><p style="text-align: left;"> "Hi Mary! What's up?"</p><p style="text-align: left;"> "Great news! Spats has just phoned and Mr Cartier has accepted us as tenants."</p><p style="text-align: left;">This was the news we had been waiting for and we had had five replies to our third partner advert but when we saw Jan walking up the path of Mary's house we both felt she could be the one. She was younger than us, petite with short brown curly hair and a slightly worried expression which vanished when a smile lit up her face and revealed her sparkling white teeth. She told us she was married and although she and her husband had hoped for children it hadn't happened. She had worked in offices all her life and had lot of book keeping experience but felt like a change and would be happy to be working part time. She had beautiful pink painted nails I remember. Over a cup of tea Mary and I exchanged one of our looks which meant we both were agreed and to snap her up at once ignoring the usual "We'll be in touch." How right we were.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The next week-end we were all in the shop - as we now called it - the three of us and our families - some of us painting and some amusing the children: fortunately there was a park close by. Even Mary's old father came along and stuck an axe at the top of the stairs - in case of fire he said. I never did work out what we were to do with it but fortunately the need never arose. We just had one hanging rail to start with and almost enough clothes to fill it.The main room looked a trifle bare so Mary- who was quite artistic, filled the gaps with large flower arrangements. </p><p style="text-align: left;">The drill was Mary and I would open the shop at 9.30 am having taken our children to school and then Jan would relieve us at 3pm when we picked the children up from school. The intention was for Mary and me to do two days each whilst Jan did the late afternoons and we took turns with Saturday. It was only necessary for one person to be there in the early days but Mary and I - in the first flush of new love were there most days. </p><p style="text-align: left;">One day I was hanging out of the window feeling rather like the ladies in Amsterdam must do, wondering how I could entice shoppers to come up and see me, when to my horror I saw someone trying to get into my car. In those days one could park in the High Street all day. I tore down two flights of stairs, rushed up to the man and yelled,</p><p style="text-align: left;">"What are you doing with my car?"</p><p style="text-align: left;">"I'm trying to stop it rolling down the High street, Ducks. You must have left the hand brake off and when I moved my van it started to roll.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Embarrassing - but at least I learned always to leave the car in first gear from then on. </p><p style="text-align: left;">We had fun thinking up ads in the local paper to announce the various school uniforms we were gradually stocking. This resulted in a visit from a rather pompous Head Master who told us his school didn't need any advertising thank you and would we desist. Did he think we were doing it for his benefit? We had started selling all sports gear, lacrosse, hockey sticks and cricket bats etc. Then we discovered the sports shop on the other side of the road was owned by him. In the end we refused to be intimidated and carried on. We worked like beavers - spreading the word and our Beauty Counsellor experience proved very useful. The big problem was to overcome the snobbishness regarding second hand clothes. We had to convince people it was the smart thing to do. That meant the shop should always be pristine and the clothes immaculate Easier said than done when someone would bring in a garment, swathed in polythene, with a cleaner's ticket pinned to it but when one examined the garment it would be grubby and obviously had never been near a dry cleaner. The trick was to tell them that unfortunately the cleaners hadn't made a very good job of it and advise them to complain. Mary was much better at this than I - with my Lancashire frankness - but slowly I learned- the hard way.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"The shop's great - if it weren't for the ****** customers I once remarked.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> Slowly but surely the word spread about our shop - The School Budget Shop as we christened it - and when we started to make money we got an accountant in addition to our solicitor. We wanted to do things properly- stay solvent, pay taxes etc so Dave the accountant gave us an Analysis Book with columns for everything that was paid out. With his help we worked out our annual expenses with a bit extra for contingencies and divided that by 12 to estimate our monthly expenses. Dave suggested an approximate figure for the partners to withdraw each month but I had a better idea. To make it more interesting and fun, I suggested that whatever the takings were each month we would subtract the monthly expenses and whatever was left over would be our salary. If we didn't clear expenses we would take nothing. Dave thought this was unnecessarily complicated but the other girls recognised what fun it would be each month to see what we'd get. I was happy to do the work. I still remember our glee when we had a bumper month in the school holidays and the resigned shrugs when it was peanuts. Dave never understood.</p><p style="text-align: left;"> Every year William and I took the boys on typical children's holidays to Devon, Cornwall, Wales and the Lake District, Southwold, Frinton and sailing on the Broads. There would be Easter visits to cousins in Gloucestershire, weekends with Wallace and Fleur and trips to my parents in Lancashire. Fortunately William had six weeks holiday each year. Apart from this William and I had widely varying interests. That's just how it was. I was something of a social butterfly and he was content with his books and music. We got into the habit of one of us baby sitting the children, whilst the other went off and did their thing When I saw an advertisement for a drama course for acting or producing I asked if he would mind if I went away for a week to do the production course. He was happy about it and we agreed he would go sailing with his brother later in the year. </p><p style="text-align: left;"> A week later driving in my little car to the country town where the college was situated I felt a rare thrill of delight. A week's freedom! I felt so euphoric I was tempted to waltz the car from side to side as Yves Montand did in "The Wages of Fear" just before he drove his truck over the cliff. Common sense prevailed and I reached the town where the college was situated. It was very busy. The traffic crawled and I saw an old man motionless on the pavement. There were people standing round him and I wondered if I had been there, would I have had the courage to do mouth to mouth? </p><p style="text-align: left;">At the college I was given a schedule for the week and shown to a block which housed single rooms, a kitchen and showers. I was early and the only one there. I had brought a pile of books in case I didn't find anyone to talk to but I was too excited to read.. The first person to arrive was a middle age Irish woman. I made us some tea and made my first friend. Gradually more students drifted in and by supper time I had met lot of them and began to relax. We were divided into two factions; those like me who were doing a production course and the acting group. You could tell from the look of the two main lecturers who was doing what- Hugh the actor's lecturer with floppy hair, an aesthetic face and wearing a beautiful shirt, sweater and cords whilst Gary the producer's lecturer, wore old jeans and a fade blue aertex shirt which I noticed matched his eyes. He had an old ARP canvas bag which looked as if it had been through two world wars.</p><p style="text-align: left;">During supper I found some of the students were old hands and had brought with them all the requirements for a bar which they ran- very efficiently- each night throughout the week. Beside the Irish lady I got friendly with a white American male, a black American male and a young Malaysian boy. I began to feel at home and at ease. We could see from the schedules we were going to be busy and were working towards a production of Lady Windemere's Fan at the end of the week. We all met up in the library to introduce ourselves and get to know each other. Gary came and stood next to me and said he'd been cramped against a book-case. I pointed out there was lots more room down the other end and he wandered off. I don't know why I behaved like such a klutz<i> </i> unless it was an innate instinct for self preservation. He told me afterwards he felt intimidated by me. Great!<i> </i></p><p style="text-align: left;">Thankfully next day I was more relaxed and started to enjoy the classes. The cast of the play was chosen and the production side were divided into lighting, wardrobe, make up, set design and stage management. We would all have time with each but had just one responsibility for the play. I was going to be in the lighting box with Gary.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The casting was interesting; Charles - the black American was to play Lord Windemere - he was both thrilled and terrified. Gary was a great teacher, sitting casually on a Meccano -like structure on stage, immensely practical - the ARP bag contained bits of wire and screws and various implements which he used to adjust lights, scenery or anything that required it. He radiated amiability and everyone liked him. He had recovered from our initial brush and went out of his way to make me feel I had something valuable to contribute. There were two Cambridge graduates in our group and their knowledge of literature in general was bottomless and they could quote reams of Christopher Fry at the drop of a hat. Gary convinced me that all the knowledge in the world didn't amount to a can of beans if one didn't have a sense of theatre. He said I had this and wanted to see me put it in action. Men! You know what Shirley Valentine said about them? The fellowship and camaraderie reminded me of my training days in hospital.</p><p style="text-align: left;">One day William and the boys called in to see me en route to Wallace and Fleur's. William said he had never seen me so relaxed and I should try and stay like that when I came home. It was lovely to see the boys and gave me a reality check: like most of the female students I was getting rather fond of Gary. At one session a group of us were sitting on a broad shelf and Gary took off his tie before demonstrating something and draped it over my bare ankle. It felt such an intimate thing to do; I could feel my cheeks aflame.</p><p style="text-align: left;">We went to the theatre and saw a great production of "The Royal Hunt of the Sun". Sheila - the Irish girl knew the star Colin Blakely and took me back stage after the show. We met the wonderful Robert Stephens and then Colin, who arranged to meet us for a drink before the evening show. All very exciting and the pressure was building as we prepared for our own production. I was thankful to be working back stage and didn't have to worry about learning lines. Bed-time got later and later and we stayed up talking and putting the world to rights as students have done since time immemorial. One beautiful moonlit night a gang of us drove to the beach and lit a fire. Sitting round it in the firelight we all took turns to sing or tell a story. I sang La Miserere from Il Trovatore in faux Italian. It was actually gibberish but I'd been doing it for years with family and friends so many of them - including Gary were fooled. The darkness and the wine gave me courage. A couple of the group decided to go swimming although the tide was way out. As it got later and later we decided , reluctantly, it was time to return to the college and discovered the swimmers were missing. Suddenly the beautiful evening became a nightmare. We split up into search parties and combed the enormous beach. We were all silent - apart from calling the names of the two missing students. I think we were all feeling the same emotion - dread. I was walking with two others along the coast and at last we found two bedraggled figures huddled in the dunes. They had had a long walk out to sea, had swum for a while and then were completely disorientated when they came out. The current must have swept then up the coast. We hugged them. wrapped them in towels and rugs and made our way back to college; many of us sending a silent prayer of thanks that a disaster had been averted.</p><p style="text-align: left;">The day of the show- our final day- was a mad flurry of dress rehearsals, lighting, plotting and last minute costume adjustments. We all worked hard and although the dress rehearsal didn't go without a hitch that probably boded well for the actual performance. Charles - my black American friend gave a natural dignity to his part of Lord Windemere and fortunately the director saw the folly of giving him white gloves to wear- shades of Al Jolson. Being in the lighting box with Gary was a piece of cake as he was very hands on but I had studied the lighting plots and felt I knew a little more than the useful snippet that Strand pink was the most flattering light for women. Fascinating how one could lift or darken the mood with light and music. I couldn't wait to get back to the theatre club and do my own production. I knew from the people I worked with on "The Summer of the Seventeenth Doll" that I could get together that all important back stage team - so vital before one thinks of the actors.</p><p style="text-align: left;">In one part of the play Gary wanted a black-out and it was dependant on the timing of what was happening on stage; he said that he would keep his eye on the action with his arm raised and at the right moment would drop his arm and I would pull the lever that would plunge the stage into darkness.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Meanwhile we had a couple of hours before the show and I planned to crash and try to catch up with all the late nights I had been having. However Gary said he wanted to speak to me alone, and as we were all leaving tomorrow this was the last chance we would get so I agreed to meet him in the pub when I had changed. The pub was empty when I got there apart from Gary sitting by the window looking concerned - very unusual for him. We had soft drinks because of the show and I asked Gary what he wanted to talk to me about. The evening sun shining through the window gave him a golden glow and although he wasn't conventionally handsome I found his titian hair and freckles and above all his sunny disposition immensely appealing. I was aware of the woman behind the bar who seemed very interested in our conversation. I realised there had been a mutual attraction between us but was also conscious that he was a very popular guy and had young women constantly asking for his help, advice or opinion on all sorts of things. I'd had a fantastic week with a great bunch of people from all over the world and Gary had made me feel a desirable woman for the first time in years. But this was time out from my real life; I would keep in touch with some of the students but I knew the friendship with Gary had to end here.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Gary said he had had a chequered career and although married had been a bit of a philanderer, but this was the first time he felt really serious. Neither of us were free but he knew I wasn't happy and that probably nothing would come of it for years. Even though we lived far apart he wanted to keep in touch. I was in turmoil. It sounded so reasonable but I had never imagined continuing after the course and tried to explain why I couldn't keep in touch with him. We were going round in circles and it was time to get back to the college. In the lighting box I tried to concentrate on the play which seemed to be going well. It went so much better with an audience and I could see the actors upping their game as each burst of laughter and applause gave them fresh impetus. But my mind was whirling - Gary's words ringing in my ears.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"We must see each other again Pat."</p><p style="text-align: left;">I vaguely saw Gary lift his arm in the air and when he dropped it I froze. Whether it was a combination of exhaustion and stress I don't know but I was paralysed. Gary hurtled towards me, grabbed the lever and saved the day. After the show it was party time with everyone on a high I apologised to Gary for letting him down but he said it was his fault for bringing up such a difficult topic at the wrong time. Knowing that most of us would never met again we partied for the last time, till the early hours. The next morning I packed the car with my luggage and the unopened tomes. Gary looked on as I hugged and said goodbye to my new friends. Just as I was about to drive off he came over, hugged me and said.</p><p style="text-align: left;">"See you next week!"</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-50234619539677339372020-12-31T14:37:00.001+00:002020-12-31T14:37:39.609+00:00Exciting Times chapter43<p style="text-align: left;"> </p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Now I was mobile the world seemed an exciting place with endless possibilities.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span>At last I could think about getting a job but until both boys were at school it had to fit in with the couple of hours I had free each day. Where to start? Much as I loved having children I was beginning to lose my identity. I felt little more than an adjunct: a mother to the boys, a wife to William (not a very good one at that) and a chatelaine to the house. At this time in my life I found domesticity deadly dull.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><span> Answering an ad in the local rag for Beauty Counselors (the idea was to sell make-up to women in their own home - similar to Avon Ladies) I was interviewed by a large charismatic lady named Pamela who also gave me a free make up. Pamela was a 'District' which meant she could recruit counsellors and also appoint 'Zones' who would be able to recruit and train their own counsellors. I enjoyed the make-up and appreciated the fact that the ingredients were pure. There was an icy cold pink cream.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> "The Duke of Windsor simply loves having this applied to his feet," trilled Pamela. I had to pay for the smart grey make up box and after a few more sessions with Pamela I was ready for business. It was right up my street - I loved helping people to make the best of themselves and could get quite messianic about skin care. Predictably William was less enthusiastic.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"What do they pay you?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"You get a percentage of all you sell"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"It'll be a while before you recoup the cost of the beauty box then."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After a while Pamela made me a Zone so I could start recruiting my own counsellors and earn a percentage of their sales. I was good at recruiting - recognising the bored housewife syndrome and together we became inspired and enthused. Above Pamela was Zed - a regular power-house married to an ex Spitfire pilot. She organised frequent get-togethers with lunch and wine and targets and rewards. Suddenly all we lonely housewives had a scintillating social life and even earned a few pence.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the women I recruited - Mary - became a close friend. She was a decade older with just one daughter at senior school. We enjoyed each other's company and would often do demonstrations together. By this time both boys were at school so I had the day free. One afternoon we were working in a Kent village hall where almost all the audience had wanted a free make-up. By the end of the session we were exhausted and had sold about half a dozen lipsticks. Over a cup of tea we commiserated with each other.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pat: "Wouldn't it be great if we had a shop where people came to <i>you</i> to buy?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary "Funny you should say that. I've got a friend down in Worthing I'd like you to meet."</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We agreed to make it soon.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">At dinner William surprised me when he said -</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Pat remember Alan the army officer I'm working with?"</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Ooh yes - he's the good looking one recently married-</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">" That's right!"</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I remember Amanda - she's an Australian actress 'resting' till their new baby is old enough to leave. What about them?"</span></span></h2><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I thought it might be nice to have them round for a meal."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Good idea. I'll give her a ring tomorrow."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The evening was a success- they seemed very happy and the evening ended with me volunteering to look after the baby whilst they had a romantic week-end in Paris.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> The next time I saw them they popped in for a cuppa, on their way to shop in Tunbridge Wells. Mum was staying with us and Amanda kept her spellbound telling her about the wonderful time they had had in Paris.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Did you take the baby with you" asked Mum?</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Oh no. She was far too young. No a very dear friend looked after her for me. Now who was it?"</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I looked at her and was gobsmacked to see she wasn't kidding. Shades of Marta and "people like you."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> I know I expect too much of people and I shall be eternally grateful to Amanda for encouraging me to join the local theatre club which over the years enhanced my life. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile Mary had made a date for us to visit her friend Ellie in</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Worthing. What was that all about I wondered. They had known one another for years and Ellie, whose husband was a master at a renowned public school, had made a nice little earner for herself over the last few years. She had started a shop with a partner, based on the old thrift shops out in Germany, where the partner had been an army wife. The idea was you had a shop and accepted children's outgrown clothes and sold them for the client who then received payment - with a percentage going to Ellie and partner. Basically it was school uniform but as time went on they included all children's clothes especially ski and riding clothes. Ellie took us to see the shop which was bustling with mothers and children and obviously providing a deep felt need. Like us they had prep schools, grammar schools and public schools in the area - all of which demanded expensive uniform. No way was it an 'old clothes' shop- the key was quality and the clothes had to be dry cleaned and in perfect order. At half the original price customers realised what a good deal it was and, as I had already discovered, many of them were struggling to </span> pay the fees to educate their children.</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Over coffee I told Ellie that as both of us had large houses we could</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">have the shop at one of our homes and cut out the expense of premises. Ellie was horrified.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Are you serious about running a business or are you just playing at it? You HAVE to have premises and run it as business. Are you sure you can run it together? You are working happily together now but you Mary are working for Pat. Are you planning on being equal partners?"</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We assured her we were.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Well get yourselves a partnership agreement then. It's when you start being successful the trouble really starts."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It seemed that Ellie and her partner were now having difficulties which were beginning to seem insurmountable. So sad and one could see the strain was taking its toll on Ellie</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It was time to leave as we both had to collect children from school.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ellie gave us one last piece of advice.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"You need a third partner who has no children. Your business needs to be open normal shop hours and she can do the hours when you have to pick up your children."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Somewhat chastened we contemplated running a business from 9.30am to 5.30pm six days a week - with a complete stranger.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I could see Mary was as excited as I was; <i> </i>I knew we could do it and couldn't wat to get started. Ellie had given us excellent advice and we needed to give the whole project a lot of thought. I picked the boys up from school and after I had given them tea and bathed them there was just time to have supper with William and give him a brief outline of what we planned. He wasn't sure how I would be able to manage but it was a rehearsal night at the theatre club so we postponed the discussion.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> As Pete the director worked in television he was often late for rehearsal and I was deputed to be acting director. Much more fun than doing props and I determined to learn as much as possible about putting on a play. The leading actor Alan Burns was a solicitor and during a break I asked him if he had much dealing with partnership agreements.</span></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"All the time - in fact if more people had them from the beginning half my work would be eliminated. "</span></span></h2><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I told him what we were contemplating and he agreed to act for us.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That was the solicitor sorted, now all we needed were premises, a third partner, a name, stock...oh and some capital. No problemo!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next day Mary and I were off down the High Street, Ellie's voice ringing in our ears; our aim - to find premises before the day was out.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first house agent we visited was a charming elderly gentleman who looked as if he had stepped out of Dickens. He was courtly, with a pink and white skin, snowy hair and a waxed moustache. He was beautifully turned out with a bow tie, waistcoat and pale grey spats on his shoes - a rare sight even in the sixties. We told him what we were looking for - both of us burbling excitedly whilst he regarded us benignly. When we were done he told us to wait whilst he looked at his files, and slowly retired to a back room. We looked at each other and sighed. We knew we had to be patient but there was so much to do and we doubted that dear old Spats could ever do anything quickly. Eventually he returned holding a file and looking pleased with himself.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Now this may be just what you two young ladies are looking for. Look out of the window down the High Street. Can you see on that building over there? See the name Berkeley Cartier? That is a gentleman who was an excellent tailor until he retired and he owns the building. As you can see there is still a tailor's shop on the ground floor, there are offices on the first floor but the second floor is vacant."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Oh PLEASE- can we go and see it now?"</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Spats twinkled at me over his pince-nez.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Well now it's usual for us to make an appointment first but I can see </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">you are eager to get on. If my assistant is available I shall find the keys and he will take you to see the premises."</span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I wanted to hug him but restrained myself and Mary and I beamed at each other. Some time later we entered a door on the street - next to the gentlemen's outfitters. At the top of the stairs was a cloakroom which we would share with the offices at the end of the corridor. Up another flight of stairs was a small room with a window looking out onto a back yard and a large room at the front with two windows looking out onto the High Street. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It needed a coat of paint but the space was great and we were at the smart end of town - on the High Street no less. We hugged each other with excitement.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"We definitely want it. Can you be sure to tell the old gentleman please."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The assistant promised to do so and Mary and I went for a coffee to plan our next move.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"OK now we've got premises we've need a third partner - not just for the reasons Ellie said but also to help with the rent. If three of us put in £50 each that should tide us over until we start making money."</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Do you think people will be bothered to climb the stairs?" Mary looked a bit anxious.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Of course they will when they see what we have to offer. The location is excellent- two flights of stairs won't bother them in the least. They're young mothers!"</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">None of our friends would be suitable as the third partner as they all had children and not free to fit round our commitments.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"We'll advertise. Let's work it out now, then we can drop it into the Courier and it will be out on Friday.:</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">By now Mary was used to my 'do it and it's done' maxim so between us we managed an ad that was clear ad direct.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"Why don't we put in a second ad, advertising our new shop?"</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Mary was doubtful,"But we haven't signed the lease yet."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"We know we're going to and this will give us good start."</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">So the second ad announced the advent of our new shop and asked for local school uniform in excellent condition. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> This did cause a few repercussions and when we visited Spats to sign the lease he looked sternly at me over his pince - nez.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">"I say, you jumped the gun rather , didn't you?"</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;">as </span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">;</span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-56518379522442389532020-07-28T11:30:00.000+01:002020-07-28T11:49:25.228+01:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 42</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
“You’ve made your bed…” </div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
With two small boys and a large house to look after I was
kept pretty busy and the milk </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
dried up at six months.</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Our first born was as active as
ever so we decided to send him to a little nursery school for a few hours each
morning to prevent him killing himself or his brother.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It was run by Cynthia – a vibrant
mother of three boys who was determined her children would be privately
educated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This involved sending them to
a nearby private school until they were old enough to go to prep school from
whence she expected then to go to a famous public school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was going to cost an enormous amount of
money and meant a degree of privation for the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She almost convinced me this was the way to
go and I even bought a small red blazer as part of the prep school</div>
uniform.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You do realise we would have to
sacrifice family holidays if we go down that road?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I stared at William and remembered
our wonderful family holidays - Blackpool at Mrs Fell’s when we were tots,
cycling holidays and youth hostelling during wartime and our unforgettable
camping and climbing holidays in our beloved <st1:place w:st="on">Lake District</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t deprive my boys of experiences
like that. We were both agreed on this so I started to investigate the local
state schools.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I discovered a delightful
primary school; it was a Church of England school next to the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">10C</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Church</st1:placetype></st1:place>,
and was run by three splendid women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
it was in the next village I had to visit the headmistress to see if she would
accept my sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her I was going
to learn to drive to deliver them and she was so impressed by this she accepted
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now all I had to do was learn to
drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quite clear that William
was not going to be my instructor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
would lean out of the car apologising to all and sundry whilst I quietly fumed.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Six professional lessons should do
it if you really concentrate,” was Williams’s conclusion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our car was now an old Wolsley – with a
running board and I was to have lessons on a Mini.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You mustn’t attempt to drive your
own car whilst you are having lessons”, the pleasant young instructor told me,”
the controls are different!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
expected to pass with just six lessons and no practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I found the lessons the most exciting
thing that I had done in ages and would lie in bed at night going through all
the motions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now we all had our own
bedrooms: it lessened the squabbles between the boys and as William was a lark
to my owl it made sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once when my
old nursing friend Annie was staying she was shocked when William threw my
nightie down the stairs so I wouldn’t disturb him when I went to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose we were a bit odd.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After my first lesson the instructor said with a hint of surprise.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’re not bad. When you got in
the car I thought you were going to find it difficult”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That taught me such a lot about
body language so I practised giving off the right vibes and by the time I took
the test the examiner had to believe I was totally confident, assured and
safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It worked and I passed first
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s six lessons and no
practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh had I said that
already?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the boys had a hospital appointment that afternoon so I decided
to drive us in the Wolsley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not a
brilliant idea – I still had to get used to the different controls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the way to the hospital, I saw my
instructor and noticed his look of alarm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then it dawned on me I couldn’t get out of the car until I had parked
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have realised that once I
had passed my test was when I really had to learn to drive.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By the time my elder son was due at the village school I was fairly
proficient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t have safety belts
in those days and the boys used to fight to have the front seat, so it was done
in strict rotation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mothers would drive
with their left arm at the ready to shoot out and protect the child from
falling forward.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a nasty right turn out of our cul de sac into the oncoming
traffic and the only way to do it safely was to inch out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every morning this woman with her hair
scraped back in a steel grey bun, would cycle towards me and just as she passed
would hiss -</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’re well out!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It drove me nuts because she always
managed to say it when it was too late for her to hear my (I believed) valid
explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day I was so cross I
yelled.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Silly old cow!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Naturally then for years the boys
would say -</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Oh look Mummy! It’s the silly old
cow.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shameful I know.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Cynthia, the nursery school owner
was quite a social creature and we were invited to one of her Sunday morning
sherry parties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was even
bigger than ours and twice as draughty and to compensate I drank rather more
sherry than was good for me. It seemed to me that the people we met were on a
different plane with different aspirations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They knew of my brief moment of fame so I was welcomed but I didn’t feel
comfortable and I resolved I wasn’t going to become what I can only describe as
a snob.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought sadly of the jolly
racing fraternity we had left in Epsom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happily as time went on we met people we liked and many who became life
long friends.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In spite of the drink we got home
safely but I hated the feeling of the ground coming up to meet me and decided
fortified wines were not for me.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The money I had earned modelling had disappeared- mainly on buying things
for the house and I was now financially dependent on William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t enjoy this at all and matters came
to a head when I asked for money to buy a new bathing suit for our holiday and
–after quite a lengthy campaign – he said no.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I remember going out to the
vegetable patch, staring up at the sky- choked with sobs and vowing I would
never go hungry again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No of course that
was Scarlett O Hara</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
- I was hardly hungry but I made
myself a pledge that somehow I would become independent again- Goddammit!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Married women had a duty to look after their husbands, children, house
and garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was women’s work; so we
cooked and cleaned, bottled and preserved, laundered and ironed, knitted and
darned and made do and mended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hubby
would be greeted in the evening with a fresh, pretty little wifey and after a
restorative snifter he would kiss the children good night and sit down to a
delicious home coked meal prepared by the lady of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t always work out quite like that.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
There was a feeling of unrest in
the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were about to have Women’s
Lib, Germaine Greer and all that jazz, making waves and changing our lives for
ever.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the good things about living in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kent-</st1:place></st1:country-region> we were closer to my sister
Maddie and her husband.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would come
over most weekends - first shopping in Tunbridge Wells and then dropping in to
play with the children and share our supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They usually brought little gifts for the boys and a bottle of wine and
I looked forward to their visits.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One night Maddie and I were washing up after eating my nourishing
goulash.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What’s up Pat?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I started to weep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She put down the drying up cloth and stared
at me.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“For goodness sake Pat. Buck
up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve got a good husband, two
lovely boys and a great house!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
suddenly remembered that walk on the avenues when Maddie</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
was unhappy with her first husband
and Mum’s reaction.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You’ve made your bed you must lie
on it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully Maddie eschewed that
remark but gave me a pep talk.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Get a part-time job!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Join a theatre club!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take a lover!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was so shocked I stopped weeping and gaped
at her.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Within a month I had done as she
suggested.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well two out of three that
is.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-60262963101403108562020-06-18T17:17:00.001+01:002020-06-18T17:17:45.259+01:00<br /><br /><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 41</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
The times they are a changin’.</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“William what do you like best
about living here?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I enjoy having a pleasant drive to
work instead of that dratted commute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What about you?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I just love all the space – in the
house and garden so different to where I was brought up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m never going to live in a small house
again!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I missed my friends and my wonderful daily
help but found that with one small child and another on the way, people were
very friendly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One problem I had was of
my own making.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we lost our beloved
corgi – Havoc, I thought it would be nice to buy another for William so that he
could have the puppy – <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city>,
to train whilst I had the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city>
was untrainable and with William out all day she was the bane of my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Any clothes hanging around were ruined but
worst of all she would get out of the house at every opportunity and run into
the main road causing chaos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end
of our road lived Mrs D – a dressmaker who bred valuable dogs and when <st1:city w:st="on">Sharon</st1:city> got out and attacked her miniature pincer she said
regretfully that if we didn’t get rid of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city>
she would have to sue us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
desperate but Mrs D knew lots of doggy people and said she knew just the chap
who would be able to train <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went off to what we were assured would be
a good home and later we got a feed back that she was behaving and all was
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A week later we were told there
were problems and would we like to have her back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither Mrs D nor I were prepared to risk it.
So she stayed put and – with a certain amount of guilt I thanked God I didn’t
have to cope with her.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Feeling the guilt I vowed never to
be tempted to have another dog.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All in all it was a fairly eventful pregnancy. One day I was carrying my
son slowly upstairs for our post –prandial nap, reached his cot and heard a
thunderous noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top of the stairs
was shrouded in white powdery clouds; the hall ceiling had collapsed. I was so
relieved the ceiling hadn’t fallen on my son and me – my Guardian Angel was on
duty that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After I settled him in
his cot I crept downstairs to phone William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He came home straight away and I assured him I was fine – I didn’t need
to see the doctor but we had to do something about the ceiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In those days work-men actually came when
they said they would and although the builder couldn’t promise to reproduce the
elaborate moulding exactly- he made a good job of it and the house stayed sound
from then on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just one more surprise – I
went down to the cellar one day to fill the brass coal bucket and was amazed to
find the cellar floor hidden by a small lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hastily retreated and phoned the long suffering William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time he got home the water had
disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although no-one had told
us, there was a well in the cellar which would overflow after extremely heavy
rains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing to worry about.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the custom to have the first baby in hospital and the second – if
all was well-at home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were two
midwives, one who was shaped like a hedgehog; she was dry with a twinkle so we
christened her Mrs Tiggy Winkle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
other one was skinny with glasses and an expression as if she had just eaten
bitter aloes.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“In do hope we get Mrs Tiggy
William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other one was horrid about
the new single bed we bought specially for the birth and said it was too low
and must be put on blocks.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>William’s solution was to get a load of breeze blocks from the garage
and prop the bed on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
dirty and cumbersome and when I saw a number of wood lice skittering around I
lost my cool and they were replaced by the requested wooden blocks.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Now working for the MOD (Ministry
of Defence) William had a reasonable amount of leave so he decided to take time
off to look after me during the birth and help with #1 son and baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my delight it was Mrs Tiggy who was on
duty when I started.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I can tell when you’re having a
contraction – your face goes all pink!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve no-one else due so I might as well stay.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all tucked into a nourishing stew I had
made in the pressure cooker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
examining me she warned me that I would probably have quite a small baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a long afternoon and I remember
lurching through the hall to answer the phone and having a strong urge to delay
the whole thing for a month or two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fat
chance!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a fire glowing in the play- room and the bed facing the window
and Mrs Tiggy was concerned about the fierce draught when the door opened so we
moved the bed and blocks against the back wall- much more satisfactory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it was bed-time for my son and William
took him upstairs for his bath Mrs Tiggy said</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Let’s try and have the baby before
your husband gets down again.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And we actually managed it with my
special breathing coming up trumps and soon there was that delightful bawl from
a new born baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A beautiful boy and a
glorious 8 pounds – a whole pound heavier than his big brother. The one certain
thing about midwifery is that nothing is certain. William was thrilled – I was
thrilled and the nurse said I had done brilliantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But- she was terribly sorry – she had tried
to hold it together but the old wound had torn and I would have to have
stitches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew what was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Old Dr Rigg’s house backed on to our garden
so he was there in a trice and I had a repeat performance of the suturing with
no local anaesthetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why the hell
didn’t I protest but one feels so weak and helpless and it was again a bitter
irony that I managed the birth like a trooper and then had to try to gag my
screams with the inadequate gas and air mask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Poor William heard and later told my sister he couldn’t put me through
that again and I had already made a decision that this was going to be my
family – complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always
envisaged a little girl (who later appeared as my grand- daughter) but I would
never change my two sons – not for all the tea in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When no-one was looking I sneaked to the phone in the hall to tell Mum
the good news.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Get back to bed out of that
draughty hall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are you
thinking?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just remembered to say
‘well done!’ before hanging up.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sister Maddie and husband turned up with a bottle of champagne which I
wouldn’t touch as I intended to start feeding my sturdy little son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually the guests left, William went up
to bed and I was left alone in the firelight with him and felt a great thrill
of happiness – all pain forgotten.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
decided to have a go at this feeding lark and – like his brother he clamped on
with relish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normally with breast fed
babies they have a sticky black stool – meconium- for the first 24 hours but
this little boy was so determined he had a normal stool by morning.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was an icy February morning and I could see daffodils were out in the
garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered what the brothers
would think of each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I heard
William bringing #1son down stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d soon find out,</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-58557150448231065172020-04-18T16:49:00.003+01:002020-04-19T06:50:12.130+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Two Photos for Exile.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1_MEvmQK3SbfLixO4kBtgbvhatRqW8Iqxis9jaRJyBCthqAalowupSg7Cv2MKGlZzlTVKAeU4R8-DV0RhvXgN_5OX4p-oJSVG4rcDnni0s3iUJqye3KIgqd_0wGM6z369E4q/s1600/Five+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1480" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG1_MEvmQK3SbfLixO4kBtgbvhatRqW8Iqxis9jaRJyBCthqAalowupSg7Cv2MKGlZzlTVKAeU4R8-DV0RhvXgN_5OX4p-oJSVG4rcDnni0s3iUJqye3KIgqd_0wGM6z369E4q/s320/Five+G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our new home - my beloved 5 G</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrYlD8BLfb5Pix8IzHHnvZEjWwcz1RDHuY89eTpdpk-IpC4i1Iua_jMMauNuNtVlqeAv7CGrODfV6mH7QIRW3CRi82A-rHN72YMJ_Rj4O61ZRQJOmRj72cpN0i4VYHfLTIL_i/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1286" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrYlD8BLfb5Pix8IzHHnvZEjWwcz1RDHuY89eTpdpk-IpC4i1Iua_jMMauNuNtVlqeAv7CGrODfV6mH7QIRW3CRi82A-rHN72YMJ_Rj4O61ZRQJOmRj72cpN0i4VYHfLTIL_i/s320/IMG_0076.jpg" width="257" /></a><br />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The little darling - with Mum.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC6jZb7F5NsbnbuNhlFqLX9sOs2bXk4pWTN5o0fAXByb409NoSj4SFDk0Jsz2BDf8BsEB_CvwSF8DAacbX6RFsBdl8IP_uSGI3xhWVTO-MCjdZfljp3tdatFv3FckPYqAw_H-/s1600/bill+Franklyn+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1187" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihC6jZb7F5NsbnbuNhlFqLX9sOs2bXk4pWTN5o0fAXByb409NoSj4SFDk0Jsz2BDf8BsEB_CvwSF8DAacbX6RFsBdl8IP_uSGI3xhWVTO-MCjdZfljp3tdatFv3FckPYqAw_H-/s320/bill+Franklyn+003.jpg" width="0" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-62873319802256485362020-03-22T16:23:00.000+00:002020-03-24T06:28:52.760+00:00<div style="text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 40</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p>Pastures new.</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When I told my lovely girl friends
of our impending departure there were tears – not just mine – the girls got
quite emotional.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew it would never
be the same again and being at home all day with a small child was quite a
lonely occupation. I felt better when I found I was pregnant again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted at least two children and this
would make the gap two years and three months between them.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Maybe you’re right William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it would be better to have a larger
house and a better salary.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Before I had time to get used to
the idea William told me he had been offered the job and had accepted it so I
put on a brave face and threw myself into scouring the D.T. looking for a nice
house in our price range</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>William’s new job meant a move from Surrey to Kent supposedly ‘the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Garden</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">England</st1:placename></st1:place>’ where there were lots of Oast
houses for the brewing of hops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Traditionally East Enders would move lock stock and barrel to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kent</st1:place></st1:country-region> for the
hop-picking season.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“William I’ve found something and
incredibly it’s in our price range.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You get more for your bucks in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Kent</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is it? “</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“A place called Southborough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s between Tunbridge Wells – spelt with a ‘u’
-and Tonbridge spelt with an ‘o’.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“There’s a good boy’s school there –
I’ll phone the agent and make an early appointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s quite a drive - what about the baby?” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Anne wants to have him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both my girl friends had boys a couple of
months older than our son and they were fascinated by his constant crawling,
pulling himself upright and general activity whilst he was half the size of the
other two boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When left in his pram
before long he would leap over the side and dangle - thankfully saved from a
tumble by his restrainers.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First impressions were good; Tunbridge Wells (Royal T.W. as it liked to
be known} was a spa town with lots of history, the Pantiles and a large hilly
common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Southborough was about two miles
north and we drove up a quiet cul de sac where the house was situated amongst
other detached Victorian dwellings.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I don’t like that laurel hedge in
front.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s far too high but the holly
trees are good.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On the near side, on a cobbled path
was a stable with an apple loft above.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It all looks in good nick – I like
the pale grey the house is painted and the turquoise trimmings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh and look there is a path on the far side
of the house so I can wheel the pram to the back of the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there is a lockable door.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Daily walks with baby in pram were the norm in
those days.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We walked down the path and let
ourselves in to the very private walled garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was neglected but there was a large old pear tree which gave dappled
sunlight and old apple trees, Ribston Pippins, Worcester Pearmains and
Bramleys.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Gosh look at that enormous yew
hedge – it seems to divide what they call the pleasure garden from the
vegetable garden.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
William was looking at it
critically and possibly planning its demise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were rose beds and flowerbeds all tangled and full of weeds and
behind the yew hedge an old neglected vegetable garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all a bit daunting – but exciting.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were told the last person to live there was a very old lady and her
housekeeper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On her death a speculator
had bought it, redecorated it and put it on the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t wait to see inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We returned to the front entrance and went
through heavy double doors to a large glass paned door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance hall had a central staircase;
the drawing room on the left and the dining room – with hatch to the kitchen–
on the right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both rooms were large with
attractive fireplaces and bay windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Behind the drawing room was a smaller room – with fireplace.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“This would make a great study –
looking out onto the garden,” said William.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Or nursery – remember there are
going to be four of us!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
At the end of the hall there was
another entrance from the rear garden with both an inner and an outer door.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Gosh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The old lady must have been security conscious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at all those heavy bolts on top and
bottom on all the doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there is a
loo here with the same iron bolts top and bottom and inside and outside the
loo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How odd! And where do these other
three doors lead to?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
William opened them revealing a
scullery, the kitchen and steps down to a cellar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d been told that the people next door had
converted their cellar into a basement flat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ours was given over to a lifetime’s store of coal and coke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discovered there were also fireplaces in
the bedrooms and bathroom</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Oh look William – an ideal
boiler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you smell that chokey
smell?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Multiply it by ten and that’s
what the cellar smelt like at the Convalescent Home at St Anne’s.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I remember,” joked William “the
one you allowed to go out when you were on night duty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very careless of you!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yet another door led down two steps
into the garden room with butler’s sink and a small room just off it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another door led into the garden.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Halfway up the stairs was a large bathroom and separate loo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bathroom had a pretty old fireplace and
would have been the tweeenie’s bedroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were five bed and dressing rooms-as they put it and outside the
rooms were mahogany let-down side tables for the maid to put the breakfast tray
before opening the door.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
By the time we got back in the car
we were exhausted.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“What did you think” I asked William?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It’s a very good house,” he said
positively.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I sighed regretfully,”It’s just too
big.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I suppose so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William knew his limitations and he was never
a DIY man.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
By the time we reached home I had
mentally moved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The house was crying
out for a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t stop thinking about it. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“On the other hand William…”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was certain it was the right house for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William agreed but was more cautious.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“It’s a hell of a responsibility to
take on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’d have to get it properly
surveyed.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I agreed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My sister Maddie was now working in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> for an architect
and said she knew just the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
wishing to waste time and possibly lose the house we met up with him in
Southborough and after what we hoped was a thorough going over he said,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“The house is sound and if you are both
in love with it you should go ahead.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
He also told us that he and his
wife had just bought a farmhouse they fell in love with, in spite of a doubtful
survey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He mentioned that the two steps
down from the kitchen to the scullery could be a nuisance but it never bothered
us.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Later when the children would stow toys in the washing machine causing
it to flood I was thankful for the brick floor, where the water would just
drain through to the garden.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
First thing in the morning and last
thing at night my head was full of plans for our new home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who knew you could be in love with a house
and miraculously William was just as keen.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sold our bungalow making a small profit and and our offer on the
Victorian house accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne offered
to have our son whilst we moved in and we gratefully accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t fret at all and we were very proud
of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you I think he was spoilt
rotten whist he was there.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were under close scrutiny by the neighbours when we moved in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was wearing tartan trousers from my
modelling days so they were convinced we were Scottish.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had a lot of space to fill but Dodie, my mother –in- law, helped out
with a carpet or two and sister- in-law Fleur had her late mother’s furniture
stored in her house sized garage some of which found it way to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was so much wall space and I started a
life long collection of pictures and drawings- mostly repros but some originals.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Heating was a bit of a problem and
to supplement the open fires and boiler we had paraffin stoves, gas and
electricity fires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the fifties
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All had to be carefully
guarded with an active toddler in the house and I was thankful for the old
wooden play-pen where I could safely leave my son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We designated William’s dream study as the
playroom but he quickly learned to push the play pen up against the door so I
couldn’t get in and would have to go round to the window outside in the garden
and persuade him to back off.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As usual, when pregnant, I was getting larger by the day and one day I
left him playing in the hall whilst I went to use the downstairs loo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly I heard a noise, went to open the
door and realised my little monkey had pushed the iron bolt across</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Thanks to the security conscious
previous owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could see my sons navy
blue eye staring at me through the key hole.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Darling- just push the bolt back
for Mummy please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good boy darling!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But darling thought this was an
exciting new game and just said </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Mummy! Mummy!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This went on for quite some time
and I became increasingly panicked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thank God we were on the ground floor and there was a window - with a
complicated screw bolt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to stand
on the loo (it was encased in a mahogany base and could withstand my weight)
then lurch sideways to open the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Somehow I managed to lever myself out (thank you God), walk round the
back of the house and let myself into the kitchen and found little sunshine
with his eye still glued to the key hole.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More lessons learned.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-53580961666182567662020-03-15T09:48:00.001+00:002020-03-15T09:48:18.039+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrYu7nPOFYMs3dzcwfbaAHeDgfWpgyP49PryX1Vilxnrc75_a3X1gDq6v5hwjiRcgsDZPG-ob__1AvL2_CBBN9t_0HnXxrgR17VoKI4vfQJnUfI1DQRcw58xl36VQYAgtv6Vc/s1600/%2521+Pat+and+Andrew+Broads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1284" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrYu7nPOFYMs3dzcwfbaAHeDgfWpgyP49PryX1Vilxnrc75_a3X1gDq6v5hwjiRcgsDZPG-ob__1AvL2_CBBN9t_0HnXxrgR17VoKI4vfQJnUfI1DQRcw58xl36VQYAgtv6Vc/s320/%2521+Pat+and+Andrew+Broads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Came across this recently: Pat and number 1 son sailing on the Broads. Click to enlarge<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-61213420700395499382020-02-05T10:59:00.002+00:002020-02-05T10:59:56.559+00:00 A Mixed Bag of photos!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ6nF1-Aff1pbZeYDr4NQNiJ4WRrCaCkedG9HVndAwR7rIbTPdrG9vjCM8Z8btKIWnuMtQRGEWLoKTF2IoufWs4ubsGmdZk_NYXuGHFJkpGzOU6nvpnuUN_doastJMaHTJUcV/s1600/84050217_10213411373553748_2913302675091095552_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimQ6nF1-Aff1pbZeYDr4NQNiJ4WRrCaCkedG9HVndAwR7rIbTPdrG9vjCM8Z8btKIWnuMtQRGEWLoKTF2IoufWs4ubsGmdZk_NYXuGHFJkpGzOU6nvpnuUN_doastJMaHTJUcV/s1600/84050217_10213411373553748_2913302675091095552_n.jpg" /></a></div>
Pat - Just preggers.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqHr6T5F0_AWMs4K2t-SHOKoWInXOXbaHfxxXmQUyj1WqbAgGLRy9I4qRyOw8Nkz_tORDrbdMzQsgPjKU61m3_XElvncpbjbkbOxv2mA-6GovmymALhsxuXgvBsuz_d7y1Lb2/s1600/84731192_10213434040640411_3292064815744286720_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="672" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqHr6T5F0_AWMs4K2t-SHOKoWInXOXbaHfxxXmQUyj1WqbAgGLRy9I4qRyOw8Nkz_tORDrbdMzQsgPjKU61m3_XElvncpbjbkbOxv2mA-6GovmymALhsxuXgvBsuz_d7y1Lb2/s320/84731192_10213434040640411_3292064815744286720_n.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
A recently discovered photo of MTL - about the time of the reunion.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBYdgplFr2NFm7EAWjRZ9ugw1j-nuJtLvMvJAlaBAwUwDQqcefRpa-ek-Q87mShFtZkif3MxrRNrj-iN9-bTI5n0hdf81YoVsccffGTOt9mQg7jlFSJierN8aDn0AcSOYhxT/s1600/IMG_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1208" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzBYdgplFr2NFm7EAWjRZ9ugw1j-nuJtLvMvJAlaBAwUwDQqcefRpa-ek-Q87mShFtZkif3MxrRNrj-iN9-bTI5n0hdf81YoVsccffGTOt9mQg7jlFSJierN8aDn0AcSOYhxT/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<strong>Probably Pat's last cruise - 2or 3 years ago</strong>Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-13014764759152851042020-01-18T18:02:00.002+00:002020-01-18T18:02:21.557+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jrvt0CGZSTT3HjBtBUhyZ23XuvFFgO0PpiCJZWan9ve6wFpobyVgVd7Y1pAlgVdFpciKicEybaBLxReTzv8aXlXyPy1N1NqqZ_C1OBYc1mn7VI1XcmoGAOQlaeomM5a1FtJl/s1600/andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1316" data-original-width="1193" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Jrvt0CGZSTT3HjBtBUhyZ23XuvFFgO0PpiCJZWan9ve6wFpobyVgVd7Y1pAlgVdFpciKicEybaBLxReTzv8aXlXyPy1N1NqqZ_C1OBYc1mn7VI1XcmoGAOQlaeomM5a1FtJl/s320/andrew.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGgg4jFLFVswM5n1dFkpFku-icAwZU9eDEAkaySKxUoLylKPaEnoi-mwJo3hS9vhg27aeYlTlHEOezmxOQhhV3dgsfnHQyrkpA1qg8dnC7H7uoq2hTuIny0XdJYNBj_0vSucl/s1600/19-Dad%2527s+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="1187" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGgg4jFLFVswM5n1dFkpFku-icAwZU9eDEAkaySKxUoLylKPaEnoi-mwJo3hS9vhg27aeYlTlHEOezmxOQhhV3dgsfnHQyrkpA1qg8dnC7H7uoq2hTuIny0XdJYNBj_0vSucl/s320/19-Dad%2527s+family.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhmuDEIk7O3mFhIbCBMGTKBxfS0pBrJm3P5ZYdLoURkhnuBJeVb6TCIqWPDHztQ7ZEmdyihNn9HJb1V7wKGJuqQdywVmB9HO-lxi3Fh6BGIZhde4EbOS1HI_ZNk7LKWN3Yg8-/s1600/E0MNA5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="961" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNhmuDEIk7O3mFhIbCBMGTKBxfS0pBrJm3P5ZYdLoURkhnuBJeVb6TCIqWPDHztQ7ZEmdyihNn9HJb1V7wKGJuqQdywVmB9HO-lxi3Fh6BGIZhde4EbOS1HI_ZNk7LKWN3Yg8-/s320/E0MNA5.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XZyWGGvOdDLZGlFemxLACtPbbJ5FDxBh2F03FsMSyGOt1jO8dTjYUqgvTu58g62eJvtK66X9I2B8HO5pMYTQ_ZOwSTNuh2Ak9epW7Wmgh6PGjrh8QRlaqHxULxm_BNNG91a0/s1600/Pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8XZyWGGvOdDLZGlFemxLACtPbbJ5FDxBh2F03FsMSyGOt1jO8dTjYUqgvTu58g62eJvtK66X9I2B8HO5pMYTQ_ZOwSTNuh2Ak9epW7Wmgh6PGjrh8QRlaqHxULxm_BNNG91a0/s320/Pat.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
I can't post the one I wanted - it's on FB- so have to make do with these.Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-56052387805890536622020-01-13T10:17:00.001+00:002020-01-14T14:28:25.395+00:00<div class="gE iv gt" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 0.87rem; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 20px 0px 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ" style="border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 0.87rem; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin-top: 0px; width: auto;"><tbody style="display: block;">
<tr class="acZ xD" style="display: flex; height: auto;"><td colspan="3" style="font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf adz" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; white-space: nowrap; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="ady" style="-ms-text-overflow: ellipsis; align-items: center; display: flex; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; white-space: nowrap;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Show details" class="ajy" data-tooltip="Show details" id=":ei" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border: currentColor; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; margin-left: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0">
<img alt="" class="ajz" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" style="background: url("" border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border: currentColor; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 20px; https: //www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/system/1x/arrow_drop_down_black_20dp.png" margin: 0px 0px 0px auto; opacity: 0.54; padding: 0px; position: relative; right: 0px; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 20px;" /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div id=":z4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="qQVYZb">
</div>
<div class="utdU2e">
</div>
<div class="btm">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">An Imperfect Life</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">Chapter 39</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">Déjà vu</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">My new son soon got bored with
staring at his adoring Mum and just wanted to nod off so I put him back in his
cot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was too excited to sleep so I wrote to
everyone I knew to tell them the news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the morning wore on I was taken with baby to join eight other mothers
and babies in the maternity ward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
quickly bonded with a tall lanky girl whose amazing feat had been to increase
her weight by no more than the weight of her baby and could have concealed her
pregnancy right up to the birth – had she wished.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> W</span>e seemed to have alternate days when we would be on top of
the world one day and down in the depths the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If one of the babies needed to be examined,
the staff would remove all the babies from the ward so that instead of one
mother being upset and worried, we all were.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“More flowers for you,” announced
Sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been inundated with
bouquets and the nurses had piled them round my bed like a flowery bower which
was embarrassing so I asked Sister to spread them round the ward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was lovely getting flowers but now I had
dozens of thank you letters to write.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Oh no,” I gasped in horror when I
saw the latest arrival, “Red and white flowers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Please Sister don’t bring them on the ward!”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Don’t get upset now –‘red and
white flowers means death’ -that is an old superstition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m NOT superstitious and will be happy to have
them in my room.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phew!</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">After a few days when baby was
putting on weight I was told I could go home.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“William bring my black and white
tweed suit please.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jacket is loose
and it’s warm.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alas no way could I get
into it.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“It’ll be 18 months before you get
your shape back, “one of the nurses told me – but she was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Breast feeding is the best way to get back in
shape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Best for Baba too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can actually feel the pull on your uterus
as the baby sucks (especially when you have cat-gut stitches like I had).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other slimming factor was that the
benign, happy Pat of pregnancy had become a stressed nervous wreck who fretted
when baby cried and prodded him when he was asleep to make sure he was OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And me an R.S.C.N!</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">What one didn’t realise is that
normal babies can have alarming symptoms one minute and back to normal the
next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a bad case of P.N.D. which
wasn’t recognised in those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought I was going mad.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Health Visitor realised something was wrong.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Put all your ornaments away in a
cupboard and don’t fret about house work.” </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wasn’t the problem - I had an excellent
daily help who was now living in – with her son - as her house had been
repossessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably if I had more to
do I would have had less time to fret. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The Health Visitor's </span>kindness reduced me to tears;
it was a relief to have someone who seemed to understand how I was
feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then she did a magical
thing which really saved my bacon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
introduced me to two mothers with baby boys – roughly the same age - who lived
close by.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Every night after the 6pm feed (when breast milk was at its weakest) my
son would yell his head off- sometimes till midnight, and it was driving me
demented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he was 4 months old the
girls - my new friends - finally persuaded me to have a night off:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I left William in charge and we went to the
pictures to see ‘High Society’ with Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Satchmo and
Bing Crosby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the first time since
the birth I laughed and had fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back
home William said our son had slept soundly all night and from then on things
improved; baby thrived and I got back in shape - physically and mentally.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was a great sadness that Gran died before ever seeing my new son but she
always believed her natural span was three score years and ten and died at
70.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Always believing that breast was
best I managed to quell the pangs of grief to keep the milk flowing for the
first 12 months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he thrived and got
bigger I started to shrink and at 11 months got a period</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“That’s a sign to stop nursing,”
said Mum – so I did – content that he must have got most of my immunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to work; the childhood diseases
both boys succumbed to were ones I never had.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">One of the best things I ever did
was to teach William how to bathe the newborn baby and from then on he was a
devoted hands–on father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was
missing in our relationship was compensated by our relationship with our
children – total, unconditional love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life was pleasant enough; I have always thrived on routine and so did
baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had our new friends and their
babies to go for walks on the downs and have tea parties whilst our boys sat,
crawled or rolled about according to their different abilities.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">I had no intention of doing any
more modelling but then a favourite photographer – Neil Nimmo asked if he could
come to photograph the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said yes
because he was a charming man and it would be lovely to have some first-rate
photographs which <span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">would have cost us a bomb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we heard that Heinz wanted to use us as
the 'Heinz mother and baby'.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I refused –
politely, telling them I was nursing him and I didn’t want to interfere with
his routine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They assured me that
everything would be done around him and nothing would be allowed to interfere
with his routine; they would send a chauffeur driven car, I would have the
privacy to feed him – de dah de dah!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">After much discussion William and I
decided to give it a go with the proviso that if it was upsetting him we
stopped.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were to appear on TV using me as myself – a well known model.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was given a script and I proceeded to learn
it – as I thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was easy – just
introducing myself, telling them about my baby and how he enjoyed Heinz baby food,
which happened to be true. (And his Mum adored the chocolate mousse.)</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The car was a Silver Shadow- very posh and quite a few neighbours
happened to be around when we were picked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was tempted to give the Royal wave but fearing it might affect future
relations restrained myself.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the studio they were as good as their word and baby’s well being came
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I settled him in his carry cot
whilst I did my piece to camera.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
director – a friendly young chap asked if I would like it broken up into short
bits but I said no - I would do it all in one piece – easy peasy!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">They took some time adjusting the
lights using light meters with me brilliantly lit and blinded so I couldn’t see
all the people talking around me and I became a little unnerved.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Right- we’re going for a
take!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hush descended.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Okay Pat! Action!”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">I smiled at the camera.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Hello!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My name is Pat------“</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">And then to my acute embarrassment
I dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we broke it up into little
bits and I finally got it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lesson
learned.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The second part of the shoot was to be me feeding baby the wonderful
Heinz sieved carrots, which he quite liked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The camera and the director were up really close with the opened tin of
carrots in full view, so I went into nurse mode and wrapped him in his
swaddling piece of cashmere - as was my wont when he was having anything to eat
other than breast- so his attention would be totally focused.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Oh Pat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t do that!”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">I looked at the director
enquiringly.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Just let his arms be free – it looks
more natural!”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Are you sure?”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Yes, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK fine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Action! “</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">“Oh bloody ‘ell!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">One swipe from baby and the
director’ pristine white shirt was generously splattered with the wonderful
Heinz sieved carrot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby goo-gooed and
smiled his gummy grin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to
swaddling!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time all seemed to be
going smoothly when I felt a silent <st1:place w:st="on">PING</st1:place> and a
TINGLE and I knew the milk was coming in.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“CUT!”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">The director was actually blushing.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">“Er Pat er…your buttons have come
undone.”</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">I looked down and was relieved to
see the milk hadn’t come through but my shirt was wide open revealing a nursing
bra –not unlike a straight jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
this time I was beyond embarrassment and handed my son to an assistant whilst I
adjusted my dress and then pinioned him to my bosom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We carried on – this time without
interruption and everybody was pleased when we watched it later on TV although
I thought I sounded a bit posh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
those years of watching Phyllis Calvert and Margaret Lockwood no doubt.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we drove back through <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Chelsea</st1:city></st1:place>
I couldn’t resist asking the driver to stop by the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>hospital where Vanessa was theatre
Sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly she was free and we
had a cup of tea together and arranged that she and her doctor husband would
come and visit.</span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">I settled down to being a housewife
and mummy and life was very pleasant.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">Our garden backed onto the garden
of a large house owned by a National Hunt jockey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had got into conversation, when I met him
on the train, before my son was born and discovered we lived in close
proximity. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was great fun – a real
charmer and when our families got together I was delighted that William also
liked him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before long the two men had
made a gate in the fence to save us all a long twenty minute walk to reach each
other’s houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through him we were
introduced to the racing fraternity and our social life stepped up a notch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there were my two new friends Anne
and Eileen and their babies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had
become a strong trio and saw each other almost every day.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">Then William dropped a bomb shell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He told me he had applied for another job and
if he was accepted we would have to move. I couldn’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Déjà vu all over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Altrincham just when I had become
embroiled in the local theatre group and we had a lovely circle of friends it
was up sticks and off we went down south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know I was probably being selfish and not seeing the bigger
picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t like change-
especially when we seemed to be reasonably happy.</span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">But this was when the wife was a
kept woman, the husband the bread winner so his job took precedence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wasn’t convinced it was vital for his
job to be changed and for us to move to another county. </span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"> </span></o:p></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="aHl" style="margin-left: -38px;">
<div class="gE iv gt" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; cursor: pointer; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 0.87rem; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 20px 0px 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<table cellpadding="0" class="cf gJ" style="border-collapse: collapse; display: block; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 0.87rem; letter-spacing: 0.2px; margin-top: 0px; width: auto;"><tbody style="display: block;">
<tr class="acZ xD" style="display: flex; height: auto;"><td colspan="3" style="font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" class="cf adz" style="border-collapse: collapse; table-layout: fixed; white-space: nowrap; width: 100%;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="ady" style="-ms-text-overflow: ellipsis; align-items: center; display: flex; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; white-space: nowrap;"><div aria-haspopup="true" aria-label="Show details" class="ajy" data-tooltip="Show details" id=":ei" role="button" style="align-items: center; border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border: currentColor; display: inline-flex; justify-content: center; margin-left: 4px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; z-index: 0;" tabindex="0">
<img alt="" class="ajz" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/images/cleardot.gif" style="background: url("" border-image-outset: 0; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 100%; border-image-source: none; border-image-width: 1; border: currentColor; cursor: pointer; display: flex; height: 20px; https: //www.gstatic.com/images/icons/material/system/1x/arrow_drop_down_black_20dp.png" margin: 0px 0px 0px auto; opacity: 0.54; padding: 0px; position: relative; right: 0px; top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 20px;" /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div id=":z4" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div class="qQVYZb">
</div>
<div class="utdU2e">
</div>
<div class="btm">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id=":g6" tabindex="-1">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3qHXXK0uMYuRY63JGTe93W8-Kvg5oz5LSvCDdxfzNU6t0ANjUqiO33PYm9_vyhVgUbzGFL-YgZrTqTqjOM5lmUDWx4ukRXYUgKEruHqV0x8kHWDqtRAE_YqlTAU98OLO80U4/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div>
</div>
</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-8337266521026484202019-11-10T17:14:00.000+00:002019-11-10T17:14:05.534+00:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzmS-HC25vji4IREU33gZUfRby91we8x6Den6sfSvswI4GJJeU9iPuHPT_n0s2HIwR-toxGJDey75DH46aYIbiiR2JaHLNPnyzF7pkRb8bj-ympYagTUigCKN8ZaFMCzanQix/s1600/E0PYD5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1390" data-original-width="1013" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxzmS-HC25vji4IREU33gZUfRby91we8x6Den6sfSvswI4GJJeU9iPuHPT_n0s2HIwR-toxGJDey75DH46aYIbiiR2JaHLNPnyzF7pkRb8bj-ympYagTUigCKN8ZaFMCzanQix/s320/E0PYD5.jpg" width="233" /></a></div>
Andrew during his very brief modelling career. I was appalled when a waiter gave him a ginger biscuit. Andrew though he was in Heaven<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-9656144693626407732019-11-09T17:00:00.000+00:002019-11-09T17:12:34.917+00:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 38</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Ice cold Milk and Deep Green Apples</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Pregnant and so happy I wanted to
shout it from the house tops.</span></div>
“No!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mum was adamant.<br />
<br />
“Nine months is a long time and
folk get bored.”<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So a secret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ha!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fat chance – overnight my metabolism had changed and from being a nervy,
edgy, highly strung girl I became a placid, happy cow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With serenity came avoir dupois and William
had the wife he’d always wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had we
lived on a boat his cup would have runneth over.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“You know William - Spotlight has
really earned its keep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ben Lyons and
Bebe Daniels want me for ‘Life with the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lyons</st1:place></st1:city>’
as Richard’s girl friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And H.M
Tennant have offered me a job.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Paula will be pleased,” William
observed.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“She’s thrilled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got to tell her about the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t know how she’ll react.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Why don’t we ask her – AND her
husband down at the week-end?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can wine
and dine them – away from the phones she’ll be more relaxed.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we had a plan I could function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the first time Paula had visited – I
had never met her solicitor husband and everything had to be perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My excellent housekeeper Doreen made the
house glisten with fragrant lavender polish, the brass and copper gleamed and
the table looked a picture with starched napkins, most of Dodie’s silver and
fresh flowers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William looked reasonably
respectable in a laid back ’I’m in the garden rather than the office’ way but
when I came to get dressed I couldn’t do up my skirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I could do was safety pin my skirt and
cover it up with one of William’s white shirts loosely belted over the
bump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t supposed to show for
ages yet but no-one seemed to have told ‘it’.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When the car rolled up I got a
shock – Paula’s husband was not what I expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a good ten years younger with a tooth
brush moustache and dressed as if he had stepped out of ‘Country Life’ –
discreetly checked shirt, cravat and camel waistcoat, thorn proof jacket, beige
cord trousers and suede brothel creeper shoes – all brand spanking new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paula was her usual chaotic self but she had
made an effort with a hat, fur coat, heels and a voluminous silk dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We greeted each other warmly, made the introductions
and got them drinks before the inevitable gap in the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had seen Paula’s piercing look and as soon
as she had tasted her G and T I blurted out-</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“We’ve got some news to tell
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going to have a baby in
November,”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Paula roared with laughter, gave me
a big hug and there were congratulations all round.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lunch was a success with wine flowing, the men happy talking about cars
– how to get to A from B and bottlenecks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After lunch it was sunny so we had coffee in the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Paula I planned to work as long as possible
and after ‘it’ was born nurse for 6 months and then go back to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We agreed that my contract should lapse
during this period and then start again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paula said she would vet any jobs in the coming months to ensure I
wasn’t overdoing things and the day ended happily. I think at the time we both
believed this would all come about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just had a faint worry that I was showing so soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Twins? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or a baby elephant? </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My rich SIL Fleur came up trumps- her layette had been in the family for
years and she said I was now to use them and then hand them back again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a lovely cot covered in pink and
white organdie, ancient cot blankets which I renovated with fresh ribbon, a
lovely piece of swaddling cashmere and a play pen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the time of very smart prams a la
Princess Grace of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Monaco</st1:place></st1:country-region>
and I just didn’t have the nerve to wheel the offered pram round Epsom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked as if it dated from the year dot
with its cavernous body and tiny wheels. I bought Viyella baby gowns which
opened down the back, stencilled designs on the bodice and embroidered them -
sewing lace round the neck and wrists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mum couldn’t believe it.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>William and I were blissfully happy – for the very first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My only problem was indigestion which
possibly was due to my propensity for ice cold milk and deep green apples at
bedtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did as much work as possible
the first month and then it became difficult to hide my blooming- ness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I didn’t enjoy racing round town with
luggage so I told Paula I would book myself out until baby was 6 months old.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It was a time for reflection and
for seeing family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gran was getting
older and not so eager to visit her daughter and family in the States, so to
give Mum and Dad a break I had her to stay for a couple of weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was convinced that her natural life span
was three score years and ten and sure enough soon after the birth she died -
aged seventy.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jamie’s brother Liam and family
were over from the States and visiting Maddie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently Jamie now had a daughter and was living in <st1:place w:st="on">Essex</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had dropped out of my consciousness
although I still had the odd dream about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maddie asked if she could bring Liam and family over for the day along
with their child who was getting over German measles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said I should be out of the danger period
for harming the baby.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I couldn’t believe she would even
ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As if I was going to take the slightest
risk with my baby.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had very little in the way of monitoring in those days but I did go
to relaxation classes and became a dab hand at deep breathing.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was beginning to get to know the neighbours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first they treated me ‘the model’ as
something from outer space but soon realised I was just an ordinary young
woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were both wildly excited about
the baby and found the last long months dragging interminably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My increased weight gave me back–ache and
when Mum saw me waddling with one hand behind me, clutching my back she said I
needed a corset for support.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I got a
horrid pink thing with laces and it really helped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did have a chat with a midwife and told her
I was worried about my waters breaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She roared with laughter.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“They’re not going to suddenly
break and flood Epsom Market love!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I continued to gain weight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One was meant to put on a maximum of 21lbs:
7for the baby, 7 for the mother and I can’t remember what the last 7 lbs are
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At last the date arrived but no
baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By now I was thoroughly fed up and
wished I could change my mind and have it some other time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a further 9 days I got the bus to the hospital
and they decided to weigh me – for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were horrified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had gone from7stone 4 ounces to 11 and a
half stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clearly it was too late to
do anything about it, but they told me to lay off salt and sent me home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to walk into Epsom to get the bus
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was a strain- not only was I
suddenly very tired, my stomach felt hard and tight as if it was going to burst
and I was involuntarily grunting with the effort of walking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got home about the same time as William.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Go and lie down Pat and I’ll bring
you some supper.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had an early night and I must have fallen asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly I was awake with this tight pressure
feeling and to my horror the bed was awash.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“William! Wake up! That mid-wife
was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could easily have flooded
Epsom Market!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We blessed great aunt Rose who had
given her favourite nephew her <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Austin</st1:city></st1:place>
7 which she used to drive on the crown of the road yelling “Road Hog!” to every
car that overtook her.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“William we must go very carefully
because the baby no longer has that great cushion of water to protect it.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
At the hospital William was sent
home and told he could phone in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I realise things are rather different these days what with birthing
partners and all but all I wanted was a nurse who knew what she was about; I had
a job to do and I didn’t want any distractions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was put in quite a pleasant room and told to get into bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I was left alone and was aware that,
from time to time, people looked trough the glass panel on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every time I got a contraction I could feel
my face flushing with discomfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
went on for some time with me stolidly deep breathing, and trying to relax in
between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually a nurse came in and was
surprised to find me fully dilated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
had seen me lying peacefully – as she thought- and assumed I was a long way off
giving birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was rushed down to the labour
ward where the doctor had just delivered a baby and was ready to go home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tough!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Throughout the birth he and the nurse were chatting, in a playful way to
each other, except when they gave me instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally when my baby was born I was so exhausted
that I sank back when I had meant to look at the baby emerging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My relief was short-lived.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’m afraid she’s torn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll have to put some sutures in.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was just time to get a fleeting glimpse
of my son and then he was whisked away.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“We won’t bother with a local –she’ll
be numb down there.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I had been so proud of myself and now
this arrogant clot of a doctor put me through what I can only describe as
medieval torture and I screamed and sobbed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have been wary of male doctors ever since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The anger is still there although I no longer
imagine attacking his nether regions with a large cutting needle to see if he was
‘numb down there’.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At last I was back in the room with my son in a cot beside me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took him in my arms and gazed at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was instant, deep, everlasting,
unconditional love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was long and
skinny, pink and white with a silken down on his head the colour of golden
treacle toffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stared at each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a serious little face with
navy blue eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He clamped on to the
breast to the manner born- no problems there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When daylight came I looked out of the window and there below on the
forecourt was William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face lit up
when he saw me and he waved violently so I could tell he knew the good
news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nurse told me – in a
disapproving manner that he had phoned the hospital three or four times during
the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And why not?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he had to wait for visiting hours in the
evening to see our son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I returned to my
favourite occupation- staring at the newcomer.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This little creature had changed my
life and I was supposed after six months to leave him in the care of somebody
else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not bloody likely!</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-76623380152606910132019-09-08T19:20:00.000+01:002019-09-09T08:57:26.848+01:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 37</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
I make a decision</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“I have to see Paula tomorrow.”</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
“Any particular reason?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William was interested enough to put his book
down.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p>“It’s time to settle our
finances - she owes me quite a bit of money – minus the fees </div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
from the studios who paid me
direct.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she wants me to fill her in
on the Pickles’</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>affair.”</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Well don’t be getting
upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember they didn’t even know
you so don’t take it </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p>personally.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p>Easy for William to say but my
confidence had taken a blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway my
carapace </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p>was too thin
-<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie’s rejection had been enough for
one lifetime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt it was only </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
fair to
tell Paula I didn’t consider this a job for life – it wasn’t a passion and I
would </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
like to wind down preparatory to starting a family.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next day sitting outside Paula’s office I was
rehearsing what I was going to say when I noticed a youngish man waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t look like either a model or an
actor and when Paula herself ushered him in, I was even more curious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At last the secretary popped her head round
the door and asked me to go in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To my
surprise the mystery man was still there, sitting alongside Paula.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Pat dear, I
want you to meet Mr X of X nylons.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
This was Paula
at her most charming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr X stood up and
we shook hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It appeared he was
starting an advertising campaign, had observed me in the waiting room and
wanted to use me for his ads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I nearly
laughed out loud but slowly I was learning a bit of common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had always had a thing about my skinny long
legs which tended to be a bit knock kneed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The fashion then was for more muscular, curvy pins and mine didn’t cut
the mustard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A modelling chum had recently been on the town
with a party that included the ‘leg’endary star Marlene Dietrich- her legs were
insured for thousands of pounds and according to my friend, the precious pins
were encased in the palest, sheerest nylons which blended seamlessly with the
colour of her high heeled shoes making her legs seemingly go on for ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed like a good idea to me and I was
trying it out this very day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result
was a contract – Mr X was happy, Paula was happy and I decided to keep my
worries to myself and carry on a while longer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paula had already worked out my nice large cheque so I didn’t need to
hang around and future plans were put on hold for now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I spoke to Paula that evening there were
lots of bookings and she said it was time to get a photo in Spotlight.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“What’s
Spotlight” demanded William?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“It’s supposed
to be world famous for its casting directories and Paula reckons it’s a must if
you want to get anywhere in the media.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s expensive…”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“But you have
to speculate to accumulate…” William added.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Don’t forget
Mum’s coming down tomorrow so I’m going to book myself out for a couple of
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got plans.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
I really wanted
to do something about her hair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
soft and silky- a lovely strawberry blonde colour – that’s titian in my book-
but she wore it in a long plait which she wrapped round her head like a hairy
Alice band.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My own hair was done by top
stylists for modelling jobs but my personal choice was a Mr Ralph who was
employed by a new up and coming stylist – Vidal Sassoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although hairdressers were keen to use me
they found my hair (soft, fine and fly away) difficult until they got used to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would tell them the best way to
cope with it, but hairdressers never listen – it’s in their DNA and once a
whole photo session was ruined when the stylist put brilliantine on my hair in
spite of my warning her what would happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not only did I look like a drowned rat the sticky goo had to be
endlessly washed out again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr Ralph was
different - quiet, unassuming and a gifted stylist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mum was doubtful about having her long hair
cut so I suggested she watch him do mine and then see how she felt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thoroughly reassured she decided to go
ahead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I rejoiced as I saw her lose the
dreaded plait and at least fifteen years in the process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She now had a short pretty style which
allowed her natural curl the freedom it had been denied for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everybody was delighted and she never had
long hair again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hoped Dad would
feel the same.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had chosen Vidal’s salon as my regular
salon because it was a fun place with rocking music, a real buzz and discounts
for the modelling profession - in contrast to some of the <st1:place w:st="on">Mayfair</st1:place>
salons full of ladies dripping with mink and diamonds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I first met Vidal when he was a young
apprentice and had been given the unenviable task of attaching a solid rubber
ring to my hair to represent a ‘Juliet‘ hair style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was an impossible task and the brushing
got more and more violent until finally he flung down the brush and flounced
out saying he was a hair stylist – not an ‘effing genius.’</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
He became world
famous for his geometric styles- closely associated with the fashion icon Mary
Quant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My type of hair was anathema to
him and we had a friendly agreement for the rest of my modelling days that I
would never ask him to cope with my hair again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My favourites of the many famous stylists were Steiner, who did
wonderfully romantic styles and French of London.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was lovely having Mum to stay and we had
lots of chats but I didn’t talk about my marriage- I remembered her retort when
Maddie was in trouble:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“You’ve made
your bed – you must lie on it.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
On my recent
birthday I had asked William if – as a birthday treat - we could go up to town
and see the latest Ava Gardner film and he refused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course he came up with an alternative but
it wasn’t anything I was interested in so I in turn refused.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mum and I did talk about starting a family-
she was just eighteen when she got pregnant and Maddie about the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suddenly realised the next birthday I would
be twenty-six; the bookings were pouring in and unless I made a stand, another
year would fly by- but how would I break it to Paula?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A fait accompli seemed the only answer; so I
made a decision and my New Year’s resolution was to start a family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For once William was in complete agreement
and we set about the task with gusto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
didn’t have pregnancy tests then so after I missed a period I trotted down to
the local hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told me I was
pregnant and gave me a resounding telling off; I should have – they said –
waited at least a couple of months before seeing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained I often had to chase around <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city> carrying cases
with accessories and I didn’t want to risk having a miscarriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A month or so earlier I had had a shock when
I fell backwards off a chair balanced on a table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was working with one of my favourite
photographers; he was expert in colour, had come down from the north and we
bonded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was touched when he said he
and his wife used colour transparencies of me to put round their lamp
shades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes he was like a bull in
a china shop, but I found that quite endearing.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
I can’t
remember what the shoot was for but Jim persuaded me to wear shorts and sweater
and balance on a chair which was balanced on a table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual he was darting between me and the
camera; tweaking and rearranging until he got the right shot and suddenly I felt
myself going A over T backwards, crashed on the floor and passed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was taken to the nearest hospital and felt
such an idiot dressed as I was.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
I was seen by a
sweet young doctor with black curly hair and freckles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was reluctant to let him examine my spine
as I was very self conscious - still am – about a birth mark I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally persuaded me and assured me the
birth mark was nothing to worry about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After X-rays he said I had bruised my coccyx, there would be no
permanent damage but I should rest for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he left the room I noticed he had a club
foot and felt thoroughly ashamed of my stupid embarrassment.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
These were not
litigious days and I don’t think it occurred to Jim that I could sue him; it
certainly never occurred to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
showed me a series of photos which illustrated how he had pushed the chair
closer and closer to the edge of the table with the inevitable results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The studio insisted on paying me the
equivalent of two weeks work which I was happy to accept. From now on – as a
pregnant woman I would be more careful.</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-18779478524059751442019-08-16T10:32:00.000+01:002019-08-16T12:07:20.789+01:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sorry to be absent so long.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There's been a wedding - my grand-daughter Alice and her beloved Tom.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLDxT8Hpzj3Bw_VnPWusoZyXpATbGM2xvw2JDYRaNYtwSFKjFmCXsAn3zyv6q6NBMqWMyvtwxrmeH7ByPwYv66TAaR3-tUv9qJ1_bu6eIF1hF38wXDtzSX9ziUGWMwTLOqpT2/s1600/Alice+and+Pat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLDxT8Hpzj3Bw_VnPWusoZyXpATbGM2xvw2JDYRaNYtwSFKjFmCXsAn3zyv6q6NBMqWMyvtwxrmeH7ByPwYv66TAaR3-tUv9qJ1_bu6eIF1hF38wXDtzSX9ziUGWMwTLOqpT2/s320/Alice+and+Pat.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIeiP9qDMrdjEzvDW2dO6niviUjNHYjroA4OzLIla9yzE4rh8pbfXG1htVgUk1GGWpzoRUSe2Swy9AyPVzH9RDfpEf_QxP-A24Ljru-tpJBQ61e6zrvKHNOSYEyjvWUMrsDzk/s1600/alice+and+Tom+seatesd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="668" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIeiP9qDMrdjEzvDW2dO6niviUjNHYjroA4OzLIla9yzE4rh8pbfXG1htVgUk1GGWpzoRUSe2Swy9AyPVzH9RDfpEf_QxP-A24Ljru-tpJBQ61e6zrvKHNOSYEyjvWUMrsDzk/s320/alice+and+Tom+seatesd.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tom and Alice after nuptials</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRIjZplAxFG7Vt6dWZdoqn1M-btk96iv0aVtdiO-7ljoIg6b-NiPv8Ty2HFR85pAzNcZvYdltI7rCAhHq13Tio8dH-KZGr96IjOEBQRvZBTIXUpfq0FmrMikvDTU5uZj7farm/s1600/alice%2527s+lirttle+bridesmaids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRIjZplAxFG7Vt6dWZdoqn1M-btk96iv0aVtdiO-7ljoIg6b-NiPv8Ty2HFR85pAzNcZvYdltI7rCAhHq13Tio8dH-KZGr96IjOEBQRvZBTIXUpfq0FmrMikvDTU5uZj7farm/s320/alice%2527s+lirttle+bridesmaids.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The small bridesmaids - there were four fully grown ones also</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR62Elh5zeDg68ttdoWy9ACW-8etiifGj-Aur4ZjYLmQNLU-2BNkr6NFdWjIFFiROAwHtWt_tBAuuhn4coiqNXzybvygGUeM6QcpjJao5IRFzsk3uHyGs4sbfofz5JvEDdq2Zt/s1600/unnamed+alice+and+andrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR62Elh5zeDg68ttdoWy9ACW-8etiifGj-Aur4ZjYLmQNLU-2BNkr6NFdWjIFFiROAwHtWt_tBAuuhn4coiqNXzybvygGUeM6QcpjJao5IRFzsk3uHyGs4sbfofz5JvEDdq2Zt/s320/unnamed+alice+and+andrew.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: center;">
Alice and my son Andrew - her Dad.</div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliQGkB5g4UG6UEQMd_n6tMeIcXbwIztNK8Z8llDChMdN0O65ePN6-5yeWX9TTIgjG_a8VjZWncxhIIlx6ZZzZgWahPC-qkZjjMxQzKmb3moKdw9MtRJwSl4NCOkhGQZtQ_TV1/s1600/unnamed+Dani%252C+tom+alice+Tom+Andrew+Jenny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjliQGkB5g4UG6UEQMd_n6tMeIcXbwIztNK8Z8llDChMdN0O65ePN6-5yeWX9TTIgjG_a8VjZWncxhIIlx6ZZzZgWahPC-qkZjjMxQzKmb3moKdw9MtRJwSl4NCOkhGQZtQ_TV1/s320/unnamed+Dani%252C+tom+alice+Tom+Andrew+Jenny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Left to right Dani my grandson Tom's partner, Andrew, Tom the bridegroom, Jenny Alice's Mum' and another Tom my grandson</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyV0zUNb0Q5F7yrqTVZHkq0k5voV0NGfFtcqJilTGHDxe2oWAp7zcoM9KNfw1KYJR0w2NY8IWNyrTsDwzy1Rd8qgO21KqmIjPLCCaEdcstrZQpZ3QSjBM6p5CjQ7EiLJ6gLoB/s1600/Old+photos_0007al+with+alice+and+tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRyV0zUNb0Q5F7yrqTVZHkq0k5voV0NGfFtcqJilTGHDxe2oWAp7zcoM9KNfw1KYJR0w2NY8IWNyrTsDwzy1Rd8qgO21KqmIjPLCCaEdcstrZQpZ3QSjBM6p5CjQ7EiLJ6gLoB/s320/Old+photos_0007al+with+alice+and+tom.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Alice and Tom as kids with Alastair.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-11055532330041260532019-06-12T12:36:00.001+01:002019-06-12T12:36:25.671+01:00For Exile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZSHjr3wxUY_VD93Lgkgt3IvggB_ITKtLQQzU0qU-3Xvdt_mSEhRiF4mZLdV-fYYyaQppNzbnRmeANTkSF2ylceOuaqWKBk08aTaIpdEpWlt8vxPRwtFygjpCcEn8ltWtzAUX/s1600/2-image-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZSHjr3wxUY_VD93Lgkgt3IvggB_ITKtLQQzU0qU-3Xvdt_mSEhRiF4mZLdV-fYYyaQppNzbnRmeANTkSF2ylceOuaqWKBk08aTaIpdEpWlt8vxPRwtFygjpCcEn8ltWtzAUX/s320/2-image-4.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPs2C22AubqNvPuIzxXMiJxBbMO_S_BiFmpj7OxLeQFZlDJEFoNYXbS_qLgNhKtRU5Yed6RVFVi7PtGV5w4obnbrXtWZA04OeZeyVNIB6G5Fm_ceKMNkYfN4sIgqf0YlKCA9_/s1600/5-image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPs2C22AubqNvPuIzxXMiJxBbMO_S_BiFmpj7OxLeQFZlDJEFoNYXbS_qLgNhKtRU5Yed6RVFVi7PtGV5w4obnbrXtWZA04OeZeyVNIB6G5Fm_ceKMNkYfN4sIgqf0YlKCA9_/s320/5-image-1.jpg" width="226" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUaM43GvN4V9yw6s_GiwnYQ-lfGbbkue4cxUl_qRkBnELpeRdKXTkgg_e-XB3hCpgvXKy14v2Uk-74F7oCHDQN5HEs5xfdAqvM9N58hoh6K7ntvJUJ_BjOtVKN0duNSDae11N/s1600/6-image-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUaM43GvN4V9yw6s_GiwnYQ-lfGbbkue4cxUl_qRkBnELpeRdKXTkgg_e-XB3hCpgvXKy14v2Uk-74F7oCHDQN5HEs5xfdAqvM9N58hoh6K7ntvJUJ_BjOtVKN0duNSDae11N/s320/6-image-13.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hGyoSEZIST0u0bmK42TPndHTh_pl1yu_Ur9qL-n6e1vH4aYkSASqYucE-dMnVj9XMNIEu2GKc3Evj-BMTT4C6enphtqLv91i_7guM7ulFuQegMAIv8A-NOvze9PXZXhUgNDJ/s1600/image-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hGyoSEZIST0u0bmK42TPndHTh_pl1yu_Ur9qL-n6e1vH4aYkSASqYucE-dMnVj9XMNIEu2GKc3Evj-BMTT4C6enphtqLv91i_7guM7ulFuQegMAIv8A-NOvze9PXZXhUgNDJ/s320/image-7.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
<br />Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-58051615137256332322019-06-03T16:11:00.001+01:002019-06-03T16:11:47.690+01:00A Knock-back
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 36</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
A Knock-back.</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Hi Paula – we’re back!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<o:p> </o:p>“Good – you’ve got a lot of
bookings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be in the office at 9am
tomorrow and I’ll fill </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
you in.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
</div>
No polite
conversation with Paula – just get on with the job!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was in the office bright <br />
<br />
and early to hear
I had a variety of jobs modelling sweaters, toothpaste, shampoos but <br />
<br />
Paula told
me she also wanted me to work in films and get ‘spotted’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To this end she <br />
<br />
had put me up for a
bridesmaid for Rex Harrison and Kay Kendall in ‘The Constant <br />
<br />
Husband’, and as a
guest at the ball with Vivien Leigh in ‘The Deep Blue Sea.’<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
As a film fan I
was delighted to be on the same set as these gifted actors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rex Harrison was adored by the film crew and
behaved like an enfant terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
bridesmaids we stood for hours in a bunch with the stars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was obvious that he and Kay were attracted
to each other – Rex did however take one of the bridesmaids out to dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kay teased him about his toupee: at one stage
she had to hit him with her bouquet and wondered impishly if this would
dislodge the rug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was gorgeous and I
found her looks extraordinary and tried to get my eyebrows to look like hers until
Marta pointed out that the shape of our faces were different and it looked
silly on me.</div>
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rex and Kay became lovers then tragically,
Kay was diagnosed with leukaemia.<br />
<br />
Legend has it
that Rex promised to take care of her for the time she had left and they
<br />
<br />
married but sadly Kay died in 1959.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was very excited at the prospect of seeing
the divine Vivien on the set of ‘The Deep Blue Sea’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a wondrous film actor –far better
than her husband, Laurence Olivier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sadly I didn’t recognise her at first as ill health had taken its
toll.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although she was still beautiful
on screen – in the flesh she was a shadow of her former self.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve noticed plain girls sort of grow into
their faces with age, and become more attractive, whilst great beauties tend to
fade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vivien had no illusions about
herself and said she felt like a large peach in her beautiful ball gown.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Paula clearly
had her spies on the set because afterwards she demanded to know what the
director Anatole Litvak – had said to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What he said- in his heavy Ukrainian accent to me and my partner was :-</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“If I hit your
legs with this stick you are going out of shot so GET BACK IN!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Poor Paula – I
think I was a great disappointment to her – not least because I couldn’t blag –
talk myself up and be economical with the truth.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One job I remember fondly was when three
girls chosen out of hundreds of glamour girls spent the day in a studio wearing
four different glamorous costumes miming a jingle whilst Dorothy Carless
provided the vocals three times over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The voices were then combined and the result looked as if we were a
version of the Andrews sisters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were
miming:-</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Who do you
know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who do you know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who do you know?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Who doesn’t
like Kellogg’s Corn Flakes?” Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
It was such a
fun day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other girls were Maria - a
beautiful Danish model and Celia – a descendant of Mrs Kepple (wonder if she
knew the Duchess of Cornwall who is also a descendant.)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A lifetime later whilst staying at our
cottage with an old black and white TV set I was amazed to hear the same jingle
and the same three girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why on earth
would<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>they
be using an ancient black and white ad for Kellogg’s?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently the advertising agency had been
trying to find us to ask permission to use the ad for a 30 year
anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was happy to give
permission, a new contract was negotiated and I got a welcome windfall and a
copy of the tape - which amused the family.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back to 1955 everything was going well, my
bank balance was increasing, studios were booking me on a regular basis-
something had to go wrong soon, and it did.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Pat I know you
have two bookings tomorrow but there is an important audition at Illustrated
magazine at 3pm sharp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make sure you get
there looking gorgeous.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Illustrated specialised in photo journalism
similar to Picture Post.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
I wondered if
Paula had any flippin’ idea how long it took to get from A to B in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Half the time I would be agonising in the
back of a taxi as we got stuck in yet another traffic jam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder I started getting migraines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The morning was booked for an on going
women’s magazine serial – a poor little girl in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Paris</st1:place></st1:city> spotted by this mature couturier and
groomed to be his muse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such fun – one
had to act and wear beautiful clothes but by the end of the session with all
the changing, hair and make-up I was usually exhausted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that was a straight forward shoot at
2pm which usually lasted an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How
the hell could I get over to Illustrated by 3pm?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course I couldn’t and when I arrived the
auditions were over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The room was full
of gorgeous creatures including –to my amazement – Marta.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“You’re late,”
she snapped. I explained I couldn’t help it as my last booking ended at 3pm and
I had to cross <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Well you’d
better tell someone you’re here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’ve
taken all the names.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Jut then a
woman with a clip board came in and I explained what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said Paula Day had sent me and she told me
to wait and disappeared into the interview room.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Mr B has
finished seeing people but you can pop in briefly.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I grimaced at Marta and followed the
secretary into the room.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
The man behind
the desk cut short my apologies.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Hang on a
minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could be just what we’re
looking for.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
He made a phone
call and shortly two younger men appeared.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Sit down and
tell us something about yourself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat
down and started babbling on, apologising at the same time and feeling my
cheeks getting pink.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Right!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What we’re looking for is the ‘girl next
door’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is Ben the journalist and
Phil the photographer, who you would be working with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The job involves going up to Morecambe next
week-end and being photographed with a famous person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we decide to use you would you be
available?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
My week-ends
were usually spent pottering round the garden in scruffy clothes but this
sounded interesting so I said yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
asked me to wait outside and I joined Marta.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“How did you
get on?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Well they
seemed quite interested.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Listen Pat- we
haven’t had a chance to talk for ages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When this is over come round to my house – my mother would like to meet
you and we can have a good gossip.” </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Of course I
agreed- I couldn’t say no to Marta after all she had done for me; taking me
under her wing and introducing me to Paula, although I was longing to get home
to Epsom and relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The girl with the
clip board came in and thanked everyone for coming and asked me to stay behind.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“I’ll see you
in the foyer,” Marta hissed.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Back in the
interview room the man behind the desk was smiling.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Congratulations
Pat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve decided you are the right
girl for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be travelling up
with Ben and Phil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sally will give you
all the details.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there anything you
want to ask?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Er - I should
think so!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“May I ask who
is the famous person?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My imagination
was running riot.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“It’s
Wilfred.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilfred Pickles.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
During the war
Wilfred was the first BBC announcer to have a regional accent; he was a <st1:place w:st="on">Yorkshire</st1:place> man and used to end his broadcasts with “and to
all the people in the north- good neet!”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
Some people,
accustomed to the mellifluous tones of such as Alvar Lidell complained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sacked and became a radio celebrity
and host of a BBC programme ‘Have a go!’ which ran from 1946-1967.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His wife Mabel was his partner on the show
and one of the many catch phrases was ‘Give ‘im the money Mabel!’</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
I adjusted my
expectations and went to meet Marta.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was good to meet her parents; they were
such opposites - her Italian father sitting quietly like a somnolent Picasso,
and her mother- bright as a button, full of Irish charm, as she made the
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and I had a scatty conversation
about the joys of living in the southeast with its ready access to that
wonderful place – <st1:place w:st="on">Brighton</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After both of us had exhausted the charms of
the old Prince Regent’s love nest, we discovered that neither of us had ever
set foot in <st1:place w:st="on">Brighton</st1:place> and dissolved into
giggles.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
It was obvious
that Marta wanted to talk and I was whisked off to her room clutching my
tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She studied me carefully and then
fired a barrage of questions about my hair, makeup, clothes – every possible
detail about my personal appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then the penny dropped: she couldn’t understand why I had got the
audition instead of her, or indeed any of the other lovelies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was so ironic- just over a year ago- she
had instructed me on all these details, and I had blindly followed her
instructions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took some time to
convince her I had been chosen for my very ordinariness.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marta had changed since I first met her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was burning the candle at both ends – she
had the sophistication of a 30yr old but was still barely 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was mixing with a very fast set and it
wasn’t really benefiting her or her career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I realised racing home to Epsom every night saved me from a lot of
inappropriate behaviour.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was late when I got home and William was
in bed asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the morning when I
told him about the Morecambe job, he was pleased for me and laughed like a
drain when I told him who the famous person was, and a <st1:place w:st="on">Yorkshire</st1:place>
man to boot.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
On the way up
to Morecambe, Phil and Ben told me about the job;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilfred was going to make the dream of an
ordinary girl (me) come true and be photographed doing it-rather in the style
of an early ‘Jim’ll fix it!’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would
be a feature in the magazine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounded
fun - it was always preferable to use ones imagination - or even a few brain
cells rather than just exercising one’s facial muscles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I liked the boys, as I called them – both
older than me; Ben bespectacled and studious and Phil an attractive family
man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the hotel – right beside
the sea and built in 1933 in the style of my favourite art-deco.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Pat settle
yourself in and we’ll go and arrange a schedule with Wilfred.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I unpacked, wandered round the hotel and was
just wondering if I had time to walk along the beach, when the boys
returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as I saw their faces I
knew something was wrong.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Pat lets go
and have some tea.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“No! I know
something is wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell me what
it is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Phil insisted we sat down and
gradually I discovered what had happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mabel had been present and straight away told them that they’d have to
think again and no way was this ‘<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>
glamour girl going to horn in on the act.'<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wilfred was – they said drinking beer with whisky chasers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nasty shock for them and they
assured Mabel that I wasn’t a glamour girl and indeed, came from the north – <st1:place w:st="on">Lancashire</st1:place> in fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mabel was immovable so finally they left and returned to the hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could feel myself getting really upset, so
I excused myself and fled to my room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had a jolly good cry and then rinsed my face in cold water and tried to repair
the damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The phone went – it was
Phil; he had phoned head office and they said that Phil and Ben should insist
that Wilfred should at least meet me and that is what they would arrange, if I
were agreeable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said yes because at
least it wasn’t personal- how could it be when the Pickles hadn’t even met
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside I was pretty angry but for
everybody’s sake, I wanted to do the job.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got there it was just Wilfred for
which I was grateful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had aged
somewhat and was puffy around the eyes, but at least was civil and when I told him
where I was born and bred, he said he remembered the Morris Dancing there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if he was confusing it with
somewhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tried to be kind and
pleasant but there was no way he was going to go against what Mabel wanted.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After this, head office said we should lie
low, and I should leave the next day. They were desperately sorry about my treatment
but they would try to salvage the project after I had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about feeling like a pariah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went to my room and tried to phone
William.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said all the right things
and told me not to worry – just put it down to experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I went down to rejoin the boys, they
were looking wretched and asked if there was anything they could do to make it
up to me,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be some time before I
got over this knock- back but I felt cheered after speaking to William and with
the resilience of youth, looked on the bright side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here I was in a delightful place with a free
evening and two charming men, so I suggested we had a drink followed by dinner,
followed by dancing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They laughed and
drew the line at dancing but we had a really good evening and I felt lucky I
wasn’t the one who would have to pick up the pieces the next day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I certainly planned to do a lot of thinking
about my future.</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-91237116736047663212019-03-24T10:51:00.000+00:002019-03-24T10:51:09.820+00:00Messing about in boats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chapter 35</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Messing about in boats</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb_fwnimJr8dEWcbaRd-VffJKVrOJDbXucynhhz2AhdN6Wet9gBRR1gKXiOrK2HxL5Yu_8IWmJsFajxcZ0YRS5P5ELrHMSOcHz2CT7sHBxuYrQj_QAzh6btcmkNQlrDcx7V51/s1600/1-pat+sailing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="673" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb_fwnimJr8dEWcbaRd-VffJKVrOJDbXucynhhz2AhdN6Wet9gBRR1gKXiOrK2HxL5Yu_8IWmJsFajxcZ0YRS5P5ELrHMSOcHz2CT7sHBxuYrQj_QAzh6btcmkNQlrDcx7V51/s320/1-pat+sailing.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 35</div>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
Messing about in boats.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
We picked up the boat from Maldon – in Essex, not
New Maldon in <st1:place w:st="on">Surrey</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judy was a lovely wooden 2-berth sailing boat
where one’s rear would meld safely to the wood whilst sailing– unlike today’s
fibre glass monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loved the Black
Water estuary rich in wildlife with its dramatic wide skies, estuary views and
migrating birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were lonely salt
marshes, lovely creeks, mud flats and occasional views of the majestic Thames
barges; flat-bottomed - which once ferried goods along the east coast to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">London</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As usual William became happy as Larry once
on the boat and as the weather was kind I slung a mattress in the dinghy we
trailed behind us and read and sunbathed, enjoying the plop-plopping in William’s
wake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judy had to be anchored in deep
water (she didn’t have a flat bottom) to maintain stability and the pram was
needed to row ashore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One day near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">West</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Mersea</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Island</st1:placetype></st1:place>, we dropped anchor
and rowed ashore to get some shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We hadn’t realised the strength of the tide and on the way back were
rapidly swept past our boat and out to sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fortunately some chaps anchored in a large sailing boat saw our plight
and managed to catch us before we were swept past them. They pulled us aboard
and we spent a jolly day with them until the tide took us back to Judy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told us of how they had been becalmed
for days in the Doldrums and suddenly were delighted to hear the swish of water
and thought hooray – at last they could get under way – only to discover it was
Trudy- the only female member of the crew- washing her smalls.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things were
going terribly well and then:-</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“Let’s ask Wallace and Fleur down for the
week-end.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much as I like William’s
brother and sister in law it didn’t seem feasible.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“But William it’s a two berth - how are we going to
sleep four people?”</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“No problem! You and I will share one berth, Fleur
can have the other and there is a pipe cot for’ard near the anchor chain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wally will be quite happy there.”</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
To my amazement they accepted and said they would
bring some stores and we would meet up in the pub.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had made friends with another sailing
couple – Harry and Jean so we looked forward to a jolly party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never knowingly been under-dressed and
this night was no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wore a
halter necked Horrocks cotton in black, white and green with a bouffant skirt
boosted by a scratchy, buckram petticoat.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
With my pale honey tan I felt like the Queen of
Sheba- perched in the dinghy, as William rowed us ashore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to form Wallace and Fleur arrived on the
dot, we introduced everybody and settled down to a lovely boozy evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pub was full of gorgeous hunks in thick
polo necks and gum boots and we were having fun.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
At about 7.30pm Fleur started to get twitchy.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“It’s almost supper time Pat – we need to get on
doing the potatoes and so forth.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My jaw
hit the floor- we were all having such a splendid time -<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the tales were getting wilder and wilder, why
did we have to stop and think about potatoes?</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
The men solved the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They would row Fleur out to Judy with most of
the stores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t all food; Fleur –
quite wisely - had brought for herself three fluffy blankets and a hottie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The blankets on board were congenitally damp
and so rough, they left a red chafing rash round the chin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a short while we would follow on with
the rest of the stores. That was the plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t remember what it was that prompted one of us to suggest it was
time to make tracks and my goodness, the call</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“Time Gentlemen Puleeze!” confirmed this.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Outside the pub the four of us looked out to our
respective boats, ours and Harry’s which were now settled in a sea of black,
soft, squelchy mud- the tide had gone out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Much further out we spotted Judy gently bobbing in the moonlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I find at times like these it is politic to
say nothing at all.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
decided that I – with my bouffant ensemble should sit in the dinghy guarding
the stores and clothes (Jean’s skirt and the men’s trousers – they had all
stripped off with unusual alacrity) and Willy, Wally, Harry and Jean would push
the boat through the thigh high mud until we had reached our respective
boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once ensconced in the boat I
confess that the sight of the four of them in their y-fronts (Jean had big
pants encasing her quite large thighs) caused me to giggle so hard I got
hiccups.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was ‘The African Queen’ all
over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Minus the leeches thank
goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I laughed so hard- well after
all that drink you can guess what happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately I was sitting on Fleur’s lemon meringue pie at the time.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we
neared the boat our hysterical laughter died away as we realised that Fleur
would not be amused and had every right to be absolutely livid with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a whispered good night to Harry and
Jean we clambered aboard - William and Wally dripping the evil mud in their
wake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thinking on my feet I urged Wally
to go below where, presumably Fleur would be nestled in her pink fluffy
blankets clutching her hottie and- please God - asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This would give him privacy to scramble into
the wretched pipe cot whilst we disrobed on deck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was gentle snoring from Fleur as we
crept aboard; in fact she was the only one who had a good night’s sleep proving
there was some justice in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a bit of a popple on the water and a swell, so although there
was to be no conjugal nonsense over the weekend I spent the night clinging for
dear life to William to avoid falling out of the narrow bunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor Wally had the wandering anchor chain for
a bed fellow and didn’t sleep a wink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was up at crack of dawn with a conciliatory mug of tea for Fleur and one for
each of us but we had to get up in order to drink it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all apologised to Fleur with lots of
excuses re time and tide but we didn’t fool her for a moment and she knew full
well that for the rest of the week-end she would rule and we would behave
impeccably.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today we
were going to venture out seawards and as time and tide were right the men
decided we should set sail immediately and I would cook breakfast en
route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stove was on gimbals and I was
a dab hand at cooking under way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everybody enjoyed eating in the fresh air- whilst scudding through the
waves, but Fleur objected to my doing bacon and eggs AND tomatoes.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
“So extravagant Pat – and not at all necessary!”</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
Fleur hello!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The war is over! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she was
quite cross that I could actually do something useful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was such a competent and thrifty person
she stuck me – in the early days - into a ‘useless blonde’ compartment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who can blame her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later – over the years - we came to appreciate
each other and respect our differences.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fleur had
no interest in sailing so it didn’t occur to Wally that I might like to man the
tiller occasionally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So different to
William who was the most generous of sailors and was always delighted to let me
have a go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite illuminating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adage ‘climb a mountain with someone if
you really want to get to know them’ is equally true of sharing a small boat.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Judy had no
mod cons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an enamel bowl for
washes and a tin bucket of the ‘bucket and chuck it’ variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The etiquette was that the men went for’ard
to pee and we girls were given a private bucket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything more complicated had to be dealt
with ashore in the pub and it all worked perfectly well until we had that dodgy
ice cream at Felixstowe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly, for a
naval officer, Wally was often sea-sick – not such a rarity as one would thing
in the navy.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
glorious sail up the coast and we were in high spirits as we went ashore for
lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fish and chips were
delectable and then came the fatal ice-cream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t want to labour the point and list the gory details but the four
of us, that week –end reached a level of intimacy that can take years of
married life to achieve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t
linger in Felixstowe as we knew we would have a hard beat against the wind to
return Fleur and Wally to where they had left their car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been difficult enough tacking
(zigzagging trying to find the wind) but with the onset of D and V it was sheer
hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To find which way the wind is
blowing you have to stick a wet finger in the air and see which side dries
first but when one is being violently sick there is no time for such
niceties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sea became very rough and
we were tossed around mercilessly by the violence of the waves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How bizarre I thought – here we are on the
brink of disaster and a watery grave yet across the turbulent seas were the
happy holiday makers of Clacton sunning themselves in deck chairs- oblivious to
the life and death struggle taking place before them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life jackets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What lifejackets?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the
fifties before Health and Safety ruled.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We didn’t
drown, we didn’t die and we finally reached port – exhausted and
chastened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Wally and Fleur tottered
towards their car, shadows of their former selves and trailing the now sodden blankets
I wondered if Fleur would ever take to the water again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered if I would ever take to the water
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately for me – what with
the sickness and all - the lemon meringue pie was never brought up.</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a
good night’s sleep<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in our own bunks
enthusiasm was restored and we convalesced exploring medieval Maldon, pottering
round the salt marshes, relishing the birds and the terra cotta sails of the
beautiful Thames barges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the end of
the fortnight I could truly say that I had not been ‘bored witless.’</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 200%;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-9302290386948439642019-02-10T15:03:00.000+00:002019-02-10T15:03:46.929+00:00
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
An Imperfect Life</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Stills and Movies</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;">
Chapter 34</div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Paula phoned whilst you were
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wants to see you in the office ASAP.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>“Did she say
what it was about?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
“She said it was important.”<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I groaned and thought back over the
last few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could think of at
least three instances when I could have upset my agent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently I had called on a large studio – <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Carlton</st1:place></st1:city> where there were
lots of excellent photographers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were about to do a campaign for MacLean’s toothpaste and were keen to look at
my photograph and my teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With my
’talk first – think later’ habit I told them that my teeth weren’t perfectly
straight and they all lined up to have a look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Feeling like a prospect for the Grand National I submitted to the
examination and the consensus of opinion was that a slight imperfection would
be charming and I did the job and all were pleased.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
They were having a large party for
models, agents and clients and I was invited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Paula said it was important that I should appear, that I should look my
best and she also would be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
pressure then.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Obviously I had to buy a new dress and went to Harrods where their new
department was said to be way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately it was entitled ‘Way Out’ and I mistook it for an exit before
the penny finally dropped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result
was a red lace dress which I adored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
had a tiny waist and a billowing skirt and made me feel like a million dollars.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the party I started off with Paula and some of her best girls - much
more glam than me – and then got caught up in an intoxicating whirl – dancing –
meeting new people – drinking the odd glass of wine and having a ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truth was for the first time for ages I
was having fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Married life was quite
serious and earnest and something seemed to be missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
of the chaps I met at the party escorted me to the station after the party – it
was all jolly and nice and nothing untoward. But what did Paula think?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When I walked in her office she was
on the phone – as usual – and motioned me to sit down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When she had finished she looked at me
thoughtfully and said,</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“At the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Carlton</st1:city></st1:place> party I had people coming up to me
asking who was the girl in the red dress - where did you get it by the way?”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
“Harrods at
Way…” I started…</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“And also I’ve been getting feed
back from the studios.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I wondered what was coming and took
a deep breath.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I’ve decided to put you under
contract – that’s if you accept of course and quite frankly you’d be mad not
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have only one other person under
contract and that’s Marta and if you work hard and do exactly as I say there is
no reason why you couldn’t be an international star.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk it over with your husband- here is the
contract – try not to lose it – and you can tell me when you phone in
tomorrow.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Bloody ‘ell!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
William and I talked it over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paula would have complete control over me and
my work and I could not work for any other agent without her permission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In return she would guide my career and
ensure I had a certain amount of money each month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As our plans were to start a family when I
had earned enough money we decided to accept it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of photographic work was coming in but
Paula thought I would have more chance of being ‘spotted’ on a film set so I
became a ‘special’ which is a step up from an extra and required auditions
until you were known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had worked with
lots of ‘resting’ actors on photo shoots and they were in a cleft stick – not
able to get an acting job until they joined Equity and unable to join Equity
until they had a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here was I made to
join and given the precious Equity card.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ironic, because I had always been against unions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The thought of a nurse going on strike-
especially a sick children’s nurse was abhorrent to me and unheard of in my
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thing have changed a great deal in
the last 60 years – not always for the better.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The first film job was as a
‘glamorous sixth former’ in one of the St Trinian’s films.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We spent ages in make- up having
false eye lashes applied and were dressed in skimpy gym slips and black silk
stockings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hair was short and curly
so I was dubbed ‘Bubbles’.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We were given boxes containing our
lunch and I was the last to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
grounds were very pretty – I think it was Shepperton –and I could see a group
of people sitting outside a summer house so I thought I would have a quiet
lunch on my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I settled under a tree
and opened the box full of goodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
sooner was my mouth full of salmon and cucumber than the whole group seemed to
be shouting and gesticulating and one of them came running towards me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed all had been ready for the shot for
some time and they were just waiting for Bubbles to pour the tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time I had teetered there on my high
heels the whole set was rocking with laughter which helped to calm my nerves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe they should have named me Dopey</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The scene was outside the summer house where a group of teachers were
being served tea by sixth formers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having been trained over the last few months to freeze for the camera I
found it odd at first to actually move whilst being filmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There would be a little bit of action and then
long, long periods of hanging around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At
one time I felt Joyce Grenfell staring at me and started twisting my wedding
ring around.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“That’s telepathy!” she proclaimed
with her lovely brilliant smile.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I was just thinking – Bubbles
can’t possibly be married- she’s far too young.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One of the sixth formers said “She
ought to be in films with that bone structure.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Oh she’s not interested,” said
another.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I realised I should be careful what
I said – Paula would not be pleased to hear I wasn’t interested in a film
career.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During another quiet spell the male masters Leslie Howard’s brother and -
I think - Guy Middleton were content sitting quaffing the tea I had poured
whilst Joyce was advancing towards us using her hockey mistress walk which kept
her in character.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“Oh God!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that walk again,” said one of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who said women were the bitchy ones?</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I was starting my ‘fifteen minutes
of fame.’<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was interviewed as me by
various magazines and asked to judge competitions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Bonniest baby’ comps were to be
avoided.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One made a friend for life and
at least thirty enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even Mum was
interviewed by the local rag and managed to find a photo for them to use which
made me look 50.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks Mum.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I enjoyed having money to spend and bought our first fridge, (we never
needed them in Rossendale – the stone built houses had north facing larders as
cold as any fridge,) a food mixer and whilst visiting a large store heard ‘A
Lark Ascending’ played on a radiogram so I bought that – the radiogram and the
record.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I pulled my horns in and
started saving.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One day I was modelling for a
brilliant artist illustrating short stories – I think it was Rex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was good company and encouraged me to
prattle on about my life and marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally
he put down his brush and said, “You sound as if you’re bored witless.”</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>William said we had both been working very hard and deserved a holiday I
must book myself out from the agency and we would go on a sailing holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought this an excellent idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William was a different person on a sailing
boat- contented, relaxed and happy to pass on his expertise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Paula agreed to my two weeks leave I
began to get excited. William chartered a small wooden boat from Maldon in <st1:place w:st="on">Essex</st1:place>.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Two weeks of being able to slob
around without makeup or stilettos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lovely!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We were both ready for a holiday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William had been settling into his job with
BISRA and I had been scuttling round studios getting established in modelling
and now film work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two weeks with no
pressure for either of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bliss!</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-320969970449358232019-01-04T17:06:00.000+00:002019-01-04T17:06:37.544+00:00<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
January 5<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> 1979</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
The day that changed my life for ever.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
I know this is jumping the gun sequence wise so please
forgive me but I can’t ignore the 40<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> anniversary of the day that
changed my life forever.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
We met at the Charing Cross Hotel - right next to the station.
He was leaning against a pillar - apparently absorbed in a newspaper just like
he had been when Maddie and I met him outside his college in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Oxford</st1:city></st1:place> - decades earlier. He looked nice in a
blue-grey suit with a blue and white checked shirt. His hair was still dark and
curly but when I looked closely my heart went out to him and I could see the
lines of stress and grief etched on his face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We repaired to Eleanor’s Bar in the hotel, where
he was staying. He had a gin and I had a scotch. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he liked whiskey too much. We talked -
he said I‘d find he didn’t talk much and from then on I could hardly get a word
in edgeways. He had a quaint habit of using a note book to illustrate what he
was saying. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was explaining the
hierarchy in his work place. His job was as important and responsible as
William’s but more business orientated. Our politics had come closer over the
years based on the thesis ‘if you don’t vote labour under 30 you haven’t got a
heart and if you do over 30 you haven’t got a head.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
I could tell from the tremor in his hand that he was even
more nervous than I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
We had lunch in the large formal dining room and we both had
fish but it might as well have been cotton wool. We were in a sort of bubble -
cocooned from the rest of the world. Still talking we walked down to the river
and when Jamie was greeted by an acquaintance, I could see by the man’s face
that he was aware of the bubble even though we weren’t holding hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After tea we went to his room to freshen up:
he told me he had to shave twice a day and we continued chatting through the
bathroom door whilst he shaved and I powdered my nose. All we did was talk;
there was so much to catch up with. Neither of us were hungry so we continued
walking and talking until it was time for my last train at 11pm - we had been
together for almost twelve hours. During the day we covered 30 years happenings
at random: we talked about our five children and how lucky we were to each have
close loving relations with them. He told me about being in the RAF and I told
him about nursing. He had seen some of my modelling photos and we talked about
my sister and his brother who were old friends and lived in the same NY state.
We discovered that I had gone to live in the south as he gone to live in the
north and he kept a cottage in <st1:place w:st="on">Yorkshire</st1:place> -
just over the border from my parent’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I visited <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New York</st1:state></st1:place>
just after he had been. Once we had stayed at a children’s hotel in <st1:place w:st="on">Bournemouth</st1:place> - the Broughty Ferry - the same year. We had
both taken our children on holidays to the Lake District and to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Wales</st1:country-region></st1:place>.
I told him that since the boys left home William and I were considering
separate establishments. He asked me if there was anyone else and I told him
no, which was the truth.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Eventually I told him of every relationship I had had with a
man and he realised the only one of any importance was Tim.<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At our meeting we had given each other
an ‘old friend type kiss on the cheek’ and at the end of the evening we again
exchanged an O.F.T.K.O.T.C. but he hugged me and held me close and sighed ‘Ah
Pat... ’ and as I rested my head against his chest I felt a momentary panic.
Supposing it all went wrong again. He was so vulnerable. Was I about to leap
from the frying pan into the fire? I knew this was not an ending but the start
of something that would change my life for ever. I think we left it that he
would get in touch when he was coming to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city></st1:place>
again,<br />
As for our parting words - like the beginning it was sight, touch and smell
that I remember and we were both a bit overwhelmed by our goodbye hug.<br />
When I got on the last train I slowly came down to earth. It had been a long,
intensive, emotional day and I started to panic. After 28 years of marriage I
was looking forward to being free - not jumping straight into a relationship
with anyone, let alone someone so vulnerable. I couldn’t bear the thought of
possibly hurting him.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have written to
Jamie and tried to slow things down, because he wrote that he fully accepted
and agreed that further meetings should be understood to be on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">basis
of unqualified, relaxed (and perhaps hopefully increasing) friendship</i>.<br />
With each meeting I got a little more confident and we became closer and then
at our fifth meeting in April, I arranged to visit my parents stopping off at
Jamie’s house on the way there and on the way back. I felt it wasn’t fair to
involve my parents at this stage so told them I was seeing a friend in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Manchester</st1:city></st1:place> who would give
me a lift home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jamie dropped me at the
end of the lane out of sight of Mum’s house so I was absolutely flabbergasted
when she greeted me with:<br />
‘Oh isn’t Jamie coming in?’ I think Maddie must have been at work but it was a
blessed relief and they did meet him when he picked me up on the Sunday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still makes me smile when I remember
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust Mum. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My great sadness when
I was younger was that we had never been lovers - that’s just how it was then.
After this week-end our fate was sealed - there was rapture and total
commitment. Our plan was to be together forever - and to Jamie this meant
getting married as soon as possible. Both of us wanted to bring this about
causing as little hurt and upset to other people as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next few weeks were spent preparing to
leave my marriage, my home, my friends and my business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to leave everything in order and
told the theatre club I was unable to do a production in the Spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Mary and we arranged that I would come
down to the shop once a month and do the books and employ one of our assistants
to do my hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I longed to tell the
boys but felt I should tell William first.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Finally the day came - the house was immaculate the larder
stocked with groceries and I had defrosted the fridge and freezer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told William I needed to talk to him and we
sat down together in his study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
planned to keep it on a sensible unemotional plane but as soon as I started my
throat seized up and I could barely control my voice for the sobs which were
erupting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In contrast William stayed
calm and impassive as if he knew already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps he did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I had
met someone and was leaving home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
written to the boys so they would know today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t want my share of the house and there was no need for him to
leave.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
William asked me if it was anyone he knew and I said no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked where would I be living because he
wouldn’t like it if we lived locally and I said there was no chance of that - I
would be going to live in Cheshire and I promised we would never come back to
live in the same area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the event
William insisted on selling the house and giving me half the value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then bought a house in a nearby village
which he had occasionally spoken of doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We agreed that he would divorce me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Our solicitor had said the main problems of divorce were concerning
children and money and as the children had left home and I didn’t want any
money it should be straight forward and it was.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
We split our possessions sensibly and without rancour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a bust I had bought many years ago
and William said he had grown fond of it and suggested I should toss a coin and
tell him the result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a measure of
our relationship and mutual respect that he trusted me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tossed the coin, lost and William kept the
bust.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>William had said he wouldn’t
be happy about us living in the same area so when Jamie took early retirement
we travelled to the places we loved in <st1:country-region w:st="on">England</st1:country-region>,
deciding where to settle and eschewed <st1:country-region w:st="on">Kent</st1:country-region>
and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Sussex</st1:country-region></st1:place>
- in spite of my friends and my business being in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never saw him again.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
Five was our lucky number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had five children between us;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jamie’s house and cottage were both number five as was my own house in Kent
and on our fifth meeting we plighted out troth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I think the fifth of January became more important to us than even our
wedding anniversary.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20735769.post-20216155947697531862018-12-31T23:43:00.000+00:002018-12-31T23:43:13.358+00:00<div align="center">
Peace, love, good will and good cheer.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To you all for 2019. Things can only get better. Keep the faith.</div>
Pathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529798893653033970noreply@blogger.com7