Lisburn Exiles Forum
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We were having a yarn, as usual, over our early morning cuppa. Because of my sight problem, I was thinking of taking up knitting, as I cannot now read a book. I never was a good knitter, as my aunts spoiled us by knitting all the little matinee coats, Aaron sweaters and everything we needed. That's how we began to recall how, when we were young, almost everyone had a skill. All my aunts could knit, but my aunt Annie was accomplished in this particular art. My Aunt Ellie was the seamstress and would pedal away on her Singer sewing machine, making clothes for us all. My Aunt Bella crocheted and we were never short of doilies, chairbacks or anything we needed of this nature. My mother was the cook of the family and could turn out good plain food, but also nice apple tarts, shortbread, rich Christmas puddings - everything and anything she put her mind to. My father mended our shoes. He had his own last, hammer, tacks and all the equipment for putting on new soles and heels and did this on a regular basis. My father also was a trained First Aider and was able to deal with small cuts, nosebleeds, etc.
Anyhow, that's what we were taking about and reminiscing on earlier; how people from that generation had, of necessity, to avail themselves of these skills because there was very little money around. Most households were like a cottage industry. Funny to think back on these things and compare how we live today. I may or may not take up knitting, but it's an idea which Pat put into my head this week. Do the rest of you share my memories of yesteryear?
Hi all. I forgot to mention another money saver, again of necessity, which most people had to do. I know my mother did. When my father's shirt collar was worn, it was taken to a dressmaker, who turned it over to the unworn side and stitched it back on. Can you see anyone doing that now? What was the old saying - "necessity if the mother of invention". Very true. I also remember my mother using the washboard over the kitchen sink, scrubbing the clothes with a big bar of washing soap. She wrung the clothes with her hands first, and then dragged them outside to the big mangle in the back garden. Hard work indeed. I also remember having bread toasted at the fire long before electric toasters came to our part of the world. I remember too the griddle in the kitchen and my mother turning over the soda and wheaten farls which we devoured with lashings of butter as soon as they were ready. Delicious. I'm sure there are many other things that people had to do in the "old" days to make the little money they had last out the week.
If I make some mistakes, forgive me, because only for the little red line which denotes an error, I can't really see what I'm typing most of the time. I can see everything in the world outside and inside the house, but reading or print, even the large display signs in Tescos, I cannot decipher any more, much to my regret. However, could be an awful lot worse. I have to ask Dominic to read out everything now,, like this morning when I was ordering spring bulbs. Ah well, I can see enough as I told Pat one day. I wonder would I see a £20 note if it was lying on the street? I know I wouldn't. I'm in good form today believe it or not, just passing on a few random thoughts. As I said before, appreciate your eyes, because there's no going back from this affliction. On that note, "have a nice day".
My posting just disappeared. Probably something I did. I was replying to the post on suspenders. When I was at the Tech, we girls wore black stockings. Our PE teacher checked each week to make sure no-one had garters holding up their stockings. She explained, quite correctly, that garters restricted the blood flow and could cause problems in later life. SO, we wore suspenders. Thank goodness I never developed varicose veins and have a good oul leg to this day. Some of the girls in my class had nice, fine black stockings, which I envied. My mother bought me thick ones, probably because she assumed they would last longer and they probably did. Another money saver. Another thing which was a money saver, although embarrassing for me. When we went to cookery lessons, everyone wore a crisp, new, white pinafore. Except, my mother had dug out Pat's old white cookery coat from 8 years previous and this is what I wore. It even had the initials PL sewn into the coat and the red ink had run due to repeated washings.. I suppose the saving was 2p or something equivalent. We had to do what we were told then, no arguments.
Donald, I still have a holy water font in the hall beside the front door.
Donald, I remember it well. In fact, Dominic has watched that film so often, I think I know all the words by heart.
Hi all,
The holy Water font is still in use in practicing Catholic houses in the South & we have one in both the hall & living-room. I sprinkle the doors every night with the water & sleep easy, protected from evil spirits, as we were taught.
Has worked so far & it is comforting to keep the old traditions, reminds one of home. Like the Sacred Heart Lamp burning before the before named picture, it is a reminder of all that was good in the days of yore.
As the water is blessed at Easter in Rome, according to old teachings it can't be dismissed, as Our Lord blessed water Himself as did John the Baptist.
Pat
