I’m grateful to anyone who volunteers for a chat about their pandemic experiences – but particularly to younger folk, who we don’t often hear from.
I had a couple of “oh” moments listening to this…..you might, too!
My thanks to Eve for her time and patience!
I’m concerned that amongst all the chatter over the last 18 months or so, there are so may people we haven’t heard from, and how everyday life has been affected by illness, loss, curbs, lockdowns, tiers, working from home, being an essential worker and keeping going….and I’ve never felt we were really all is it together because our ages and circumstances have made an enormous difference to our lives.
Far more interesting voices than mine are lined up ….but I thought I should start with me, so here I am, having a witter! It’s taken me a while to find the courage to post it because I never feel I’m that interesting!
If you live in the Winchester/Otterbourne area of Hampshire and would like to contribute your story, please get in touch (this is not about how the pandemic has been dealt with by politicians….and a ranting platform…but the impact it has had on your life).
We thought you might like to know a little more about us so here are a few of our career highlights!
Ok, so for almost five years I could barely move and it’s five months since my new hip…St Catherine’s Hill – REALLY?
Well when a four year old is determined to show you the view from the top, you’ve got to give it a go…..and (a fair bit of huffing and puffing later)…..
And he was right about the views…
Best quote of the day “a midge has gone up my nose granny, but it’s ok, my sticky snot caught it”!
Good Friday is my birthday and with six allowed in the garden from a few days before, plans are afoot for a very special day (better NOT rain!).
I poked out a thirty year old bed valance (have I told you were both hoarders!). The frills made the bunting…the body will make a tablecloth!
The pud’s in the oven! Made this recipe when a gluten intolerant friend was coming around but it’s so fab it’s loved by all! I zest an orange into the cake mix and the cream mixture to make it extra yummy! Bit concerned I seem to have made more cake batter than usual….or maybe picked up the wrong tin. It’s VERY deep…..oh well, soon find out!
If you fancy a go, here’s the recipe:
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/flourless-chocolate-cake
Back in the mists of time (well, 1972) one of our English Lecturers at Chichester College of Further Education issued a plea for some of us to take part in the search for Miss Chichester. He’d offered to help out in the event and was really worried there’d be no contestants! Doris Hare was appearing at the Festival Theatre and was head judge. Belinda Mayne, daughter of actor Ferdie Mayne became Miss Chichester, and yours truly, one of the two runners up!
We had the most amazing time attending all sorts of events some wonderful, some slightly weird. I have a memory of distributing wilted cornflowers to slightly bemused recipients at St Richards Hospital.
Our dresses were made by a wonderful seamstress from Fishbourne, white velvet for Belinda, orange, with huge white lined sleeves for the two runners up. I still have the dress in the attic. Nope, no way I can get it on these days!
I’ve never understood why I have no photographic evidence of any of the events! However, a bored moment last night had me searching on line again and look! Hidden in the crowds (and behind the other runner up…very ashamed I can’t remember her name) and really only recognisable by the orange dress and floppy hat, the only proof I WAS there! Not the best quality, but a precious memory!
Yup, had my Apple Watch for nearly two years. Got it when I was diagnosed with Afib…..it’s great for tracking heart rate and performing an ECG. It was fascinating to see all the folk buying them in the Apple Store were an older demographic than you’d expect.
Do I take any notice of the fitness features? Of course..I always wear it when I know I’m actually going to DO some exercise. Haven’t worn it much in the last few weeks, I’ve got lockdown lethargy and am turning into a blob!
Got to do something. Decided it was time to be nagged. Managed a two mile walk in the rain before 8.00am. There were moments when it was horrible…but came back feeling a bit of va-va-vroom kicking in! Haven’t felt that for a long time.
Have fiddled with its settings so it nags me. A few minutes in and it’s noticed I was useless yesterday (yup, wasn’t wearing it) and suggests I do better today. Hum…..ok, I’ll give it a chance. Maybe til lunchtime….
…and my gift to him, sausage and bacon for a full English breakfast! It’s been a while!
Letting your children they were born because of a truly wonderful love..
I know, it should have been five, but I found pictures, of when I was seven!
And if this stirs some memories for you – go on, share them in the comments box or email me – lets reminisce together!
For me, home was Hillfield Avenue, Selsey. Dad had fairly recently left the Marines and opened Selsey Photographic, mum sold handbags there, too (it’s now a tattoo parlour!).
It was home and shop, with a developing and printing works in what I guess was meant to be the garage. I remember it being dark….our love affair with lighting wasn’t much in evidence in the fifties but brown furniture was!
After a while the shop moved up to the High Street and we moved to live, to Latham Road, but it’s where we were when I was seven.
One day, thinking I was on my own in the house, I heard strange noises from the cupboard. Dad had decided to develop some wedding photos there rather than the workshop and was working his magic on rolls of 35mm film in his dark room. Opening the door let the light in…the wedding photos were ruined….disaster all around! Must be where my horror of having to open closed doors comes from!
Patrick Moore would bring in his pictures of the planets for developing and we’d all gaze in astonishment at the results! Well, to be honest, the adults would, my seven year old eyes got a bit bored with all the blobs!
In 1960, foreign holidays were an unimaginable dream, and finding time to leave the business almost impossible, but Mum, Granny and Grandad and my brother, Paul did head off for a few days to Butlins in Bognor, with Little Bo Peep outfit made and packed!
Main memory? The door to door salesman that came often with is brown suitcase of delights produced a glorious red cardigan with, oh, rectangular shiney buttons. Must have been the start of a love affair with haberdashery! I can spend HOURS on button websites!
I still have the hand puppets, bear and dog, that I saved my pocket money up for and bought from the newsagents a few doors down, although they could do with a visit to the Repair Shop!
The further adventures of Judy Goodlet from Traffic and Travel to....errrrrr 