I am late posting today because we have been out for the day to the Central Coast. It is the furthest I have been from home in over a year.
A lovely but long day. Nelson Bay to Patonga and then on a Hawkesbury river cruise to Bobbin Head. It was so nice to be able to go further afield. I think it was about a 340 km round trip so I will be in bed early tonight.
Day 4 of the FoR portrait challenge and this is me age 8.
The cardigan I am wearing nearly caused a serious drama in our house when I bought it.
We had moved from Yorkshire to Lancashire a few years prior after my Dad died and Mum who had previously been a nurse, was now owner of a grocery shop. She bought the shop so she could still earn a living and have my sister and I at home. (the house was at the back of the shop). Nursing meant that I had to be looked after by one of my Nanna's and Anita was looked after by my other Nanna while Mum was nursing.
Because the shop was open long hours Mum asked my sister Anita to take me to the city to buy a cardigan for me, she gave her a five pound note and off we went. Five pounds was a lot of money in 1954. (I think it is equivalent to about around one hundred and forty pounds or AU$250 today).
The trolley bus trip cost twopence from our house to the city, so you have an idea of how much five pounds was.
Anita took me to one of the most expensive department stores in the city and bought me this cardigan. The cost was 4 pounds 19 shillings and 11 pence, so when we got home and she gave Mum the one penny change, I thought Mum was going to blow a gasket, but I still got to keep the cardigan and I loved it. No wonder Mum was pretty upset though.
Needless to say my sister was never sent out to buy me anything again. ha ha
Lovely portrait of you Babs and such a great narrative!! Well done Aunt Anita - I can imagine the reaction of your mum to that very expensive purchase!!
Lovely story & worth it as you remember it so well. Your cardigan looks very nice...I seem to remember having a similar one, I know it had ties with bobbles on the end & a bit of fancy embroidery . It’s funny because the things I remember often all involve clothes. We made do & mend with very few new outfits so when we got something new it was a real treat. I remember when I was about thirteen begging for a yellow polo necked jumper for Christmas.
I love it, what a hoot. We also lived in Yorkshire, in Middlesbrough, and my dad worked in the Home & Colonial store. He eventually bought his own corner shop, which he owned until he retired. I remember nicking slices of chopped pork from the slicing machine, and also helping to fill the blue sugar bags.
The sweater is adorable and so are you! I had a similar story but not as pricey! I was allowed to pick out a sweater for my birthday by some good family friend. I picked out this lavender sweater with fluffy feathers around the collar- a bit unusual for me, but I guess I liked it. My mother hated it- she had a very strong dislike for purple! I don't remember wearing it all that much!
A lovely portrait of a happy little girl.
@cherrymartina @beryl @wakelys @sangwann @ingrid01 @pamknowler @happysnaps @tinley23 @kvphoto @k9photo @susie1205 @dutchothotmailcom @casablanca @dridsdale @ludwigsdiana @gijsje @jamibann @pattyblue @carolinesdreams @denful @anniesue @carolmw @haskar @jacqbb @bruni @kathiecb @seattlite @cwbill @sprphotos @shutterbug49 Thanks, sorry for the late reply but we were out at the Central Coast yesterday and when we got home I was shattered. I have been out all day today too. Will try and catch up this evening.
@pcoulson No wonder Mum was rather unhappy. She would have had to work a lot of hours in the shop to make up for the cost of the cardigan.
@flowerfairyann Ha ha I think the school photographer must have arrived earlier this time and the bow was still intact.