Letter from over 35 years ago

Gee has just sent me the following letter. Seems it was written by Mum just after I was born. Gee and John were then in Hull at university. Not sure what Mum means about being embarrassed about my dark hair!

Dear Maggie & John

Well – its all over now! Thanks so much for both your telegrams – the first one which I received at about 8am practically reduced me to tears!! It said everything that was necessary. And I was most surprised to get another one later on in the morning.

I don’t really know how I feel about being a Mum – its most peculiar to look into the cot and think that it is my baby! At this moment she has just been ‘topped and tailed’ while I watched – and believe me she hated the whole business. I have just put her down now and what happens – I can hear them bringing the feeds round!! It’s all go!

(30 mins later) I hope I’m not tempting fate by saying that so far she seems to be very good, the only time she cries is when she is woken up. She is a funny looking little thing – and I can’t see any of the Parsons side of the family in her – and as for her very dark brown hair – well I feel very embarrassed about it!!

So you can get some idea of her size she is 21 inches long – and thats fully stretched – which she never is! She is all red with quite a lot of dry skin on her feet and hands – it looks quite horrid. And as for the cord – ugh! It makes me go funny inside whenever I see it!

Needless to say I didn’t manage to get a flash unit for Jack’s camera, so we haven’t yet got any photos, but as soon as I get home we will take some – and if they are back before you come home I will send them to you.

The hospital is really super, and the staff – matron, doctors, nurses, cleaners etc are all super. They all have the time to ask how you are – and to comment – favourably, of course – on the babe. Much to my amazement, even the food here is nice – but all the same I shall be very pleased to go home tomorrow.

Sorry my writing keeps changing, I can’t seem to sit comfortably for long in one position. They think I have either strained or bruised the bottom of my spine – and it really is rather uncomfortable.

Since starting this letter I have fed the babe, had a salt bath, had my bottom looked at by three people, temperature etc taken and been to the loo (major business, as it takes me ages to walk anywhere!)

Nobody has told me how your exams are going – still I can imagine that you made a right b…. of them all!!1 As far as you are concerned anyway! Still, keep at it, it’s only for another couple of weeks!

I really can’t wait for you both to come home, it’s not right that Sarah hasn’t met her Uncle John and Auntie Maggie!!

Anyway, kids, I must finish now and write some more letters, take care and work hard.

Can’t wait to see you both, lots and lots of love, Bev and Sarah !!!!

A different type of relationship

The thing about going out with a man with young children is that you have to learn to share him – not just with two other people, but with two people who will (and should) always come before me.

I wouldn’t have it any other way, and it’s actually one of the things that I really love about him.

I have to admit that when we are with the kids I have to remind myself that I can’t hug and kiss him in the way I usually do; but the enjoyment I get from spending time with the three of them makes it worthwhile – I can wait for a kiss and cuddle.

The fact that they have to ’share’ their father with me hasn’t escaped my notice either, and I’ll be eternally grateful for the way that they have accepted me and allowed me to be involved.

Who knows what the future holds; but I can say one thing for sure, I hope that it will involve the family I seem to have become very fond of in such a short space of time.

Fishy

I don’t often have the occasion to recommend a restaurant; usually I don’t think where I’ve eaten is worth a mention.

However, last night was an exception. Finding myself in the Clifton area of Bristol on a disgusting night and in need of food I found ‘Fishworks’.

Part of a small chain, the door opens into a small fishmongers and then on into a lovely modern restaurant. I was early (6.30pm) and therefore the first diner of the evening but despite being alone I was given an excellent table.

I can’t fault the service, the waitress was so enthusiastic without being insincere. Getting over the idea of eating a giant sea insect, I ordered half a lobster with fries – perfect!

The meal arrived quickly and despite the lack of meat on a lobster, what there was had been cooked to perfection. I couldn’t resist the lemon tart for dessert and then felt stuffed!

The whole meal came to £22 which I think is very reasonable – when work are paying!

Is that allowed??

Who gave permission? surely that’s just wrong?

I’ve just seen a television advert (I’m in a hotel room so have the tv on as there isn’t a radio available) for Heinz’s new ‘Farmers’ Market’ soup with The Archers theme tune!!

It can’t be right, does it mean that characters from the Archers will soon be seen advertising all kinds of products? Actually that throws up some great possibilities:-

Lilian Bellamy advertising a new brand of Gin, Matt Crawford selling executive housing, Lynda Snell (as Dylan Nells) recommending restaurants, Clarrie Grundy’s ‘homemade’ ready meals……and of course Tom Archer sausages.

Actually I’ve been waiting for the sausages to be available for some time now.

Undiscovered toilet

Whiteladies Road
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

Okay, so I know that most people who read my blog will be fully aware of my fondness for Victorian iron urinals; but for those who are new I’ll explain.

Back in 2004 I was registered for a PhD, my research topic was ‘The archaeology and history of the public convenience – 1851 to the 1970s’. It might sound like a completely bizarre subject and I guess it is, but it’s also really interesting too.

Iron urinals are of particular interest as very few remain intact and in use. Like much Victorian architecture the designs (most commonly by MacFarlane’s of Glasgow) were elaborate and beautiful – way beyond the utilitarian design of most modern toilets.

Unlike much fine Victorian architecture across the country few public conveniences from this era now remain. Those that do (usually due to being listed) are often in a very poor state of repair, are overgrown, or have been boarded up.

Birmingham now has the best collection; however when I last visited most were closed and I suspect that they have now been removed.

So, imagine my surprise and delight this evening when I stumbled across a large roofed MacFarlane urinal on Whiteladies Road in Clifton (Bristol), I was so excited I phoned John! Poor guy what must he be thinking he’s got himself into!?

Actually he tells me that I’ve inspired him to sort out his finances and really get to grips with his business – well he’s certainly encouraging me to go back to my toilet studies. I’m not sure if I’m up for a whole PhD but I’m certainly still keen on the idea of a doing a book.

Inside Whiteladies Road
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

Coke madness!

Coca-cola should be careful, their desperation is beginning to show with a myriad of new coke products appearing on the market.

You might remember (if you are sad enough to have followed my blog for any length of time) that I’ve commented on this before. But the latest two products seem to me to be pure craziness!

‘Diet Coke plus’ – two new products, one with added vitamins and the other with antioxidant (whatever they mean by that)!

Surely if you have a good balanced diet (eg. without junk like diet coke with it’s million teaspoons of sweetener) you would get all the vitamins you might need, and antioxidants?, Well, tap water is free and without all the ‘extra’ rubbish that’s in coke.

I guess I noticed these today more for two reasons; my brother has just visited and left six cans of diet coke in my cupboard (where they will remain until his next visit), and because last night I watched a documentary about the Coca-Cola Company and it’s practices around the world.

I didn’t learn much new from the programme;

• the union blocking in South America
• the dewatering of whole regions of India
• the use of excessive caffeine to keep people addicted
• gurilla marketing to children – especially in schools
• campaigns to discourage people from drinking tap water

None of it news to me, but hopefully others will have tuned in and had their eyes opened to what the world’s ‘favourite’ beverage company are up to – and feel moved to boycott them.

Oh, and don’t forget that Coca-Cola also own the following drinks:-

• Buxton Water
• Fanta
• Dr Pepper
• Sprite
• Oasis
• Minute Maid
• Powerade
• Lilt
• and of course all the different types of Coke

Just so you know what you are drinking if you try these new ‘plus’ products they are ‘fortified with over 50% of your recommended daily amounts of….’

• Vitamin plus – Niacin (Vitamin B3), Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C
• Antioxidant plus – Green Tea and Antioxidant (Vitamin C)

Oh, and as the bottle says – ‘Enjoy diet Coke plus as part of a healthy balanced lifestyle’ – whatever the hell that means!?!

To make your own mind up you’ll need to visit these two websites -

Killer Coke
Coca-Cola company website

Don’t touch me – I don’t like it!

People with their bloody iPods drive me bananas, especially in the quiet carriage of trains.

I know I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s something that really amazes me – how fucking selfish people can be.

There is one coach on a train where noise is meant to be kept to a minimum – no mobiles or music, so that people can sleep or work in peace. I have to admit that I think this is a bit draconian, I’ve no objections to mobiles on silent and quiet telephone conversations (often quieter than people talking or children misbehaving – don’t get me started on that one!), I even don’t care if someone wants to listen to their stereo. But what really winds me up is the tinny ‘tsk tsk tsk’ of earphone leak.

If people must listen to something so load as to render them deaf to all but nuclear detonation in the seat next to them, it would be good if they could invest in a decent set of earphones which don’t leak noise.

So, when someone is sat near to me with their music so loud that I can hear it, I don’t think it unreasonable to politely ask them to turn it down.

Since the young girl on the train today was sat a few seats in front of me I reached over and lightly touched her arm to gain her attention and politely asked her to turn it down. After about 5 minutes I realised that she’d turned it up again.

“DON’T TOUCH ME” she bellowed at me, “I DON’T LIKE IT”

‘Well fine, I understand, but turn your bloody music down then’ I wanted to say but decided not to. Luckily she got off at the next station.

Art in Birmingham

My job often takes me to different parts of the country, different cities and landscapes- this can be a bloody nightmare with all the traveling, the long days and the nights away from home. But it can also be wonderful as I get the opportunity to see new places and visit new things.

At the last minute I was asked to attend a meeting in Birmingham today, starting quite early but potentially finishing before 4 pm. Obviously I could have got a train straight home, getting in at about 6.30 pm, or I could do something in the city and get home a bit later – my train ticket was valid for any time.

Unlike some, I didn’t take the time to visit the Christmas market (I don’t have the money and I hate shopping anyway), but John had mentioned that Birmingham art gallery has a very good collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings.

And he wasn’t wrong, there are some amazing paintings on display. I’m only sorry that I couldn’t spend the time studying them.

As is my usual when visiting a gallery or museum, I bought a small notepad knowing that I’d want to take note of the paintings that I like. But with the wonder of the internet I can now show you some of the paintings I particularly liked. I’m glad I took John’s advice and visited the gallery.

Henry Wallis (1830-1916) The Death of Chatterton 1855-56

John Byam Liston-Shaw (1872-1919) Boer War 1900-1901
‘Last summer green things were greener, brambles fewer, the blue sky bluer’
(extract from ‘A Bird Song’ by Christina Rossetti)

Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1898) Lady Windsor 1893-95
Burne-Jones’ only full-length portrait, this is probably my favourite.

Quantas maintenance complaints

Crossing planes
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a “gripe sheet” which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humour. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas’ pilots, marked with a P, and the solutions recorded, marked with an S, by maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That’s what they’re for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you’re right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Children

One of the lovely things about being in a relationship is the sharing – shared interests, and doing things together. John and I have so much in common that it’s scary, we actually can’t find anything that we differ on – except the marmite on crumpet debate, and even then he’s nearly won me round (don’t tell him)!

However there is one aspect of John’s life that I have had no experience of before – children. Not only does he have two, but also he is involved in children in a way that only a parent can be – with the school.

On Friday we had a shoot at Caitlin’s school; the children are doing a history project comparing the way school is now to the Victorian era. John and I went along to take photographs of the kids working in the classroom, eating their lunch and playing in the playground – all a completely different world to me – I haven’t been in a primary school since I was there as a pupil!

Having been a teacher for 14 years John was at ease, but I was very nervous; so when he said we would just mingle with the kids and talk to them I have to admit to being terrified! But what amazed me was that after a while it was fine, I really enjoyed myself. Although the first question from one of the kids was ‘are you Caitlin’s mummy, are you Mrs Marshall?’

Caitlin made me laugh by coming up to me in the playground – ‘what are YOU doing here?’ – but I’m sure that she didn’t mean it to sound the way it did, she was just surprised to see me, I don’t think that she’d realised that I’m John’s assistant as well as his girlfriend.

Studying
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.

It’s great to watch John work, and also to have the chance to take photos myself. One of the sad things about the day was that I realised that since being with John I’ve missed Mum a lot more, the things I do with him make me wish that she were still here to talk. She’d love John and be so excited about the things we do together, she would love looking at the photographs and want to know all about everything!

Trading
Originally uploaded by Ms. Moll.