Dear Diary, this is reminiscence of recalled memories.
Thinking back to moments in my life, I want to
start back as far as I can remember.
My earliest memory, was of being three or four,
but I can never be quite sure, such a long time
ago.
We lived in a two up, two down cottage, with an
outside toilet.
I never saw my dad, he was always working, by
day he was a paint rep, then by night he worked
for the G.P.O. the only time I saw him, was just
before I went to bed.
But my mum, 'bless her,' more than made up for him
not being there. She would spend hours and hours
with me, playing. One of my favourite things to
do was play at being on my very own island in the
middle of the Ocean. Mum would lay a rug down on
the floor between the armchair and the sofa, and
I would pretend the rug was my island. The arm of
the chair would be a steep cliff, that I would
have to climb up, to eventually look out across
the vast Ocean. There upon I would pretend that
my finger and thumbs in a circle, were a telescope,
so I could check to see if any pirates were
coming to steal my treasure. I would raid my mums
jewel box and dress my dolls and teddies in the
jewels I had collected.
Mum was amazed at my imagination, even then, but
I loved to play act and I always had invisible
friends. I could imagine lots of pirates out in
ships upon the Ocean, they were there and I always
managed to hide from them, before they saw me, by
hiding under a sheet, my mum let me use.
Christmas was even more amazing, Mum would stand
the smallest Christmas tree you have ever seen, on
a table by the open fire and I would decorate it
and she would always let me put the fairy on the
top of the tree, but because I was so small, the
tree looked so big, I would look up through the
branches and it was so magical, seeing the tinsel,
glittering. We never had fairy lights back then,
but it didn't matter to me.
Mum saved the whole year with a Christmas Club, so
come Christmas day, I never went without, she
would fill one of her old stockings to bulging
point with crayons and sweets and embroidered
hankies, toy farm animals and the farmer and his
wife and the children. 'The Wooden Tops,' was one
of my favourite childrens programmes, always on a
Friday, I would have loved to have lived on that
farm, with that family with spot the dog.
Our Christmas presents were lots, but simple, like
puzzles and colouring books, dolls, plasticine,
potato man. I'm so glad I have these memories
dear diary, they were simple times, but so much
fun. Can't wait to write some more.
Comments
Silver Spun Sand | August 28, 2011 - 13:35
Oh, Jenny, I can identify with so much of this. I too loved the Wooden Tops, which as you say, was on Fridays. And then there was Andy Pandy on Tuesdays. Picture Book was on Mondays, but I didn't like that very much;-) At the start of kid's programmes we didn't have a tele, so we used to go down the road to a neighbour's house.
(Oh, just while I think of it, a tiny typo in the sixth para; should be 'circle'.)
And we had an outside loo, too...in the shed by the mangle covered with a Union Jack;-)
Looking forward to hearing more of your lovely memories.
Tina
Highhat | August 28, 2011 - 13:52
Thanks for sharing this Jenny-
;)Pia
skinner_jennifer | August 28, 2011 - 14:01
Hi Tina,
firstly can I say thankyou so much for reading my
diary moments, this is a first for me, so I wanted
to go back as far as I could to begin with.
I'm so glad you could relate to this piece and
thankyou for letting me know.
Also thanks for the help with the error, which I
have put right now.
Have a great bank holiday.
Jenny.
skinner_jennifer | August 28, 2011 - 14:02
Hi there Pia,
glad you enjoyed reading, thankyou for letting me
know.
Jenny.
seashore | August 28, 2011 - 15:31
What a great Mum you had Jenny - it sounds as though she helped feed that vivid imagination of yours which has continued to flourish.
This was a joy to read - more please!
luigi_pagano | August 28, 2011 - 15:32
Dear Jenny, you must have a very good memory if you can go all that way back. We always remember the good times; we can recall the satisfaction that even simple toys gave us but most of all we relish the recollection of our parents' love.
No doubt you'll give us more snippets of your diary.
Until then, have a good bank holiday.
Luigi x
skinner_jennifer | August 28, 2011 - 15:50
Hi there coral,
yes my mum was amazing, she had so much patience,
she would sit for hours doing puzzles with me and
colouring in, but that's another story.
Thankyou for reading and letting me know, I'm really glad you enjoyed.
Jenny.
skinner_jennifer | August 28, 2011 - 15:58
Thankyou so much for reading Luigi,
you know, I think you're right about those memories,
the best ones always do stay with you, although I
sometimes feel that age is a strange thing, when you
are so young, like you said, it's hard to actually
recollect exactly how old I was, but I know it was
before I started school at five, so that is really
all I can go on.
Anyway enough of my ramblings, I'm really glad you
enjoyed and thankyou so much for letting me know.
You enjoy your bank holiday too.
Jenny. x
ScoZen | August 31, 2011 - 20:12
Everybody has already said it Jen.
Nice memories to treasure.
skinner_jennifer | September 1, 2011 - 09:04
Hi ScoZen,
glad you enjoyed reading and thankyou so much for
letting me know. Like you said they were nice
memories to treasure.
You have a sunny day.
Jenny.
cormacru999 | September 19, 2011 - 17:29
I love stories about life, they are my favorite kid of stories, the ones that tie us together. my dream is to write a memoir of my life because I hope that it would offer comfort to other people that have struggled. I don't post it here, since some publishers say you can't publish what you've published online, so I save it, but its all stories like this one, stories about my life and my memories.
I liked this one very much.
skinner_jennifer | September 19, 2011 - 18:10
Hi cormacru999,
I know what you mean totally, it's good to share
those memories with others.
I have to say that my memories are so clear, but
perhaps this has something to do with getting older.
I always remember my gran, before she died, she
could remember more about her childhood, than she
could remember what she did two days ago.
I hope that you do write about your memories, I
will read them.
Thanks for reading mine, glad you enjoyed.
Jenny.
pikeruk | October 18, 2011 - 21:04
If only you could write...then...like you write now. But I suppose that applies to all of us. More power to your pen. ;-)
Terry
skinner_jennifer | October 19, 2011 - 09:11
Hi there pikeruk,
thankyou so much for a great comment, I am so pleased
you enjoyed reading this. You've just reminded me of
my dear diary, which I had quite forgotten about, will have to write some more.
Thankyou for the memory jog and for reading.
Jenny.
Denzella | April 4, 2012 - 20:12
Hello Jenny,
I've really enjoyed reading about your childhood memories they sound so warm, secure and loving. Your Mum sounds amazing, just like mine but in a different way. Mums carry a big responsibility...they are charged with the task of supplying their children with happy memories of childhood. I can see your Mum was up to the task.
Take care
Moya
skinner_jennifer | April 5, 2012 - 10:39
Hi there Moya,
those memories of when we were young, I believe
forge the rest of our lives, as you so rightly
said our mums carry a big responsibility. I think
because we didn't have much, we worked harder with
our imaginations which I'm glad to have been a part
of.
You are more or less in the same boat as me, I lost
my mum the year of 9/11 when the towers got hit, it
was a very sad year, and I don't think we ever
forget the loss of a parent, but it helps to write
about them, as with your wonderful accounts of your
mum.
Thankyou for taking the time to read and let me
know your thoughts.
Jenny.