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Monday, 17 August 2015

Monday Comes Around Again ...

Can you believe Monday comes around again? Growing up in the 50's it was always the traditional wash day, and come rain or shine the washing would be done. My dear mum originally had a washer board and a hand-mangle (I think they were called) before the more modern washing machines were available. I can remember she would use a 'blue bag' which was meant to bring out the whiteness of your tea towels, shirts, bed linen etc. - not sure if this were true, but she always used them. I read this poem the other day, and enjoyed it, what do you think?

Wash Day Blues

We all get those wash days blues
Ironing clothes and washing shoes
I wish that I could iron quicker
Baggy shorts and blooming knickers

When you think you’re near the end
In comes your son and his best friend
He grabs the shirt that you just done
And just discard the other one

The hair on your neck begin to raise
And a few choice words were put in place
The door slams as he goes out
I’m sure he is of to sit and pout

I know the shirt must be worn some day
But at least wait till I put it away
Hours pass the ironing done
Sitting relaxing just for once

Peace and calm is all around
When I hear the door handles clicking sound
In comes my son and sits right down
Then he murmured a little sound

I love you mum you work so hard
Ironing clothes to brushing the yard
Never mind son I love you to
We will put it down to the wash day blues

Poem Above By Jim O'Donnell


Image result for old fashioned washing board

Image result for old fashioned washing board

Image result for old fashioned washing board

Image result for old fashioned washing board

Now after all that washing, would she have sat down with a cuppa and a snack?

Image result for cheese and ham platter

some cheese and ham

Image result for soft boiled egg

or perhaps a soft boiled egg

but then later dinner, on a Monday, was always cold meat and home-made pickles

She looked after us all so well ... Bless You Mum xx

All the best Jan

22 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Nice memories of your Mom, great post! Enjoy your new week!

Martha said...

Oh, very sweet tribute to your mom. Such a fun post! Happy week to you.

Lowcarb team member said...

Many thanks for your comment Eileen - I thought it a nice way to start the week.

Wishing you a Happy Week.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you so much for your comment Martha. My dear mum was a sweetheart ...

Do have a good week.

All the best Jan

Anonymous said...

My daughter went on a Victorian House visit recently with her school. I showed her this about the 1950's and she found it interesting.
A nice tribute to your mum. Mums are special.

Thanks

Jane:)

Jo said...

Awww, what a sweet poem. A lovely post and a fitting tribute to your mum.

Blogoratti said...

That's a delightful poem, thanks for sharing!

Lowcarb team member said...

Thank you so much for your comment Jane. I can remember our youngest son doing a Victorian House visit when he was at school - they seem to be very popular, and of course it is a good visual teaching aid.

So pleased to hear your daughter and yourself liked this article.

My dear mum was a very special person ...

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hi Jo, and thanks so much for your comment.

I just thought it was a nice way to start the week ... and I've got my washing done today too LOL!!

Hope you have a good week.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello there 'Blogoratti' and welcome to the low carb diabetic blog.

Many thanks for your comment. I thought it a nice one to share too - and quite apt as I've done my washing today too ... ironing awaits - oh what fun!

Have a good week

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

Funny stuff.

Today, I'm all about catching up on chores and putting up Halloween lights, along with a bake. Sunny and nice, great day to hang stuff over the deck.

Happy Monday and boogie boogie.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hi there Ivy, thanks for your comment. Sometimes it's just good to catch up with chores. Glad to hear your Halloween preparations are going well!

You have a happy Monday too - and hope the week goes well.

All the best Jan

chris c said...

My gran had a wood and cast iron mangle, as did many old folks when I was young. Some even still had water pumps or wells. We were modern, our mangle had rubber rollers! My parents' house had a wash-house with a copper out back but we never used it except as a coal store. I'm trying to recall what mother used until she finally bought a washing machine, I think an electric boiler and a poss-stick.

Lowcarb team member said...

Hi there Chris ... washing routines have certainly changed.
I looked up poss stick and found this - I love these old photographs

http://whirligigtv.yuku.com/topic/9621/Poss-stick#.VdIhvvlViko

All the best Jan

The Happy Whisk said...

Thanks. Laundry nearly done (ish), and the kitchen nearly done (more ish).

I have another two hours before Frankenberry gets home and then we can do the cutting open of the today's bake. I think I can wait. I think.

Maybe ....

Lowcarb team member said...

Ooh cutting open of today's bake sounds good Ivy ...

All the best Jan

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Nice memories but I can't imagine washing clothes like that or even ironing anymore. Happy Tuesday Jan.

chris c said...

Hah yes! Like a small three legged stool on the end of a handle. I knew poss-stick was the northern name, of course down south it was a dolly, I'd forgotten that!

I bought a Miele a few years back, confident it would outlast me. I still like hanging stuff outside to dry though.

Lowcarb team member said...

Thanks Nikki (Sarah) ... some memories are good to have, and these ones of my dear mum definitely are. Times have certainly moved on / changed. Where would I be without my modern appliances and especially my washing machine?

As I'm typing this out on a Friday evening - I wish you a good weekend.

All the best Jan

Lowcarb team member said...

Hello again Chris - sometimes it is good to look back and remember!

You can not beat the smell of line dried washing ... that's when the weather is good of course!

Have a great weekend - well it is Friday evening as I type this !

All the best Jan

chris c said...

Well most of the time! The pea field one field over from my back garden has been sporting an ever growing pile of what smelled like composted human ordure.

Now the peas have been harvested, the dung has been spread and dug in and the next year's wheat sown, so the next washing should smell fresh again.

It's a good plan to return to the land what came from the land, but downwind would have been preferable . . .

Lowcarb team member said...

Ah ... the joys of country living we used to call that! Not quite the smell from 'Bold 2 in 1' or some similar wash day product ...
It has been very good drying weather in our part of the UK today - even got the ironing done too!

All the best Jan