I Love England
Without Prejudice
My Mother Natalie on right in her Thornes House Grammar School Uniform
Me at 15 in the U. K.
Thornes House Grammar
I could live in England if my grand kids weren't living here in Oz.
There is something so romantic about the light in England, in fact all of Europe. There is a softness, a lens covered in Vaseline look about the place. Day light hours are restricted, making for long nights spent inside. Splashing along in a double decker bus on a cold rainy night and seeing the warmth and comfort of the Osset library, Tiffany lamps glowing warm colours speak of the comforts of a warm and cosy home, yet to be reached.
I was born there and then emigrated with my parents at 2. Returning when I was 12 and staying until I was 16. The most formative years of my life. I went to Thornes House Grammar, my Mother's old Alma Mater. Entering as a gauche girl and emerging as a young business lady, ready to work.
I love everything about the place. The shops, the restaurants, the pubs, the slightly superior air of living well. I love that the continent is only an hour a way, the trip to Paris, recently, taking just under an hour from Manchester. I love the sophistication, even in the down to earth, North, where I was. I love the history. Not much about my Mothers home town has changed all that much. It pretty much remains the same as it did when I was a girl.
There was an attempt at modernisation of The Bullring, at the middle of town, water fountains. The old timers have been complaining ever since. The water in a breeze blows into the Bank, every time the auto doors open. No one likes them and there is a vigorous campaign to rectify the problem and put it back to the way it was.
Eccentricity is so normal there. People aren't nuts they are accepted as "eccentric", especially if they look like Miss Marple. Straw hat, shapeless clothes, could smell but as long as they love animals, who cares ?
Shopping is a social outing with people beautifully dressed and made up. The shops reflect this and are stunning to look at and shop in. Less is more. A shop front just having one beautiful item displayed. And there is so much competition, now. In the late sixties if I wanted a dress I went to Chelsea Girl or a little boutique in Ossett, where we lived. Now there is Primark, Marks and Spencer's, Peacocks, Next, George at Asda, the list goes on.
I miss the old market, but it is still partly there and I Insisted on having a meal at "The Caff " that was always open when the market was on, smelling of hot fat and strong tea, cigarettes and beans. The fug thick on cold mornings and the men in donkey jackets would be there. Mopping up their breakfasts with fried bread or big doorstops of fresh bread, swilling it down with big mugs of tea
so strong you could stand a spoon up in it.
I love the place. Wakefield, l could live there if my grand kids weren't here.
Love Nanny Nanette x
Me and Bestie, Denise Edsen , old Thornes House Grammar School friend
My mum at my brother Dave's Christening
Dress from Asda
I could live in England if my grand kids weren't living here in Oz.
There is something so romantic about the light in England, in fact all of Europe. There is a softness, a lens covered in Vaseline look about the place. Day light hours are restricted, making for long nights spent inside. Splashing along in a double decker bus on a cold rainy night and seeing the warmth and comfort of the Osset library, Tiffany lamps glowing warm colours speak of the comforts of a warm and cosy home, yet to be reached.
I was born there and then emigrated with my parents at 2. Returning when I was 12 and staying until I was 16. The most formative years of my life. I went to Thornes House Grammar, my Mother's old Alma Mater. Entering as a gauche girl and emerging as a young business lady, ready to work.
I love everything about the place. The shops, the restaurants, the pubs, the slightly superior air of living well. I love that the continent is only an hour a way, the trip to Paris, recently, taking just under an hour from Manchester. I love the sophistication, even in the down to earth, North, where I was. I love the history. Not much about my Mothers home town has changed all that much. It pretty much remains the same as it did when I was a girl.
There was an attempt at modernisation of The Bullring, at the middle of town, water fountains. The old timers have been complaining ever since. The water in a breeze blows into the Bank, every time the auto doors open. No one likes them and there is a vigorous campaign to rectify the problem and put it back to the way it was.
Eccentricity is so normal there. People aren't nuts they are accepted as "eccentric", especially if they look like Miss Marple. Straw hat, shapeless clothes, could smell but as long as they love animals, who cares ?
Shopping is a social outing with people beautifully dressed and made up. The shops reflect this and are stunning to look at and shop in. Less is more. A shop front just having one beautiful item displayed. And there is so much competition, now. In the late sixties if I wanted a dress I went to Chelsea Girl or a little boutique in Ossett, where we lived. Now there is Primark, Marks and Spencer's, Peacocks, Next, George at Asda, the list goes on.
I miss the old market, but it is still partly there and I Insisted on having a meal at "The Caff " that was always open when the market was on, smelling of hot fat and strong tea, cigarettes and beans. The fug thick on cold mornings and the men in donkey jackets would be there. Mopping up their breakfasts with fried bread or big doorstops of fresh bread, swilling it down with big mugs of tea
so strong you could stand a spoon up in it.
I love the place. Wakefield, l could live there if my grand kids weren't here.
Love Nanny Nanette x
