Christmas 1960, it seems like only yesterday, clear as crystal I can recall, but 50 years have passed, where has all that time gone.
During the year you would salt the veg Dad grew on the allotment and pickle the onions. I remember the jobs as kids we had peeling all those shallots he’d grown, our hands were a delightful colour and phew the smell, lingering for days. The carbolic soap and cold water didn’t do much good! We had to top and tail the gooseberries as well, ready for you to bottle. No freezer 50 years ago.
I still have the hand written recipes you used for the mincemeat, Christmas Cake, plus all those delicious sweets.
Being a daughter in law seems to have been a bit of a problem as far as the Christmas pudding recipe goes, notes say “Bill’s Mum’s recipe, too wet a mixture, TRY GOOD HOUSE KEEPING RECIPE”.
Remembering those puddings hung up under the larder shelf from Easter time you obviously found a recipe you liked.
One year though there was such a to do, taking down the pudding for Christmas as a mouse or two had helped themselves through the year, eating through the cloth tops and most of the puddings as well. Dad had the floor boards up and mouse traps down for weeks till you caught the little critters.
One year though there was such a to do, taking down the pudding for Christmas as a mouse or two had helped themselves through the year, eating through the cloth tops and most of the puddings as well. Dad had the floor boards up and mouse traps down for weeks till you caught the little critters.
Always a new outfit at Christmas, one you’d made for us, money was tight then, during that year Dad had found time to build our Billy a toy garage, his special gift. For me you’d chosen a doll with “real” hair; till then my dolls had painted hair, this one had blonde rooted hair, such a prized possession.
Hanging up our Christmas stockings was a thrill, always a tangerine, a shiny half a crown, if we were lucky, some homemade sweets in a brown paper bag and some special surprise we would find tucked in there somewhere. We’d get up so excitedly Christmas morning get dressed in bed (no heating till the fire was lit down stairs) and always have a special family day to remember.
This Christmas now in 2010 your great grandson, who has just started senior school, he would like an ipod, or new games for his Wii.
We had no phone at our house in 1960, but Gran had a large black one with silver dial at her shop, with an operator at the end of the line.
Our new black and white telly had just started showing Coronation Street, which is still going strong but in colour now. Trying to explain the internet or mobile phones never mind double glazing and central heating you’d think the aliens had landed, or I was telling porky pies!
But there you go, time has moved on, you never saw that Christmas in 1960 Barbara Joan, you see Dad had to tell us on Christmas Eve that you’d lost your fight with Cancer, we never had chance to say goodbye. I was 9 years old and Billy was just 5. You died on December 17 that year.
Much research has been done these last 50 years into the treatment of cancer, for that we are so grateful because that Great grandson of yours is now six years into remission for the Cancer he has had, he’d make you very proud.
Well Mum I guess that’s all for now, I know you’d have had fun and danced at our weddings, spoiled all four of your Grandsons, as for your two Great granddaughters you’d have been tickled pink, and we’ll not forget Oli your great grandson in his year 7 uniform. Growing up without you wasn’t always fun but Christmas is a special time and lots of things don’t change, a Christmas Tree, the fun and laughter, Sweets, Turkey and Christmas Cake.
So Happy Christmas for 2010 and a good year in 2011.
As time has yet again moved on to April 2012 as we celebrated our Ruby Wedding, you were remembered with much love, by those who new you well.
In memory of Babara Joan Kellock (nee Rochefort)
14. 8. 1927 - 17.12 1960
Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.
So please dig deep and donate now.
