My Home

My childhood home,
Was a two up two down terraced house in Tonge Moor.
Cobbled streets lined with copy cat houses;
Row upon row a regiment on parade,
Doors numbered 1 to 100.
We faced the railway arches.
Gateway to green fields and space to run
Free from restrictions of the street.
My Grandparents lived next door, Aunty Sissy two doors down,
Aunty Nelly and Aunty Annie, always in and out
My dad was the youngest of seven sisters
We had cousins galore.

Our house had running hot water, a full sized bath in the kitchen,
A flushing lavatory too, where most had tipplers and cold water taps.
We had a flagged floor until dad covered it with Asphalt,
A rich ruby red, polished to perfection by mother.
Front windows and vestibule leaded with fancy glaze
And a solid shiny brass door knocker at the front
Dad was a journeyman plumber,
Could turn his hand to anything.

It was fascinating to watch him work
Scraps of lead melted by blowtorch
Poured out in strips on the kitchen step
To set into solid shiny silver sticks of solder.
Many backyards contained concrete air raid shelters
By 1942, dark and smelly.
Our backyard had a timber and glass roof
It was dad`s workshop.
Neat and tidy with a swing for us kids
Hung from an overhead beam.

The sounds and smells that came out of my home where unique.
Monday was wash day, boiler bubbling, mother possing away.
And a huge wooden mangle, the clatter deafening
Until we got electric wringers with super silent rubber rollers .
Line after line of snow white sheets filled the back street
Blowing in the wind like an Armada in full sail .
Then Mother sleeves rolled, pink cheeks,
Elbow deep in Dolly Tub, scrubbing and rubbing.
Intent on collars and cuffs white and bright.
Sunlight soap, the smell often haunts me, as does
Mum baking bread, cakes and custards every Friday.

Most families including mine, had an allotment.
Digging for Britain in the 1940s .
Grandad loved it down there by the river
On his precious patch of rich brown earth.
He worked hard and we ate well.
Within ration book restrictions
Fruits, vegetables, chickens and lots of eggs.

I can visualise Mum and Dad sat by a blazing fire,
Listening to the radio,
Dick Barton`s signature tune fading into the distance.
Front door ajar, step donkey stoned to classic proportions.
Warm inviting smells coming from the kitchen.
I can hear our grandfather clock chiming,
The fire crackling.

The house is still there
Facing the railway arches.
But the fields have gone
Replaced by an Industrial Estate.
A sign of the times.


© Valerie Cook August 2007

A Hectic Few Days.

Last weekend I slowed a down somewhat, took timeout, chilled out and managed to finish my book on Lady Jane Grey and also a novel by Kathy Riechs “Cross Bones” a good read, she is one of my favourite writers. I like to be surprised and with lots of twist and turns in her books she certainly keeps me on the edge.
It was Show and Tell at Speakers Club Monday night so I took my crochet along to show and tell.. Thursday I gave a talk to a local Women’s Institute on my “24years as a Midwife”. A very enjoyable evening, we had so much in common. Later in the week I attended my own WI Group Meeting that we hosted for 120 members from four WI`s in our area. Each year one of the group, provides supper and entertainment in turn. We always enjoy being together it’s a great evening, entertainment was provided by A Children Theatre Project singing and dancing. 15 rather excitable children and some loud music, but non the less wonderful to see the children enjoying themselves and we gave them a good reception. That was followed by an amusing talk on Visiting Alaska I feel I want to go there now it sounds so interesting.
The weather has been very cold all week but yesterday and today we have had warm sunshine and it makes such a difference. I am tempted to change some of my wardrobe, the winter has been a long one and I get so tired of wearing the same heavy clothes and boots. Started sorting out clothes for this weekend and have been buying for my New England trip on the 6th June it wont be long now.
Sunday night was WriteOutLoud Open Mic Poetry at the Howcroft, 31 poets crowded into the room all eager to share their poems, another brilliant night. There is so much talent around the North West.
This week along with other members of our Speaking Club, I have been helping to finish 220 menus for the ASC National Conference Dinner that is to be held this weekend at the Hilton Hotel in Blackpool.We are noted for our menu designs and these menus are excellent featuring, saucy seaside postcards. I will be there Friday Saturday and Sunday to represent our club.
Tonight I am going to the Theatre to see South Pacific and tomorrow I will be joining about 500 plus members of the WI on a Inter Federation Walk on Carmel Fell in the Lake District. And on Thursday night I will presenting my B6 Speech Vocabulary and Word Pictures on “My Childhood Home” to Burnley and District Speakers Club in their Evaluation Contest .My speech will be evaluated by four members who will then be judged. I hope they are kind to me! then I will need a rest.

Poetry at the UNCAN CENTRE

On Saturday Bolton Speaking Clubs Silver Jubilee Dinner was a great success. The tables looked spectacular, the colour scheme silver and sapphire blue enhanced the occasion. I had designed and produced all the menus silver with blue insert, simple design but very smart. But had agonised all week over the table decorations that in the end they too looked really lovely. 100 members and guests appeared to enjoy the evening,it was different from our usual Annual Charter Dinner as we meant it to be fun and it was. The evening finished with dancing . Because of the threat of Snow over the weekend my youngest son Stuart was unable to attend but Andrew came. It was very good of him to escort me and I enjoyed having him by my side. My friend Dorothy and I enjoyed ourselves and I managed a dance too. Since then I have been relaxing, reading an interesting book about Lady Jane Grey .
I have to syke myself up now for the Write Out Loud taster day at the local UCAN Community Centre on Thursday. As Write Out Loud Co-ordinator for Bolton I am running two sessions during the day the afternoon and evening with food being provided by the Centre. We are hoping to interest the people in the community to come along and share their poetry with us. We plan to run a workshop and a number of WOL Poets are coming along to get things started.
This is the start of our Outreach work. Our Vision is for everyone who wants to, has the opportunity to share their creative writing by reading it out in a safe friendly welcoming environment. Inspired and encouraged to grow and develop by performing their work to a receptive community. Write Out Loud exists to create opportunities for people to share their own creative writing in public. To experience the joy of being part of a community, sharing ideas and gaining in expertise, confidence. and self esteem.
We are challenging the concept that publication is the only goal for poetry. We see public performance as a legitimate form of publication. Sharing creativity with other and engaging the performer and the audience with the written word.

http://www.writeoutloud.net/


The UNCAN CENTRE is run by Great Places Housing Group they are a powerful force in regeneration and urban renewal, tackling and transforming some of the North's most challenging neighbourhoods, and helping to build bolder, brighter communities for generations to come.

http://www.greatplaces.org.uk/

My Pershore Weekend

Pershore Abbey

Last weekend was very special I stayed with my brother William and his wife Carol in Pershore. William is now officially a pensioner and was looking quite fit and well having commenced a fitness programme that appeared to suit him. It felt good hanging out with the family and catching up on their news, which also comprised my niece, her husband and their two darling girls. I haven`t been to Pershore for a couple of years but this small country town never changes its still quiet and picturesqe. The weather was terrible on Friday and Saturday, unremitting wind and rain but Sunday the sun broke through and I was able to enjoy a walk on the Abbey Green. We had hoped to get out more but it was too cold and wet though I did manage to struggle round the shops on Saturday, lost my umbrella to the capricious wind that tore it apart. Bought a hat to ward of most of the rain and it did stop on my head and kept it dry.
Carol was happiest in her kitchen cooking up wonderful dishes to surprise and delight me. Especially her ultra delicious, heavily intoxicating ice cream and lemon cheese. We all celebrated Williams 65th at The Legend a Thai Restaurant on the High Street, so many courses. I enjoyed the seafood most of all it reminded me of my visits to Australia where sea food is so readily available, fresh and cheap.
Sunday I had a easy drive home, the roads where busy but we kept moving .It was sunny and warm such a contrast to the journey down on Friday. It takes me about an hour and a half if there is no traffic hold ups. M6/M5 at Birmingham has a terrible reputation for congestion and slow moving holdups. I arrived home with lots of goodies from Carol, she is so generous and a painting by her Son in Law Rob. He paints wonderful colourful canvasses and I am now the proud owner of a Rob Kirbyson original Lonely Clown Fish. This is Rob`s website drop in, his paintings are quite unique and special.
http://www.acryolicsandoils.com/