It's such an effort being a Chalet girl
The CBB -> Anything Else
#1: It's such an effort being a Chalet girl Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:16 pm

During a re-read of some of the books I looked at how often the girls had to wash/change/brush hair during the day. Having nothing better to do, I made a list and worked the toilette into my day.

I washed and brushed my hair when I got up.
I washed/brushed hair after the morning walk (i.e going to the post office!)
I washed before Mittagessen
I washed/brushed hair before Kaffee
I washed/brushed hair before Abendessen (I refused to change, as I would probably spill down my clean clothes, and I'd already dripped a spot onto my trousers from cooking!)
I will wash/brush hair before going to bed.

My normal routine is to wash/brush when getting up, wash hands after *whispers* going to the toilet, wash hands before and after cooking (I'm a very messy cook!) and wash/brush hair before going to bed. Sometimes, if my hair isn't tied up, it gets a quick brush during the day.

Was EBD OTT about personal tidiness, or am I just a messy creature? Some of the washing/brushing/changing of clothes seems unnecessary to mucky old me!

 

#2:  Author: Catherine_B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:21 pm

*major giggles*

Lulie, I think EBD was definitely over the top (though I suppose if they didn't use conditioner and only washed their hair once a week, maybe their hair was really yuck and needed brushing more regularly?) and that you are a CS-style heroine for recreating their routine!

 

#3:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:29 pm

I've got to agree that all the hair brushing does seem a bit much. The only reason I can possible think of it being necessary would be for those with long hair, and bows/ribbons coming loose. Mine only gets an extra brush if we're going out somewhere or if I'm going to wash it (much easier to condition if it ain't luggy first!)

JackieJ

 

#4:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 8:37 pm

I love your experiment Lulie - very dedicated Very Happy

Certainly a lot is made in the books that certain girls always have untidy hair - often the English or Americans - whilst many continental girls always have neat hair.

I do think its connected to neatness at meals, and the fact it was common decency to present yourself at mealtimes with clean fingers and hair. Perhaps we are letting the standards slip.

 

#5:  Author: Angel, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 9:15 pm

My hair is growing out, and I will brush it/comb it regularly throughout the day.

I wonder if the continentals had more advanced shampoos.

 

#6:  Author: Rachel, Location: Plotting in my lair PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 10:46 pm

Re. changing clothes.

If you only owned (frex) two sets of daytime clothes, and two or three sets of evening wear, you would change from day to evening wear as routine to save your day clothes any excess wear. Equally, you would keep your evening clothes for evenings only to save them being spoiled during the day.

I really need to go to bed, so once more, apologies if this isn't as clear as it is in my own teeeny tiny little mind.


And I know when I was at school, I would get pen and pencil all over my hands, and they NEEDED washing far more frequently than they do these days - although it would be interesting to see how many times a day I do actually wash hands and brush hair. I brush my hair a lot - mainly cos I have been growing it since last year and it is so satisfying to feel it swing down after each brush stroke Wink

 

#7:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 10:51 pm

I have no idea how many times a day I brush my hair, but I know it's a LOT, because it won't stay tidy for more than about 10 minutes!!!!

 

#8:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:37 pm

But then, Vikki, you have such a LOT of hair- unless you've done anything drastic to it since March!

Frankly, I give up on mine. I know it was neat in March, but that's cos I straightened it very thoroughly first. I haven't got the motivation to go through that lark every day, or even every week! Embarassed
Result: I look like Golliwog's sister. My mum keeps telling me I need to do something. Personally, the only thing that would work would be a close shave and a wig, but that might be a bit much.
Not much of a CS girl, am I? Laughing

 

#9:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:42 pm

Hmm... There are probably days when I don't touch my hair once it's braided in the morning. (When I don't braid, it's into everything and a disaster in two minutes.)

 

#10:  Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:55 pm

Don't even ask me how often I wash my hands, suffice to say, I'm really getting over the OCD at last.

As for hair, I'm sure I brushed my hair lots when I was a child, and put it down to the shampoos we used, and the lack of conditioners, my hair stuck out like straw at all times, and wasn't all sleek like it can be now, if I care to slap on the right product. Plus, less clean hair feels yukky if unbrushed, and looks worse, so that would need more styling. Add to that, no elastics, slippy ribbons and hopeless hairgrips and you need to keep doing your hair, if only to hang on to your ribbons.

I'd have loved all those fun hair things like mini clamps, sleepies, braiding beads etc when I was a child. Oh think of all those buterflies and flowers nowadays. I remember pining for a pair of those round hairslides with the hole in the middle, and Mum telling me they were impractical, and having to make do with crossed bobby pins, oh the indignity! I used to stand at the chemist's window and gaze at the Lady Jayne display board.

And now, sometimes I only brush my hair twice a day, though I could have done with being told I had clown hair this afternoon. I went around all frizzy, and didn't know it.

 

#11:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:23 am

My mum often gets changed at the end of the afternoon from her *working* clothes to something a bit smarter (and usually newer Wink )

Ok she's nearly 80, but it's still an ingrained habit from the days when you did change for the evening

 

#12:  Author: Sarah_K, Location: St Albans/Leicester PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:53 am

Getting changed between daytime and evening clothes isn't that strange. We always used to get changed after school in the evenings and I suppose it isn't much different from that. Brushing your hair all the time isn't something I'm good at, then again my hair generally looks a mess so perhaps that's one part of CS life I should take up Wink

 

#13:  Author: claire, Location: South Wales PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 7:50 am

I always took the washing/brushing hair/toilette as a euphemism as going to the loo

 

#14:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:30 am

Well they had to go sometime!

I have short hair, it gets washed and combed every day - once! I very rarely comb it again, although I will run my fingers through it - when I go to the hairdressers its always with the request that they make it as easy as possible to look after - currently working on a style that is supposed to look as though I've just got up!

 

#15:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 8:43 am

If my hair is short once a day brushing is all it needs - unless I'm going out then it gets done again.

I always get changed in the evening as I wear a uniform for work and don't like sitting around at home in it.

 

#16:  Author: Kathye, Location: Laleham PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:08 am

When I went to an office to work, I would always change out of my suits when I got home, and Darren still does. So I suppose we dress down in the evenings now Confused

 

#17:  Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:46 am

Lisa_T wrote:
Frankly, I give up on mine. I know it was neat in March, but that's cos I straightened it very thoroughly first. I haven't got the motivation to go through that lark every day, or even every week! Embarassed
Result: I look like Golliwog's sister. My mum keeps telling me I need to do something. Personally, the only thing that would work would be a close shave and a wig, but that might be a bit much.
Not much of a CS girl, am I? Laughing


More a Hogwarts girl... Hermione Granger?

After my hair's been in a plait overnight it's as bushy as can be, and takes oodles of straightener to get flat...but sometimes I just don't care Smile besides, so long as it's tied back, I don't care what's going on behind Very Happy

Kirst (has just read HP for the first time and can't wait for the next one to come out...and it's going to be a year off grrr)

 

#18:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 11:49 am

It used to be that the housewife at home would always wash and change for the afternoon.

Last edited by Jennie on Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:14 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#19:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 12:04 pm

Very Hermione, Kirsty! Maybe I'll leave it in its natural state this time. Or follow Lesley's example!

 

#20:  Author: Angel, Location: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 5:26 pm

Ciorstaidh - A year is probably the bare minimum. Possibly 3 or 4.

 

#21:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 9:56 am

Three or four years until the next Harry Potter? I don't believe it Surprised Since the title has been announced, I thought the book might only take a year or so.

 

#22:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:39 am

When I was at school we would always change out of uniform as soon as we got home, but I don't make my two do so. Having said thay we didn't wear uniform till we were at middle school (10+) amd they are at primary school and wear it. They only change in te evening if they are doing somehting messy and I want the uniform saving for morning! I only change if I'm going out or have done somehting that makes me messy...and sometimes then only if soimeone will see!!!

On the handwashing front, when I was a kid we were always taught to wash our hands before eating so that never struck me as odd, although I couldn't see why they did faces and hair as well. However we would have been sent to wash again if we had come for a meal (even if only sanwhiches on knees) with very dirty faces. I see this as equivalent to washing hands before cooking, the food bit was always connected in my mind. I will admit to not bothering as much about it now, I send the kids to wash thiers if they have been playing outside before eating, but that is it really.

 

#23:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:40 am

Sarah_L wrote:
Three or four years until the next Harry Potter? I don't believe it Surprised Since the title has been announced, I thought the book might only take a year or so.


Here's me thinking she had actually written most of it!! And to think initially it was to be one a year!

 

#24:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 12:15 pm

Well, they are very derivative, Sarah, perhaps she has a lot of reading to do!

 

#25:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 3:39 pm

Changing out of uniform was a definite requirement, particularly for the years it included a pleated skirt whose pleats had to be sewed down every time you laundered. Needless to say they didn't get washed too frequently! But the habit continued when we switched to state schools with regular clothes. (Now, of course, work clothes = play clothes = jeans, thank goodness.)

Re/ Rowling, one of the things I like best is her talent for twining together and elaborating on bits of folklore, etc. She's obviously read a few of the classic herbals, as well Smile . But she certainly has slowed down... I have a horrible fear it's because the plot's becoming darker.

 

#26:  Author: Angel, Location: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 5:44 pm

I think it's also because the plotting for 6 and 7 needs to be incredibly tight.

But we got the title for Phoenix about 2.5 years before we got the book.

And bear in mind that 1-3 were the easy books, in that she'd spent 10 years brewing up Harry in her head, and those just flowed out. She wanted to spend more time over 4, but had committed herself to the following year. I rather think that if she'd had more time for 4 we'd have got 5 relatively sooner.

As for being a CS girl - I would be terrible, I know it. I think Cecilia is almost a Mary-Sue in the Harriet Vane sense.

 

#27:  Author: Donna, Location: Liverpool PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:30 pm

we always had to change out of uniform as soon as we got home from school to save it for the next day. Blouses went in the wash on a Wednesday and a Friday, the skirt went in every Friday, unless there was a disaster and it needed to be changed earlier! We were NOT allowed to sit around in our uniform - the only exception was if there was some reason we had to be back at school in uniform, but even then, as my school had a different blouse for special occasions and concerts, we usually had to change something!

 

#28:  Author: Lisa_T, Location: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 11:03 pm

In theory, we were supposed to change out of uniform between the end of afternoon school and prep time. (school finished at 3.55, prep started at 4.20. During the interval you had to get your afternoon tea (mmmm, homemade flapjacks and fruitcake..) and go to dorm and change and check that you had everything you needed for prep! Since my fourth form dorm was at the extreme end of the girls' house- it was quite a rush! I either just stayed in uniform and changed after supper, or dumped everything i needed in my desk in my form room before i went for tea. Much simpler! Laughing

I liked keeping my uniform on cos I didn't need to wash it- the baskets went down on a rota, but we didn't always keep to the rota. poor night staff Embarassed

 

#29:  Author: Sue, Location: Tunbridge Wells PostPosted: Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:08 am

When I was at school our skirts were of a heavy woollen material, not washable, and wearing of them was absolutely enforced. So they could only be cleaned at half term and full holidays, between that we sponged stains off as mush as possible. I certainly had to wash and change asap when I got home. Summer was better with floral cotton, but even then with no washer or dryer we made them last. I think I had 2, one on one in the wah and none spare. (We weren't very well off, but I don't think I had less than anyone else). I don't remember conditioner existing, so plenty of brushing was essential.
Sue

 

#30:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:42 pm

Well, I live in jeans. I've worn a skirt precisely three times this year.

 

#31:  Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:40 pm

Jennie wrote:
Well, I live in jeans. I've worn a skirt precisely three times this year.


I only bought a couple of skirts a month or so ago, and I've worn one of them for about three hours. I'm so used to wearing jeans, I can't feel comfortable or confident in skirts. And my trainers don't go with skirts, so I have to wear heels, which is a pain (literally).

 

#32:  Author: Cumbrian Rachel, Location: back in Oxford PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 4:44 pm

Well I don't even own a skirt! Very Happy I own one dress which I have worn precisely once in the last four years! Trousers (specifically jeans!) are much more me.

 

#33:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 7:00 pm

Me too, C_Rachel! I've just bought a new dress, but it's the first one that I've seen for years that I like! So it's a bit lonely hanging there in the wardrobe Very Happy

 

#34:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 11:48 pm

Dress? No, haven't worn it yet this year.

To be honest, I don't mind skirts as long as they're not too short/tight and it's warm out. It's the shoe requirements... Sandals are an accident waiting to happen for me, and even the most "sensible flats" are fairly painful. Maybe when skirts with hiking boots come into fashion Cool .

 

#35:  Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 8:25 am

Skirts and Doc Martins were a kind of acceptable grungy look about ten years ago, though not one I would have worn. I used to always wear skirts, then I went to University as a mature student, and discovered my "inner scruff". She has since taken over from the trim and trig version of me. However, I would not be seen dead in training shoes, unless I was participating in a sport that required them. My daughter is the only girl in the yeargroup who does not wear trainers to school. She reckons this puts her in a good position for the headgirl-ship as the new headmaster deplores scruffiness.

 

#36:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:47 am

I love my trainers!

 

#37:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 4:21 pm

Rummaging in the bottom of my wardrobe last night, I found a skirt! I have no memory of buying it, no memory of wearing it! I may even donate it to a charity shop.

Trousers - Jeans, cords and trouser suits for meetings are so much more practical. I tend to stride and a straight skirt would soon have ripped seams.

Even for most 'occasions' I wear velvet trousers rather than a skirt.

Oh, and I do NOT wear tights! I have long legs and a big butt and they cut me in half!

 

#38:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 7:41 am

*g*

I definitely suffer from ripped seams!! Just can't stop myself from taking stairs two at a time ... Rolling Eyes

I quite like skirts and dresses but not for casual wear

 

#39:  Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 8:55 am

Just been to check wardrobe Shocked OK - one floor length black skirt for concerts (not been worn for several years since committee decided we could wear trousers, but kept just in case!) one navy and pink full skirt (too small but I love the colour and maybe one day ... ) and one ankle length summer dress bought for a wedding and worn twice - with cycle shorts and knee-highs under Cool
I'm not sure I could remember to behave like a lady if I wore a skirt Embarassed

PatMac wrote:

Oh, and I do NOT wear tights! I have long legs and a big butt and they cut me in half!

Pat = I have short legs and a big butt - if they make them wide enough the legs are twice as long as I need! If I ever find a pair to fit me I may be encouraged to wear a skirt, say about twice a year, but I can't.

 

#40:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:04 am

Have just mentally gone though my wardrobe and am surprised to realise I have three skirts (though one is left over from days as a silver-service waitress) and i think five dresses if you include my bridesmaid dress - however I can't actually remember when i last wore a skirt and the last time a dress other than the bridesmaids dress got worn was a black tie party in January!

Usually its trousers for work, cords, jeans and possibly shorts at other times!

 

#41:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 11:40 am

I own several skirts, I just don't wear them!

 

#42:  Author: Rosie, Location: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:02 pm

I have 3 skirts. One is my black school skirt that I wore for one day in year 10, as that night I fell over and bruised my knee really badly... Then I have a denim one that I last wore under my grass skirt (oh, FOUR skirts!) for a party. My newest skirt is my lovely cord one that I do wear to afternoon parties and bbqs cos I LIVE in shorts during the summer and I cannot face putting my jeans on some days!

 

#43:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 12:15 pm

I have one skirt, and thats my black band one, which my Mum made for me. Luckily though we now tend to wear trousers, as I only wear the skirt with 40 denier tights!

 

#44:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:40 pm

I have 3 skirts, two that I wear reasonably regularly! I probabkly wear a skirt at least once a month, just cos it makes me feel good. Much easier int he summer when I can go barfoot though as I hate tights with a vengence.

 

#45:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 2:46 pm

I agree with the barefootness, which is why most of my skirts are long enough to get away with not wearing tights. But as I wear a pair of slip on shoes for work I can do the barefoot thing when wearing trousers as well.

I do like wearing skirts, they seem to be a lot more cooler than trews Very Happy

JackieJ

 

#46:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 3:11 pm

I've been peering into the depths of my wardrobe and discovered that I actually have two summer skirts!

 

#47:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:09 pm

I always go barefoot in summer. Literally in the house, and often in the garden unless I am doing jobs that one needs to wear shoes for.

 

#48:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:36 pm

I go barefoot all year round! Both summer and winter I only put shoes and/or socks on if I'm going further than the end of the road!

 

#49:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:45 pm

Nina wrote:
PatMac wrote:

Oh, and I do NOT wear tights! I have long legs and a big butt and they cut me in half!

Pat = I have short legs and a big butt - if they make them wide enough the legs are twice as long as I need! If I ever find a pair to fit me I may be encouraged to wear a skirt, say about twice a year, but I can't.


So if you cut a few inches off any skirts/trousers you buy and I sew them onto the bottom of mine, we could both be adequately supplied despite the manufacturers who don't appear to realise that we come in all shapes and sizes? Wink

 

#50:  Author: Katarzyna, Location: Preston, Lancashire PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 9:55 pm

oh dear, i seem to be the odd one out - i don't wear trousers! I have never owned a pair of jeans and I can't wear tights (allergic to them! - ezcema on my feet)

Mind you I also change about 3 some times 4 times a day - ie get up and put on dog walking clothes, get dressed properly for work, come home and change out of work clothes, about 9 pm put on dog walking clothes again!

the hair gets done once a day though - it takes about 10 minutes to plait it up and if it's been down or in a ponytail about 10 mins to comb out the snarls! oh why don't i just go get it all cut off!

ps - tried to put it in earphones yesterday (what can I say I was bored) - Joey must have had very thin hair if it came to her hips and she could put it in earphones - mine stuck out something silly and apparently made me look like some form of alien!

 

#51:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:02 pm

ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL at Kat's earphones. What a mental picture that creates!

 

#52:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 10:41 pm

So, do we get a demo of these earphones at the SG? Wink

I have lots of skirts and dresses, but lately I seem to be living in jeans and trousers too! I must have caught it from you lot!!!!

 

#53:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:49 am

I've worn a skirt one day this year, so far. And I'm contemplating wearing a dress tomorrow night when we go out for wedding anniversary meal - mind you, I might change my mind yet.

 

#54:  Author: Lesley, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:53 am

I wear skirts for work,and sometimes for special occasions - family etc. Otherwise l live in jeans/trousers and tee-shirts!

 

#55:  Author: hpdeskjette, Location: S'pore PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:12 pm

Oh I agree it's tough being a Chalet girl--been translating conversation on French days into French as I go through the books, just to feel like "a real Chalet School girl"... it takes me an hour or so to finish one measly chapter and I have to constantly flip the dictionary. What it must have been like to have to speak only French every two days!!

Though I must agree that when I have to think in another language all the time, it begins to come naturally to me... (though my French is now still very disgraceful!)

Thank goodness I don't know any German and can't try any translation!

 

#56:  Author: SecondhandGirl,  PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:05 am

My hair is cropped boy-short, so I just run gel through my hands, ruffle or spike it, and go, once a day.
Clothes...pajamas until I leave the house or someone is coming over. Jeans, jersey/smart wool suit jacket and either sneakers or heel boots for casual, and work(I work in a shop, and my casual tends to be other people's smart-casual so it passes). Interviews I wear skirts and pantyhose but I'm pretty tomboy most of the time. My main form of transport is a motorbike, and I'd rather not flash the world my undies Embarassed so I've got to wear trousers of some sort.
I certainly couldn't take so much time on my presentation, as the CS girls did...the laundry'd be terrible, and I'd run out of clothes. I did used to change out of my school uniform when I was at HS though(skirt, polo, only had 2 skirts).

 

#57:  Author: Emma, Location: Lichfield PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 10:38 am

Ive had years of having to spend the majority of my time wearing skirts so now Im making the most of not having to!! Our school was very strict and didnt let people wear trousers and when I was a waitress I also had to wear a variety of dodgy looking skirts of strange lengths!! In my new job its great cos Im not meant to wear skirts incase I have to rush out on a site visit somewhere!!

 

#58:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:38 pm

Do you have to take your own wellies with you, Emma?

 

#59:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:43 pm

I've had work experience for the last week and worn a skirt and heels every day... now my little toes are essentially deformed and i have blisters! Aggh. If only trainers went with skirts... alas.

 

#60:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 3:47 pm

See this is why I wear slip on sandal type things for work. They're much comfier than heels and leave your toes all free to wriggle about as you please. My feet are already weird though anyhow, because of the ballet I did when I was younger.

JackieJ

 

#61:  Author: Guest,  PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:30 pm

Humph. Be thankful you don't have to wear steel toe caps! It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a dress code, but steelies and smart trousers really do not look good.

 

#62:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:31 pm

That was me again. Sorry.

 

#63:  Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 11:56 pm

Ellie wrote:
Humph. Be thankful you don't have to wear steel toe caps! It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a dress code, but steelies and smart trousers really do not look good.


But Ellie, with your "deft fingers" and "French gift of adjustment" surely you could contrive to look "trig and trim"? Mr. Green

Or maybe not. Rolling Eyes

 

#64:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:31 am

MissPrint wrote:
Ellie wrote:
Humph. Be thankful you don't have to wear steel toe caps! It wouldn't be so bad if there wasn't a dress code, but steelies and smart trousers really do not look good.


But Ellie, with your "deft fingers" and "French gift of adjustment" surely you could contrive to look "trig and trim"? Mr. Green

Or maybe not. Rolling Eyes


*Rolls on the floor laughing hysterically at the idea of my 'deft' fingers and 'French gift of adjustment'*

And as for being 'Trig and Trim' Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation Exclamation

 

#65:  Author: Miriam, Location: Jerusalem, Israel PostPosted: Sun Aug 29, 2004 11:20 pm

WEll to break the trend I don't own a pair of trousers, and wear long skirts all day, every day. I also wear sandals (with knbee highs) from about March to November, or later if the rain hasn't started by that time.

I have hair well below my waist, which gets properly brushed in the morning, and occasionaly smoothed over during the day, unless I need it to look good for an occasion. I have acomplished the art of plaiting it and swinging it around my haed in a corenet, and sometimes wear it that way during hot weather. It can be very comfortable, but does get very messy in the wind - I can end up with a little haze of fine hairs standing up all over my head. I am sure this would never have been acceptable at the CS, so re-doing it at frequent intervals never suprides me.

What I have never figured out, is how the 'big shady hats' which they all seemed to wear fitted and stayed on, on top of these coronets. I can only wear a hat with any degree of security when my hair is loose. With my hair up, I can't even get one on.

 

#66:  Author: claire, Location: South Wales PostPosted: Mon Aug 30, 2004 2:24 pm

They used hatpins

 

#67:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 2:22 pm

Or wore a larger size hat.

 

#68:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 2:36 pm

Nothing wrong with hatstrings or hat elastic!

*gets too annoyed by constant retrieval of gardening hat in a breeze, not to tie it down*

 

#69:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 10:02 pm

Perhaps they all had smaller heads...

 

#70:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 11:03 pm

I was cleaning out some old e-mails and found this in the 27 Jul 02 Ancestry Weekly Digest. (No wonder my inbox is sending "over quota" messages!) It seemed to go with some of our discussions on frequency of hair-washing in the CS.

Quote:
From "The Fort Wayne News," 22 July 1895, page 3:

ITEMS ABOUT THE HAIR

An article too often called into action is the fine tooth comb. It invariably irritates the scalp, is the frequent cause of dandruff and acts in very much the same capacity as a rake would if applied to the head.

Once a month, or even once in six weeks is a short enough period to elapse between the "hair wash." Oftener than that may cause that dry look by removing the natural oil. The contents of two or more eggs put on the hair and well rubbed in is a wonderful cleanser and promotes the growth; also a lump of borax has the same effect, while
borax and salt combined have a very strengthening action. Leave the salt and borax in boiling water for at least five minutes before using.

Now is a time when the brush is not called into brisk action, for one of the worst things you could do would be to brush or in any way "meddle" with your hair when it is wet or even damp.

 

#71:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 31, 2004 11:16 pm

Good grief!!!


I can reply to that with one word - 'minging'!!!!!!!! (or possibly 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwwwww!!!')

 

#72:  Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:09 am

I think they must have had tiny heads because whenever I have tried on any vintage hats, they are invariably too small. Ditto vintage gloves. I began to think I was some kind of giant.

But, when I had long hair, I had hats for up-hair and hats for loose hair. And certain up hairstyles can be arranged so that they do not interfere with the hat. And hats like tams and berets can get yanked on right over up-hair, although it does look terrible, and tends to bring a shower of pins when you take the hat off.

Short hair is so much easier. Though some of my hats are far too big for me now.

 

#73:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:25 am

Vikki wrote:
Good grief!!!


I can reply to that with one word - 'minging'!!!!!!!! (or possibly 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeuuuuuuuuuuuuuwwwwwwwwwww!!!')


*agrees wholeheartedly* Where's the 'being sick' smiley?

 

#74:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 12:33 am

Back on the hat topic...

I have the impression that hat-pins were only used after one was old enough to put one's hair up, etc., whereas the average CS girl would have used ties or elastic of some sort. Though, based on the picture at the bottom of this page, even older persons could use elastic -- just not under the chin -- for those tiny hats that just perched without "fitting" per se.

 

#75:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:21 am

On pillbox hats, the elastic went at the back - never worked for me as I don't have that bump at the back of my head to hold them in place.

Miriam, I remember people wearing a very fine net over the coronet - same colour as the hair, to stop that 'fuzz'.

Kathy - that hair washing section is really interesting. Most people wouldn't have had bathrooms then, let alone showers and the rinsing must have been a nightmare. It does probably explain why they seem to have had such thick hair and been able to put it up into such impossible styles. It probably stood up on it's own Shocked

 

#76:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 1:49 pm

eeeeeeeewww! eeeeeeeeeeeewww! Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwww! To PatMac's last sentence!!!!!!!

 

#77:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:01 pm

No wonder my hair is horrible as I 'meddle' with it every time I wash it. It would dry all over the place if I didn't comb or brush it whilst it was wet.

 

#78:  Author: Lulie, Location: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:18 pm

Ick, ick and yet more ick. Washing hair once a month! But worse is eggs on the hair and worse still is borax!!!!!! I'm surprised they had any hair or scalp left by the time they'd used that mixture for a lifetime.

*casts loving glances at the modern shampoo and conditioner*

Mind you, reading this as just reminded me of a girl that I was at school with. She'd heard the story that if you left your hair for six weeks without washing it then it cleaned itself, and decided to try it. She had it put into dreadlocks to avoid the 'chip-shop-head' look and said that it did seem to work. We left school about a week after the end of the six weeks, so I've no idea how it worked in the long term. Definitely not something I'd like to try, I have enough mank if I leave my hair for an extra day!

 

#79:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 2:55 pm

What is borax, anyone?

 

#80:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 4:27 pm

I'll leave it for the chemists/geologists to tell you where it comes from as I'm not sure but you can still buy it. It comes as a powder. It softens water and was used as a soap, though it doesn't lather. It also deodorises and a little borax in the water when cleaning the fridge gets rid of stale smells.

 

#81:  Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:24 pm

To go back to the skirt/trousers debate, I'm very firmly a trousers girl, to the extent that when I wore a skirt for school once, one of my friends didn't recognose me! Shocked I've been attempting to veer towards the skirt side of life, but it's the leg-shaving that puts me off; I invariably end up with blood all over the bathroom... Embarassed

As for washing your hair with eggs - GROSS!! How bad would that smell?!

Also with the hat thing, I have a lovely bright red bobble hat, that I bought when my hair was long and worn in a huge bun on the back of my head. When I had my hair cropped, I came to wear the hat, and dscovered it was strangely deformed - it had stretched to the extent that I realised I must have looked like I had two heads under there when my hair was long! Mmmm, attractive.

 

#82:  Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:51 pm

Beth wrote:
As for washing your hair with eggs - GROSS!! How bad would that smell?!


You wouldn't want the water to be too hot... Shocked

 

#83:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:54 pm

This reminds me of a section in one of Angela Brazil's books (The Luckiest Girl in the School), where the fifth formers are all at a quarantine camp for something (smallpox, methinks) and they try using salt as a tonic for their hair, which works fine until they can't get it out Very Happy

JackieJ

 

#84:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 4:43 am

Borax is sodium borate, Na2B4O7. (Sorry- tried 2 sets of code for subscripts and failed.) I still remember a laundry detergent jingle that began,
Quote:
O Fab,
We're glad,
There's borax in you....

We also used this powder in a recipe for making lab coats fire retardant (required in one of my chemistry classes -- said to work only for cotton lab coats, so the even more flammable synthetic type were forbidden). Likewise saucers of borax & boric acid were left around one of my grad school labs to kill roaches. The roach population remained fine and healthy however. Can't say about the fireproofing, as no one ever managed the explosions they did at the CS.

 

#85:  Author: patmac, Location: Yorkshire England PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:51 am

I knew Kathy would know the details. I do know it is a mineral mined in California among other places and quite big business.

I'd forgotten the fire retardent thing - we did that as well and also never got the chance to test it Wink

 

#86:  Author: Ciorstaidh, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 11:46 am

Apparenntly boric acid will also keep silverfish and other book-eating nasties away - just leave it in bowls on your shelf (but careful not to spill Shocked )

 

#87:  Author: Dreaming Marianne, Location: Devon PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 2:30 pm

Beth - when I was about 13 I washed my hair with eggs, then washed it out with hot water. Cue frantically combing half-scrambled eggs out at 11pm in a school night. Not recommended...

 

#88:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:58 pm

Hmmm, reminds me of the time I put Brylcream on my hair because someone told me it would make it really soft........
I don't know how many shampoos it took to get it all out.

 

#89:  Author: claire, Location: South Wales PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 6:09 pm

Least you never had the fun of washing flour out of your hair - Jo was right, it does seem to go like blamonge

 

#90:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 10:20 pm

I wouldn't advise putting icing sugar in your hair either. You end up with solid hair and sticky goop behind both ears.

Thanks Kathy - I don't think I'd be all that keen on putting fridge-cleaning cockroach poison on my head, even if it is fire-retardant!

 

#91:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 12:03 pm

Strangely, I've never had the slightest desire to put icing sugar on my hair, I'm just wondering what happened? I can't imagie that you did it deliberately.

 

#92:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:05 pm

Way back in the sixties, yes I know, so last century, we often used to set our hair with a very strong solution of sugar water instead of setting lotion.

 

#93:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:40 pm

Ellie wrote:
Strangely, I've never had the slightest desire to put icing sugar on my hair, I'm just wondering what happened? I can't imagie that you did it deliberately.


Actually I did... Embarassed It was for an OAP party. Everyone had to dress up as an OAP and I used the icing sugar to make my hair look grey (I have dark hair).

 

#94:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:51 pm

Why didn't you use talcum powder? It's easier to brush out.

 

#95:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:49 pm

The voice of experience Jennie? Actually I have put Talc on my hair, but in my case it was an attempt to clean it in a hurry, when I didn't have time to wash it, back in the days when I was a lot younger than I am now.

 

#96:  Author: MissPrint, Location: Edinburgh PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 12:08 am

My little brother put athlete's foot powder in his hair. It smelt terrible, but he was a very convincing Squire Trelawney. He said he meant to do it as it was finer than the other talc. I was just glad not to be near to him for most of the evening.

 

#97:  Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:34 pm

Ellie wrote:
The voice of experience Jennie? Actually I have put Talc on my hair, but in my case it was an attempt to clean it in a hurry, when I didn't have time to wash it, back in the days when I was a lot younger than I am now.


Shocked Does it work? My mind is busy boggling...

 

#98:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 6:58 pm

And does it ever come out again??! Judging by the determination with which it clings to the carpet... Rolling Eyes

 

#99:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 7:19 pm

We thought we might have to talc Ben's hair for this years Mikado (after all, you do not find many red-headed Japanese folks. However we found some water based make up sticks which we were able to do his beard and the edges of his hair with (we managed the rest by him wearing a black pop-sock over his hair and under his hat). Mind you, last year we had to use a spray hair colour to make him brunette for Pinafore, the things we do for our art. *sigh*

JackieJ

 

#100:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 05, 2004 10:21 pm

Beth wrote:
Ellie wrote:
The voice of experience Jennie? Actually I have put Talc on my hair, but in my case it was an attempt to clean it in a hurry, when I didn't have time to wash it, back in the days when I was a lot younger than I am now.


Shocked Does it work? My mind is busy boggling...



I also have to admit to doing this when I was at school, and hadn't had time to wash my hair. The talc absorbs the excess oil, and keeps you from looking like you've tipped a bottle of oil over your head. ( doesn't stand up to close examination though!!!)

 

#101:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:25 am

We used to do this a lot in the late 60's early 70's. Daily hair washing was not as popular as it is now and sometimes one needed clean hair when going out so a dose of talc was called for. There was a product on the market whose name I cannot remember but it was really just talc under another name. Took an awful lot of brushing to get it out at bed time.

 

#102:  Author: Pat, Location: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:34 am

Dry Shampoo wasn't it?

 

#103:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:02 pm

Yes I think so Pat - that certainly sets a few bells ringing.

 

#104:  Author: Nina, Location: Peterborough, UK PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:10 pm

I remember that! I used it a couple of times as a teenager, not really a good idea on thick curly and rather greasy hair Sad and you're right, it did take some brushing out. I have memories of standing in the back yard because I wasn't allowed to brush it out indoors, and it always made me look as if I had bad dandruff Embarassed

 

#105:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 3:35 pm

Yes, that's what it was, horrible stuff, really.

 

#106:  Author: Beth, Location: Durham, apparently... PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:45 pm

It's still on the market, my friends! In a green and yellow aerosol can...

(I work in a chemist shop...)

 

#107:  Author: Miriam, Location: Jerusalem, Israel PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 9:52 pm

And the sales figures..?

 

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