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The further adventures of two Chalet School Girls
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2900
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:17 pm ]
Post subject:  The further adventures of two Chalet School Girls
Thanks to Tan. If you know who the two young women are please do not spoil it for others by giving it away. It is set in the nineteen fifties and in my home town, but it is a work of fiction, based on EBD characters or figments of my imagination not people known to me, the places are however based on my experience of school in the fifties in the town concerned.

The journey.

A young woman sat drinking “coffee” on Kings Cross Station looking at her watch frequently. The coffee was not like any coffee she was used to on the stations on her previous journeys or like she had at school or even at home. She wished now she had chosen tea, but that was served from a large pot and the woman in front of her had asked for tea, but it looked very dark and unlike the tea she knew as well.

She kept looking at her watch, the time for the train was getting nearer and she was still alone. Suddenly there was a familiar figure coming in the door of the café and she quickly rose to her feet and gathered her belongings before joining her friend on the platform.

“Hello, I wondered where you were. I thought you would have been here before me.”

“The plane was later, not my aunts fault this time, but the weather over the Bay of Biscay. I spent the last week with my parents and aunt in the South of Spain, they are on leave this year and decided to spend some of it en-family.”

“The train’s due out in less than fifteen minutes, you were cutting it fine”

I know, all the time I was crossing London I was getting worried we would miss it. I know there is another one in an hour which would still get us there in time, but the seats are booked on this one and the next one does not serve lunch and we wanted to eat on the train.”

The announcement suddenly came over the tannoy that the train they needed was boarding and would leave in ten minutes. The two young women made their way to their reserved seats in the dinning car on the train. They needed to be in their college between 2 and 4 pm or as they were more used to expressing it between 1400-1600 hours. The journey would take about three hours this gave them good time to have lunch on the train and catch up on the gossip.

Used as they were to the continental trains and their meals they were surprised by the limited choices on offer from the British Railways staff. However they were able to make a choice and have a reasonable meal.

Two o’clock saw them leaving the station in search of a taxi to take them to their college. They followed the signs out of the station to the taxi rank. When they got to the Station forecourt they looked for the black cabs of London and could not see any. There was a short queue waiting for something and they asked an older woman standing next to case at the back of the queue and were surprised when she replied, “Its here, lov if you wait here a taxi will be along in a bit, there’s just me and the couple in front in the queue now so you wont have to wait long”.

The young women were not sure they understood all of what she had said, but understood enough to stand behind her in the queue. A few minutes later an ordinary looking salon car drew up, and the couple in the front got in after the driver had put their cases in the boot. They looked at it and saw a sign on the roof saying Taxi.

As they looked two more cars with roof signs saying Taxi drew up, the older woman got in the first, and the driver of the second came to take their cases in the boot of his car and to ask them were they wanted to go to.

They gave the driver the address they had been given, and he quickly left the station and headed to North side of the city. The passed several large black buildings, including one with four lions guarding the entrance. Behind it was a large more modern building with signs saying “Hospital quiet please.”

The taxi took them passed building sites and then the grey buildings of the University and then passed a large open green area, on side of the road and a fun fair on the other. They then passed large houses, a school set behind a high wall, before houses, churches and shops before turning off the main road into an obvious residential area. The taxi then passed through an impressive gateway and into an impressive drive, before drawing up at the door of the central building of a group set around a large lawn.
Author:  LizB [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oooooh this looks interesting :D

*has an idea who the girls might be*
*keeps quiet*
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pauline. I enjoyed that first installment.

I have an inkling as to who the girls might be...
Author:  janem [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have no idea, but enjoyed the first instalment.
Author:  Mona [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
Intruiging first installment Pauline, thank you!
Author:  Liane [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have an idea who one of them is.
Thanks Pauline
Author:  Pat [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
I know where they are, and what part of the city they've gone to as well!!!
Author:  Sal [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Intriguing I don't have clue who either of them are though! :lol:
Thanks Pauline
Author:  Clare [ Mon Jun 11, 2007 10:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
I know who they are!

*Ties gag around mouth*

Looking forward to more, and congratulations on posting your first drabble Pauline.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:44 am ]
Post subject: 
Am wildly curious and looking forward to more
Author:  Laura V [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:01 am ]
Post subject: 
I've no idea who they are :( but still enjoyed it! Thanks!
Author:  Lexi [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:07 am ]
Post subject: 
I think I know who they are. If I'm right then yay because I really like them!

Thanks Pauline :D
Author:  Liz K [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think I've guessed who one of the girls is, it's only a guess though.

YES! Thought it was Katharine Gordon, guessed when her parents and aunt were mentioned. It's not often I guess correctly.
Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Arrival at PE Training college.
I nearly committed a EBDism, but realised in time. I know gap years were uncommon in the fifities but felt it was the best solution to the dilema I had of the two young women leaving school at different times, but starting college together.


The arrival.

Kathy and Blossom, for that is who the two young women were, paid the driver, and took their cases from him, still catching up on their news as they had not seen each other since the New Year as Katherine had spent her gap year travelling with her parents on their year in Europe. Katherine and her parents had spent time in Switzerland skiing and meeting some of her school friends. Katherine’s parents would be returning to the Far East in the next couple of weeks. They had arranged to visit Katherine for weekend, just before they flew back, but were giving her time to settle in first.

Theyclimbed the short flight of steps and entered the building in front of them. They entered the large, high ceiling hall, with several tables around which people milled.

Katherine and Blossom looked around and spotted one labelled with name of Carnegie Hall behind which sat a woman with a list.

Blossom and Kate went to the table and gave their names to the person who was sat there with a list.
“I am Blossom Willoughby”
and
“I am Katherine Gordon”

The woman checked her list and said “Yes I have Miss Willoughby, but I have two Miss Kathleen Gordon’s and no Katherine. Will you give me your full name and address, I am Miss King by the way and I am one of the administration team for Carnegie”

I am Katherine Mary and I believe you have an address for Singapore and a bank address for a London Bank for my next of kin.

Miss. King said “Well then if you are one with the address in Singapore, you and Miss Willoughby are in Fountain Court at Carnegie. I must have words with that junior she will keep miss-typing my lists. If you take your cases out to the front and turn right you will find a sign for the Carnegie minibus which will take you to the Carnegie residences which are the other side of the playing fields and lecture rooms.” She checked her watch and said “In fact there is a minibus due in five minutes. It will drop you at Fountain Court and there are some second years there waiting to show you around. Miss Gordon you are in room 216 and Miss Willoughby, you are in 218. Here are your keys to the rooms; the rules are on the back of the room doors, please read them.”

Katherine and Blossom both said “Thank you Miss King” almost in unison as they took their keys.
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 1:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pauline. Looking forward to seeing how Katherine and Blossom settle in.
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:11 pm ]
Post subject: 
:lol: Poor Kat seems doomed always to find that there are other people with the same name as her!

Thanks Pauline.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
:lol: Poor Kat seems doomed always to find that there are other people with the same name as her!


Perhaps it's the same other person - the one who was supposed to have gone to the Chalet School but didn't.

Thanks, Pauline.
Author:  ibarhis [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:35 pm ]
Post subject: 
That was my thought as well.
Author:  Lottie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 2:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Yes! :D I had guessed the identities of the two girls, but I'm intrigued as to where this Carnegie is. :? Are you going to tell us, Pauline?

Poor Kat. :roll: There is nothing wrong with the name Kathleen, but it is very irritating to have it assigned to you when you are Katherine - it is much worse than just mis-spelling Katherine. :( Perhaps the other Miss Gordon really is a Kathleen, and not a Katherine at all.

Thanks, Pauline.
Author:  Karoline [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pauline :lol:

Lottie, Carnegie is now part of Leeds Metropolitan University
Author:  Fatima [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:38 pm ]
Post subject: 
It's going to be interesting to see how they get on!

Thanks Pauline.
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Very interesting. I wonder how Blossom will settle down to training for a job.
Author:  Tan [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 7:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see that you have started posting. I hope the plot bunny continues to be good to you!
Author:  Rob [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 10:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pauline!
Author:  Karry [ Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:54 pm ]
Post subject: 
I knew where carnegie was, but didnt realise if was now part of Leeds Met. One of my school fellows went there in the seventies - he was a wanna-be PE teacher; but he played Rugby!
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:07 am ]
Post subject: 
I'd guessed one of the girls was Katherine Gordon, hadn't really got round to thinking who the other might be, though. And I knew we were in Leeds, though less familiar with the location of Carnegie - thanks for that link, Karoline.

I'll be looking forward to more of this. Thanks, Pauline
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:52 pm ]
Post subject: 
Carnegie was a separate PE college until some time it the fifties when in linked and then joined with Beckets Park Teacher Training College.

It is set in Headingley in the North of Leeds, a large northern city in Yorkshire, with back-to-back housing and at the time a large council house rebuilding programme. Heavy and fine engineering, and ready made clothes were its main industries at the time, but it was city of many trades.

In the eighties Beckets Park and Leeds Poly joined and then became Leeds Met.

Carnegie included rugby amongst its subjects. More on that next week

Sorry that Miss King got Katherine's name wrong, she blames it on a junior typist, I blame it on a dyslexic typist myself. I will correst the post.
Author:  Elbee [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
PaulineS wrote:
Carnegie was a separate PE college until some time it the fifties when in linked and then joined with Beckets Park Teacher Training College.

It is set in Headingley in the North of Leeds. In the eighties Beckets Park and Leeds Poly joined and then became Leeds Met.


I did my Library degree at the Beckett Park/Carnegie site in the early 80s. This is bringing back so many memories - I can clearly picture the drive from the station through Leeds up to Beckett Park, and the large green "Acre" with the buildings set around it. I was in one of the original halls of residence overlooking the Acre. I can remember the Carnegie students in their dark blue tracksuits. I did my exams in the high ceilinged hall that Katherine and Blossom have just been into!

Thanks Pauline, I'm very much enjoying this :D
Author:  Katherine [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 6:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Becket Park is so pretty. I was at Leeds Uni but we used to go up to Becket Park to use their gym. Nearly broke my neck trampolining there just before my finals!
Thanks Pauline
Author:  Pat [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 9:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
I did my Library Degree at Beckett Park from 1986 - 1992, one day a week!!! It's beautiful there.
Author:  Elbee [ Thu Jun 14, 2007 10:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
Pat wrote:
I did my Library Degree at Beckett Park from 1986 - 1992, one day a week!!!


We just missed each other - I was there 1982-1985 on a full-time degree! :lol:
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:47 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for all the helpful comments.

“There will be tea and a welcome in the Main Carnegie Refectory at 4 o’clock” Miss King said as they picked up their cases.

Kathleen and Blossom made their way back out of the Hall to the sign for the minibus. There were other people waiting, many with bigger suitcases than they had. Years of travelling to school on their own had taught them to travel light and Matey had made sure they knew how to pack well.

The minibus arrived and a young man got out and asked who was waiting for Carnegie as the bus for the other college halls would be along in a few minutes. Katherine and Blossom, another girl and four young men said they were for Carnegie.
“OK put the cases in the back and get in we will be off in time for you to look around before for tea.”

Katherine and Blossom quickly put their cases in the back and then got in the bus. The others got in and the driver got in the driving seat. “Hi I’m Andrew and one of second years. I am the Rugby Union captain by the way.”

“I am John” said one of the men who had been waiting at stop, “and I play football, I have never played rugby, what will I get the chance to play here?”

Andrew said “All the men have to play rugby at least in the first year and to be able to referee, as well as football or hockey.”

Blossom said “I’m Blossom and this is Katherine, normally called Kat. What do the girls play? We have played hockey, lacrosse, and netball.”

“All of those and both sexes have to be able to referee cricket, rounders, and basketball.” said Andrew.

The other woman in the minibus said “I am Joan and this is my brother James we play hockey and James plays Rugby, but its league not union, we come from Bradford, where are the rest of you from?” Katherine and Blossom found it hard to understand all that Joan was saying as she had an accent they had not heard before.

One of the other men said “I’m Philip and I play league as well, I come from Hull, I had trials with Hull KR, and they have offered me a part-time contract to play in their second team. I decided to come here as I know I can keep up the rugby and there is a chance of a full time job at the end of the course.”

“I’m Simon and I come from Newcastle, I play football, never had the chance to play Rugby, either code.” The fourth man said.

Andrew said “Carnegie teaches both codes of Rugby, and makes sure you can referee and coach both codes. They spend time teaching us how to teach and referee, rather than play the games, except the ones you play for the college teams. You will all get the chance try for the teams next week, as we need to replace those who left on qualifying last term.

By this time the minibus had passed the lecture rooms and was running between large playing fields towards another group of buildings. Andrew pointed them out “Here are the gyms, swimming pool, and inner sports halls.

After they had passed to sports facilities they residential buildings came into view. There were four buildings of three storeys set close together with a single storey fifth building opposite.

Andrew pointed out that the single storey building was the refectory and three storey ones the residences. Fountains, Kirkstall, Whitby, and Byland, named after four of the Yorkshire Abbeys. The residences at the affiliated Teacher Training College which was where they had reported on arrival, were named after some of famous people from Victorian period.
Author:  ness [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:12 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pauline, this is really interesting
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'm afraid that I once managed to offend a fellow university interviewee, who kept drivelling on about how he played rugby for his Southern public school, by asking if it was "proper rugby or rugby union" :lol: .

Thanks Pauline - this is great.
Author:  Rob [ Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:37 pm ]
Post subject: 
What a diverse group!!

Thanks Pauline!
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:10 am ]
Post subject: 
Most of them seemed a bit Rugby mad!
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:23 am ]
Post subject: 
The rugby emphasis is because I was brought up within sound of Headingly Rugby League ground and walked past it several times a week. My father insisted "Leeds" was the Rugby League side and Leeds United which was and is South of the river was either known by its full name or United in the house.
Headingly is now home to both rugby codes as well as Yorkshire Cricket. The summer games and indoor sports will come in later posts.
I did watch some League games from the stands in my youth when you could enter the grounds for free during the twenty minutes or so.
Author:  leahbelle [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 4:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pauline. This is really interesting!
Author:  Jennie [ Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Tahnks, Pauline, but what happened to Rievaulx Abbey?
Author:  Dawn [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 1:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is great Pauline - which school were you at?

I was at Leeds Girls High School from 1966 to 78 and knew all the Headingley pubs rather well :oops: . Then I was at Thomas Danby for 3 years and a year at the Poly before finally escaping and then moving back again.
Author:  Miranda [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 3:42 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is very interesting Pauline! I think it's great that they are encouraging girls to learn basketball as well as netball.

There's a similar football v union v league division in Australia - except that the football we refer to is Australian Rules - and then you add soccer into that mix too!

Is there a geographical reason why some of these boys hadn't had the chance to play rugby? (ie. are some areas more keen on soccer to the extent that they wouldn't offer rugby at the schools?)
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
I was at Brudenell County Secondary from 1959-1963, then Thoresby Grammer Techical School, 1963 - 1966 when I went to Sheffield to train as a nurse.
Both my secondary schools came from a specialist type of school developed in Leeds to met the needs of the City. Thoresby for example was a scholarship school before the war,and trained young women as teachers in the early nineteen hundreds.

My younger sister went to Leeds Girls High from 1968-1975. (Dawn PM me if you think you may know her.)

In England fee paying schools tend to play Rugby Union, as do state schools in South Wales and some parts of the West of England, in Yorkshire and Lanceshire they play either rugby league or soccer. The rest of the country play mainly soccer. Historically it is a regional and class divide.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:04 pm ]
Post subject: 
I can't remember the exact details, but a major reason why football became more popular in some parts of Lancashire and rugby league in others, rather than being really into both (Oldham and Rochdale being the exceptions that prove the rule, although in recent years Wigan's been doing it too!) as is common in Yorkshire - was to do with cotton mills closing at dinner time on Saturdays (when football matches are usually played) whereas coal mines and glassworks and so on didn't.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Carnegie
(With grateful thanks to Linda for her information on the rooms quoted “ …”.
I was going to use my rooms in a Sheffield nurses home, but it was better equipped in the 1960’s than Linda’s room in a teacher training college in the eighties! I chose the Yorkshire Abbeys so they were not identical to Houses at the Grammer Tech. School I attended. All people and events are fictional, however I have used some actual places.)


Blossom, Katherine and Joan were dropped of at door of Fountains Court and made their way into the building. A group of second year students met them at the door and asked their names and room numbers, on hearing Kathleen and Blossom were in 216 and 218, one of the students introduced herself as Mary and asked them to come with her. As Joan was in 111, a second student introduced herself as Sue and she led Joan away.

Blossom and Katherine were taken to the second floor and shown the communal bathroom and toilet facilities for the floor. There were three toilets and baths between the twenty-five women on the floor. Mary then showed them to their rooms, which “were small with well used wooden furniture –“a diagonal wardrobe across one corner (very impractically shaped!) a type of dresser with shelves above and cupboards below, a desk and chair, an easy chair and a bed.” Their trunks and sports equipment bags which had been sent in advance were there waiting for them.

Mary suggested they freshened up and started unpacking in the hour they had before tea in the refectory. She suggested they came down at ten to four and the second years would take all the first years across.

Blossom and Kat with their years of practice at school found they were able to wash and freshen up before starting their unpacking. They came together at a quarter to four and looked out of Kat’s window at the view of the city suburbs spread out before them, with signs of new buildings down the hill from them. Blossom and Kat were to discover that a large Council Housing Estate was being built to replace the back to back houses nearer the city centre and the river which were to be demolished. New schools were being built, in fact there was one across the park from the College.

Blossom and Kat went to join the others downstairs and found that the second years had been joined by other first years like themselves. The first years being noticeable by their standing singly whilst the second years talked to each other tried to make conversation with the first years.

Just after ten to four as they were about to set off a large car drew up outside the door and a young woman was assisted out by a uniformed chauffer and entered the building. Mary when to met her and before she could ask her name the young woman said “I am Mary Katherine Gordon, I have been assigned room 211.”
Author:  Pat [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Great!!!
Author:  Elbee [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:32 pm ]
Post subject: 
I wonder if this is the other Katherine from the Wrong CS?

Thanks for the room descriptions Pauline :oops: :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
Elbee wrote:
I wonder if this is the other Katherine from the Wrong CS?

So do I!
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 9:44 pm ]
Post subject: 
Wondering exactly the same thing :lol: !
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 10:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
I loved that description of the rooms - put me in mind of the room I had in Hall my first year of Uni in Hull many moons ago. Although the furnishings weren't the same, it was certainly 'small with well-used wooden furniture!'

My mother, my aunt, and one of my mother-in-law's sisters all attended Thoresby around the 1912-20 period, I don't know the exact dates - in fact my mother and my mother-in-law's sister were in the same form! And my aunt *did* train as a teacher afterwards. though of course couldn't continue to teach after she married in 1926! Where is Brudenell, Pauline - or rather, which part of Leeds?

Joins the throng wondering about Mary Katherine Gordon - and I'm really enjoying this, Pauline.
Author:  francesn [ Mon Jun 18, 2007 11:41 pm ]
Post subject: 
*also wondering about Mary Katherine*

I love the reference to the Yorkshire Abbeys - I was at Byland Abbey on Saturday :lol:

Thank you Pauline
Author:  Karoline [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 11:51 am ]
Post subject: 
Loved the description of the rooms, they sound exactly like the ones I had in Halls at Leeds Uni in the 1980's :lol: Thanks Pauline
Author:  Ruth B [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Excellent! Hope Katherine is finally going to get to meet the other Katherine Gordon.
Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 2:22 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pauline. Looking forward to finding out if it is the Mary Katharine from Wrong.
Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Mary-Katherine
Blossom and Kat looked at each other and said “ I think we are going to met the owner of the second trunk at last”

As they realised that they had both had identical thoughts they started to laugh, although their training held good they did so quietly and turned away from the from the door. Joan spotting them came over to them and asked what had happened. Kat and Blossom started to explain when Kat had joined the Chalet School a second trunk had arrived with a similar name on the label, but the girl who owned had never turned up. They had been told she had joined her mother in the USA, as her mother was starring on Broadway. They were now wondering if the young woman who had just arrived was the same person.

In the meantime Mary was preparing to welcome Mary-Katherine but before she could speak, Mary-Katherine had turned to the chauffer and said “Bring the cases in and I am sure this young woman will show you where to take them.”

Mary gasped and then responded by saying “I am sorry, but no men are allowed past the front hall after we return for the start of term, you will have to take your cases upstairs yourself.”

“But I can not be expected to carry my own cases. That is Jones’s job.

“But Jones will not be here, after today, so you may as well start as you will have to continue.”

Another second year came forward at this point and said “It is time to go to the Refectory so I suggest we put the cases in the store room and go across or we will all be late. We can help you take the cases up after the welcome, and Mr Jones can get away.”

Mary said “Good idea if the rest of you take the other Freshers across Mary-Katherine and I will join you as soon as we have locked the cases in the storeroom.”
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the update Pauline!

*not sure if Mary-Katherine is going to fit in*
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:53 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh dear!

I wonder if she's still got her teddy bear :lol: .
Author:  Cath V-P [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:04 am ]
Post subject: 
This is very intriguing.... Mary Katherine hasn't started well has she?
Author:  Jennie [ Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
She'll learn, she'll have to.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
The Welcome

Linda and the other second years took the Freshers across to the refectory where tables ran down the room, with mismatched chairs, many with young men sat at them. (The male Halls had arrived first as food was on offer.)

There were several women at a servery set at one side pouring tea from large pots which included the milk already in the brew and trays with slices of cake set out. The different cakes included chocolate cake, parkin (a Yorkshire ginger cake) Madeira cake a fruit cake with butter, (a malt loaf) and a light fruit cake. The second years encouraged the Freshers to take a plate and help themselves to cake and to get a cup of tea and to find a seat, ready for the welcome talk by the Head of Carnegie. Several of the girls looked surprised at the type of cakes on offer, but those from Yorkshire helped themselves and encouraged the others to try the local cakes,

Kat and Blossom, used to a variety of cut and come again cakes at school asked what the different cakes are and took a slice of parkin as something different. When seated they were delighted to find in moist and spicy. They had sat at a table with Joan and Linda plus some spare seats, and were shortly joined by Mary and Mary –Katherine. Mary introduced the two Miss Gordons to each other. Mary-Katherine was surprised to find someone with a name as similar as her own, whilst Kat was more prepared after the conversation with Miss King and the overheard conversation at the entrance to Fountains Court.

Kat asked Mary-Katherine where she had good to school as she believed that they had both been due to start at the Chalet School the Island. Mary-Katherine replied that she remembered she had been going to start at a school in Wales the year her father had been killed in China. She had then gone to spend time with her mother in the USA, before returning England and school in North Yorkshire. On her own Mary-Katherine was a pleasant young woman.

Mary-Katherine said she was usually called Kath, and that her mother expected Jones to run round after her and she found it stifling. She had wanted to come to the College on public transport as she had travelled to school from her father’s family, but as her mother was now in England and she had been staying with her, she had to do as her mother said.

At this point the Head of Carnegie, Mr Isaacs stood up and called for attention. He welcomed them to the college and Leeds. “Your time here will be different your time as a pupil in schools as you will be returning as a student teacher. For some it will be to schools of the same kind you attended as pupils, but for many the schools will be very different reflecting the full range of LEA and Private Schools available in the area.”

“The next week will the mornings will be Freshers Fair and time to complete registration. The afternoons will be available for you to the use sports facilities and find your way around the local area. Next week you will start your theoretical and practical training and from week three you will spend a day a week in the school you will spend a day a week in the school you will do your teaching practise in next term. I suggest you explore the grounds now and complete your unpacking before dinner as the second years have planned activities for you all after the meal.”

Mary and Linda offered to take Kat, Blossom, Joan and Kath around the Sports Halls and indoor courts along with the other Freshers at the table. The young women decided to take Mary up on her offer and enjoyed their tour of the facilities.
Author:  Rob [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ah Kat and Kath ... that should make it less confusing!

Thanks Pauline!
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:46 pm ]
Post subject: 
The thought of all that cake's making me feel hungry :lol: !
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
Me too, Alison - particularly the thought of parkin, which I still go in search of any time I'm in Yorkshire!!

Mary-Katherine - Kath, certainly sounds like a reasonable young woman, despite that unfortunate first impression. I seem to remember her mother was an actress? Are you going to tell us which school she went to, apart from saying it was in North Yorkshire, Pauline? Clearly it was a boarding school too. Just curious.

I can see that once term starts, no-one will have a minute to call their own. But I'm really enjoying this.
Author:  Lottie [ Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:25 pm ]
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I've just caught up on this again. Thanks for the link, Karoline, and the other information, Pauline. I'm looking forward to finding out more about Kath - she does seem to have made a rather unfortunate first impression.

Thanks, Pauline. :D
Author:  Jennie [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:00 am ]
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Thanks, Pauline. Mind you, you can keep the parkin. Curd cheesecake for me, every time.
Author:  leahbelle [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:19 am ]
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Thanks, Pauline. I've never tried parkin, but it sounds yummy.
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:18 pm ]
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There are several North Yorkshire Boarding Schools, so no I am not naming it.

For those who know Leeds in the next post they will find Ainsleys and curd tarts and all the other speciality cakes, plus a friend will reappear.

Remember Kath's parents are a musical comedy star and a missionary doctor who died in capivity in China. You can image how she has had conflicting experiences so far.
Author:  Pat [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:58 pm ]
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Elder in Ontario wrote:
Where is Brudenell, Pauline - or rather, which part of Leeds?


I looked it up on the Park Lane College website, as I was pretty sure it was now part of my college. It's near Hyde Park and now does Adult Ed & community Ed. classes.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 8:22 pm ]
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Quote:
For those who know Leeds in the next post they will find Ainsleys and curd tarts and all the other speciality cakes, plus a friend will reappear.

Oh dear, more shades of my mis-spent youth are about to reappear, I see - though I *think* the particular branch of Ainsleys that I remember from that time has long gone. However, in more recent years the Harrogate branch was a great source of those curd tarts, gingerbread men, ginger buns etc. - even as recently as last December!

And thanks for answering my query about Brudenell, Pat - though I know some parts of Leeds well, I've never been familiar with that particular area.
Author:  Tan [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:25 pm ]
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I have just caught up with this. It's looking good Pauline.

It is great to see the other Mary-Katherine as well!
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:13 pm ]
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Elder in Ontario
Sorry not to explain Brudenell School before. It was in Burley in my youth, and then in South Headingley when they channged the boundaries. It was off Cardigan Road.

It was built as a Junior School on the ground floor and first floor girls, top floor boys at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It was demolished in the eighties.

In the fifties and sixties it was a mixed secondary school.
Author:  linda [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 12:43 am ]
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Wow, Pauline, A CS story set not only in my home town of Leeds, but in Headingley where I spent much of my childhood. My mum went to Brudenell School for the whole of her education (she was born in 1923). A large part of the area of Burley/Headingley belonged to the Lord Cardigan (of Crimean War fame) family and I believe Brudenell was one of their family names. I know the Carnegie/Becketts Park campus well.

Great story, can't wait to see how this develops. :D :D
Author:  Elbee [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 3:46 pm ]
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Thanks for the updates Pauline. You seem to have stirred up memories for quite a lot of people :D

I'd forgotten about Ainsleys so I look forward to drooling over the descriptions - I have memories of a sticky bun with lemon icing!
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 6:52 pm ]
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FreshersWeek
The following morning Kat and Blossom went down to breakfast, and found that the continental type breakfast of coffee and rolls they liked was not possible as cereals, toast, sausages and baked beans was on offer, with only tea or fruit juice on offer. Neither was used to having a cooked breakfast and decided cereal, toast and tea would be the best option.

The morning continued with form filling, and exploration of the clubs and activities they could join and attend in their spare time, though they wondered if they would have any.

On the Thursday morning they went with Kath, Joan and Linda into Headingley to sort out their bank accounts. They found that Headingley had a range of shops and a library and number of fish and chip cafes and shops, where they could get a reasonably priced lunch of haddock, chips, mushy peas, a slice of brown bread and butter with a cup of tea for a under ten shillings in a cafe and fish and chips to take away for less than half a crown. They decided to have lunch out and explore the area further. They also found out bus and tram times into the centre of Leeds for Saturday when they had arranged to meet a friend from School.

On the Saturday Kat and Blossom went to catch a tram to the centre of Leeds where they had arranged to meet Hilary Wilson who had started at the University of Leeds the previous year reading history. After a year in a Hall of residence Hilary now lived in a house in Hyde Park with some girls she had met at University. It was hoped that the three of them Kat, Blossom and Hilary would be able to share a house for their final year.

Kat and Blossom followed Hilary’s instructions to get off the tram at Lewis’s Store and Hilary met them having come into town by bus. They decided to explore the town first then have lunch in one of the department store cafes. After lunch they went to Kirkgate Market to buy things for a picnic, deciding to buy tomatoes and apples from one of the many fruit and vegetable stalls. They also went to a baker stall that Hilary recommended to purchase individual pork pies, rolls and a curd cheese tart, before going to find the a tram out to Roundhay Park

They found the park with its large lake a pleasant place to spend a sunny autumn afternoon. The park was filled with families some of whom had taken a boat out on the lake. The three decided to go on the lake in a rowing boat, and then walk around the park including the Canal Gardens, with its formal layout and glasshouses. They decided return to the main area of the park to eat their picnic.

The three found that they had plenty to talk about, both what had happened since they had last met, mutual friends, Hilary’s course and Kat and Blossom’s experience of freshers. Hilary told them of her experiences of Freshers at the University the previous year, and how she had joined so many societies she had only been able to attend half of them and by the Reading Week in the middle of term had realised she only wanted to belong to two of them and probably only had time for one.

Hilary offered to take them to the church she attended on the following day and introduce them to her friends.

(Edited to prevent an EBD's after a phone conversation with my aunt. My father was at Brudenell school in the 1930, leaving in ?1938.) Does any one have details of secondary school uniform in the 1950's :?: :) Re-edited as I had mixes up Joan and Linda, hoping to sort out the reminder of posts where I have got them mixed up.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jun 24, 2007 10:54 pm ]
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Nice to see Hilary. I didn't go to Leeds Uni, but my sister did and I went there to see her a few times, so some of these places sound familiar :D .
Author:  Gill E [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:34 pm ]
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Thanks for this Pauline. I love the thought of Kat and Blossom being Carnegie students, as I also did my library degree at Beckett Park (between 1989-1992, so maybe we met Pat?). Your descriptions of Beckett Park, Headingley and Leeds are bringing back all sorts of memories. I remember that furniture from when I was in Cavendish Hall! And how appropriate to send some Chalet girls to Leeds, since EBD herself did her teacher training in Leeds, although not at Beckett Park itself I believe.
Author:  Jennie [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:49 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline. This is fascinating.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Jun 25, 2007 4:56 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline :) .
Author:  linda [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 10:01 pm ]
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Love this, Pauline. You are really bringing to life the Leeds of my childhood. Lewis's, Kirkgate Market and of course Roundhay Park. Lewis's has gone now, although the building is still there, but the Market and Park are still there, no boats on the lake now, though!!

Can't wait for this to develop :D :D
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:46 pm ]
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I'm also enjoying being 'taken back' Pauline - I was thinking, when you spoke of the the girls having lunch in one of the department store restaurants, that in the 1950s there would still have been about 4 different ones to choose from - am I correct in thinking that they are now all gone? I knew Marshalls and Matthias Robinsons were long gone, and I vaguely knew that Lewis's had gone more recently - but is Schofields' also gone now as well?

Thank you - I'm looking forward to more of this.
Author:  Dawn [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:56 am ]
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linda wrote:
Lewis's has gone now, although the building is still there



It had scaffolding all round it when I went past yesterday, so I don't know what they're going to do with it :?
Author:  PaulineS [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:14 pm ]
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Scoffield moved to where Woolworths was on Brigate over ten if not twenty years ago and was then taken over by House of Fraser, and it is still in that position. Lewis's went under with the others Lewis stores. Auldi took it over, but the company later went bankrupt.

One of the stores became Debenhams and is still there, the other was knocked down and became the Bond Street Centre.

The First Week of Term.
Hilary offered to take them to the church she attended on the following day and introduce them to her friends. Kat and Blossom decided to go to a local church for Matins in the morning and to go with Hilary to an evening service.

The following day they went to a local Anglican church and found a wide age range and a warm welcome from the congregation, but the service was very formal and the music lead by a robed choir who did most of the singing with little congregational participation.

That evening they joined Hilary at the church she attended and found the service very different from the one they had attended that morning. The congregation was younger and the music involved them more rather than the choir taking the major role. After the service they went back to the house Hilary was living in to meet her friends and for light supper. They enjoyed coffee sandwiches and friendship and arranged to meet again the following weekend.

The following morning Kat and Blossom started lectures, and found that they would be expected to write essays for the different lecturers to be handed in at differing times through the term. The topics covered varied from theories of education to psychology and anatomy and physiology. They would also be covering lesson planning and maintaining safety.

In the afternoon they were divided into smaller groups, Linda and Kath were also in their group, which had to change into shorts and aertex shirts and go to the gymnasium. There they had to give a demonstration of their skills and to demonstrate a move and to teach it to another member of the group who they did not know. They quickly found Kath had very good gymnastic skills and could give clear directions to the person she was teaching it to.

The next afternoon found them on the sports fields playing hockey against one of the other groups. Wednesday afternoon saw them having a choice of which team to try out for. Kat decided to try for the lacrosse team and Blossom for the hockey team along with Linda. Kath decided to try for the gymnastics team and the diving team which was trying out on the following week.

On the Thursday afternoon their group was directed to the indoor courts were they spent time on badminton and tennis. This time it was Kat and Blossom who demonstrated a high level of skill. At the end of the session the lecturer asked them which County they had represented whilst at School. Kat and Blossom replied that as they had been at school in Switzerland they had not qualified to play for any English County. The lecturer then asked if they would be interested in trying out for the Yorkshire team as well as entering the trials for the college team the following week. The college team consisted several county players from around the country as they had places on county teams before they had started at college.
Author:  Chair [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:13 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline. I have just read this from the 1st post to today's update and I'm really enjoying it so far. I'm glad that Katherine and Blossom seem to be settling in and have met up with Hilary. It was great to see Kat and Kath meet after all these years!
Author:  Alison H [ Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:08 pm ]
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The mention of Aertex shirts brings back horrible memories of school P.E. lessons ... :lol: :lol:

Good to see Kat and Blossom're obviously well up to standard - they can't've got much chance to play competitively at the CS so it'd be great if they could get in a county side.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 12:00 am ]
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Oh good, I'm glad to see the Yorkshire tennis authorities didn't insist that those who played for the county had to be born there, as the cricket club did for so long - I think that has changed now, though, hasn't it? And yes, it will be very good for Katherine and Blossom to be able to play at county level - I wonder if Katherine ever will make it to Wimbledon?

Thanks for the run down on the demise of the various department stores, Pauline - am I correct in thinking that Debenhams is where Marshalls' used to be? Or did that area become part of the Bond Centre?
Author:  leahbelle [ Thu Jun 28, 2007 1:45 pm ]
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I also remember the horror that was my aertex shirt!
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sorry but only a short update today. There will another post next weekend at the earliest as I am away and return in time for a wedding.


The developing term.
Kat and Blossom continued to settle in college and participate the sporting and other activates. Kath was chosen for the college gymnastic team and Joan found herself chosen for the hockey team. Kat and Blossom were awarded places in the second team and reserves on the first teams for their respective winter sports.

The tennis teams were not chosen until the summer term, but a group of first years was chosen to start winter training with the previous year’s team and Kat and Blossom along side two first year men, Peter and Philip who had played for the Yorkshire junior team were sent to Wakefield for trials for the county tennis team. They were all successful at the trials and started training once a week with the team, which trained at different sites around West Yorkshire on a Saturday during the winter.

At the end of their second week they were allocated to the different schools they were to visit once a week for the rest of term.

Kat found she was allocated to an inner city secondary school near the river, Blossom to city centre Grammar School, Joan was allocated to a Girls High School and Kath to a grammar school in the leafy suburbs.
Author:  Dawn [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:37 pm ]
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Really enjoying this - looking foward to the different schools too
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 6:49 pm ]
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Also looking forward to hearing how they go on at the different schools.
Author:  MaryR [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 7:45 pm ]
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Have just read all the story so far, Pauline, and am so reminded of my own teacher training in the sixties, with that inevitable well-used room! :lol:

Thank you.
Author:  Chair [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:15 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline. I hope you have a good time away. It sounds like Kat and Blossom are doing really well.
Author:  linda [ Sun Jul 01, 2007 9:27 pm ]
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Really enjoying this, Pauline. Looking forward to seeing how the girls get on at their very different schools.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Tue Jul 03, 2007 1:24 am ]
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It will be interesting to see how their experiences compare.
Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:17 pm ]
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A short update today, more will follow soon.

On the Saturday the four young women decided to find out how to get to the different schools.
They found that Kat could walk downhill on a footpath, past some allotments and prefabs, then under Headingly railway station and past some old houses to the Star and Garter public house which was at the junction of the road which the school was on, and the terminus of the tram which went to the school. The walk in the morning would e attractive on a dry day; however the walk did not seem as attractive on wet days or at the end of the day. The school itself was a surprise, it was a large brick building surrounded by concrete play grounds, with no green areas in sight. Opposite the school was a power station pumping out smoke. The women wondered where the girls played hockey which Kat had been informed was one of the sports she would be expected to teach.

They then took a tram into the city centre and went to find the school Blossom was being sent to. They found that the school had even less space for sports than the secondary school near the river. As the school was near Lewis’s they decided to go there for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake before finding the other schools.
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Jul 10, 2007 9:42 pm ]
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I've an idea I've been in that pub :lol: .
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:38 pm ]
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Love that they stopped for a cup of tea and a toasted teacake - it seems to realistic!

Thanks Pauline
Author:  linda [ Tue Jul 10, 2007 11:21 pm ]
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That pub is still there - but now it is part of a retail park and houses a fitted kitchen and bathroom retailer. :roll: :roll:

Enjoying this and glad to see that Kat and Blossom are finding their way about the city.

Thank you Pauline
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Jul 11, 2007 10:39 am ]
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Sounds like Kat and Blossom's schools will be very different to the CS. thanks, Pauline.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:06 pm ]
Post subject: 
Another short update. They will tell us about the schools in the next drabble all being well. If I do not throw the computer out for playing up first!

In Lewis’s they looked at the directions they had been given to the other schools and Kat realised they had passed one of them in taxi and several times in the tram on their journeys to meet Hilary. The other school was further out of town on the same tram route.

They decided to catch a tram from outside the store and by travelling on the top deck look at the first school on their way to the second one.

Joan's school was the first one ad was surrounded by a high wall. It seemed to have large grounds but it was difficult to see even from the top deck. Kath’s school proved to be situated in leafy suburbs with large playing fields attached as was a Boys grammar school.

Joan on seeing the boys’ school name realised it was the school her twin brother James had been assigned to.

The girls then caught a tram returning to Headingley in time to return to college ad have a swim before their evening meal.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
OH dear, I've been having a wonderful time trying to place all these schools, especially since my knowledge of Leeds is rusty, to say the least - on the other hand, it's probably from around the period when this drabble is set. But I'm thinking that the school in the central area might be Thoresby, while Linda's school and her brother's might be Lawnswood Girls and Lawnswood Boys' Grammar, especially as they are on the tram route from Headingley into town. Or am I wildly out, there?

Thanks, Pauline, I am really enjoying this.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:24 pm ]
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You are correct. The secondary school will be a mix of Kirkstall and Brudenell. The High School is based on the site of Leeds Girls High.
Author:  MaryR [ Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:26 pm ]
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I don't know anything about Leeds, bit I do know plenty about the terror before the start of teaching practice. :lol:

Thanks, Pauline.
Author:  Pat [ Thu Jul 12, 2007 9:41 pm ]
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My husband went to Lawnswood - first years wore a striped blazer!!!! though I think he said it's name was Leeds Boys High School
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Jul 13, 2007 10:19 am ]
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Thanks Pat. I knew the boys' school was not Lawnswood, but could only remember the Leeds Nodern Boys School which was the one paired with Thoresby last night.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Fri Jul 13, 2007 12:11 pm ]
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Oh this is fascinating and so realistic... I remember that apprehension before starting teaching practice. And it's years since I had a toasted teacake, alas.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:00 pm ]
Post subject: 
For those who were confused by Linda and Joan, they had changed places. I have now sorted them out and edited the posts which were incorrect, Joan and James are first years from Bradford and are twins, Linda is a second year with Mary, who helped them settle in.

First day in Schools

The following week the students spent Wednesday evening preparing for their first day in school. They would not be expected to teach, but to observe experienced teachers take classes and to assist if they were required.

On Thursday morning they all felt nervous as they dresses in skirts, blouses for the women, dark trousers and white shirts for the men, Carnegie blazers for both sexes covered by navy coats with the Carnegie crest and set off for the schools. They had been told to report to the schools’ reception at 8.30 am and expect to be introduced to the games teacher prior to assembly. They had been given a list of sports played by the school and instructed to take appropriate footwear, their gym skirts for the women, (shorts for the men,) and tracksuits so they could watch sports in a variety of situations and also told to expect to watch a class in their second subject. For Kat and Blossom this was French and for Kath English, and Joan and James maths.

By the end of the day the students were glad to return to the college and exchange experiences over a cup of tea in refectory.

Kat started “It was so different from anything I had met before. We started with a gym class which was held in the hall were we had just has assembly, they had couple of box jumps stored under the platform, which the girls got out and some landing mats and they spent the session trying to jump over them. Half the girls had not brought their gym kit and sat at the side making comments. The next period another set of girls were outside for netball and boys used the Hall. More of the girls had their equipment, and I took charge of a game whilst the games teacher, Miss. Phipps took the rest of the girls to practise passing and shooting, which they normally do on their own. The girls had to change in small cloakrooms and there was nowhere for them to freshen up before they went into the next class.”

Blossom said “It sounds like my experience, but we do have a separate gym. Only the play ground did not have room for netball, so that was played in the gym. Did you sit in on a French lesson, I did. It was with the fourth years, they spoke very slowly and had problems understanding if the teacher spoke quicky. This afternoon we had swimming, it was at a local municipal swimming pool across the road. I was surprised how many girls had notes excusing them from swimming. Some of those swimming were very good, but others had no idea. It was interesting to see the teacher trying to show them from the side of the pool.”

Joan “But how else would you do it?”

Blossom “We learnt in the sea in Wales and in a lake in Switzerland, so the a number of staff were in the water with us. The prefects helped and we did one to one with the ones who had no experience.

Joan “The facilities are good at the High School. They have a gym, their own pool and large playing fields. I saw some swimming lessons with the juniors in the morning. The teacher was trying to get them to be confident in the water, some seemed very scared, wanting to hang on to the side and could not take their feet off the bottom, and others were able to swim already and wanted to show what they could do. This afternoon I was with the sixth formers playing hockey and finishing team trials.”

Kath “The school I was at had good facilities as well. This morning the classes were all in the gym, and this afternoon it was hockey practice. The funniest thing though was the boys school next door also had sports this afternoon and the teachers made sure the pitches used were as far apart as possible. What happens to your schools, Kat and Blossom when they want to play hockey?”

Blossom “They go by bus to some playing fields at some where called the Ridge.”

Kat “Our girls go by tram to near Kirkstall Abbey. The boys go on different days to some fields near by. They keep them separate for sport, but they teach other subjects together. The girls have separate domestic science and sewing classes and the boys have woodwork and mental work, but that’s all. I did not see a French class today as only the top stream do it, but I am down to see one first period next week.”

“Well” said Blossom, “it is certainly different, it will be interesting to see how it develops.”

“And we have tennis training tomorrow evening and on Saturday morning, so I think I need an early night. We have feedback on today first session tomorrow, so we will find out how the men got on then.”

Joan “I spoke to James and he said it was interesting and very different to the school he had been to.”


Author:  MaryR [ Mon Jul 16, 2007 10:10 pm ]
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Well, the girls certainly seem to be having their eyes opened about what went on in school PE lessons. Ah, I remember them well. Those notes.... :lol:

Thanks, Pauline
Author:  Cath V-P [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 12:51 am ]
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Well they're certainly finding out about other schools' facilities. Loved the comment about making sure the boys' and girls' games were as far apart as possible! :lol:

Travelling to play hockey....ah yes - we had a 15 minute walk. In micro skirts when it was freezing.....

Thank you Pauline
Author:  Karoline [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 11:24 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pauline, the boy's school might not be Lawnswood but the segregation of the sexes sounds a lot like my Dad's stories from when he was a pupil there. :lol: Apparently there was an invisible line down the middle of the play ground girls where one side boys the other and woe betitide anyone who was seen approaching it nevermind crossing it :roll:
Author:  Elbee [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 2:08 pm ]
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Thanks Pauline, I hope they enjoy their teacher training.
Author:  JustJen [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 4:54 pm ]
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Hey Pauline, I just got caught up on this story. The teacher training sounds very interesting.
Author:  leahbelle [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:00 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline. I hope they enjoy being at the schools.
Author:  Rob [ Tue Jul 17, 2007 7:51 pm ]
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Thanks Pauline. Interesting to hear about the different schools - can't wait to see how they actually get on! :D
Author:  PaulineS [ Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
Sorry for the delay, marking, holiday, MPhil dissertation and a computer playing up- it would not type N or B until the techician repaired it for me. Hope to to be so long next time. Only marking and dissertation until the end of August.

Tennis again
The first session was spent discussing the different provision of gyms and sports fields at the schools they had been assigned to. Some of the students had been to schools with similar provision to those Kat and Blossom had experienced the previous day, whilst others had been at schools with good provision. Other than Kat and Blossom they had all been at school in England and most had visited schools with widely differing facilities so were not surprised at what they had seen.

Later in the day PT students had periods at the main college reviewing teaching their subsidiary subjects with the City College students. Most of the sports students and all of the City college students had seen their subsidiary subject taught and they had all spoken to the teacher taking the subject with whom they would be working. The planning they had seen teacher had to perform prior to sessions had surprised the PT students. For most the teaching had an emphasis on preparation for exams and had been quite detailed. The differences between secondary schools and grammar schools were demonstrated in ways that did not occur in games and gym.

In the afternoon Kat and Blossom were in the pool, looking at ways of teaching none swimmers to have confidence in the water. They both found it different from their experiences at the Chalet School and from their observation on the previous day.

That evening they both had to report to the indoor courts for tennis coaching and found that they were expected to play mixed doubles as well singles against the coaches, many of whom were male. They found that they could cope with the mixed doubles as they had played so many women’s doubles at school. They had also both played with their parents so had become used to playing against the harder serve of the men although they could not keep up the rallies the younger men used to score points.

The following morning they had to return to the courts for the Yorkshire team coaching. This was another step up in standard as the experienced players, including some of the seniors team (the over 35 years) were there and the standard and stamina needed was intensified.

The coaches expected them to be able to play without a break for three sets, then have a short break and start again. Kat and Blossom realised that their mountain walks and wide range of sport had given them a level of fitness they would need to keep up and build on through the winter, especially when at the close of the session they were told they had done well on the opening session of the year, but not to expect such an easy time in the future.
Author:  Fatima [ Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:35 pm ]
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It sounds fiendishly tough for them, but they seem to be keeping their ends up. Thanks Pauline.
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:58 pm ]
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Nice to see more of this.
Author:  Cath V-P [ Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:01 am ]
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The differences between the schools and their resources must have been astounding for them. Glad they're getting to grips with their course.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Aug 06, 2007 4:08 pm ]
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It sounds like a physically tough course for them - I know I'd never cope!
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:43 am ]
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The following weekend.

The next week was very busy, with another visit to the schools and more tennis practice. Kat and Blossom decided they needed to keep their fitness at a high level and although they played sport most afternoons, as they were learning how to coach and referee they had to keep stopping and starting which meant they were not working as hard as when they played a full game. Several of the other students, felt the same and had joined the second years in running around the campus after classes so Kat, Blossom, Mary, Joan, James and his friend Philip decided to join them.

Friday evening saw another tennis coaching session when they were randomly allocated to into teams of two men and two women playing with both men and the another woman in turns against another team and then all played a singles match against someone they had not previously been matched against. All the time the coaches were calling out instructions on how to improve their strokes.

After the coaching session Kat and Blossom were picked up by Kat’s parents and taken out for a meal. The following day Kat and Blossom and the men in the Yorkshire squad made their way to a tennis club in Roundhay with indoor courts for more training, before meeting Kat’s parents and Hilary for the rest of the day. They decided to take Mr. and Mrs. Gordon to see the Canal Gardens and then have lunch at the restaurant in the main park.

The following day they decided to join Hilary and take Mr. and Mrs Gordon to the church Hilary usually attended, for the morning service as they were leaving that afternoon as they were flying out to India the following day to take up posts at a Mission hospital. Kat, Blossom and Hilary took Mr. and Mrs Gordon to Hilary’s house for lunch before taking them to the Station to catch a train to London. The Gordon’s had arranged during the weekend that Kat would take over the running of their car so that they did not have to leave it in store or for someone to sell it and buy a new one on their return in three years time.

The use of the car would make Kat’s travel to and from placements easier and certainly help with her and Blossom’s travel to tennis training and later to matches. It would also help Kat at Christmas when she hoped to see several friends from school who were now scattered around the country.
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 11:47 am ]
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Hope we get to see the friends she catches up with during the holidays!

Thanks Pauline :D .
Author:  leahbelle [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 4:36 pm ]
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*echoes Alison*

That's fantastic that Kat will have the use of the car.
Author:  MaryR [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 5:22 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline - a gruelling time all round. :lol:
Author:  linda [ Sat Aug 18, 2007 10:08 pm ]
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So glad Kat will have the use of the car.

Thanks Pauline
Author:  Fatima [ Sun Aug 19, 2007 5:52 am ]
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I'm glad they're enjoying themselves. And it'll make their life a lot easier, having the car.

Thanks Pauline.
Author:  Elbee [ Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:45 pm ]
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A car will be very useful.

Thanks Pauline.
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 2:37 pm ]
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I have spoken to a friend who plays tenis and know the scene in the fifies so will be able to continue the story but will need to edit some earlier posts,

Kat and Blossom continued to work and play hard. As the evenings started to draw in they found running around the grounds became less appealing and they started swimming or play badminton instead and found the alternatives improved different aspects of their tennis, as their balance and coordination improved. In addition they found they had practice matches for their winter sports and needed to travel with the teams to matches on Wednesday afternoons.
Half term came and here the use of a car proved invaluable as they travelled to Ilkey and climbed up the moor and stood on the Cow and Calf rocks with the view over Wharfdale and on towards York, in the distance in front and with heather covered moor behind and the river in the valley below. They came down into the town to have afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and cream cakes at Bettys.
Blossom expressed her surprise at the range of cakes on offer and they decided to take a ginger cake back with them to have with their evening drink.
Another day they went to York and visited the Minister, where the large Rose window in the West end glowed in the afternoon sun. The War memorial chapel with its lists of men and women killed in the service of the country also impressed them with its records of nurses and the women services given equal importance with the men. They left the Minister and wondered through the narrow streets seeing many medieval churches, as they walked through streets with names such as The Shambles, Bothamgate, Micklegate and Pavement. They again had their tea in a cafe, this time at Terrys, where they had toasted tea cakes before their cream cakes.
On the Saturday they had a Yorkshire tennis coaching session and they found that they could keep the pace set and that they could now play mixed doubles with best men and play a relevant part in winning the game.
The second half of term saw the pressure of work increase as they were expected to plan the lessons they were to give on their first teaching practice during the second term. They had to demonstrate a session to their peers and analyse their own and others sessions. The sport sessions were interesting as they compared different ways of teaching the same topics, especially swimming as they had all had different experiences of being taught. Kat and Blossom in particular found it hard to teach from the side of the pool, and although they could teach technique to swimmers they had problems with none swimmers. They were used to being in the water with the non-swimmers and supporting them whilst they learnt to float. They tried different ways of using the swimmers to assist them and found that using the lifesaving group helped the swimmers to learn to tow and the learners to be more relaxed and learn to trust the water to support them.
The hockey and netball coaching was simpler although they found the need to have a plan written out in advance more difficult than they expected. Planning out their objectives for a game and identifying how they would feed back good and bad points to pupils at the end of the game kept them busy on their plans. The need to know all the rules and interpret them in a match also proved challenging.
The subsidiary subjects provided more problems as they had such a differing range of skills in the classes they were to teach and some had examination topics to cover which limited their freedom to try new ideas in the schools. Blossom used to being taught in French found the more English centred approach particularly hard, and planned some sessions in conversational French throughout the class.

Christmas was fast approaching and they started to make plans for the holiday. Blossom was going to Guernsey to her parents and Kat was to join her for the New Year. She was to spend Christmas with Hilary in the Home Counties and they hoped to meet up with some of their school fellows in London during the break.
The middle of December saw them packing the car and preparing to travel south for the vacation. Kat was giving Blossom a lift to Oxford where they were all to stay the night with Eleanor Pannel. The following day Blossom would get a train to Weymouth and the ferry to Guernsey whilst Kat and Hillary would continue their journey towards London.
Author:  Lottie [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:02 pm ]
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Good to see this back again! Thanks, Pauline! :D
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 3:20 pm ]
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I'm delighted to see this back, and look forward to more...!

Thanks, Pauline :D :D
Author:  MaryR [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:29 pm ]
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An action-packed half term holiday and action-packed teaching and planning sessions.

You're giving me nightmares, Pauline, :shock: reminding me of my own terrifying TP days, even if they were in the classroom and not in pool and playing field. :lol:
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 4:50 pm ]
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Nice to see this back :D .
Author:  Elbee [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:06 pm ]
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Lovely to see more of this.

Thanks, Pauline
Author:  ibarhis [ Fri Dec 07, 2007 7:21 pm ]
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So glad to see this back... I really enjoy seeing Blossom and Kat dealing with life beyond CS.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 8:11 am ]
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Lovely to see more of this
Author:  BethC [ Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:55 pm ]
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Good to see this again - thank you, Pauline!
Author:  linda [ Sun Dec 09, 2007 12:22 am ]
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Lovely to see this back - and even better to have Kat and Blossom visiting to places which I love, particularly the Cow and Calf on Ilkley Moor - and Betty's. :D :D

Thank you Pauline
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:47 pm ]
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Sorry it took so long.

They arrived in Oxford mid-afternoon and met Eleanor for tea at the hotel they were staying at, before they went to Evensong at Christ College Chapel. Christ College Chapel was one of the smallest cathedrals in England as well as being a College chapel.

That evening they had dinner at the hotel and caught up on Eleanor’s news of her study at Oxford, and the others she knew who were studying in the south of England. Kat and Blossom told of the meeting with the other Mary Katherine Gordon and that she was also studying at Carnegie.

Blossom had them in fits of laughter as she described the problems of girls coming to lessons with notes asking to be excused from games, the reasons including they had been to the dentist the previous week, they had ear ache, they had to go out straight from school and so should not get their hair wet swimming.

The following day they went Matins at one of the other college chapels before joining a group of nuns for lunch. The nuns ran a house in Oxford to which at which students could stay and also had an open house for female students on a Sunday where they could share problems or just relax away from their colleges. Eleanor had found them during her first term and visited them most weekends and found that they had helped her adjust to Oxford. Blossom, Kat and Hilary found that the nuns had a wide range of experience both before joining the order and since.

Kat was interested to discover that one of the nuns had spent time in India before the war and knew of the work her parents had been doing in South East Asia and was keen to learn what they were doing now. At the end of the afternoon they joined the nuns for vespers which the nuns sang using plainchant. Eleanor has spent many weekend afternoons with the nuns and could sing the office with the nuns. The others were interested to learn that there were Anglican nuns in Yorkshire with a large convent in Whitby and decided to try and visit their guest house during the summer term.

On the Monday they went their separate ways and that evening Hilary and Kat arrived at Hilary’s home and spent the evening sharing stories of the past term and their journey back with Hilary’s parents.
Author:  roversgirl [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:16 pm ]
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Thanks for the update - I liked both Kat and Blossom and am pleased to read about their post-CS life :)
Author:  Alison H [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:29 pm ]
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Thanks for the update :D .
Author:  abbeybufo [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:36 pm ]
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So glad you've updated this - I hadn't discovered it before but have now read from the beginning. Whilst I'm a 'dyed-in-the-wool Southerner', I have spent many happy times in Yorkshire, and recognise at least some of the places you mention - and all of the cakes :oops: - what does that say about me (that I eat too much, that's what).
My mother's Teacher training college [Avery Hill] was evacuated to Huddersfield during the War, so there are echoes here of what she told me about that too.
Thanks Pauline
Author:  Elbee [ Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:16 pm ]
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I'm pleased you haven't forgotten this! Thanks Pauline.
Author:  Karoline [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:37 am ]
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Good to see this back, thanks Pauline
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:30 pm ]
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Shopping and old friends.

Two days later Hilary and Kat went into Central London to complete their Christmas shopping in Oxford Street. They decided to find presents for Hilary’s parents and for Kat to take to Guernsey after Christmas. They were able to find wallets for Mr Wilson and Mr Willoughby for Kat to give them and gloves for their wives. Hilary found a twin set for her mother and pair of driving gloves and a scarf for her father. She was also able to find a book to send to the Willoughby’s with Kat on the Welsh Borderland where they had spent much time during the war.
After their shopping the decided to have lunch in the store restaurant where they were fortunate to be shown to table quickly as the restaurant was busy. They had just started to choose their meal, when the waitress asked if a young lady of about their own age could join them. They agreed and looked at the young lady with interest as she looked familiar. The young lady also looked as if she recognised them, and started to speak,
“Excuse me but did you go to the Chalet School in Wales?”

Kat was the first to recover her breath and replied
“Yes, for a couple of years whilst it was on the Island, and then we went to the Swiss branches. Did you go to the Welsh branch and stay there?”

“Yes, my name is Jennifer Penrose and I stayed at the Welsh branch until I went to college last year. You are?”
Hilary by this time had recognise Jennifer and introduced herself and Kat,

“I am Hilary Wilson and this is Katherine Gordon, commonly known as Kat.”

“You played tennis with Blossom Willoughby, we heard that you continued to play together at school and continued to win matches in Switzerland. Did you play as well Hilary? I played cricket and hockey for the school in my last year and we did well.”

Kat replied “Yes Blossom and I played together throughout our time at school and are playing together now at college. We are at Carnegie Physical Education in Leeds and we hope to play in the Yorkshire team as well in the summer, we have been practicing with the team over the winter. Hilary is at Leeds University studying History so we continue see each other during term.”

Jennifer “I am at college in London studying journalism, with some freelance work for my local paper. I write restaurant reviews and review women’s sporting events such as tennis and cricket matches.”
Author:  roversgirl [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:33 pm ]
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Another update! Thanks :) Nice to see Jennnifer Penrose was able to be successful later on.
Author:  MaryR [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 7:46 pm ]
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Just caught up with both posts, Pauline. Loved the interval of peace with the nuns, and I'm sure Hilary and Kat will get on well with Jennifer.

Thank you.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:36 pm ]
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Nice to see Jennifer Penrose again and that she had the chance to reform
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 8:58 pm ]
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Hadn't thought about the way those who went to Switzerland and those who stayed behind would become virtually strangers after a bit - and later in the series, once they reached the appropriate age at the end of 'junior' school, i.e.younger than these had been when the school split, the girls who went to the two branches would become completely separate, I suppose. Hmmm.

Thanks Pauline
Author:  Alison H [ Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:07 pm ]
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Nice to see some more old friends.
Author:  PaulineS [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:57 pm ]
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Jennifer continued “I want to get into Reviews with the Nationals or a magazine eventually. I am doing an English course alongside the journalism and I enjoy the theatre now I am so near London my final project is a series of reviews of books and plays. I know the Abbess did not always approve of my book choice but I like a broad range of authors and I hope that one of the London evening papers will accept some reviews soon. The languages at school mean I can understand the operas as well and all that music mean can appreciate them as well. I know I will have to work on a local paper as a reporter and the one I freelance for at present have said if I pass the course they will offer me a trainee reporter job for two years: then I can try for a National paper my languages will help there as well. I still see Felicity King as she lives near me and she is in contact of with the Wylie twins, who are doing a secretarial course with Pitmans. Are you in touch with any other CS girls?”

Kat replied “We stayed with Eleanor Pannel in Oxford for the weekend on our way down from Leeds, she is studying languages and hopes to become a translator/secretary for a multi-national company when she finishes her degree and I will be seeing the Lucys and the Chesters after Christmas when I go to stay with Blossom. They are scattered around the country at college and university now, but are home for Christmas and New Year.

Hilary continued “I am seeing Clem Barras before I go back to Leeds. Clem’s at St Martin’s Art College and is going to stay with Mary-Lou Trelawney for Christmas, but will be back before we go north again. What’s Felicity doing now?”

Jennifer said “She is doing charity work with her mother and is announcing her engagement at Christmas to a local solicitor’s son. He has just completed his degree and started working for his father’s firm in September as a trainee solicitor.

What are the Whyle twins going to do when they finish their course?” Kat asked.

“They are going to work locally I think, they never became confident in written languages, although they can speak them well enough, and their mother wants them to life at home now. I do not think she is very well at present, Felicity said they were worried that she would need surgery in the next few weeks.”
Author:  Alison H [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:17 pm ]
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Nice to catch up with everyone!
Author:  roversgirl [ Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:17 pm ]
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Very nice indeed :-) Thanks!
Author:  abbeybufo [ Wed Apr 09, 2008 4:53 pm ]
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Thanks for the update Pauline
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri May 23, 2008 9:19 pm ]
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A bit out of season, but I hope to get to the tenis by Wimbledon

“They are going to work locally I think, they never became confident in written languages, although they can speak them well enough, and their mother wants them to life at home now. I do not think she is very well at present, Felicity said they were worried that she would need surgery in the next few weeks.”

Hilary looked at her watch and exclaimed at the time, “Kat its nearly half past one, we must go, as we need to get to Red Lion Square for two-fifteen at the latest. We are going to see Elizabeth Ivory in the Nutcracker this afternoon Jennifer as we cannot get home from an evening performance. Can you let us know about Mrs Whyle?”

“You are lucky; I could not get tickets for the Dominick Company before Christmas and they are touring in the New Year. I am hoping to get a ticket from a return, but it is difficult when Ivory is dancing.” said Jennifer. “Enjoy the afternoon, but we should exchange addresses, so we can keep in touch and I can let you know about Mrs Whyle.”

Kat, “A good idea, I will give you my college address, as the family home is rented at present as my parents and aunt are abroad again.”

Meanwhile Hilary had written out her address in Leeds and said “Use this Jennifer to contact any of us as we must rush, or we will miss the curtain up. Goodbye and best wishes for Christmas, Come on Kat.”

Kat and Hilary rushed off to pay their bill and make their way to the exit as Jennifer called “Happy Christmas to you and Blossom.”

Kat and Hilary were able to reach the theatre on time and enjoyed the performance both of the Nutcracker and a one act ballet specially choreographed for Christmas, based on Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales. Hilary was surprised to see a young girl as Clara, and noted from the programme that she was a pupil at the Dominick School.

Kat who had seen more ballet than Hilary during her travels with her Aunt Luce explained that it was quite common to give the part to a member of a ballet School, and Catherine Colby was a dancer to watch out for in future. The part of Fritz was also danced by a boy from the school, Peter Bernoise. He looked slightly older than Catherine and Kat thought he might be a senior student who would soon enter the company. Kat explained that sometimes Clara was the younger and sometimes it was Fritz depending on the local choreographer.

After the performance they made their way back to the station to catch the train back to the Wilsons and dinner. There they planned what they needed to do the next day, which was Christmas Eve. Mrs Wilson needed help with last minute baking and Mr Wilson needed some vegetables from the Market Garden delivered to some of the elderly folk the vicarage and the manse in the village.

Mr Wilson explained to Kat that the elderly who lived on their own either joined together or went to the vicarage or manse for Christmas lunch and the Market garden provided the vegetables. The butcher helped by providing poultry and the bakery provided Christmas puddings. The village ensured that no-one was on their own for the whole of Christmas day, but that those who wanted to spend some time on their own could do so. Most of the elderly went to either the vicarage or manse depending on whether they worshipped at the church or chapel. Some of the elderly though were independent and had friends from the other group and wished to cook for them self and their friends, so the village helped them provide for their friends.

In the afternoon the village provided tea in the village Hall where the ladies of the village provided mince pies, sausage rolls and Christmas cake. On Boxing Day the ladies provided a tea for the children of the village and the Wilsons hoped Hilary and Kat would help in the entertainment. Hilary who had been involved in previous years had already spoken of this to Kat and they had prepared several games from their time at School.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Fri May 23, 2008 9:42 pm ]
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Good to see this back, Pauline - thank you. Elizabeth Ivory? - do I see a hint of a crossover with Drina?

I'm sure Kat and Hilary will enjoy their Christmas - it's good to see how the parish looks after its parishioners duing the holidays.
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri May 23, 2008 9:57 pm ]
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Yes, I went to see the Kirov yesterday evening and got rid of writer's block, so found my Drina books, Elizabeth Ivory is not the only character I transferred. I think my timing is reasonablely accurate.
Author:  MaryR [ Fri May 23, 2008 10:11 pm ]
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They do seem to have had a lovely time - as I hope you did, Pauline. :lol:

Thank you.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri May 23, 2008 10:13 pm ]
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Lovely to see this again, Pauline - I enjoy Drina too :D
Thanks!
Author:  Alison H [ Fri May 23, 2008 10:40 pm ]
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Nice to see more of this :D .
Author:  shazwales [ Sat May 24, 2008 2:17 am ]
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Only just found this, thanks it's nice to see that there is life after leaving the CS :)
Author:  roversgirl [ Sat May 24, 2008 7:06 am ]
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Thanks for the update :)
Author:  M [ Sat May 24, 2008 8:53 pm ]
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Love the Drina cross-over with a young Catherine Colby dancing with her future husband.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:23 pm ]
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Christmas Eve was busy as Hilary did the deliveries for her father and Kat helped with the baking. Kat had enjoyed the years of Domestic Science at school and they had given her a light hand with pastry and she was happy to help in a kitchen as she had had limited opportunity as a child so making sausage rolls and mince pies for large numbers was a pleasure she had not often had. Mrs Wilson had the radio on ready for the Service of Nine Lessons and Carols from Kings College Cambridge in the afternoon and they joined in the congregational carols that they knew. They ensured the best crockery and cutlery was clean and ready for use. The dishes being taken into the dining room covered with a muslin cloth and the cutlery used to set the table ready for the following day. They boiled a large ham, the goose was prepared and stuffed and the vegetables peeled for the following day. They finally prepared the pudding Mrs Wilson had made weeks earlier for steaming and left it ready to put on the stove early on Christmas day.

In the evening Hilary and Kat joined the carol singing of the joint choirs of the Anglican Church and Methodist Chapel around the village. They ended the evening at a large house at the other end of the village to the market garden, where they were given a choice of soup, mulled wine or a fruit punch with sausage rolls and mince pies. The older choir members reminisced about the problems in previous years when rationing had limited the end of singing treat to weak tea or parsnip wine!

On returning to the Wilson’s Kat and Hilary found Mr and Mrs Wilson were about to go to the recently instituted Midnight Communion service. They decided to go with them and found that the first part was putting the babe was in the crib which the children had set up earlier in a short carol service.

They were all glad to return home and go to bed, knowing that if they were not in time for Matins as least they had been church on Christmas Day. In the event they woke up on time to help Mrs Wilson put the goose in the oven and pudding on to steam before joining the rest on the congregation singing carols and listening to the story of the first Christmas in the packed village church.

On returning home they assisted in putting the presents around the tree in the drawing room and finished laying the table. The lunch started with a mushroom soup, and was followed by the goose with a selection of home grown carrots, sprouts, parsnips, roasted and boiled potatoes. They then had a short break whilst they listened to the Queen’s speech to the Commonwealth and Empire, before they tasted the Christmas pudding with brandy butter.

After the meal Hilary and Kat cleared the table and washed up, before present opening and a quiet evening with the new books they had both received as one of their gifts. An early supper of mince pies and Christmas cake with cups of tea was all they needed in the way of refreshment, before an earlier night than the previous ones.

The following morning was also spent quietly, and lunch consisted jacket potatoes and cold meats before Hilary and Kat got ready to go to the village hall to help with the children’s entertainment and tea. They arrived at the hall as just after the organiser and were set to moving tables and chairs to leave a space for games in the middle, whilst others set out the food on trestle tables and covered them with clean cloths. Hilary also took the opportunity to hid a number of small objects under chairs and tables and behind curtains.
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:27 pm ]
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Thanks Pauline. I love Christmassy updates :D .
Author:  abbeybufo [ Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:15 pm ]
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Thanks Pauline. That was a lovely Christmas :D
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:20 pm ]
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Thanks, Pauline - your lovely description of the girls' Christmas makes a delightful counterpoint to the high 20s C heat outside my window!! For once, 'flaming June' is living up to its reputation around here - at least for now.
Author:  MaryR [ Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:37 pm ]
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Great to see their Christmas, Pauline. Thank you.
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