‘Oh Dear’ Said Aunt Frances

‘Oh Dear Said Aunt Frances After we’d all seen the Queen, a new magazine came to be sold. The Queen, so it informed us, now wore the long straight sleeves – all the puckers and gathers had gone out of fashion. There was also an advertisement for the new face powder; it would be sent in a plain wrapper. Then the Aunts found what they wanted – the new curling tongs, so off Miss Carter went to Manchester to buy them. Aunt Frances was going out to tea with her new young man, so Aunt Mary said she would try them out on her. Aunt Mary heated the tongs and Mother read the instructions and Miss Carter made some tea. Then Aunt Mary clamped the tongs on Aunt Frances’s hair. My, it sizzled and a bit fell out, but when it was curled and piled up like Queen Alexandra’s she looked beautiful and when Mother saw her go with her young man, she said that she was sure he would propose to her, but Aunt Frances wouldn’t accept, because I heard Mother say that she really liked James Alfred, our Chemist, and the year was 1905. Finished mounted size 20” x 21” Finished framed size 25” x 26”

Spring Lane

Family In Spring Lane It was our last walk along Spring Lane before setting off for Blackpool the next morning. Grandma, the Aunts and Miss Carter (who wore Pink) called for us and as they walked along talking about all the little things they had to do before the cabs came the next morning. Willie and Annie Murgatroyd came running up to George and I, Annie saying that they would see us at the station the next morning as they were going to their Auntie’s at Blackpool. “What’s the matter with Willie”, said Grandma. “He’s got the mumps” shouted Annie. “Oh dear me”, said Mother, “that’s the last straw. Children, put your hankies to your noses”. “I’ve never had the mumps”, said Miss Carter, “and look, Mr. Taylor (the Bank Manager) is coming. Let us all turn back quickly”, and the year was 1908. Finished mounted size 20” x 27” Finished mounted size 20” x 26” Finished framed size 25” x 31”

Waiting For Grandpa

Waiting For Grandpa On Friday afternoons we went with Grandpa to the farm in St. Michaels. Grandpa liked to visit the Farmer and he bought apples, eggs and home cured ham. Mother, the Aunts, Miss Carter (who wore Pink) and Mr. Taylor (the Bank Manager) also George and I, and sometimes Mrs. Maitland and Emily liked to walk along the path besides the river. Mother said that if we walked along the path we were safe from cows, but, “Oh dear, whatever shall we do” cried Miss Carter, “Just look at those cows, however shall we get past them”, but Mr. Taylor said “Come along, Iv’e got my stick and we’ll be alright”, Mother said, after we were safely past the cows, “I don’t know what ever we would do without Mr. Taylor, He’s so very kind”, and the year was 1906. Finished mounted size 16” x 21” Finished framed size 21” x 23”

Buying Ducks for Christmas

Buying Ducks For Christmas Mother said it wouldn’t be long before it was Christmas and that we’d better be thinking about Ducks! Grandpa was coming to stay with us for a few days, and Grandpa loved Duck, so, although it had snowed through the night, the Aunts and Miss Carter (who wore Pink) called for Mother, George and I, decided to go up to Warfe’s Farm and see if they had any Ducks. When we arrived there, Annie Warfe was feeding the hens, and, there quacking along in a line were the Ducks, so Mother asked if they could let us have four, and they arrived in time for Grandpa and all of us to have a Good Dinner and the year was 1906. Finished mounted size 13” x 15” Finished framed size 16” x 18”