Go Grannie Annie Go! A bit of a tribute actually...

I was reading David McMahon's Authorblog recent post about the oldest 'facebook' member of 100+ and it set me to thinking about my own good mother. It dawned on me that one apparently forgets what is on our own doorstep so to speak, strange isn't it?

My mother, who at 74 has recently graduated with a BA Hons in Humanties from the Open University, after several years of hard work, returning to study (quite successfully) after nearly 60 odd years. She has also 'mastered' a pc and the internet, even though l do use the term mastered loosely! Even so, she emails, scans and sends pics, and has been chatting on a web cam to her grandchildren, which can only be good thing (as we live 400 miles away).


She is a very good painter, who whilst we kids were growing up, she prolifically painted anything that moved and anything that didn't. I remember many of the paintings she did for my grandmother, who was house and wheelchair bound through severe MS. The paintings were of landscapes, family, sunsets, Amazonian Indians, Thai boats and much more from the pages of National Geographic. My Nana could no longer walk or move her arms but she could, from her room travel the world (and boy did that lovely lady have a story or ten to tell, I will blog about her dancing days here one day soon!)

Of course we were all painted often, from life and photos and I also recall Mum would receive much praise from her sand sculptures when we holidayed on the beach, she would spend hours carving mermaids and shapes from the hot sand, only to watch them wash away in moments at sunset.

She has just recently finished writing 'A Family History' which she has compiled over the past few years, following the end of her degree studies, and it is enhanced with rediscovered photographs. She is having it printed up for us for us for Christmas! I have read the drafts and I have been amazed by the adventures of my parents and their forebears' histories.


She wrote a book for us when we were younger, entitled 'Dilly', she wrote it in rhyme and she illustrated each verse on its own page. This one book became three and she later produced versions for my Dad, my siblings and last Christmas I received my very own Dilly! These are personalised stories based around events in each of our lives! What a loving gift to treasure!

An illustration from my Dilly book!

Some 30+ years ago these Dilly books were considered too expensive by childrens publishers to produce in all their colours and were probably considered too clever or sophisticated! Her historical romance novels were praised but rejected, although one agent told her it was almost publishable and needed another edit. But I believe the rejections and the trials and tribulations of juggling a young family and running their own business' wrought upon her to miss her moment.

I recently told my mother l thought she should have another go at getting them published or that l would try for her. So in the short term we compromised and we have put the first chapter of 'MEG:Book one' online on her own blog.

When l recently reread the manuscripts, they was so much more than I remembered, perhaps it has something to do we me being 35 years older and bringing more contextually to the book!

I would be grateful if you would pop by sometime and read it, I may be able to persuade her to post another chapter or even pursue the adventure of trying to get it read again. If she gets some positive feedback. I also think that Dilly deserves to be read by children, it is magical!

Of course l know I am biased, but missed moments appear more than once and I believe she deserves hers! My mother is currently editing one of her manuscripts. She doesn't yet know l have posted this, no doubt an email will be waiting for me in the morning!!

Thanks and any comments or advice will be much appreciated!!

Read My mothers views on her blog THE VIEW FROM THIS END

PLUS CA CHANGE!

I have been enthralled and have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, ‘Can any mother hear me?’ by Jenna Bailey. I was introduced to it through a excerpt and review in the Readers and Book groups magazine ‘newbooksmag’ .

The book tells the story of a group of women in the 1930's who by chance came together and corresponded through a secret shared magazine. These women united for various personal reasons, but they shared the lonely, isolated existence of all housewives and mothers in the society of their time . They all felt a need to share and exchange their worries and concerns, feeling and needs.
Sound familiar so far?

Every two weeks a new magazine was compiled and posted to each woman, who in turn read it and wrote her comments upon it.

This poignant, informative and humorous compilation of a series of letters, experiences and as l see it, cries for help and recognition by other likeminded 'stay at home' mums, helped them to maintain their sanity.

It occured to me that the women in this book weren’t so far removed from ourselves; we are but a group women, mothers, wives (and dads too) who are busily writing our blogs (!) and I guess we probably reflect a much larger global exchange. The similarities of the women in this book though, don’t stop there, the women wrote under pseudonyms. Some of the women met up annually, some didn't or couldn’t for various reasons. In the 1930’s (and in some measure even to the present day) roles as wives and mothers went unrecognised.

So it was out of necessity that these women came to share and reflect with each other, especially in this unusual and innovative way. The experience for many turned out to be life changing.

So much of women’s lives has changed over the years since the 1930's or even 1960's, in fact some may say out of all recognition, women now have careers or children and some women have both. We now have help around the home thanks to modern technology and products, with small or no thanks due to the men in our lives (unless they invented them). But one aspect l think remains the same is the sense of identity and confidence women lose as their roles change from independent women to not so independent women, who endlessly try and balance and juggle, house, home, kids and all the other crap foisted upon us (wittingly or unwittingly).

We just have to get on and deal with it, as did these women and all our female forbears including our mothers and grandmothers.

The womens' correspondence continued for over 50 years, they shared a rare experience, made meaningful and rewarding friendships. Until now their stories and their magazines were frozen in time, as they were archived in boxes at the University of Sussex. From where it was uncovered by the author, who was so inspired by these womens’ writings.

The result is a compelling and uplifting book and l am staggered by the similarities that run through it, emotionally and practically.

l urge you to read it..


Plus ca change!

‘plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose’ - french phrase
Translated means – ‘The more things change, the more they stay the same’.