tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post204204543964461460..comments2023-05-02T12:33:58.182+01:00Comments on Perpetually In Transit: The ghosts of Christmases pastPerpetuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-36439909644508169332012-01-07T11:40:17.804+00:002012-01-07T11:40:17.804+00:00Good morning, Dee. I'm glad you enjoyed it and...Good morning, Dee. I'm glad you enjoyed it and that it triggered your own happy Christmas memories. Yes, I think these childhood Christmases back in a time of considerable austerity stand out in the memory even after so many years. Because our presents were few in number they were much cherished. <br /><br />I can remember my mother telling me in later years how hard it had been to make the rations stretch, but we were never aware of that as children as she was a marvellous manager.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-61751231414220881542012-01-06T23:17:13.969+00:002012-01-06T23:17:13.969+00:00Dear Perpetua,
What a wonderful posting! You took ...Dear Perpetua,<br />What a wonderful posting! You took us back to a time that speaks so strongly to you and to me also because I was born in 1936 and I can remember the rationing in the US and also the Christmases when one present was a kingdom. For me in 1944 it was a series of nursery rhyme. Each was a pop-up picture.<br /><br />I also remember that because of the war I didn't get a bike until I was 12 in 1948. <br /><br />The site about rationing was informative and made me realize just how inventive your mother must have been with the cooking.<br /><br />Oh, I so enjoyed this posting. Thank you.<br /><br />Peace.Dee Readyhttp://www.cominghometomyself.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-89564671034104419182011-12-29T17:38:29.310+00:002011-12-29T17:38:29.310+00:00Thanks, Nerima. Yes, my mother and father must hav...Thanks, Nerima. Yes, my mother and father must have done all this in the evenings, as our house was too small to have anywhere private for them to work in the daytime and anyway they were far too busy with work.<br /><br />You're so right about how hard it is nowadays to stop children become mere consumers at a very early age. I see it with my own children and their children.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-50218065390863011392011-12-29T16:02:25.866+00:002011-12-29T16:02:25.866+00:00Perpetua, you have such good memories. It amazes m...Perpetua, you have such good memories. It amazes me how your mom and dad made you dolls' clothing and a doll house. They must have done this after tucking you and your sisters to bed. And now I am reflecting on my own Mr6, and how hard I must work to not let him get sucked into today's throw-away consumerism. Thank you.nerima robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16397000496676038137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-9322223596065272982011-12-24T11:01:14.000+00:002011-12-24T11:01:14.000+00:00Many thanks, SP. Life wasn't always plain sail...Many thanks, SP. Life wasn't always plain sailing when I was a child, but yes, my parents did their very best to make sure Christmas was very special for us all.<br /><br />As far as the blog reader problem is concerned, I think I just may have managed to crack it. When Christmas is over I plan to do a quick post on what I've discovered to see if it works for others. Watch this space....Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-2382727401997400252011-12-23T20:41:24.785+00:002011-12-23T20:41:24.785+00:00How wonderful Christmas must have been for you Per...How wonderful Christmas must have been for you Perpetua.<br /><br />A really smashing post.<br /><br />SP<br /><br />PS Like GB, my blog reader has taken agin you as well and you're not appearing in my reader. I thought you'd gone quiet so thought I'd pop by to check.<br />Don't know what the problem is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-74378587981738553102011-12-22T15:00:57.640+00:002011-12-22T15:00:57.640+00:00Hi, Baby Sis, Yes, we had a tree once we lived in ...Hi, Baby Sis, Yes, we had a tree once we lived in the country, a tiny one with a root, which got dug up each Christmas and planted out in the garden again after Epiphany. When it finally succumbed to this treatment after a good number of years, Mummy bought a small artificial tree. Both, as you say, were table-top, not floor-standing.<br /><br />I clearly remember all the lovely tree decorations you mention (especially the birds) and the tiny candles which looked so wonderful when lit.<br /><br />However I'm scratching my head without success to try to remember the birthday party you mention. I'm guessing this is another case of a very early memory sticking in a way that doesn't happen when one is older. If Grandma was there it must have been 1960, as she became ill in the February and died in December. <br /><br />Between us we remember quite a lot, don't we?Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-22774544129622067252011-12-22T14:17:38.739+00:002011-12-22T14:17:38.739+00:00We certainly had trees by the time I was old enoug...We certainly had trees by the time I was old enough to remember, small real trees on a table top, rather than tall floor-standing ones up to the ceiling, and we had very delicate mirrored glass baubles and little glass birds with soft tufty tails, also candles in clip-on holders, not electric fairy lights. These all had a venerable vintage look about them so perhaps they had been grandma and granddad's first.<br /><br />I remember the care that had to be taken when the candles were lit, with a grown up in the room at all times. It was a five-minute treat after tea to light them, and then they were blown out for another five minutes another day. I also remember that all decorations were left up until the evening of Twelfth Night as PolkaDot's birthday is 6 January. <br /><br />One year we had a big birthday tea for her in Grandma and Granddad's front room, all sitting around daddy's pasting table with a cloth thrown over it as no other table would have been big enough for five girls of assorted ages, two parents and two grandparents. Grandma died at the end of that year (1960?) so I think I was only two in the January when this happened, yet I can see it now in my mind's eye so clearly.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13702475308562601190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-36422574887385546362011-12-21T23:18:13.131+00:002011-12-21T23:18:13.131+00:00Hello, Rubye, and welcome to my blog. I'm glad...Hello, Rubye, and welcome to my blog. I'm glad you liked the post.<br /><br />I was born in 1946, so we are definitely contemporaries. I used to have an extremely good memory, but it's starting to show its age now and some past events are getting very fuzzy. <br /><br />I think I remember these Christmases so well because of the gifts our parents made, yet even so I can't recall all the details, as my sister just pointed out. :-) Fancy forgetting that my dolls house had a balcony!Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-29532645778412207312011-12-21T22:36:38.390+00:002011-12-21T22:36:38.390+00:00We must be about the same age as I was born a coup...We must be about the same age as I was born a couple of years after the war, but your memory is much better than mine of those years. I do remember my dolls and doll house though, and also my mother making clothes for both the dolls and my sister and I. This is such a lovely post.Rubye Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02511953177053448513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-75174045877880287532011-12-21T22:28:57.389+00:002011-12-21T22:28:57.389+00:00Addendum. My memory really isn't what it was. ...Addendum. My memory really isn't what it was. My sister R has just reminded me that our dolls houses were so modern that there were "patio" doors leading from the bedroom (one, not two) onto a little balcony. How I've forgotten that I do not know. :-) She also confirmed that all the furniture too was homemade.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-56241121569273248262011-12-21T22:03:19.082+00:002011-12-21T22:03:19.082+00:00Thanks, Jean. I seem to have tapped into a wealth ...Thanks, Jean. I seem to have tapped into a wealth of Christmas memories here.:-) I think most people of our generation probably had similar experiences of quieter, simpler and certainly cheaper Christmases than we're used to nowadays.<br /><br />Your black doll was not uncommon back then and would be a collector's item today.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-34885062815585154082011-12-21T21:42:52.640+00:002011-12-21T21:42:52.640+00:00What a lovely post, reminding us of the joy of pre...What a lovely post, reminding us of the joy of presents made and given with love.<br />Being born in 1951, I also remember the Christmas stocking with the tangerine and a couple of walnuts in it, with a few small presents at the foot of the bed. My favourite was a black doll - it would be frowned upon these days I think.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09726164724131916224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-50196008883335254402011-12-21T20:37:14.410+00:002011-12-21T20:37:14.410+00:00Hi Linda. Glad the post brought back lots of happy...Hi Linda. Glad the post brought back lots of happy Christmas memories. Given that not all your memories of your mother are easy ones, it's good that she gave you such wonderful Christmas experiences to pass on to your children.<br /><br />I'm delighted to hear that you will be handing on the old traditions to your granddaughters, right down to the foil-wrapped chocolate coins!. :-)Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-58868828248686521762011-12-21T18:59:57.240+00:002011-12-21T18:59:57.240+00:00I had a difficult mother, but she created wonderfu...I had a difficult mother, but she created wonderful Christmases, which I tried to pass along to my own children. Your post brought back such memories!<br /><br />This year my granddaughters will be getting stockings at my house. Among other things, they'll find an apple, an orange, and a little bag of foil-wrapped chocolate coins!<br /><br />Thanks.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-57884205366729192182011-12-21T18:49:27.887+00:002011-12-21T18:49:27.887+00:00Thanks, Ayak. Gosh, my post does seem to have open...Thanks, Ayak. Gosh, my post does seem to have opened the floodgates of memory until we are all, to borrow Tom Lehrer's immortal phrase, just soggy with nostalgia! Your childhood Christmases sound very like mine, with no memory of a tree when very young, but definitely crepe paper decorations and only a few presents.<br /><br />A very happy Christmas to you too.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-69857104010379500542011-12-21T18:18:20.271+00:002011-12-21T18:18:20.271+00:00What a lovely post Perpetua, and suddenly memories...What a lovely post Perpetua, and suddenly memories of my childhood Christmases come flooding back. My parents weren't clever at making things like yours but they put a lot of thought into the few presents we received. We didn't have much but we were so excited and appreciated everything.<br />We also used to make decorations from crepe paper...and I don't recall having a tree until I was older...maybe 11 or 12 yrs old.<br /><br />Have a lovely Christmas and I wish you health and happiness for 2012 xxAyakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-51956443994972996562011-12-21T17:25:08.439+00:002011-12-21T17:25:08.439+00:00Thanks, Kathy. I'm glad you liked them, as I f...Thanks, Kathy. I'm glad you liked them, as I found it so enjoyable to recall them. Yes, it really wasn't the number of presents that mattered but the care that went into buying or making them. I'm not sure anything in adult life quite matches the excitement experienced by a small child on Christmas Eve. :-)<br /><br />I know from your blog that your brother is in a cross-cultural marriage, so I can see why the Santa thing may not be appropriate. But I would have thought that giving presents and celebrating must find a place in every culture at some point, so perhaps in the future she may experience something of that excitement we rememberPerpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-7785560947026739082011-12-21T15:55:43.368+00:002011-12-21T15:55:43.368+00:00Your Christmas memories are so delightful, Perpetu...Your Christmas memories are so delightful, Perpetua! I remember, too, the excitement and anticipation of Santa's visit. We didn't have many presents either, but the number of presents didn't matter. It was the carefully chosen nature of the gift - a beautiful doll one year, a bicycle another year, a ballerina keepsake box another -- that made each Christmas special. My brother told me the other day that he isn't doing the Santa thing or, in fact, any Christmas presents for his young daughter ever. I understand his feelings. But I feel sorry that she won't grow up with the same magic of anticipation that we did.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-9997152575344125742011-12-21T13:48:53.432+00:002011-12-21T13:48:53.432+00:00Hi Baby Sis. Thanks for reassuring me that this ol...Hi Baby Sis. Thanks for reassuring me that this old memory hasn't yet failed completely. I laughed out loud at the neat stratagem devised by Mummy and Daddy. One advantage of using anonymous things like old stockings.<br /><br />As for your story about the Christmas of the green trouser suit, DH and I went into helpless giggles when we read it. I can so easily picture the scene and the reaction from Daddy. :-) Polkadot and I wouldn't have heard it for ourselves, as we were fast asleep too.<br /><br />You're right about how very well our parents did Christmas for us, and as PD saydo s, with very limited resources. I hope we all did it as well for our children.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-65685119335995984202011-12-21T12:57:47.933+00:002011-12-21T12:57:47.933+00:00There were two dolls' houses, but one went to ...There were two dolls' houses, but one went to the girls at the farm. I also remember the electric cooker, which had rings that glowed from torch bulbs. Mummy told me how she and daddy managed to perfect the Father Christmas magic without waking up the chidren. Another stocking was stuffed downstairs for each child, and then it was swopped for the empty one and the labels moved over.<br /><br />The trouser suit you helped finish was bottle green tweed with a lime green lining. I was so excited I dashed into our parent's bedroom to show what Father Christmas had brought, but my route was barred by Daddy saying Sssh don't wake Mummy, she was up until bloody half-past six finishing it!<br /><br />I guess that was the year I knew for sure how the magic was done. But they did it so well it was brilliant to get my chance to do ghe same for my darling daughter.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13702475308562601190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-27227027396745548782011-12-21T11:31:41.624+00:002011-12-21T11:31:41.624+00:00Hi Red. It's obvious you enjoy the nostalgia a...Hi Red. It's obvious you enjoy the nostalgia and I'm glad my post reminded you of your dear granny. Gosh, your doll was much classier than mine with her negligee. :-)<br /><br />I agree about presents that have been made not bought, but sadly people are so often too busy or don't have the skills. I do my best with my hand-knitted socks....Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-90953307353574290232011-12-21T11:09:52.776+00:002011-12-21T11:09:52.776+00:00oh, how wonderful! this reminds me so much of my g...oh, how wonderful! this reminds me so much of my granny who made all her own clothes and some for us too. She also made clothes for my sindy doll, including a day dress and a negligee (words that I never use but always remind me of her..)<br />Seems Christmas presents would be much more memorable if we took a leaf from our ancestors books...<br />Hope you have a lovely, blessed Christmas...<br />red xRedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17296757944586260677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-34568136396586052772011-12-21T11:02:35.069+00:002011-12-21T11:02:35.069+00:00Hi Anna and thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it...Hi Anna and thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. Yes, presents do seem to have taken over nowadays, at least in terms of quantity. I can remember writing my annual letter to Father Christmas, along with my sisters, but it was very short and written with hope rather than expectation. :-)<br /><br />A very happy Christmas to you too.Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3705825161954545710.post-63276734664224214062011-12-21T10:55:53.131+00:002011-12-21T10:55:53.131+00:00Hi PolkaDot. Help, you're making me doubt my o...Hi PolkaDot. Help, you're making me doubt my own memory. I certainly remember the wooden play cooker, though it wasn't my present, but I could have sworn R and I had a dolls house each. <br /><br />If my memory has failed me (by no means impossible) then it was definitely I who had the dolls house, because I played endlessly with it. I had assumed one was passed onto the little girls at the end of our terrace before Baby Sis was born. Oh for the good memory of yesteryear.....Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.com