Wednesday, 1 October 2014

31 Years Of Memories - What I remember about being 5

I keep saying that I would like to write something about my life for my kids.  My mother has told me plenty about her growing up but I don’t have it written down.  I’m an older Mum and I’m not sure I will have time to do it in the future.  I’m 44 now so I thought if I spent a day on each year and just write about things I remember from those years – I’d complete a reasonably big chunk of memories for them and possibly motivate myself to write more.

My parents were British and had both gone over to Canada separately.  My Mum had wanted to go to the states but apparently didn't have enough credentials to be accepted.  As a skilled stenographer, Canada was more than happy to have her.  She went over on the ten pound passage.

My dad was a navy man who had travelled the world after doing his national service.  He decided that Bournemouth was simply too small a place for him and he liked the anonymity that Canada provided.

So without further ado – What I remember about being 5

My family were living in Mississauga where they still live now.  We lived on W- Road in a semi-detached house.  There was my mum, my dad and older brother Bill who was twelve years older than me.  Due to this age gap – I rather suspected I was an accident and I was later to learn that my hunch was correct.

I had my own room which was upstairs next to my parents room.  They had wanted to move me downstairs but apparently I kicked up such a fuss that they decided to leave me in there.  I can remember my curtains which were yellow and had little girls with black hair all over them.  The carpet was a rather hideous shade of green.  I had some cheap furniture and a single bed.
 
My best friend at the time was Michelle who lived across the street.  She was a little younger than me but her mother Sandra was Irish and got along well with my mother who was Scottish.  I also had another friend – a little boy named Andrew who was the same age as me.  He was the youngest of six kids and he too I suspect was an “accident.”

Michelle’s mum didn’t work outside the home and it was always flawlessly spotless.  She made her own clothes and curtains.  Surprisingly she smoked which didn't fit the rest of her personality as it is a dirty habit but I never recall seeing any dirty ashtrays around their house.

Andrew’s house was far more fun to play in.  Apart from the lounge (which we called “the living room”) – his mother let us run riot all over the house and didn't tidy up after us so I much preferred going over there to play.  I remember melting crayons on the vapouriser! His dad also had a big green truck which we went driving in on a few occasions.  His dad was really lovely.  He once took us to the Ex and I can still remember how excited Andrew and I were when he pulled all the tickets out and showed us how many he had.  I remember wanting to go on the “Love Bug” ride with Andrew.  Not sure what my intentions were at the time!

His back garden had a low fence which was easy to climb.  So easy that I once followed my mother to the supermarket after having been left there to play while my Mum did the shopping. 
I can remember starting school that year and getting my picture taken in a caravan outside the school in a yellow dress.  I can also remember the first day of school.  My teacher was Mrs. Lebfevre and I remember going in a curtsying to the class. 

We all had little cubby holes to put our things in.  We had a nap every morning for twenty minutes and I can remember we all got changed together for p.e. classes.  I can remember some of the kids in my class.  Laurie Anderson was one of twins and she was very clever.  As was Janice Ting who was a little Asian girl.  Kuljit Plaha was a little Indian girl who was in my classes a lot over the years.  I didn’t make any life-long friends in my kindergarten class but I remember it as a happy time.

I can also remember that at some point that year, I went to England and Scotland for the first time.  I recall that my mother said that my Gran had been there for my birth.  I can remember staying at my Aunt Margaret’s house and playing with the little boy across the way.  I also remember going to my Aunt Rena’s house in Jersey and my grandfather getting drunk at the time.  I didn’t realise it at the time but he and my grandmother separated for about four years or so sometime in the seventies but I don’t know if they were together at this time or not.

We also saw my Uncle Roy and Aunt Marjorie who had a son David who gave me loads of toys.  They had a dog named Pip and I took it for a walk and let go of the lead.  I was not very popular that day!

I can remember visiting my great aunt Gertrude.  My brother at one point used to call me “young Gertie” but I don’t know if that had anything to do with Gertie or not.  I would have only met her the one time as she died about three years later.  We also saw my Gran during that trip although I think that was in Jersey.

That year for Christmas I got a Barbie Camper.  I still have it sitting in the attic of a friend’s house.  It was the coolest gift and I played with it for many years.  I think I also got a baby alive which you could feed and food came out the other end.  When I bought my own daughter one many years later – I threw out that bit!