rainy school days

I was driving past the local school last week and the traffic was terrible as mothers were dropping off their children. It was raining and I thought how different from my early days of going to school in the rain. I expect there are some children who do walk to school still but as there were few cars when I was in primary school it was the usual thing to walk.  We had just over 2km to walk from Annerley to Yeronga state school. I noticed the local children last week with their colourful raincoats. I dont remember when I first had one but it certainly wasn't at primary school. What was popular was a "cloak" made by tucking in the top corners of a hessian bag to form a hood with the rest of the bag covering the shoulders and upper body depending on one's size. Hessian bags were easily obtained and the cloaks were surprisingly good at keeping out the rain. Bags were also commonly used as outdoor mats around the house. Sometimes women would fancy them up with  fabric binding etc.

I was walking home one  day after rain and took off my shoes to paddle in the gutter; when Mum asked why I was carrying my shoes I was quite upset when she told me that I was not to do that again. I remember saying ( as all youngsters do) "but Alan and the others were doing it". Apparently that was OK but "young ladies" do not paddle in the gutter. I can still remember what a great feeling it was to have that paddle!

One day I stopped to talk with some men who were working in a PMG manhole. One of them asked if I hadn't been told not to talk to strange men and I replied "But you're not strange, You work for the PMG and so does my father." Ah to be so young and innocent.

We were fortunate to have some of our school friends living in the area as most of the local children went to the state school at Junction Park or to the convent school. I loved walking home with my friends. There were a couple of routes we could take. We rarely came through the park which was a memorial to soldiers from WW1. One day I arrived home with some ribbons. When I told Mum that my friend and I had collected them from the dead bouquets in the Park...leftovers from the recent Anzac Day ; I was in real trouble!

Whichever way we came we had to cross Ipswich Road at the "top." There was a large hotel there which we knew we had to avoid especially on those occasions when the gypsy caravans were parked there. This was not uncommon.

I dont think Mum did a lot of baking but she must have done some as it was a case of first home from school  getting the mixing bowl to "lick" clean. I used to get myself under the kitchen table behind the chairs and Mum's legs so big brother couldn't take it from me!

There was one girl I used to play with whose family had a piano. Her mother must have been somewhere else for the moment as when my friend finished her practice she  said I could play now. I sat up and gave a grand concert! Was having the time of my life when the mother suddenly appeared beside me and asked so nicely "Who do you learn from?" Oh...caught out!  I owned up but was very embarrassed and closed the lid quickly.

All for now.