When I looked at my calendar this morning I thought of my grandmother, Mary Tierney, who was born on this day 135 years ago. Mary was known to me as Nana Curry as she had taken my grandfather's name when they married in 1918.
Mary Tierney was born in the town of Dungog to John D'Arcy Tierney, a carpenter, builder and sometime undertaker, and his Irish wife, Mary Kealy. Nana had two sisters, Jane and Eliza, and a brother, Patrick.
Nana was a gentle lady with snowy white hair that she wore in a bun and she seemed terribly old to me when she was about the age I am now. She was a devout Catholic who was proud of her Irish heritage, I remember kneeling beside her bed and reciting my prayers with her when I went to stay with her. We would always include this prayer:
There are four corners on my bed, There are four angels at my head. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Bless the bed I lay upon.
Nana loved feeding me egg flips that she believed to be very healthy, these drinks were made from milk, a raw egg and vanilla essence and after a shake and stir of the ingredients nutmeg was sprinkled on top. I remember them as quite sweet and delicious. Nana used often give me sweets to take home, they were always the same caramels. I sometimes wished for a bit of variety.
Nana, who lived to the ripe old age of 89 spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. She had an enormous impact on my life.
Why add yet another blog to the crowded blogosphere?
I thought I would like a place to share progress, reflections and resources as I solve my genealogical jigsaw so here goes - another blog is born.
I've been researching the family on and off for the last 20 years and, with retirement looming, hope to finally get organised and solve some of my mysteries.
So here I am 13 years later reflecting on my life as a geneablogger.
My original purpose to share progress, reflections and resources as I solve my genealogical jigsaw remains but my posts are fewer as I now use other platforms, currently Facebook and Twitter, to share short newsbites. Although I don't post so often I am committed to blogging as a means of recording family stories, reflections and opinions.
As my blog is preserved in The Australian Web Archive at Trove Australia I can indulge in a trip down memory lane and view posts from the past. Please join me as I meander down memory lane.
The header image is missing from this capture. If I remember correctly it included a photo of a family wedding.
From 2017 those lovely green notices have disappeared from the results of my Trove searches, maybe I worked some magic to make it disappear!
I also note that the header on my blog is the same one I still use - perhaps it is time for new branding. That's one of the advantages of blogging - it is a dynamic platform that one can adjust to reflect current times and trends.
I've recently been Troveing to see what I can add to the stories of fellow descendants of my ancestor Elizabeth Phipps. My Great-Great Uncle James Magick/Madgwick who lived to the ripe old age of 91 is Elizabeth's Grandson.
I have struck gold mainly in the Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942)the newspaper for the area where James resided for most of his long life. In 1934 James wrote a series of reminiscences in this newspaper. To be able to read the words of an ancestor is priceless. There are also many other articles mentioning James on Trove. In the interests of saving space I will not post the original articles here but links to those articles on Trove. This article found here announced the series, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681259
Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), Thursday 24 May 1934, page 6
TURNING BACK
THE PAGES
—
EARLY HISTORY OF
THE DISTRICT
MR. JAMES MADGWICK
REMINISCENT
There is probably no more picturesque figure in the Gilgandra district than Mr. James Madgwick, who
recently celebrated his 81st birthday, having been born at Cobbora on 9th February, 1853. Practically the
whole of his life has
been spent in this district, and he is one of the few pioneers alive to-day who can reliably comment upon the
remarkable changes that have occurred dur ing the past 30 years. A splendid type, a thorough gentleman and
one who is highly respected by all classes of the community, it is with pleasure we announce the publication
of a series of articles from Mr. Madgwick's pen. They will deal with early life along the Castlereagh and
Marthaguy, as well as personalities whom the young er generation know in name only.
The first article will appear in our next issue.
Links to the articles written by James:
31 May 1934 1934 'THE FIRST INSTALMENT', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 31 May, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681342
7 June 1934 1934 'Turning Back The Pages', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 7 June, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681461
14 June 1934 1934 'Turning Back The Pages Early History Of The District', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 28 June, p. 9. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681864 21 June 1934 1934 'Turning Back The Pages', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 21 June, p. 10. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681691
28 June 1934 1934 'Turning Back The Pages Early History Of The District', Gilgandra Weekly and Castlereagh (NSW : 1929 - 1942), 28 June, p. 9. , viewed 01 Feb 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article113681864
It is interesting to note that James claims to have been born in 1853 while I have a reference to a baptism for James in 1852!!!
Trawling through my digitised photos I came across this set from 30 years ago when our son played both Baby Face and a Dummy in The Scots' College Preparatory School production of Bugsy Malone. Our boy is the little blonde cutie in the black shirt and white tie.
I loved the productions the boys participated in during their time at the The Scots' College .
My Genimate, Pauleen, has put out a challenge....and I can't resist. Here is what she says :
Things have quietened down since the A to Z challenge so it’s time for a bit of fun with a May Meme. A few years ago I did a May Music Meme so I thought this year we’d go to the movies. Put your movie hats on, look into the past and dredge up your memories…LET’S HAVE FUN!
The way it works is this:
Copy the questions I’ve listed here and add your responses – short or long as you please.
--------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks Pauleen for issuing this challenge which required a Blockbuster effort on my part. I did, however, enjoy the trip down Memory Lane. Thanks for the nudge. What’s the earliest movie you can remember?
The Red Shoes starring Sir Robert Helpmann which I saw with Mum at a theatre in Kings Cross.
Where did you go to the movies (place or type of venue)?
When I was a youngster we lived in Kings Cross and we had within walking distance the choice of three movie theatres, the Kings Cross Theatre, the Minerva/Metro and a small newsreel theatre. A short tram ride down William Street took us to the city theatres. I remember the St James, The Prince Edward and the State that is set up for live theatre today. I remember Sydney identity, Bea Miles, who used to frighten the life out of me when she stood up the back of the Kings Cross Theatre eating grapes and spitting the seeds at the audience of moviegoers.
Source: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35318/photos/112816 by John Gleeson
As a family we went to the Star Drive-in at Matraville a few times and I when I was a teen I went in to the city to meet my schoolfriends. On odd occasions I went locally to the Randwick Ritz or Odeon or to one of the theatres at Bondi Junction.
The nuns at school marched us up to the Minerva/Metro to see epics like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments and a couple of Shakespeare ones. I seem to remember seeing Richard Burton.
Settled in for a Movie Marathon
The first movie I saw with Mr GeniAus was the Mercenary at the St James Theatre. It was so scary I just had to hang onto him. Once we were married and had children there was little time and less money for movie going.
These days I see many movies on the small screen on aeroplanes. On a trip to London I will watch about six movies. I've already looked up the programs for my next European jaunt.
Did you buy movie programs?
What movie programs?
Did you take in food and drink (and what did you like)?We went to see the movies, not for a picnic. This habit has continued to the present day. I always have a bottle of water and a tin of mints in case of emergency. I won't say no to a choc top on a special occasion.
Mischief you got up to in the movies?
Me, mischief, NEVER.
Did you watch movies at home?
Sometimes we watched the Sunday Night movies on TV. I remember when Mr GeniAus bought a video player when they were just new, I didn't understand what is was for. We still have some tapes of movies we recorded off air. When they became available we would borrow movies from the video shop - it was a lot cheaper then taking the family to the movies. We sometimes watch movies on DVD now but we like to go out to the theatre. It's quite a reasonable price for Senior Citizens.
What was your favourite movie to watch at home?
I tend not to rewatch movies or reread books. There just isn't enough time to experience all the movies and books I want to see/read.
Do you prefer to watch movies at home or at the cinema?
Cinema. The big screen and surround sound add something extra.
Does your family have a special movie memory?
My younger daughter knew the dialogue for The Sound of Music, off by heart.
Which movies made you want to dance/sing? The Sound of Music, and most musicals - old and new.
Do you watch re-runs or DVDs of old movies?
No, too many new ones to watch.
Do your children/family enjoy the same movies?
Well, I don't like Star Wars or Science Fiction like the boys but I seem to like anything else that the kids recommend.
What’s your favourite movie genre now?
Biographical/life story movies, Drama and Rom-Coms.
Did you read the book before or after the movie?
Usually before but sometimes afterwards to get the full story. I like to read first so the characters and settings I imagine are not influenced by the movie makers' perceptions. Seeing the movies first hinders my engagement with the characters in the book.
Which did you enjoy more, the book or the movie?
Except on rare occasions the book wins.
What’s the silliest movie you’ve seen (silly funny or silly annoying)?
I don't want to give either positive or negative reinforcement to the rubbish that I've endured.
Pet hate in movies?
Tall people who sit in front of me.
A movie that captures family history for you? The Descendants If you could only play 5 movies for the rest of your life, what would they be?
I would turn to books I haven't read.
Favourite movie stars (go ahead and list as many as you like)?
Since Librarything added the facility to record movies in its database I have been recording the names of the movies I see. I am also trying to retrospectively add those I have seen in my lifetime. This activity has helped me remember a few more. So far I have listed these Movies I've seen.
I thought I hadn't seen many movies but, on reflection, I realise that I love the Magic of Movies.
Alona Said: "So if you’d like to record a little of your own childhood history, feel free to take part in my “When I Was Young” geneameme."
I'm calling this the When I Was Younger Geneameme because, although I am quite old, I still feel young.
1. Do you (or your parents) have any memorabilia from when you were a baby? (ie. baby book, lock of hair, first shoes etc.)
I have my Baby Book from the Truby King Clinic, the congratulatory cards and telegrams my parents received on my birth, my teddy bear, my gold golf bangle and a couple of dresses. There are a few photos of me around too.
The earliest photo of me. Dad wouldn't let Mum carry me in case she dropped me.
2. Do you know if you were named after anyone?
My mother ignored tradition and gave me a name that was fashionable at the time of my birth.
3. And do you know of any other names your parents might have named you?
The other name my parents considered was Julie. I have never really liked my name and regularly asked Mum if I could change to my second name.
4. What is your earliest memory?
A holiday to Adelaide and first aeroplane ride with my Mum when I was around three.
On holiday in Adelaide
5.Did your parent/s (or older siblings) read, sing or tell stories to you? Do you remember any of these?
My Mum read to me and instilled me with a lifelong love of reading. We started visiting a subscription library at Kings Cross when I was very young. I still have some little fairy tale books from my childhood but I have never forgiven Mum for passing most of my books on to distant cousins. I loved Milly-Molly-Mandy, Noddy and Big Ears and Enid Blyton
6. When you were young, do you remember what it was that you wanted to grow up to be?
A nurse. I started nursing when the training was done in hospital, I lasted about 15 months. Night shift did get in the way of my social life.
Nurse Jill
7. Did you have a favourite teacher at school?
No, some were kind, some were cruel and some were generous - especially The Sisters of Mercy who regularly gave me 6 cuts when I was in primary school. The Sisters of Charity when I was in secondary school were not into corporal punishment, they just banished me from class to to the library. No wonder I ended up being a librarian.
Sister Eugene (Charity) wasn't a bad old stick
8. How did you get to school?
In primary school I walked but when we moved house I caught two or three buses depending on if I felt like a one mile walk in addition to two buses. Sometimes my Dad picked me up in the afternoon but I always had to get myself there in the morning.
9.What games did playtime involve?
Brandings, Chasings, Fly, Hide and Seek, Hopscotch, Hula Hoops, Queenie, Simon Says, Skipping,Tennis - if we could get one of the school courts, Yoyos.
10. Did you have a cubby house?
No.
11. What was something you remember from an early family holiday?
Sunburn and mosquito bites. Swimming and sand. Aunts, Uncles and cousins having fun together. Being carsick going to and fro.
Summer holidays with Mum and Aunties
12 What is a memory from one of your childhood birthdays or Christmas?
My friends in second class were impressed when I had a party in the restaurant at Sydney's Botanical Gardens.
A Birthday in the Botanical Gardens
13. What childhood injuries do you remember?
A chandelier light fitting fell on my head. My Mum wrapped my head in a towel, raced out into the street, haled a taxi and took me to St Vincent's Hospital to be stitched up.
14. What was your first pet?
Ethel the goldfish who lived for ages (I thik she may have been Ethel Mark 1,2,3, etc.) Nanna was always disappointed that I didn't name one of my dolls ater her so when I got the goldfish I named her Ethel for Nanna.
Ethel the Fish 1968
15. Did your grandparents, or older relatives tell you stories of “when I was young ..?”
Both of my Nannas told me stories, I spent quite a bit of time with them in school holidays as I had a Mum who went to work and that was unusual in those days. Oh, how I wished I would have paid more attention to my Nannas' stroies.
My Nannas - 1964
16. What was entertainment when you were young?
Family get togethers with singalongs. Movies. Board Games. Reading. Playing Poker and Rummy for money with my Nanna. We visited my paternal grandmother's home for lunch every Sunday until I left school then I was let off the hook.
17. Do you remember what it was it like when your family got a new fangled invention? (ie. telephone, TV, VCR, microwave, computer?)
I remember when we got a fridge. That meant we didn't have to buy ice-cream from the corner shop. Mum then started amking her own ice-cream that was very icy.
We didn't get a telephone until I was a teenager, prior to that I used to phone my friends on a Sunday when I visited my Nanna.
The VCR, Microwave and Computer didn't appear until I was an old married mother.
18. Did your family have a TV? Was it b&w or colour? And how many channels did you get?
I remember watching TV through the window of the electronics shop in Kings Cross. Dad found the Davis Cup fascinating and we stood there for ages watching it. We didn't get TV until I was around ten. There were three channels in Sydney at the time.
19. Did your family move house when you were young? Do you remember it?
We moved from a flat in cosmopolitan Kings Cross to a house in the suburbs when I was about nine - that was quite a culture shock although it was nice to have my own pink and white bedroom.
Our flat building in Kings Cross
20. Was your family involved in any natural disasters happening during your childhood (ie.fire, flood, cyclone, earthquake etc)
I was the only natural disaster in my family.
21. Is there any particular music that when you hear it, sparks a childhood memory?
Alexander's Ragtime Band. My parents used to play this rousing tune to put me to sleep - there were no lullabies for Jill.
Traditional Irish songs and Catholic hymns that my grandmother used to sing to me.
22. What is something that an older family member taught you to do?
Nanna taught me to crochet and cross-stitch, Mum taught me to sew, Aunty Lil taught me to cook. I was remedial in all of these areas. Aunty Eileen took me to ballet and tap lessons each Saturday. In spite of Mum's best efforts Dad taught me some colourful language. Mum taught me to shop, she was a great teacher.
23. What are brands that you remember from when you were a kid?
Pears Soap, Lux Flakes, Reckitts Blue Bags, Cobbers and Freckles, Cahills Caramel Sauce, Shelley's soft drinks - Snowcap Champagne was a favourite.
24. Did you used to collect anything? (ie. rocks, shells, stickers … etc.)
Autographs, Stamps, Beatles memorabilia. Mum also threw all my Beatles scrapbooks out but I saved my Autograph Book.
25. Share your favourite childhood memory.
My childhood is one big happy memory.
Judy Russell in her superb keynote addres at the recent Rootstech Conference emphasized the importance or recording our personal history for future generations. Watching Judy's presentation online from my cruise ship gave me a bit of a wake up call and reminded me to get back into blogging my stories. The Book of Me activity devised by Julie Goucher gives one such an opportunity.
It's never too late to commence this activity so how about joining in and sharing your trips down memory lane?
While sitting quietly at my desk the other day I was astonished to hear a big crash behind me. I swivelled around on my chair to find that the door of the old wardrobe in which I store a lot of my tech toys and genie loot had sprung open. On inspection I noted that one of the shelves had collapsed and that some of my gear had spilled out and onto the floor while some remained precariously perched on the now crooked shelf.
After the crash - tech toys scattered
Now this got me thinking about the history of the Yellow wardrobe will be celebrating its 40th birthday this year. We purchased this Everett Worthington wardrobe and a matching set of drawers for our first son just prior to his birth and it has served us and our family well. I now notice these wardrobes being advertised on eBay as "Retro". You will note that the wardrobe has had a colour change, Mr GeniAus painted it white several years ago.
The first time the wardrobe appears in my album is early in 1974, My son will be pleased to know that, for modesty's sake, I have cropped this image.
GeniAus, son and the yellow wardrobe 1974
By 1976 we had moved to a new home. The yellow wardrobe is in the background of the next photo. My son was able to sleep with that wild wallpaper, red sheets and yellow wardrobe.
The wardrobe moved house with us in 1979 and served our son until 19987 when we put an upstairs extension on our that home. As the four new bedrooms had built-in wardrobes the yellow model was banished to the basement playroom for toy storage.
When we moved to our present home on 1993 the wardrobe came with us and found itself used as storage in the garage here where it languished for a several years. Five years ago son number two moved to a house without built-ins so Mr GeniAus gave the wardrobe its paint job and moved it to a new home where it served our grandson for four years until it was replaced by a newer model.
The wardrobe once again came home and sat in the carport right where it was offloaded until I had a brainwave. I gave it a new home as tech toy storage in my study. Those who have viewed some of my GeniAUS Hangouts on Air will have noticed the wardrobe in the background - it scrubs up all right for a 40 year old.
When I have a full day at home next week I will have to empty the wardrobe and get Mr GeniAus to strengthen the shelf that collapsed. I hope that it will serve our family for a few more years.
I wonder what family stories the yellow wardrobe could tell.
Yesterday I had a great outing with two of my first cousins. Although I see them regularly it is always at family gatherings or when we meet up with our extended families for lunch at some venue or other around Sydney. We never seem to get a chance for a real good gossip.
At the last family gathering, a 21st for one cousin's daughter, we decided that it would be nice to just have a get together for the three of us. As we each live on the different outer edges of Sydney we chose the CBD as our venue. Although it was a stinking hot day outside we holed up in The Cortile at The Sydney Intercontinental Hotel for High Coffee and there we stayed for over four hours.
My cousins aren't into family history but they love family gossip and sharing stories. As the oldest of the three I was able to share memories of our grandmother who was a robust, calm and gentle devout Catholic fiercely proud of her Irish heritage. The youngest cousin only remembered here as a little old lady with dementia while we older girls had memories of a proud, upright lady.
For years I had wondered why this grandmother had moved from her home town of Dungog away from her family to Canowindra. My middle cousin piped up "I know that". A mystery solved! Nanna suffered from asthma and took medical advice to move from the humidity of Dungog to the drier climate in Canowindra. Second cousin then added "Is that who I should blame for my asthma?". She didn't know that her grandmother had suffered with chest problems. As we talked about our parents, their early lives and shared stories they had passed down we learnt more about our family history and relationships.
Grandmother, Mary Curry (nee Tierney) 1936
The girls got a giggle when I told them of a couple of shotgun marriages that occurred in the family prior to 1920. The cause of death of another relative brought a smile to their faces as they had always thought the reason given to them for his death was implausible. Pooling our knowledge from snippets shared by our parents we worked out that another relative had given birth to three children and had put them up for adoption. There must have been a few ears burning in heaven and on earth yesterday as we shared stories of various family members. As a result of our conversations I will be adding a few private notes to my family database.
We three had such a wonderful time together. Two of us are only children and the other has only one sibling who lives overseas so we are starved of the close relationships those with many siblings enjoy.
Jill (right) withe her paternal first cousins 1980.
I can highly recommend sitting down with your cousins and sharing stories. Those cousins might just have a piece to complete a puzzle that has been baffling you.
Or use any other historical (well known or otherwise) event.
-----------------------------------------------
For this post, for which I am rather late, I turned to the Australian resource Trove found a few images from the year I was born and from them created a collage. In the process I learnt a little about how to use GIMP. What year do you think it was?
Two weeks ago my cousin lent me a case of her late mother's photos that I have started to scan. Among the treasures I found were two photos (below) of "Little Jilly" riding her dinky at her Nana Curry's house just as I had described.
Have I been to some birthday parties in my time! With eleven grandchildren I imagine that I will attend a few more in my day.
Although these celebrations can be noisy and chaotic I love them. I am privileged to be able to share in these festivities with my favourite troupe of little people. One of the recurring elements in all of these parties is the cake.
Today two of the children are having a shared party and last night my daughter posted a photo of he cake she created (without even a cake mix) to Facebook. She apparently borrowed the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Party Cake Book that I used to make several of my children's cakes so that she could create her masterpiece.
My daughter's creation - 2013
In a subsequent 'phone call she asked me to find the photo I had taken of a cake I made for one of her birthdays. I dutifully found it in my Picasa collection and posted it to Facebook.
My creation - 1988
What really touched me were a couple of comments she made on the Facebook cake post "Thanks Mum (Jill) I loved that cake xx" and ....."In 1988 I thought it was the best thing ever!"
Even though 25 years have passed it gives me goosebumps to realise that the effort I made in producing that cake was appreciated by my little girl.
It was a Saturday, 23 November 1963, when the news of JFK's shooting reached Australia. I was in bed when my mother came into my room to tell me the news. Like millions all over the world I was absolutely stunned. Just as I remember what I was doing the day Princess died I have a very clear recollection of what happened 50 years ago today.
Catholic Schoolgirl - 1963
My heroes weren't pop stars (except for the Beatles), they were men and women of vision or selfless characters who worked to improve the lot of others.
I was a great fan of John Fitzgerald Kennedy and used to read every newspaper and magazine article about him that I could get my hands on. I also had a small collection of books about Kennedy some of which I still have in my library today. No doubt this interest was fuelled by the nuns at the Catholic school I attended as they were also in awe of the Catholic President. I admired the American Princess, Jackie Kennedy, and the cute little Kennedy kids. The Kennedys were America's royals.
My interest in Kennedy has waned over the years but if there is an opportunity to watch a documentary about Kennedy, his family and the assassination I take it. Just last night I watched two Kennedy related documentaries.
The only place I visited when I had a day in Dallas last year was The Sixth Floor Museum (The former Texas School Book Depository). Although it was a sobering experience the pilgrimage to the Museum was one of the highlights of that trip to the US. It took me back to that day 50 years ago when a Catholic schoolgirl mourned one of her heroes.
I am going to cheat a little bit with this post as I will paste in bits and pieces I have written in earlier blog posts. I remember two of my grandparents and met three of them. I adored my two Nannas and spent many happy childhood hours with them and their extended families.
My Paternal grandparents were Thomas William Curry and Mary Tierney, my maternal grandparents were Frank Duncan and Ethel Jane Pusell. So that's the vital statistics out of the way.
Having started writing this post I have realised that what I have to write is way too much for one post so I will write separately about my two sets of grandparents. You can read about my Maternal grandparents here. CURRY/TIERNEY My paternal side is 100% Irish and with a bit of Irish thrown in from my Mum's side that makes me more then half Irish and goes some way to explaining why I have the gift of the gab. Thomas (Papa) William Curry, twin to Daniel, was born in Cowra, New South Wales to Thomas Curry and Catherine Molloy. Thomas' father died when he was seven and his mother who remarried died in 1904 so young Tom was orphaned at twenty. His extended family lived in the Cowra district so hopefully they supported this young farm worker.
Thomas met Mary (Nana) Tierney from Dungog in his home town of Canowindra where Mary,a dressmaker, worked in the local hotel. What took Mary to Canowindra I don't know and I guess I'll never find out. Tom and Mary had a quiet wedding in Sydney (I haven't been able to locate any photos) and returned to Canowindra where they brought up their family of three boys and two girls. My Dad, Allan John, was their first-born. Papa Curry managed two local properties, Fairview and Benevento, in Canowindra and the family grew up on the farms.
Tom and Mary Curry and Family, 1925
After my grandfather retired the family moved to Brighton-le-sands in Sydney and that is where my memories kick in. I can't remember my grandfather as he died when I was an infant but I have many recollections of my Nana Curry.
Mary Tierney 1887-1977
Mary Tierney was born in the town of Dungog to John D'Arcy Tierney, a carpenter, builder and sometime undertaker, and his Irish wife, Mary Kealy. Nana had two sisters, Jane and Eliza, and a brother, Patrick. Nana was a gentle lady with snowy white hair that she wore in a bun and she seemed terribly old to me when she was about the age I am now. She was a devout Catholic who was proud of her Irish heritage, I remember kneeling beside her bed and reciting my prayers with her when I went to stay with her. We would always include this prayer: There are four corners on my bed, There are four angels at my head. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Bless the bed I lay upon. Before my Aunts left home I would sleep with Nana in her high double bed with her statue of Our Lady looking down on me. I was pleased to find out recently that Our Lady is now residing in a glass-fronted cabinet in my cousin's home. We used to visit Nana's home by train and bus every Sunday for lunch. Sometimes, after Uncle Kevin bought a television set, we would stay on to watch Leave it to Beaver before making our way home. I remember watching Princess Margaret's wedding on that TV in 1960. Uncle Kevin had a car, one of the early Holdens (FJ or FX), so after lunch all the family might pile in to go for a drive to watch the planes taking off at the nearby Kingsford Smith (Sydney) airport or down south across the Taren Point Car Ferry towards Cronulla Beach. As we lived in a a flat my dinky, scooter and bicycle with training wheels lived at Nana's. I spent many happy Sundays tootling up and down the garden path and the footpath in my vehicles. My patient Aunts and Uncles played games with me, I especially loved playing Scrabble and was thrilled to get a set (that I still have) as a Christmas present; I play Scrabble to this daybut online. Two memorable gifts I received for Christmas or a birthday from the Currys were my Kodak Box Brownie Camera (and a developing kit) and a reel to reel tape recorder. I had great fun with these items, taking photos and interviewing family members. Mum wouldn't have been too happy when she discovered the damage to the carpet under my bed (my darkroom) that was ruined by the chemicals I spilt. I was the first and only Curry grandchild/niece for seven years so I had a lot of attention. Our trip to Brighton was made easier when Dad got his first car. Uncle Kevin was relieved of his chauffering duties but we continued our drives to visit Aunty Lil and Uncle Tom at Sans Souci and Aunty Mary and Uncle Ed at Mortdale.In summer we would sometimes go the the Ramsgate Baths for a swim or we would swim on the beach or in the baths at Brighton. Nana would cook us a baked dinner or corned beef and vegetables for Sunday lunch. I don't know how the extended family all squeezed around her table that was just 4 feet in diameter, I have had Nana's dining suite for 25 years and use it as an auxiliary table. Every time I walk past it I am reminded of family Sundays at Brighton. For the first sixteen years of my life (until I started getting a social life) I visited Nana nearly every Sunday.
Caramels
Nana loved feeding me egg flips that she believed to be very healthy, these drinks were made from milk, a raw egg and vanilla essence and after a shake and stir of the ingredients nutmeg was sprinkled on top. I remember them as quite sweet and delicious. Nana used often give me sweets to take home, they were always the same caramels. I sometimes wished for a bit of variety. Nana, who lived to the ripe old age of 89 spent the last few years of her life in a nursing home. She had an enormous impact on my life.
