The way we were

This picture was taken not long after we got back to the UK in 1960!!!! Mum looks so thin! She was incredible when I think about it! Congo wasn't the best place for her health wise, but undeterred, she worked on and what a fantastic job she did too! Not saying Dad didn't do a good job - he did, but he wasn't poorly like she was at times! We discovered that Mum and Dad were on the first boat to leave Southampton post war without a naval convoy when we were going through things after Dad died. How long did letters take back then? And just think of all the changes since then!

I was puzzling over in my mind what my favourite children's home was! I think it was the house by the bakery! The smell of fresh bread still turns me on! I think I was always lucky with bedrooms and room mates because a) I was a girl and b) not many girls my age- except for Heather Arton. Heather and I shared the room that led off from the lounge /diner at Km 8! Just behind the veranda! That was a neat room!!!

I was wondering who slept out in the barn! I can't believe we used that for habitation! In the UK Social Services would have been out in force!!! Cruelty to children no less! Hey - we all survived one way or another!

I think my favourite spot at Km 8 was the steps - those red ones leading to the front door; I used to sit on them and read books - mainly boys books! (that's all that was available i think). Did any of you boys ever read any of them - they were American, and I can't remember who the main character was, I think he was a sportsman - a team player and the stories were often about dilemmas that challenged his beliefs and tested his commitment to Christ! Can any one help me out with this?

I do remember Ione not letting me play on the swings in case I showed my knickers and corrupted any of the boys - she didn't use those words of course but that was the essence of it!

Life was a challenge for a girl - being female seemed a distinct disadvantage at times, especially when all my peers were boys! I did so want to join in - I remember Billy often aribtrating for me - and I was always grateful - may not have told you so at the time Billy and apologies for that! You were my hero on those occaissions! Perhaps we should prepare the three best bits of life in the childrens home and the three worst bits!!! One of my best bits would be the games on Saturday night and of course the films - David Livingstone!!!!

Wow - Ist May!!!

I have recovered from illness!!!! Back to work with a vengence- when I am off sick or on holiday, no one picks up - so its all to do when I get back! I have eventually found an external examiner - so my students scripts can now be moderated! I have rescheduled the day session I had to cancel - so getting back up to speed.

The Volcanic ash thing had me terrified! What if I couldn't fly to the states! I'm OK if I was stranded in the States - I figure some kind person will put me up - I do so want to getthere for the reunion!

My daughter in law - Carla - slipped whilst trying to paint the bathroom ceiling! Unfortunately, she was balancing precariously on a small step ladder that she had put in the tub and when she fell she dislocated her knee!!! The trauma had lots of consequences - she couldn't do much for Louie's birthday party but direct operations - fortunately, the family all rallied round! Iguess its the blessing of a large family! Anyway - alltraumas are forgotten and Carla is now recovered and back at work1 Since then - our little Katie had her first Birthday party! She is our youngest grand daughter - I haven't introduced this family yet! The picture is off Meg and David on their wedding day! Meg and David have two children - Ben aged 3 and katie aged 1. Meg is studying counselling at Uni and works at a childrens nursery part time. David has a fascinating job - he is a dog handler, and he works at a large airport - his dog finds money - counterfit!

Meg is younger than Jenny and older than Pete - and she is our middle child!!! Pivotal really!!!

Just two more boys to introduce to you and then that is our family complete!

I seem to be the only one blogging on here! Have I bored you all to death? Are you dreading meeting me now!!! Just wondering!

Bit more from Laureen

Today, our eldest granddaughter, Danielle, celebrated her 13th. Birthday!!!!! Danielle is at secondary school - the same one that her mummy and daddy and all her uncles and aunt went to! Two teachers are still there who knew them all and can still remember all the family!
Danielle is a very bright young girl, she does a lot of dancing - ballet, tap and modern; goes to Girl Guides; loves handicrafts - sewing, knitting etc and studies hard. Danielle is the eldest of three girls - Aimee came next - she is 8 years old and the tom boy of the family - she plays soccer, does gymnastics as well as dancing. The girl has no fear!!!! You would never have caught me jumping about on a narrow beam like she does at her age!!!
Last but not least is Ruby aged 5! Ruby is the quite shy one, she loves her books and reads very well for her age! Like the others, she loves handicrafts and she also does ballet lessons after school.
Mummy and Daddy are Jenny and Richard, Jen is our eldest daughter and she comes after Adam in birth order! We have known Richard since he was 14 years old, when his family moved to St Albans and he joined the school. Theirs is a teenage romance that has stood the test of time. From finishing school, Jenny went to University and became a teacher - she is now a deputy head of Primary school that takes children from nursery age(3 years old) up to 11 years of age. She is studying for her Masters degree in Education - so has a lot on her plate - what with family and full time work and study!
Richard became a postman, it is a job that has fitted in well with family life because he tends to finish work by lunch time and is able to pick up the girls from school and look after them until Jenny gets home. He supplements his income by buying and selling cars and doing carpentry! A man of many talents - would be ace as a missionary in tropical Africa!!!!
Fortunately, they are only a five minute drive away so we get to see a lot of them.
Jenny worries about social networking sites on the Internet and doesn't like the fact that with some sites people seem to be able to access them with ease and view pictures, so no pictures of the girls but I will bring some to the reunion!
I am about half way through introducing you to the family - you will be releaved to know!
I said it was large!!!
I am so glad I was brought up in the Children's home - it taught me a lot that I have found useful in my life!!!! Especially when dealing with lots of children!

Rain in Perth Australia

I have just watched the news - has anyone else seen the rain in Perth!!!! A months rainfall in seven minutes - hailstones bigger than golf balls and thousands of people left with out power!!! I just hope Mike and family are safe and well! The video clip on BBC news is amazing.

My last bit today - I think!!!

Having talked about Peter and Marika's wedding, it is only fair to introduce them properly with a picture! Peter works in publishing for a company called HVS International and Marika works for the University of East London in programme administration! Marika gets to see the development taking place for the olympic games on a daily basis. I couldn't operate without my programme administrators at University, they do so much to ease student life!!! Behind Peter and Marika is a boy playing with a camera - that is Wilf and Kathy's youngest son Isaac! That's all for to day folks!

Wilfred's family

Having shown you all a picture of Wilfred, I can't leave Wilfred's wife Kathy out of the equation - a pity I didn't get them together! So here is Cathy - with Adam (son number 2) and Wilf and Kathy's eldest son Rueben!

More from Laureen

Weddings are wonderful photo opportunities - eaxactly one year ago, Peter (son number 3)married the delightful Marika! It was a wonderful sunny spring day, very warm and they did better than many who opted for summer weddings - we had a very wet summer last year!

Anyway - here I am with Veronica and Wilfred! Adrian lives in Australia with his wife Debs and couldn't make the trip!