Wildcard Friday -- Family Jeopardy

This week's Wild Card Friday was a Family Jeopardy Game. 

We played it virtually through Zoom and it was a LOT of fun reminiscing and laughing.  We will create more and hope that even more can attend the virtual family game room.  We had 14 households at one time.  Happy to make it even more!

Game is available to play at this link.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xrdWqyCufNn77-r_IF5cTW9N4Yes-zv5/view?usp=sharing

Photo Friday #1 -- Performances

As a family we participated in many performances.  Often Mum was director, set coordinator, script writer, costume designer and prop master.... and other titles.

We even finagled other people into our performances.

This was a Quadra chapel event.  We performed a St. Patrick's day adaptation of a film, "Finian's Rainbow.

Key songs that stick in mind... decades later!!... "Look, look, look to the rainbow"..  and "How are things, in Glocca Morra?"

The highland dance outfits were put to good use.

Rob Bogaert the 'tallest leprechaun'.
Allison Gaul..  a highland dance classmate.

Archive Friday #1 Willows School - Channa

Archive Friday #1 Willows School - Sparky

Archive Friday #1 Willows School - Eden

Archive Friday #1 Willows School-Mum

                
I  REMEMBER  lining up by class outside the nurses room  at  willows  to  get shots,  diphtheria, whooping  cough and small pox!  there  was a  strong antiseptic smell always  coming from the  room when you  went down the hallway.  This  was a time  when  I  gave up my childhood plan  to  become a nurse.

I remember  the  strictness of  fire drills..  no one was allowed  to say  a word..  All was silent.. i remember  a boy being sent  back to the  class room  as punishment  for  speaking.. I thought  that  odd if  there had been a fire. he is sent back into it ! !   i didn't  dare speak up   to ask  to be  excused for the toilet and i  wet my  pants.   it was  the days  when  girls  didn't wear  pants! so all that  showed  was  the  wet socks and  the puddle at my  feet.. that I couldn't leave the line . I had  to stand over it  so  everyone would know it  was me!

I remember  Monday morning assemblies in  the  auditorium.  The  whole school  would file in  class by  class  and stand for the hour or more  that seemed like man y hours.  all of us  crowded together, no ventilation..  The  first and second  grade  were allowed to sit  cross legged on the  floor.  I  remember people fainting  not a lot  or often  that i was aware of  but i remember the day  they announced from  the  stage that  we were all allowed to sit  on  the  floor. There  was a happy  sound go up  and  clapping..  and  we got into trouble for  being  so  outspoken and loud and if it  happened again  we  would have to stand again.

Another memory of a dog visiting a  famous dog and were all given a photo of him.. I've always  remembered it as being Neitka the Russian dog that was first in space, but i'm  not sure  I don't  think it  could have been  him... I remember  when  Sputnik  went up  we all  cheered  that  Russia had  beat the Americans but I was older  by  then!

I remember  when  King  George  died.  it  was announced over the p.a.system. The teacher  cried.  We didn't really  understand  her emotion.  But we  were all sent home.     I  do  remember  the  transition  at  assembly.. Although  by then  we were allowed  to sit, we all stood at  attention.  It wasn't until  after we stood at attention  to  sing, God  save the King' ...

... But this particular assembly  was  the  first  time we  were to sing,  God  save the  Queen!!

Our  Queen's mother lived  to  101.  giving  Queen Elizabeth good  genetics.  I've wondered if I will hear once again,  the  sound of  singing  God save the King. ! ! 

I don't know  that Miss Creeden  was my  favourite teacher  but on my  report  card she wrote "Joyce is a  jewel"

She  always wore plaid skirts.. much like kilts.  but  she  had no Scottish accent. I  remember  when us little  girls  were sitting on the  cold concrete basement window ledges and  she  came  by  and  chastised us.   "Don sit on  the  on  concrete  you  will get  hemorrhoids.   We never had it explained to us  what  hemorrhoids were! And  would  we have understood?

In case you'd like to check out the valididty to the 'sitting on concrete - hemmoroids connection... follow this link.  (https://www.healthcentral.com/article/dizziness-when-moving-head-laying-down)

I was always amused  when  i  heard  the claim  that  someone with hardships  went up  hill to school  both way.  because that is  what i did..  Hampshire Hill.

Archive Friday #1

As this is a first friday.. It is technically a Poll Friday.. however.. since Eden's big 40 fell on a Wednesday... we'll call all that came with that Poll Friday for this week.. So now I will post the question for next weeks Archive Friday.

Our First Archive Friday question for 2020 is:

WILLOWS SCHOOL!

What is a favourite memory.. an embarassing memory... a favourite teacher... a dreaded teacher... a memorable day?

Does the walk or bike ride to school have any specific memories or favourite spots?
What does thinking of Willows School bring to your mind?

Happy week... looking forward to your memories.

Administrative Business

As the CBA  (Chief Blog Administrator) I am proposing the bylaws for Forties File Fridays (FFF)

1.  Friday Posts

First Friday of the month

• This will be Poll Friday.  Polls will consist of between 5 and 10 questions that can be responded to with one word or simple sentence answers.  Always feel free to elaborate on any response.
• the questions will be posted the Friday before.  Send responses any way you like.  Text, email, snail mail,  
• Poll question suggestions are always welcome.  Just email or text them to the CBA (me)

Second Friday of the month

• This will be 'reach into the archives of your mind Friday'.  (Archive Friday for short) 
• A question will be posted Friday before and responses can again be sent anyway you like. These are more in depth than the polls.  Questions that will likely have a short memory response or for some of you.. a longer response.  All lengths are encouraged.  
• If there is a photo that suits the memory or responses I will endeavor to post it along with the responses.  Any photos you may have that I do not have access to are welcome submissions. 

Third Friday of the month

• This will be Photo Friday
• The photo will NOT be posted a week earlier but rather will be posted the morning of the third Friday.  It will be a photo to spark comments.   Either a photo that requires identification or a photo that is itself a trip down memory lane.  
• During the month of your birthday.. be advised.. The third Friday will likely have a leaning in your direction.
• Some photo Friday's may have multiple photo posts.  (Up to the discretion and available time of the CBO)

Fourth Friday of the month

• This is the Wildcard Friday
• Some posts will be about 2nd generation or Grandchildren 
• Some posts will be bonafide 'Forties File' items... i.e.  an elementary school essay or a childhood drawing
• Again... beware the month of your birth.

When a Fifth Friday occurs.

• Our CEO (Mum) will give us an historical or genealogical Forties File Friday.  A tidbit of memory of her grandparents or childhood that would not typically fit in the regular FFF. questions.  
• We'll call it CEO Friday until a better name is presented...  (Mum Friday, FFFF - Fifth Forties File Friday?)

2.  All posts are optional.  You may respond to any and all you feel inclined to.  Feel free to post to archived posts also if time didn't permit earlier.  Respond to as many as you are able and willing as it makes it more enjoyable for all and adds to the fullness of the memory that way.

3.  The parameters of Blogger only allow for ten emails to be automatically notified when a blog is posted.  Those with a little more computer/internet savvy can subscribe to the blog for notifications and others can check the site periodically.  It should only need to be checked on Fridays for new content.  My personal (NobleMoments blog) is far less consistent.

Hair..... it goes

Babies haven't any hair:

Old men's heads are just as bare;
From the cradle to the grave
Lies a haircut and a shave.
~Samuel Goodman Hoffenstein

The home hair cut... whether born of necessity or simply for a skill we start 'em young....
and a little mood music doesn't hurt.
Some of us had more opportunities to hone our skills with many siblings over the years...

Dad stepped up to the chopping block barbers chair many times over the years, with many apprentice cutters....
Some more pleasant than others....

Sometimes friends were willing to volunteer....

Couldn't have been too bad, some kept coming back for more.

Although sisters can sometimes gang up on a guy!

It certainly became a mother's skill... whether any good or not...

Some believe they are so good with their own children that as Aunts they try out their skills.

Some Uncles, not to be outdone joined the ranks...

Cousins also give it a try.

Some methods and results were a little more unorthodox than others....

There are many faces of beauty over the years..... some expressions of confidence others of uncertainty and concern....

If some knew the peril they were in, would they keep coming back?

The chance to get a professional cut is not turned down...

The hair cuts in this presentation: those who don't find their photos here, maybe just kept out of mums camera range....seeking privacy for their personal life !
OR were among those who sought more professional 'salons' !
OR were just chicken ! !

Of course regardless of the location, the wielder of the scissors, or the reason for the haircut, the before, the process and the after always brings joy to someone...


Some like the home haircut so much, they'll put it off until the very last minute... needing a quickie in an airport bathroom before a flight....

The skills expanded beyond haircuts to stylings and general beauty tips.

Sometimes.... the 'favour' was returned...

The only difference between a good cut and a bad cut is 2 weeks!

if you're lucky...

Sleeping Beauties

Dad perfected the art of sleeping in...

unusual locations,

times...

positions...

But he passed on his wisdom....

Some like chairs...

Some try the floor...

Most prefer the couch...

This couch seemed to be a favourite....

A favourite for many...

There was no respect for those sleeping. Something about not being able to resist the urge.
..

It's not like they didn't have beds....
they even made it close sometimes...

My Dad used to say.. "Any fool can get up in the morning.. It takes the smart ..... to know when to go to bed at night.."
I wish I had listened to my Dad !

You can see that ancestral wisdom filtered down to some.. they just didn't catch the part about making it to the beds.


Sleeping with friends...


Exhausted new parents...

Slumbering sitter

If dad can sitter asleep why can't I?


Wherever you can find a spot...

Christmas is exhausting...

Animals sleep too...

How was I to know there was a party going on?

Rest in peace...
(lol)

A note from Mum... I wasn't everywhere and didn't always have a camera or film handy. If I'd known our photos would turn into a project many years later for a sleeping or hair cut blog... I would have 'consciously kept a photo log (a phlog? ) I certainly would have taken photos of my "young" children ... I was just relieved to have my little ones sleeping... I didn't do a photo log... I think they may all have found, or been escorted to their beds.! Do you remember the call to '"climb the wooden hill"