Judy Stewart's Blog

'For Better For Worse'

1/10/2015

As children at primary school, my sister and I would drag home every 'stray' dog we came across in the school yard. Mum would release them very quickly! I guess they always found their way home. The trend was set, we always wanted our own dog.

When living in Tasmania, with two young children, we decided to get a dog. Hydatids were rife in Tassie making it unsafe to buy a dog locally, so the search went on in Melbourne where Mum found a golden Labrador. Lisa named him Mr Ed. A constant delight to us all, Mr Ed. lived to a good age. I hated to have him put to sleep when he was about 15 years old.

My man declared "no more dogs", probably because of all the upset and trauma of losing Mr Ed. However shortly after he left for one of his jobs elsewhere, I found I couldn't bear not having a dog.

I took the kids, three by then, to a local pound, where after a short, hurried selection time we decided to take a black, cross breed, short of leg and long in body, and traumatised by previous adopters who returned him to the pound.

Already named Sam, he threw up in the car on the way home and I thought 'Oh what have I done'! He was so timid, afraid to get his share of the food served en mass at the pound. I am sure that was the reason he ate part of a bench stool and regurgitated it soon after arriving home! t took a while for Sam to understand he was loved and part of the family; that the plate of food was for him and that he didn't have to eat rubbish.

Sam was Lisa's dog. He would wait for her return from school every day with his little legs up on the window sill so he could see her coming.

Years went by and Sam started to slow down. My boys used to go running around the streets at night and I thought they would be safer if they had a dog to run with them. So Sally, a black Lab crossed with Border Collie, came into our lives.

Poor Sally had a very rough start, surviving twice from very serious illness. Sally was great company for Sam who was now attuned to Lisa's later return from work. Sam featured in Lisa’s wedding photos and missed her so much after she married. He waited for her return from work every day, until he finally understood she was not coming home.

Sally was a great source of fun and company for Sam. Clever, very active and a constant delight, she would have a tug of war, with Sam, or whoever would play with her, preferably in the lounge room with an audience. She loved to entertain us all, this involved a large length of suiting material kept for the purpose. The amount of black dog hair shed on that carpet was incredible. Much cleaning was needed!

We had a party for Lisa's 40th birthday at Swanpool. Sally was old, and poorly, and I remember my boys lifting her in her basket up onto the verandah when it was time to retire. Sally is buried next to our Sam at Swanpool.

I had never had a dog that was my very own, they were always more family dogs, and I fancied a fox terrier. Bobbie was gorgeous, I loved him so much. Bobbie was about six when he tragically died. My Man had passed away and I was on my own, so losing Bobbie, a precious animal, was to me almost like losing a loved person. I was devastated, but friends encouraged me to get another dog.

After a time I saw foxies advertised over Shepparton way. I had arranged to meet the young school boy in charge of the puppy sales at his home after school and waited for his school bus to arrive. The lad ran to open the door to let the dogs out. They all tumbled out in a mass, excited to see him and be let out. The first one I saw had lovely markings and I quickly said "that one". One glance was enough for me!

Richie is now 11 years old and is my constant companion. He understands every word he hears, he can make me understand what he wants. He is not terribly obedient, but comes running if I toot the car horn. If he blinks at me I blink back, in case we are talking in 'code'. I love to see him smile--he does you know--and I love to see him healthy and happy.

All our dogs were members of the family. We loved them through their good times and tough times. I think they were very good for the children to learn from. They all have family dogs today and wouldn't be without them—‘For Better For Worse’.

Richie

'Car Stories'

5/9/2015

My English born uncle, Jimmy, ended up in the Australian army as a transport driver during the war. One of the famous Rats of Tobruk, he was very unhealthy. He was also very deaf and wore a huge hearing aid strapped around his torso, under his shirt, which didn’t seem to work very well. Jim was 'classified' as a T.P.I. (Totally and Permanently Incapacitated). He survived.

To make a living his wife Aunty Eileen, known for her great cooking, bought a café and milk bar business at Half Moon Bay which kept our family very busy. Of course that was not Jim's type of work. I guess these days he would be called a 'petrol head', so he procured work driving taxis for a while, working for Black Rock Taxis, meeting lots of local lads that drove taxis casually as a second job. Jim brought some of these lads home to visit with the family where many friends were made. They became drivers for him, and husbands of a few of the lasses they met through the cafe side of voluntary workers! Me included.

Eily was great fun to be with. Much laughter, love and concern for all family, near and far, emanated from her in her cafe kitchen. Everyone seemed to have fun whilst helping her out. Some called her The Queen of Black Rock!

Jim and Eily made the big decision to go into the taxi business themselves. I know money was scarce, however two cars were bought--I guess they raised finance somehow. A radio was set up on a desk, in the dining room, just off the kitchen door, so we kitchen workers could hear the radio at all times and answer accordingly. When there was a job for the taxis, anyone running around doing the work of the shop, passing by the radio to get things from the huge 'fridge, (also in a corner of the dining room) could inform the drivers of their latest jobs. It was a crazy, lovely, place. Lovely because of the people in it and because there was never a dull moment. That dining room was never used for meals, we didn't have time for that, when we did eat, it was on a corner of one of the kitchen work tables, but occasionally excess customers, waiting for a table in the cafe were put in there to wait until one was free.

Jimmy loved to 'do' weddings, but thought his unmatched cars were not grand enough for special occasions. Another big decision was made, to buy two brand new Ford Customlines. Big, black and beautiful, they were his pride and joy. When the cars were only a few days on the road, one of the drivers called on the radio that he had had an accident. Going down the Punt Rd hill, the brakes had failed and he almost ended up in the Yarra. Oh what a dreadful shock, mayhem, and, disappoint-ment. The car was damaged and the driver so upset because he knew how Jimmy felt about his new cars. Thankfully no one was hurt. I guess Mr Ford had a bit of explaining and fixing to do.

Soon the car was ready to 'do' weddings. Those cars were always cleaned and spot on, but on the days a wedding was booked in, they were given extra treatment, washed and dried with a shammy so no water marks remained and they were absolutely spotless. White wedding ribbons were tied onto the bonnet up to the top of the windscreen, those ribbons always signify a wedding. Flowers were put in the little vases beside the windows-- it all looked a treat.

Jimmy and the chosen driver of the second car, both clean and polished, dressed to the nines and with highly polished black shoes, gauntlets and a peak cap would go off to work, proud as Punch. The confetti in the cars afterwards, was never a worry, they just vacuumed it up.

I don't know how old the cars were in 1962, but Jimmy did the whole procedure for me when we were married. Yes, I married one of the boys he had met whilst working at Black Rock Taxis--he had become a much loved member of the family, the son Jim and Eily never had.

A few years ago, when visiting the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, I saw one of the trucks that was used in Tobruk. I 'd love to think our Uncle Jimmy once was the driver!

'Lost and Found' ... 'The Watch!'

29/7/2015

When I was married we lived in Tasmania, moving around from place to place when my man's job dictated it. One day, whilst shopping in a Hobart department store, I found a watch on the floor. I thought about handing it to a lass behind the nearest counter, but the shop was crowded and busy, so I found my way with great difficulty to the office and handed the watch into the Lost and Found section. They insisted on taking my name and address, which I thought unnecessary.

Some time later I answered a knock on the door and there was a lady with a parcel to thank me for handing her watch into the office. Inside the parcel were two pairs of sheets for my childrens’ beds. Apparently the office people had told her I had two children with me when I went looking for their Lost and Found department! How kind was that! The lady explained the watch was of great sentimental value. I think the gift she gave me probably cost more that the value of the watch.

Years later my family gave me a lovely Seiko watch for my 50th birthday. I kept it for ‘best, best’ and always considered it special because my children bought it for me. I used it for years, but then I realised I had lost it. I was very upset about losing it, but life went on. Over time I gradually forgot about it.

One day, many years later, whilst rummaging around in the top draw beside my bed, I felt something amongst the handkerchiefs. Low and behold, there was ... ‘The Watch’!

Since then my daughter never believes me when I say I have lost something. She always says "It will turn up"!

Now I almost have to keep a list of all the things I have lost or misplaced.

At the moment, high on the list is ‘The Clicker’ for the second garage door. I have one, but what ever have I done with the second one? So far my searches in all the obvious places have been unsuccessful. I do hope it "turns up",

There is a lesson here. I should make it imperative to empty out drawers occasionally, to be a better house keeper, but oh heck, I just can't be bothered!

PS … three weeks later and ‘The Clicker’ has turned up!

A Friendship Tested

12/6/2015

Years ago, and for many years, I worked in commercial kitchens.   There was a definite pecking order among the many casual staff who came and went at all hours of the day and night, doing different jobs or types of work. These jobs were jealously guarded and not to be lost to some new comer.

When they reached executive level, many chefs brought trusted staff with them. Previously employed 'casuals' could lose their spot if the new top dog didn't want to keep them on. One's reputation was known to the new boss before he arrived to take up his new position.

In the kitchen I started in, one of the older lady’s disposition was not very friendly at the best of times. This woman worked many hours in various venues. Everyone knew her, or of her, she was the one everyone tip toed around as she would soon show her displeasure about things she didn't like.

Fortunately, I managed to stay on the right side of her. One day she asked me to work her hours at another venue while she had a break. She was pleased I helped her hold her job.

Another time she recommended me to a very cranky chef who promptly got rid of staff he didn't like for various reasons. Being slow was one of the worst offences. He would spin like a top, so I learnt to duck and weave and spin like a top too.   We could cook and serve 300 meals in two hours. Sometimes the customers would stand and watch the crazy pace we worked at.

I was pleased when I was recommended to bigger, better jobs.   Sent to the Melbourne Show, one year I offered ‘our older misery’ a bed at my Nan's home, nearby, from where we could walk to and from work. I made her breakfast, in bed, and she was astonished, "no one had ever done that before". I don't know what her family did!   My mum said "you reap what you sow"

A co-worker who worked serving days only, after a long time of being part of the team, developed breast cancer and as many will know, was going through hell on earth. She insisted on working as long as she could, so I would pick her up and drive her home afterwards.

I don't know what happened, or was said to cause the upset, but one day our older misery made my cancer stricken pal distressed, and she cried.

I was incensed and told my husband the tale. "Just give her the cold shoulder" he advised, so I did. Our older misery would then follow me around to ask what was news in the kitchen. I think she was oblivious to the affect she had on people.

We worked on for years after that, seeing each other here and there, but I never quite forgave her for upsetting my sick friend.

'500 words' - Grandparents 'Nana Jess'

30/4/2015

My Nana Jess, born of a Scottish mum and American Dad. I do not remember her mother's maiden name, but her dad was John Levi Brown, I think. Oh yes, that's right, her mother was a Nicholson, as Nan's name was Jessie Nicholson Brown.

When I was very young Nan lived with family in Essendon, Primrose Street.  Occasionally, on a Saturday, my dad would "dink" my sister and I on his bike, my sister on a 'cushion' on the cross bar, and me perched up, very uncomfortably on the handlebars, (no cushion that I can remember-- but surely, I must have had a cushion--whatever, it was very uncomfortable). He would dink us from Pascoe Vale South, across to Essendon, (I remember he got off the bike and walked us up the hill), to see Nan and my Eily, dad's sister, and other family.   I guess we were left with Nan and Eileen, while mum and dad went out!

Most nights when we were there, before the others had supper (they were most probably playing cards, or singing around the piano), Nan would take Linda and I out to the kitchen to make a "special supper", just for the three of us. Up on a high shelf was the 'special' tea set, floral design, so pretty I thought. I loved it. I remember asking "Can we use the special tea set Nan?" and she would get it down off the shelf and make us some supper.

Of course, when Nan died that tea set remained with Eily. By then they were so busy running a cafe at Half Moon Bay, the tea set did not get used, just protected in a cupboard somewhere.  After shifting house a few times, the tea set surfaced in the new place Eily had built in Sandringham. Maybe Nan did not own the tea set, maybe Eily or someone else officially owned it, but I always admired it for the memory of those lovely suppers.

Eily, when living in her 'Sandy' home, used to say to me when she was faltering with health and age, "Take it home now", but for the life of me I could not do that. Maybe if she had picked it up and placed it in my hands, I could have received it, but for me to go and help myself to her treasures, knowing she did not have much time left, clearing out her home, no I couldn't do that. After she passed away, others in the family did not realise that it had been promised to me; but the old, cracked, tea pot was there in the house, so I got that.

Then one day whilst visiting Eily's friend and neighbour, lovely Betty, there on her display unit was the rest of the tea set, and I just said, "oh that's where the rest of the tea set is".   She immediately wanted me to take it home, but again, the same thoughts applied. I couldn't take the remaining pieces.

When Betty died, her family sold her place up. I said to my son, who had bought Eily's' place next door, would he enquire of Betty's family if I could buy the tea set back.  They said they thought it had been thrown out.    Some time later, my Jason rang and said "I have some good news Mum!"   Someone had found the rest of the tea set and they gave it back to me. I must admit I had a tear about that.

The whole story brings back wonderful memories of a loving extended family that stuck together always. Nan and Eily were the glue. I love the thoughts of my Nan's and Eily's hands holding that tea set and all the lovely "special suppers" we had, back in the good old days!

'For Better For Worse'

'Car Stories'

'Lost and Found' ... 'The Watch!'

A Friendship Tested

'500 words' - Grandparents 'Nana Jess'

Judy's stories
(2015)

Archives

Categories

'For Better For Worse'

'Car Stories'

'Lost and Found' ... 'The Watch!'

A Friendship Tested

'500 words' - Grandparents 'Nana Jess'

Judy's stories(2015)

Archives

Categories

Judy's stories
(2015)