Housemistresses

[icomefromalanddownunder]

On a more cheerful subject, I've just been hopping through the threads trying to decide where is the most suitable place to post a big thankyou to Alex and Friend of Alex for my exciting new CD "Carols from Christ's Hospital".
Love

Guess what the Postman handed me this morning as I was putting out the rubbish?

Wooooooooo hooooooooooooooooo

I'm listening to my copy of the CD as I type. Unfortunately for the people sitting around me, I forgot where I am (blame it on the headphones) and joined in with the descants on Hark The Herald Angels.

Couldn't hit that high note 40 years ago, and it is now truly painful for listening ears. Most people will be disappearing upstairs to watch The Melbourne Cup on the big TV in the auditorium, so I might give it another go


Alex and Friendof - thankyou, thankyou, thankyou. I can't get over the wonderful diction. Did I speak so beautifully before I disappeared downunder?

Much love

Caroline

[englishangel]

I also liked singing ( with gusto.....who?) "Ardet Roma,ardet Roma, vigiles O vigilante" in a round ( Rome's Burning ) with Miss Topliss. Red Roman stick men, and green (was it ?) Carthaginians in our artistic drawings of various battles. .....and what did the Romans do before they went to war....have lunch, wasn't it.....apparently it gave them the edge ?

Mrs Toplis surely, and FYI Fiona (Flea) has just registered on Friends Reunited.

[Angela Woodford]

One of these days I would be fascinated to read "Half To Remember" as the quotes I have heard so far have just about made my hair stand on end. No wonder I needed all that therapy!!!

Su B please remember me to your sister. She was such a poppet doing some of my needlework for me so beautifully, I owe her a huge debt of gratitude!

I'm on the list to borrow the copy Katharine has loaned to Rosemarie! Rosemarie, please say you've read it now!

Yes Su, please give my love to Ann. I remember being amazed at the speed and skill of her lovely needlework.

I am about to embark on - yes! - a sewing project. My mother had antimacassars to protect against that male hair product of the 50s and 60s, Brylcreem! My gorgeous son has ruined all the cushions I have, with Dead Head (or whatever) hair mattifying putty, spike and mould gel, straightening serum etc, and I need to replace them. Does anyone know how to make Zipless Cushion Covers?

I used to be able, once the Post Miss Richards Traumatic Syndrome had worn off , to make things fairly well, then, when creation was imperilled by little children and paint, cats and kittens - well, the machine was put up in the loft for years... until now...

I am ashamed to admit that I joined in the teasing of Kathleen Bell. Sorry Kathleen. Our stupid efforts were met with a splendid serenity. You deserve every success.

When 1's was turned into a Senior House in 1965, I believe that Millie "left very suddenly". Things had got tremendously out of hand - even a bit violent - I've recorded incidents in my letters home which I don't like to record in detail in case they're libellous. The Goat stayed in her post as 5's Housemistress, but Millie disappeared without a word.

Caroline - I loved the Roman battle diagrams of Mrs Toplis. The Battle of Cannae was my favourite. Carthaginians were purple whenever they appeared. Thanks to the brilliant pix you sent, I have been inspired to make my Christmas cake an Orchid Cake. Whilst it broods in its Tupperware, I am searching for an exotic silk orchid for the top!

Munch

[Euterpe13]

Does anyone know how to make Zipless Cushion Covers?


dead simple - I make mine like pillowcases : same format at the cushion you want to cover + a large tuck-in ( about 30-50% of size), then top-stitch on all four sides to stabilise. If using brocade, or similar, I sometimes include a cordelette in the edge before top-stitching.

[Angela Woodford]

Does anyone know how to make Zipless Cushion Covers?


dead simple - I make mine like pillowcases : same format at the cushion you want to cover + a large tuck-in ( about 30-50% of size), then top-stitch on all four sides to stabilise. If using brocade, or similar, I sometimes include a cordelette in the edge before top-stitching.

Aha! I see what you mean! Now I understand. Thank you Barbara!
Whilst on a domestic roll, I am just about to take B Jukes' Russian Fish Pie out of the oven. Well, I have tarted the recipe up a bit. I found my ancient V1 form recipe book and couldn't resist. Further more, I can now see what I'm doing - B Jukes realised pretty smartish that I'm horribly short sighted. I wish I could repeat some of my disasters with her, but in my contact lenses!

Munch

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Caroline - I loved the Roman battle diagrams of Mrs Toplis. The Battle of Cannae was my favourite. Carthaginians were purple whenever they appeared. Thanks to the brilliant pix you sent, I have been inspired to make my Christmas cake an Orchid Cake. Whilst it broods in its Tupperware, I am searching for an exotic silk orchid for the top!

Munch

Glad that you liked the photos. The spider orchids should have started to flower, but I'm somewhat loath to lie around in the grass at the moment, as the snakes are coming out of hibernation and are pretty cranky - remind me of myself when I absolutely have to have some chocolate

I wonder whether rice paper would make it through a laser printer. If so, we could print jpegs onto it, and then eat the decoration.

Incidentally; if Mum agrees to package up Dad's slides and post them out to me, I am going to invest in a scanner with slide and negative capability, and would be happy to scan other people's treasures. Downside is that postage would possibly cost more than paying a professional in the UK.

Love

Caroline

[Alexandra Thrift]

Kerren said: "Hello Liz.. I have that CD, too (0ne of my eBay purchases!). "


Hi Kerren ! this CD is "Carols from Christ's Hospital" 1967.....recorded in the Hertford Chapel. I asked my friend ( posts here as "Friend of Alex" ) to copy my vinyl one onto CD.....he made a few copies complete with lino -cut pic of school, black and white cover. He also de-crackled and de-scratched it and the sound is very good.Would you like a copy Kerren? Also we wondered if Miss Taverner would like one?

Thanks for all the thanks ( Caroline and Liz ). I agree that the diction on the carols is impeccable ( F of A's uncalled for comment was " How come you're no longer "posh"?) .......I asked "F of A" about the cost and he said not to worry but to give a donation to the BSB or the Performing Rights Society ( he was concerned about the copyright) if/when you get the chance.

I would love "F of A" to do the same thing with the "Festival of Carols" 1971 (?) CD......but sadly , although I was singing on it, I no longer have my copy.Keep rummaging through those Oxfam shops ! ( was it midget who found the last one?) .

Best wishes to all and good luck,Liz at the World Dog Show

[midget]

Kerren said: "Hello Liz.. I have that CD, too (0ne of my eBay purchases!). "


I would love "F of A" to do the same thing with the "Festival of Carols" 1971 (?) CD......but sadly , although I was singing on it, I no longer have my copy.Keep rummaging through those Oxfam shops ! ( was it midget who found the last one?) .

Not me, but my sister, in Leamington Spa, some time before 1985

Maggie

[Alexandra Thrift]

"I am ashamed to admit that I joined in the teasing of Kathleen Bell."

I 'm sure I did too Munch ! I think back on some of the things I did at that school and I'm not proud ! ....however,I don't remember shaking "Puff Ball" fungus spores in Miss Scott-Haughton's study ( see how I've cleverly brought the subject back to " Housemistresses " !) as Caroline suggested....and I'm sure I wouldn't have locked Julia Barton in a rabbit hutch in the shrubbery as I've always loved animals.

As for prematurely aging Munch's blazer so she could have a new one.......mmmmm, I would have had to overcome my laundry-girl's sense of duty to school uniform.....which I did from time to time....For example when Mary McDonagh and I had a competition to get the most darns in our thick stockings....I was reduced to deliberately making holes in mine so I could darn them....using the wooden block of the dayroom gavet ( wooden hammer) as a darning "mushroom".

.........and then there was the sad demise of the racing water-snails ( which replaced the aforementioned mice) and their subsequent embalming and funeral .......... Liz Plummer ( Jay) should remember that........

[icomefromalanddownunder]

"I am ashamed to admit that I joined in the teasing of Kathleen Bell."

I 'm sure I did too Munch ! I think back on some of the things I did at that school and I'm not proud ! ....however,I don't remember shaking "Puff Ball" fungus spores in Miss Scott-Haughton's study ( see how I've cleverly brought the subject back to " Housemistresses " !) as Caroline suggested....and I'm sure I wouldn't have locked Julia Barton in a rabbit hutch in the shrubbery as I've always loved animals.


.........and then there was the sad demise of the racing water-snails ( which replaced the aforementioned mice) and their subsequent embalming and funeral .......... Liz Plummer ( Jay) should remember that........

Hi Alex

Sincere apologies for falsely incriminating you over the puffball incident

After posting about Julia and the rabbit hutch I spent the journey home reminiscing, and concluded that I had got the story completely wrong. I don't now think that it was Julia at all, and that it wasn't us (6s) who locked whoever it was in; rather, we found the person. Not sure whether we liberated her or not

Did we, at some time, have some tadpoles or frogs in 6s (legally, or otherwise)? I seem to remember 'cooking' worms in hot water in the sinks in the, er, what was the room called, where we hung our coats and left our shoes? Cloakroom? There were suspended hanging rails for wet towels, and you went through there to the loos, then the outside world. An article was written about caring for the creatures (whatever they were) and Mrs Betterton intended to include it in that year's School Bulletin/Letter to the Old Girls/Whatever, but it's inclusion was vetoed (by Dot?).

I found a bag full of mulberries in the fridge in our tea room at Uni last week. They were pretty pathetic specimens compared to those juicy monsters which would fall from the huge tree by the gym, but they brought back memories of summer afternoons on the playing field in our sexy gymslips and Ashbourne hats

Can't find the stick figure drawings from Mrs Toplis' history classes - have one more place to look, but won't have the energy to search there until the weekend. Did, however, uncover a few other things which I will attempt to scan and post within the next few days.

Love

Caroline

[Angela Woodford]

This is not cheerful news.

I don't want to alarm anybody, but I'm horrified myself, and feel that all holders of Posture Badges should maintain vigilance and be able to come to an informed decision about their personal Risk Management.

Naturally I was appalled when Deirdre Hoggarth (Hobbs, 7's, 63-71) was burgled. A terrible shock, which she faced with her usual supreme competence), but she only broke it to me two nights ago that the burglar was lured by the prospect of stealing her Posture Badge. And he/she was successful. Gone! Gone!

And what chance of it's recovery? No upright thinking burglar is going to risk wearing this precious objet trouveon the job, and certainly not in an i/d line-up. No, it will swiftly have vanished into the Underworld. It may even have been smuggled abroad. These Posture Badges are so coveted that they are irretrievable. Alas.

I advise you not to wear yours on the street. Word will get around and you will be at risk. Up the insurance. Fit a wall safe, but not behind that treasured enlarged photo of you in, say, the 1st Tennis V1. Don't give a burglar any clues.

Wherever you are, guard your Badge carefully, but especially in the Worcester Park area.

Munch

[kerrensimmonds]

Thanks for the warning! I will leave mine at home when I come up to Catherine's recital later this month.....

[englishangel]

I never, ever got one, which is quite strange because I was always an upright citizen, and even now people comment on how well I stand.

[Liz Jay]

Ah Mary, I too coveted one of those precious little badges, and never was upright enough for CH standards, yet my riding instructor used to make me ride round the school in front of the rest of the class to demonstrate a nice werry straight beck (he was a German ex-cavalry master called Herr Homrighausen).
I still get the urge to speak German to horses, and my posture is as upright as ever, since a couple of accidents later I now have permanent whiplash, and slouching produces backache.....
I did eventually get a Prefect's badge and a Deputy Head Girl badge at my next school, they are in my jewellery box with my other jewels. I don't worry about burglars since we are overrun with Bearded Collies here, but I expect their street value is stupendous.
I will leave them to my offspring in my will, then if times get hard they will have something to fall back on.

[kerrensimmonds]

What a good idea! Anyone want me to bequeath them my P badge? I can't imagine my executors having any interest in it, or even having any time in for instance selling it on on eBay (if that's around still when I turn up my toes).
Liz - the book's in the post.