Anyway.In my current languored state.while , Chris was watching DR WHO, I idly skimmed through some of the many photos posted on the excellent facebook page called Old Photos Of Halifax,West Yorkshire
My Gob was well & truely smacked when I came across the above photo.The caption read
"Mrs Jim as we affectionately called her. Laura Mitchell Clinic Nursery 1968-1974"
It's My Mum! (old readers here will remember this post when she died 21 months ago.)
I never knew the kids called her "Mrs Jim".I guess they couldnt get their Yorkshire tongues around "Zimnoch"!
I knew nothing of the picture.Equally ,I didnt even know she had worked at The Laura Mitchell.
'1968 to 1974' covers a multidude of sins.Its the time between me leaving school/working in the mental hospital in Todmorden;Working in The Youth Hostel in London & going to Teacher Training College in Liverpool. In short, I was away a lot.
I never knew the kids called her "Mrs Jim".I guess they couldnt get their Yorkshire tongues around "Zimnoch"!
I knew nothing of the picture.Equally ,I didnt even know she had worked at The Laura Mitchell.
'1968 to 1974' covers a multidude of sins.Its the time between me leaving school/working in the mental hospital in Todmorden;Working in The Youth Hostel in London & going to Teacher Training College in Liverpool. In short, I was away a lot.
My Dad was very tradition.He wanted his wife to stay & home & not work.I only realise as I write this,1968 would have been the time I began to fly the nest.This is a photo of her very own break for freedom&independence (I bet she had to struggle with my Dad over this).Later she would go and work at a School in Lee Mount.. ....
All in all, a very apt & Timely post for this week's Sepia Saturday(a reply from the Lady who posted the photo)
"Hi Tony,when I joined the Halifax site and saw your name I realised who you were and commented somewhere that I knew your mum. eventually I got the photos on, I have lots of the nursery but only this one with your mum on. It was Oct. 1968 when the nursery opened and I was the Nusery Nurse in charge until its close in 1974. Your mum came as a volunteer 2 sessions a week, she only stayed maybe a year or so, I really can't remember. Its funny to think I was only 18 and now turned 60, your mum must have been a good age when she passed away.I hope she had a happy life I do have fond memories of her working with me, even though it was a short time.
Regards.Ellen"
30 comments:
It's great to come across things like this, totally unexpectedly.
Ah... Laura Mitchell, Lee Mount... Brings back memories.
Used to live in Ovenden Green - a street that backed onto the Lee Mount area. Went back to find old house not long ago only to find the houses pulled down and the area grassed over.
Isn't it an odd feeling when we discover something about a parent that causes us to see them in a different light? People will always surprise. Your Mum looks a happy soul, and in her element.
how cool you came across that at just this time...and jogged a good memory for you...hope you have a great weekend filled with more wonderful surprises tony...
That's incredible! And more evidence that the Internet is creating links between people that we'd never imagined.
And thanks for the Tull; that always puts me in a great place.
Very cool. You know, I recently realized you can search flickr photos by date, which means I could search all the photos taken, say, at the Taj Mahal the day i was there and perhaps find myself in someone else's photo!
What a wonderful photo to find! My mother also had quite a struggle with my father when she went to work at a similar point in time--I think it was 1968 in fact. Have a good one--I've been having lassitude too!
I've had similar thoughts Kurt.I guess everybody must work on the assumption that they have unseen photos of themselves floating about on the Internet.......as long as it's NOT on the "You Porn" site,i can can live with the possibility!
well tony, i'm pretty sure my "ass" is somewhere to be found on the web... no regrets!!
:D~
but talk about a small world. it's lovely to see a pic of your mom, a pic you knew nothing about. those were the days of the emergence of the woman's lib movement. where has it all gone? the new generation doesn't seem to appreciate what the previous generations have gone through. they lack a sense of history...
:/~
BTW:
did YOU register ME to the sepia saturday blogroll? unless i was in a drunken haze, i don't remember listing myself there, as i felt i wouldn't have enough pictures to make quite the contribution. it's only a handful, to be honest. it's no biggie, but it leaves me confused, more than usual...
:D~
HUGZ
.Tickle.guilty Sir.I guess I shouldnt have done it but.........I thought maybe you didnt realise you had to link-back.Sorry pal.I just thought your post deserved favour.
find my answer on my post...
at least now, i know i'm not going senile, or something...
;)~
HUGZ
I love the serendipity of your unexpected find. A wee hug from your Mum, I think.
That's unbelievably cool!
That is extraordinary - but I suppose equally it isn't as the internet opens doors we never dreamed were there. I can understand how you must treasure that discovery.
:D
Funny what we realize when it's too late to need to know it. So I guess it's best to keep loved ones in a perspective that doesn't make them either saints or sinners - just humans.
That is one of the coolest things I've ever read! :)
Oh, how incredible to find a picture of your mom on the net, just like that. And she is beautiful too...
1968 you say? I was one year old, hehe.;) Everything is relative right?
Have a great Sunday dear Tony.;)
xoxo
PS: I LOVE Dr. Who. I have not seen the latest incarnation yet though, is he any good?
Sweet serendipity.
I've been unable to access your blog from my computer for some reason. Luckily I can drive for an hour and get it from someone elses;-) Now time to catch up on my reading!
You can never wrong with a bit of Tull...not too much though...
How wonderful for you to find such treasured memories of your Mum. :)
i always did love the line "walking miles to drink your water...."
what a find; and the lovely sentiment in the note as well; it is a strange feeling to speculate when we can no longer ask our parents about anything; such gaps we have as we go our way and at the time not thinking what the folks are up to...interesting thoughts...endearing photo
I love "Mrs. Jim"...so sweet. I see shades of your face in hers, Tony.
what a total surprise! I would have fallen out of my chair. Funny how things come around, come around.... -J
Mrs Jim, bless :-) The kids my mum visits call her Crows (Rose).
Hey, Tony! I've all the weeks for me to miss (June is an exceptionally busy month for me, always.)
What an amazing discovery, on so many levels. You truly MUST have been gob-smacked. What a wonderful serendipity.
Kat
Wonders never cease. What a joy to see your mothers class like that. I'd flip with shock and I'm sure you did as you say, got gob smacked!
Bless you and your family.
Tony, to paraphrase an old song by Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks "That's What I Like about the South"...
may I add that your posts...your BLOG...embodies all of...."That's what I like about the blogs".....This story on connecting with a part of your mon's life that you missed is just super duper!! My parents have been gone a long time....but I am still searching out and enjoying their stories! It keeps them close.
It was a remarkable find. I read about it from Alan's comments as I missed blogging last week. Having lost your mom I am sure it seemed a little unnerving. Great blogs.
That sweating business sounds excellent. I'll have to give it a try.
I went to a Turkish hammam once. Fun but a bit too busy.
Good Bill pic too.
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