Auntie Dulcie's for lunch ...

The only time I ever ate 'brown' bread was at Auntie Dulcie's home. She was just down the street from my Primary School.
I would go there for lunch many days. She was an extremely interesting and fun person. No 'healthy' lunch from her. Her hair would be tucked up in a kerchief, knotted at the front in 50s style, the radio would be on, and we would have fresh bread with candied honey (spun honey) and fresh cream.
Ahhhhh... heaven!
Still a favourite today.
Thank you Auntie Dulcie!

13th April 2012: PS: I found a photo of Auntie Dulcie on Grange Beach - with her scarf. I NEVER thought I'd find a picture to show this, let alone an actual photo. She did all housework in this, it was kind of a common housewife 'thing'. I think this photo is from the 1940s?

Nan ate bread with dripping ...

My grandmother (Nanny/Nan) sometimes would get a slice of fresh bread (always delivered daily, except weekends, by the baker in his horse-drawn van), and then dip her knife into the crock pot full of dripping (lard), which was saved every time we fried some meat, and spread it thickly on the bread. She'd top it off with pepper and salt.

I never tried it. It just didn't appeal to me. I asked her why she ate, it and it seems that it's what she ate as a child. I think her childhood was in Mount Gambier or Murray Bridge. I can hardly remember her stories now. She died in 1973 I believe. She had been born in the late 1800s. I'll look up her birthdate so I can include it here. I think it was the 1870s - I remember so much from the Victorian era in my home, as I lived with Nan and Grandpa, Mum and Dad. 4 adults. No children.

I had bread and milk this morning...

This used to be a favourite when I was a kid. Particularly because my Dad would make it for me. It comprised of cutting bread into chunks, then putting in a saucepan, and covering with milk, then boiling it. Putting it into a bowl, with a layer of sugar on top.
An alternative to cereal.
At the time cereal was Kellogg's Corn Flakes (still a favorite) with fruit cut up (bananas, strawberries, but mainly just with sugar), a sprinkle of wheat germ or All-Bran. Quick Oats (porridge) was another favorite - with a tiny bit of milk, butter, and sugar on top.
I remember my father so dearly, and bread an milk brings him back to me, even if just briefly.

Kiosk on Grange Jetty

There is a good restaurant on the shore, to the south of Grange Jetty. It once was a deli/store a long time ago, from as long ago as I can remember - along with the shacks on the beach (in the sandhills).
Below it, on the beach was a beach shelter with plank seats. Probably about 20 or 30 feet long, and 10 feet wide, and tall - I remember it in terms of grey - it had the brush grey roof, like the fences. There were swings there, too. With clanking brown chains. At first with a board for a seat, then later a leather sling-type seat. The gamest of game would swing so high as to go straight over the top. I tried, but never got there. Seems I can remember ... don't know what they are called a circular platform with rails to hold on to. You'd get on, and others would spin you around, and around, then jump on. I think always someone would end up falling off, and cry. But it was onto soft sand, so no gravel burns.
However, maybe about 20 feet or so from the start of the jetty was a little kiosk. Only open in summer. Ice creams, drinks and lollies (sweets, candy) was served through the windows. It was wood, and white. Probably about 12" by about 6". Only open in summer. Closed during winter.
With each train that pulled up at the Grange station hoards would make the short trek up from the corner of Jetty Street and Military Road, to the beach.

PS 14 April 2012: The little summer Kiosk - I think there also was a 2nd smaller one a little further up the jetty, it seems like it wasn't there long, and not open much - only in very busy times.

White's Fish & Chips - Grange Jetty - opposite the hotel

The seaside suburb of Grange had its share of little family owned shops. One of the dearest to my memories was actually a white van - White's fish and chips. I remember some blustery winter evenings, blasted by wind and ocean spray, but daring to go out just to get hot fish and chips from their van. It was probably about 14" caravan in a box shape. White in colour. I saw a watercolor of it in Cliff Hawkin's Real Estate office in the mid 1980s, but have never seen a photo of it. I can't remember how many years it was there. It parked in the parking lot opposite the Grange Hotel. Hot chips, bundled piping hot onto white butcher's paper, shaken with salt, then rolled and folded into a round bundle. You tucked it under your arm, to keep your body warm. Hands in pockets to keep it close to you. Then you dug into one end, ripping away the newspaper, to the steaming hot chips inside.
It was only one block to home on Seaview Road. But always hoped not all was eaten before I reached the house. Seems I can remember buying 2 shillings worth! Ah my! Such a treasure for so little!

Another memory - all the seagulls gathering around - they love chips!

Slippers were an 'acceptable' gift.

Reading my previous post - I left out slippers. Slippers were an acceptable gift for men or women - and particularly for women. Most were made of a thick felt-type fabric, with tops turned down at the sides - I guess you could have worn them 'up' if your feet were truly cold.
Usually men's slippers were plaid (checks), and in 'manly' colors (green/brown).
I found this old ad. The slippers I remember are like the last image, but not as fancy - no ribbon, for sure.
We seemed to have a list for gifts. Ties, socks, underwear, tobacco for a pipe, cigarettes, cigarette lighters, for men. Oh! And handkerchiefs, of course.
For a cousin living out of the country - lightweight writing paper and envelopes, and stamps.
For women - slippers, underwear (panties/bloomers), talcum powder, cigarettes, handkerchiefs, fancy soaps, lipsticks (red), mascara blocks (mix with water and brush on), powder compacts, block face powder refills for compacts, writing paper.
There was a drawer all these things went into, to be opened when needed ... and sometimes regifted when an occasion arose.
I was actually told not to be creative with my presents.
A box of Cadbury's Black Magic chocolate or 'Roses' was always acceptable. Sometimes homemade preserves or jam. Sometimes a homemade knitted scarf. A purse or handbag was also sometimes an option.

A packed suitcase under every bed.

As said before I grew up in a house with grandparents in their 70s, a father with TB and mother with various ailments from time to time.
I think my only stay in hospital was around age 3, when I had my tonsils out. I remember that time with vivid clarity. The crisply starched nurses aprons, and the different caps for the seniority of each. The watches hanging from a fob, at the top of their apron bib, so they could lift it up to check the time when they checked your pulse. The bed sheets firmly tucked in, then folded down during the day so you couldn't cover up at all. The smells. The scared children. The parents coming, bringing balloons and toys. They let me catch measles so I'd be immune late in life, and hoped that I'd also catch mumps, but I didn't. I have an idea they also wanted me to catch German measles, but again, I didn't. I can remember whooping cough going around, and it seemed like I was in there forever. It was pre-tv, and I was too young to read, so it probably was 'forever' (around 2 weeks).
The hospital was old, and I loved old buildings, so all was fascinating to me. I remember my Dad bringing me icecream for my throat, but have an idea that it didn't stay down.
What bought back a flood of these memories was tidying up a room - and I came across an old suitcase of Mum's. Barely more than cardboard with her name in permanent ink inside the lid.
Each of us had a suitcase packed under our beds for an unexpected hospital trip. Periodically the contents were taken out and rotated, or replaced. But there were 'sample' sizes of personal toiletries - soap, powder, etc. combs/brushes, shavers for the men, and of course, toothpaste and toothbrushes. A personal towel. Several pairs of pyjamas, or nightdresses in the case of my Nan. These were often much grander than the ones we wore usually. A dressing gown (robe), usually chenille, which was so popular at the time - matching our bed spreads.
It took me a long time to realize that I didn't have to keep a suitcase 'at the ready', although sometimes I think that it's not too bad an idea. I certainly could have used one back in 1993 when I went to the hospital to find out the results of an xray and was admitted to hospital with no prior notice.

I'm not sure if other families did this, but suspect some possibly did.

I borrowed the image from the web. If you need me to take it down I will. The suitcases were virtually identical to the top one in the photo.

Tied to her apron strings ...

I had two adult women in my household when I was young - the 1950s. My grandmother was born in the 1870s, and my mother in 1912.
My grandmother nearly always had a full-bib cotton apron on. It was untied at night and hung up for the next day. This was done when we retired to the 'living room' after the evening meal was eaten, dishes done and put away, and table cleared off.
If someone came to the door, the apron was also taken off. It was also known as a 'pinny' (pin-eee) - short for pinafore. I could never understand why these were designed to fasten at the rear, as a child one of my tasks was to tie these for Mum & Nan, when I was old enough.
But I was also known to untie them! Or tie them around the back of a chair.
Needless to say, I would get told off, or smacked over these childish pranks.
Mum usually wore a half-apron, if one at all.
And when I went to other friend's houses, their mothers usually wore aprons also.
I loved the cotton fabrics and patterns/designs, known as 'retro' or 'kitsch' now. Some of the first sewing lessons at school were on making of aprons. Popular ones were with embroidery or gingham with X stitches in the squares. Other aprons were creatively made of handkerchiefs, and sometimes there were very frilly, lacy ones, that were just for show.
There was a special drawer in most kitchens for 'aprons', and it would be full. If there was a party or gathering, the women would often retire to the kitchen after to help clean up, and aprons were handed out. This was the same at church suppers and so forth. An apron was an entirely appropriate gift to give a woman in the 50s.

I have a wonderful photo of an apron I bought from that era, made of handkerchiefs, I'll post the photo when I find it.