Where have all the watches gone?

For so much of my life one of the first things I did was to put my watch on my left wrist. I can remember wanting a watch - all adults had them. It meant you were REALLY grown up if you wore a watch.

For my 21st birthday my mother gave me a watch. But I was so disappointed when I unwrapped it - it was Marcasite watch. I was SO upset - to me it was an 'old ladies' watch'. I returned it and swapped it for a more sleek, modern design.

No long after I was dating my husband-to-be he gave me a watch for no special reason. I really felt grown up and special. I was 25.

But now - I use my cell (mobile) phone as a watch, as my morning alarm, and other times I just look at the corner of my computer for the time.

Watches were handed down through families. My son has a pocket watch that was my uncle's. I have my Dad's watch. My Mother gave it to me, telling me it was the one he wore through WWII. That meant a lot to me, but I'll never know if that is accurate information or not, or even if it was his watch as I have found out that much of what she said was not based on facts. She wore the watch for some years, even though it was a chunky man's style. It's a wind-up watch, and works for about 24 hours.


A watch was once given at retirements and other special awards. To get an engraved watch was really special. I guess it's something I never saw as having an ending.

The Avenue des Champs-Élysées and McDonald's 1973

I remember my first "Big Mac".

It was 1973 - we had ridden from our home in mid-Germany, to Paris. (900 Kawasaki motorcycle riding!).

The American's I worked with at the Air Force Base all talked about "McDonald's". I was clueless, as I had never seen a McDonald's in Australia, and the closest I'd come to it was 'Wimpy's' in London. Many of the guys said they were dying for a Big Mac.

Well, just so happens there is/was a McDonalds on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, not far from the Arch. And my husband insisted that I have my first Big Mac.

Obviously it was long ago. Nearly 40 years. But I still remember. I think it had just newly opened. I remember it being slickly clean - I was used to family run food little shops that were a mish-mash of all kinds of things. But mostly I remember the crowds. It was SO crowded, SO noisy. People everywhere.

I think in line we were about 10th or so, in line. And there were about 8 lines.

Yup. I got a Big Mac.

There was nowhere to sit to eat it.

So I can brag ... I ate my first Big Mac sitting in the gutter on the side of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées!

I can remember it as being pretty good! I liked it a lot.

McDonald's finally came to Australia. I'm not sure when. The signs used to be in the millions sold, but now in the billions, of course.

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!