Finding joy in the everyday

A Secret Gift by Ted Gup http://www.asecretgiftbook.com I have just finished reading the most interesting book “ The Secret Gift ” by Ted Gup. —what was life like for the ordinary folk in the town of Canton, Ohio in 1933? It was horrible — with no jobs and no money , many families had nothing — some didn’t even have a roof over their heads, shoes on their feet, food on the table or even a coat to keep themselves warm.  However, in the midst of such terrible conditions people struggled on —they  didn’t complain (or whinge as we like to do today) and even though many might have wanted to give up, they kept up the fight for survival. Mums and dads both searched desperately for what every work they could find, every cent was precious—no one had the luxury of sitting around and doing nothing.  Some had no choice but to take their children to the local orphanages as they simply couldn’t look after them (other children died from malnutrition). Suicide, dri...

We often think we live in an ever changing world, where, in a blink of an eye, things change and evolve whether we like it or not.  We think that those in previous generations had it so much easy, life was quieter, simpler, they understood the rules of society (the does and don'ts) and life was less demanding.  They just didn't face the changes we do now.  Those who lived in latter part of the Victorian era, through the Edwardian and beyond experienced change that most of us have never experienced and it had a profound effect on the entire society. To understand the birth of feminism, this is the period that needs to be understood.  Feminism didn't just happen - it was born out of events that disrupted and caused such upheaval in society.  I have just finished reading " Uncommon Arrangements " by Katie Roiphe and whilst she writes about the married lives of artists and writers I think she sums it up really well: . . . . they watched the st...

Part of the quarantine areas I love finding out new things and sharing them with others (others might not find it as interesting!!). So when I discovered that in 1900 the city of Sydney (Australia'a largest city) was hit by the Bubonic Plague I was really interested.  This wasn't something I had learn in school, so I had no idea that within 8 months 303 cases of Bubonic Plague had been reported and 103 people had died.  Of course it caused panic and dread among the population of Sydney, but the health authorities were aware of the building evidence that plague epidemics were associated with an epizootic infection in rats and began to incorporate preventative strategies to prevent its entry through the ports. As a result of the plague, a cleansing and disinfecting operation took place (between the 24th of March and the 17th of July 1900) which resulted in the demolition of the "slums".  The disinfecting included: solid disinfectant (chloride of lime); liquid ...

Who remembers free school milk? I can. And yuck . . . warm, creamy milk in glass bottles that tasted horrible. Why were the bottles always left in the sun to get warm, especially in summer? They could sit for quite sometime until recess, some probably went slighly off! And if you forgot to shake the bottle you got a mouth full of clumpy cream! The programme started at the beginning of the 20th century with all children in kindergarten, infant and primary schools receiving free milk to improve their nutrition and general health. Between 1951 and 1973 the Commonwealth Schools’ Free Milk Scheme  provided one third of a pint of whole milk per day to primary school children throughout Australia. The scheme ceased om 1973 but reintroduced in 1994. I don't think I looked that happy drinking my milk!! (taken in 1957) Providing the milk had cost $72,000 in 1951, whereas it had grown in cost to just over $10 million in 1969.  By 1970 the government was star...