It's been challenging weather this week in our region, but other places around UK have had a worse time with flooded homes, businesses and farm land due to the heavy rainfall. We're prepared for more unsettled conditions in the coming days and the temperature has dropped further and snow is forecast. It's something to expect at this time of the year so we're thankful that we can stay indoors in the warm.
Looking around the garden to see if there are any more flowers out I could only find snowdrops, primulas, saxifrage and flowering shrubs. Most of the daffodils are in the shelter of a wall or hedge and are still in tight bud waiting for some sunshine.
I went to the library to collect the Ann Cleeves latest crime novel, The Long Call, that I'd reserved ages ago, but didn't hang around as it was raining. It's set in Devon and I'm not sure about it. I much prefer the Vera Stanhope series and the Shetland series and as the writer has moved on from these to a new setting and characters I might move on too. I've plenty of unread books at home. I like variety so dipping into non fiction writing of the historical and travel genre will fit the bill.
I've done a little more of the embroidery on the small tablecloth - the second motif that links the main one. I've continued to adapt my colour scheme so that the butterfly and other insect are worked in shades of yellow and brown.
Here is the crocheted blanket that I was working on all last year. I didn't quite make it long enough to cover the whole of the bed, but can add to it later on.
When I was looking through family history papers I found a cutting from the local newspaper.
I'm not sure where the three were sitting and taking a lunch break, but a similar spot in the Forbury Gardens was one of my favourite places to sit with my parents when we visited. The stone walls are part of the old Reading Abbey buildings.
I can date when the aunties had their photo taken for the newspaper because of the adverts on the back. The job adverts are very interesting, for example, 'Boy wanted for (milk) round, able to cycle, ability to milk an advantage, or would consider willing learner' 'Drapery - young lady required, about three to four years experience, for Caversham'
In the 1930s my mother's family moved down from Northumberland. My grandfather was a master baker and he started his own business. It was very hard at first to get custom as I know from stories told by my grandmother and my grandfather went around the neighbourhood on his bicycle selling his bread. My two aunts worked at Burberry's whilst my mother had a place at Reading University. I think my oldest uncle was working away as a butler in a grand house and my grandmother had two small boys who were still at school. One of these young boys died in a tragic accident. Someone was supervising the children at the crossing outside school when my eight year old uncle mistook his instructions. Thinking that it was safe to cross the road he was knocked down by an oncoming car. My mother helped look after the family as well as continue with her studies. Later on my grandparents bought a bakery business and my mother managed it when she finished her university studies.
This photo of my mother was taken in 1937 at the family home which was next to the bakery and shop.