Wednesday, February 17, 2021

SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE...

My mother...circa 1938





                                            My brother, Graham...with his first born...1967

Graham and me...early 1948

 



 


 

For me, February is a month filled with memories...bittersweet memories. 

17th February is the birth date of my late mother, Elma Flora Hay.  28th February is the birth date of my late brother, Graham. 

Graham snuck into February...with a roar, no doubt...managing, by the skin of his baby gums, to leap over a Leap Year. 

My mother and brother unfortunately passed away in their mid-fifties.  Mum was only 54; and, Graham, 56...far too young.

Birthdays were fun-filled days when I was a kid.  Our celebrations weren’t overboard, extravagant celebrations like some we read about today where an embarrassing amount of money is lavished on outlandish parties.  We didn’t have money to splash around, but, somehow, my brother and I missed out on little.

Clowns weren’t required to be in attendance at our parties. My brother and I regularly acted like clowns, or were entertained by the clowns when the circus came to town.  Like clockwork, Wirth’s, Bullen’s and Ashton’s circuses visited Gympie every year, setting up the Big Top at Nelson’s Reserve.  When the circus came to town, we were among the excited crowds gathered together to watch the circus folk set up. In awe, we watched as they unveiled the animal cages while nonchalant elephants crazed nearby.  Front row, ring-side seats awaited us in the evening.  One year an elephant escaped when the animals were being off-loaded from the train.  To our surprise, and enjoyment, we couldn’t believe our eyes when we saw an elephant wandering along the street at the upper end of the one in which we lived!  That definitely was not an everyday occurrence!

Also, it wasn’t necessary for my brother, or me, to run away to join the circus. We created our own at home                                                                                

Our tiny family unit...Nana, Mum, Graham and me...didn’t have money to throw around willy-nilly, but as I said above, we never went without.  We always had clean clothes on our back; shoes on our feet, food on the

 table and in our cupboards.  There was no car in the garage (no garage, either), no telephone, and no fridge. Our ice chest did a sturdy job of keeping food cold.   Come Christmas, Easter and birthdays all the special treats imaginable were laid out for us to enjoy.  Good table manners were a must. 

One of my friends whose surname coincidentally was “Friend”, was ever-present at our birthday parties. She never failed to leave her table manners at home. Without regard for others, she’d greedily reach across the table, not caring who she reached in front of, to grab the largest, colourfully-decorated fairy cake before anyone close to it had a chance.  Like our turkey in the backyard fowl house, she’d gobble it down without a second glance.  The out-of-reach fairy cakes weren’t her only targets.  Nothing was out of her reach.

Graham’s and my Christmas and birthday presents were many.  Books played major roles in our bounty. We received four or five books each as part of our gifts. We always found a copy of the annual Coles Funny Picture Book, with the rainbow on its cover, in our loaded Christmas stockings/pillowcases.

Naturally, throughout our childhood years (and beyond) Graham and I fought like cat and dog as many siblings do. Nevertheless, we loved each other. He was “there” for me, and vice versa. 

During my teenage years he kept a big brother, eagle-eyed, beady eye on me, warning off would-be suitors...or admirers.  (Being crafty, I found a way around his surveillance, of course...knitting, crocheting and quilting had nothing to do with it).  

Like our red-haired mother (a prime example of the reputation gained by fiery red-heads), Graham, although not a red-head...he had dark brown hair...was as fiery as Elma, our mum.  He inherited our mother’s slightly wicked, fun sense of humour, too. 

Having a sense of humour, and being able to look on the bright side of life, even when burdensome dark clouds hovered perilously assisted greatly...among the good and bad times; the happy and sad times...bittersweet memories....

Chocolate Fairy Cakes: Preheat oven 190C. Line 12-hole muffin tin with cupcake cases. Sift 280g S.R. flour, 1/3c cocoa and 1/2c caster sugar into bowl. Lightly beat 4 eggs; add eggs, along with 250g melted butter, 1-1/3rd c milk and 200g melted dark chocolate, to dry mixture; mix until combined; then spoon into cupcake foils. Bake 10-15mins. When cool, spread each with Ganache: Melt 200g dark chocolate and 1/2c cream together; remove from heat; cool. Pipe/swirl over top of fairy cakes.

Rainbow Cupcakes: Preheat oven 180C. Beat 85g softened butter with 100g caster sugar; add 1 egg. In another mixing bowl, mix together 130g plain flour, 1tsp vanilla, 1tsp baking powder and pinch of salt; then stir in half of dry mixture into wet mixture; add 45ml milk; beat. Add other half of dry mixture and another 45ml milk; beat until batter is smooth and well combined.  Fill 6 cupcake cases 3/4 full; bake 20–25mins. Remove from oven; cool 30mins before decorating.  Once cooled, remove a teaspoon of cake from the middle and push half a strawberry into the hole (or a whole strawberry if it is small).  Frosting: Beat 25g softened butter with 110g cream cheese until smooth; add 50g icing sugar and 50g mascarpone. Beat until it’s very smooth. Divide mixture between 5 bowls; add a few drops of blue, pink, purple, yellow and green food colouring to each bowl. Mix in each colour well with a soft spatula. Fill the one piping bag with all the colours.  Once cupcakes have cooled, make rainbows on top with the multi-coloured frosting in the piping bag.  

 

                                                             

 

 

26 comments:

  1. We were never rich either.
    We had food and shelter. We had all that we needed and when finances allowed it some of what we wanted. Which strikes me as a perfectly good arrangement.
    I am sorry that February's memories are bitter sweet but glad (as you are) that the sweetness was and is there.

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    1. True what you say, EC...memories are plentiful, though... :)

      Thanks for coming by...I hope the week is treating you better than the last few...take good care. :)

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  2. It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood with all you needed to be happy. The love and support of your family members being the most important of course. I love the picture of you and Graham as children! It is sad to lose dear ones too early like that. I am so sorry. I am glad you do have such happy memories to balance out the sad ones.

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    1. Our childhood wasn't all wonderful, Bonnie...there was much about it I wish we'd never had to experience, but Mum and Nana did their best to protect and provide for us...

      Take good care...thanks for coming by. :)

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  3. I remember Ashton's Circus and the excitement when it arrived at Port Pirie one year. My brother and I saw the show by sneaking under the tent opposite the entry and hiding under the seats until they were filled enough that no one would notice when we popped up and sat down. This was soon after my siblings came home to visit and just stayed on after that. I remember also years later when the circus came to Murray Bridge while we were visiting grandparents with our kids, we took them to see the show (and paid proper entrance fees this time), but the "magic" just wasn't there and the kids didn't understand why I'd made such a big deal out of it. Of course by then, a lot of things had changed, the animals were older and everyone knew more about things such as animal cruelty etc, plus the sideshows and snack foods were horrendously expensive with four kids. Change can be sad, but I'm rather glad the Circuses have died out. Instead we have CircdeSoleil, not sure of the spelling there, with a little more glitz and glamour, but we still don't go.

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    1. G'day, River...We all experienced various differences in our childhoods...some vast differences. I know my brother's and my childhood was very different to that of others...to those of our friends. Differences about which I shall not go into at this point in time.

      Bur through all the upsets, through all the troubles, the battles, we enjoyed the pleasures given by the circuses, the pantomimes, and the vaudeville shows...and, of course, the movies...or "pictures" as we called them back then. They were all great ways of escaping the sometimes...far too often times...harsh realities of life.

      The well-known circuses such as those I've mentioned, cared for their animals in those days. Now, of course, attitudes have changed regarding circus animals. More were being poached in Africa and Asia, and still are, than were hurt in circuses.

      Fortunately, today, even though the disgusting, despicable poachers are still operating, more and more animals are being protected, and preserved by our marvellous zoos and wildlife parks.

      I am glad I was able to enjoy the wonders, the thrills, and the fun the circuses gave me three times a year throughout my childhood.

      Take good care...thanks for coming by. :)

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  4. LEE, your Mom was quite a beauty! Your brother, Graham, also looks quite handsome in the photos. Pity they've departed so early!
    I was born in a tiny, far away town in north-east Romania, so a circus was quite a rarity. I too had an older brother who died untimely, and childhood was a happy one though,a rather poor one.

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    1. G'day, DUTA...Mum always took pride in her appearance, except when she went fishing and mud crabbing! lol

      Graham was a good-looking kid and man, too. He loved to tease...I was an easy target! lol

      Take good care...thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. Lovely, tender memories are food for the soul. They warm our heart while we face the coldness of life. Your mother was a beauty and she has passed on her good looks to you and your beloved brother.

    Growing up, I had the basics in life and very little trimmings. I never thought of myself as “”poor” because at that time material goods did not have the importance that it has today. I was taught that “class” was determined not by money, but by how you treated others. Thank you and asking to be excused from the table were musts and respect for yourself and elders were normal behaviors. Wealth and things did not define you. Love and kindness did.

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    1. Hi Arleen...we were taught similar values to the ones you mention. And very important values they were...values I feel are unfortunately missing in many homes today, to the detriment of society. Everything you say is true.

      Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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  6. Thank you for sharing these treasured family photos and special memories, Lee. Your mother was a beautiful woman as you already know and the photo of you and Graham reminded me of a similar one of myself and younger (by 3 years) brother. We never attended any circus performances as children or even in my adulthood but I imagine those must have been exciting times just from your description. That "friend" certainly did not seem like a good friend (just saying). Books are always wonderful gifts at any age.

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    1. Hi Beatrice...my friend "friend" remained my friend through out my primary school years, but the friendship began petering out as those younger years began petering out. We enjoyed playing together those younger years re-enacting every movie we'd seen at the previous Saturday afternoon matinee...but as we grew a little older...we grew apart. I remember the very day I knew that things had come to an end...our days of imaginary play were at an end. We both moved on...no harm done or felt. She went her way, and I mine...making new friends... I still smile when I think of those days...all a bit of harmless fun, really. :)

      Thanks for coming by...take good care.

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  7. Wonderful memories of people gone way too early.

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    1. Thank you, messymimi...take good care. :)

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  8. What wonderful memories.
    Hugs

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    1. They are, Sandra...thanks for coming by...take good care. :

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  9. Hi Lee, Those of us with memories of happy childhoods are the rich ones, I think. We never got to see the circus but I can remember how my excitement outdid that of my children when I first took them along to see the circus. Take care.

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    1. G'day, Pauline. I try to hold onto my happy childhood memories. Not all were happy...too many are troublesome...but I do my best to let the happy overshadow the bad.

      We loved going to the circus...and never did we miss a performance. The acts were wonderful...the thrills, the fun.

      Take good care...thanks for coming by. :)

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  10. Such wonderful memories and photographs you've shared here.

    Many thanks for the cake recipes - yum!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thanks, Jan...take good care...and thanks for coming by. :)

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  11. Graham was a very good brother. I know you miss him something awful. Makes me think of how my son always looked out for his little sister. He would take her dates aside and warn them of what would happen if they hurt his sister.

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    1. Hi Annie...Graham and I had our disagreements, but we loved each other, and had each other's back when necessary. He took a few guys aside, too! lol I do miss him still. He was taken far too soon.

      Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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  12. Love that picture of you and Graham. He had such a sweet smile and you had a definite twinkle in your eyes:)

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  13. I had tears in my eyes, Sandra! lol It was my tears "twinkling" in the flash of the camera...I was such a shy little girl and I cried through most of the sitting, which was taken at the Woolworths store in Mackay, North Queensland...shortly before we moved to Gympie in the May or 1948.

    Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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  14. So did the circus really come by train to Gympie, just like in the movies? We had to drive a ways to get to the Shrine circus, the only one I remember from a kid. So that brother/sister picture was taken at Woolworths. That we had in my hometown growing up but the only family portrait we had done was through the church. And that was true with our own two boys . . the family portrait was taken through the church.

    Very nice looking family. Your mother could have been a movie star.

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    1. Hi, Dave. Usually, the circuses came to town by their large trucks etc., but towards the end of the 50s the train was the method of transport, mostly by Wirth's Circus. I guess we were fortunate we had three circus families visiting our town of Gympie back in those days.

      Woolworths had a section set up at the rear section of the store for a short period of time for a professional photographer to take family photos.

      Mum was a good-looking woman...in her younger days she did a lot of modelling for the local dress salons. She carried herself well.

      Thanks for coming by...take good care. :

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