Please Sir, I want some More

Here I am sifting through reflections of my upbringing thinking of characteristics that I could do away with and others that I should keep.  My Parents were born in 1934 and 1940 (sorry mum to reveal this to the readers, but you are doing well for an ol’ girl so don’t feel too bad).  Mum has said that when she was young, she wouldn’t dare back-chat her parents.  It was part of the Ten Commandments “thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother” (I’d like to note here that to my knowledge, the Ten Commandments still exist today even though some have tried to change them and/or devalue them).  People back then actually knew the Ten Commandments and strived to live them and not just the big ones like “thou shalt not kill”.  I’m not saying that in my parents’ generation that everything was next to Godliness, but there did seem to be a general respect for God, King, country, self and fellowmen.  At least this is the feel I get from associating a lot with this age group. 

My parents were big on manners.  I was constantly reminded to say “please” and “thank you”. 

I grew up practically living on my ‘uncle and aunt’s’ farm.  I was a tom boy.  I loved to get filthy dirty.  I played with the chickens, picking them up like babies from when I was about 20 months old.  I would cuddle up to and bottle-feed the lambs and roll around in the hay with the calves.  Later as I got older, I would climb large trees, build cubby houses with raw materials and in the winter I would be found in the creek constructing small dams, waterfalls and bridges.  I could not tell you how many gumboots I lost in the creek.  I would walk home bootless, having my feet turned blue on the journey uphill through the slushy fields, all the while getting swooped by plovers.  My father was a Scout Leader for many years and it was common for me to attend Scout Camp with him when my mother would have to work every second weekend.  I fit right in with the boys on those Scout Camps. 

When I had finally outgrown the cubby constructing business I took up other things like skateboarding.  I wasn’t awesome at doing tricks but I would give it a go.  A friend gave me his skateboard and I used to ride it to school, through town, up the Gorge for a swim and back to school again.  I must confess that most of my 11^th year at school I was found skating to and from the Gorge.  My mother decided it would be to my benefit to sign me up for a modelling and deportment course.  This was my mother’s attempt at turning me into a lady I am sure. 

The course provided me with knowledge on how to walk with good posture, sit and stand nicely, get in and out of cars keeping your knees together and other forms of etiquette from speech with a focus on interviewing and dinner invitations etc.  I was taught the basics of photographic modelling and catwalk modelling.  It was a turning point for me in my adolescence.  I did not find myself to be anything special as far as looks goes, but I was aware I was blossoming into a woman and that I was getting a little attention.  This in part developed my confidence.  In later years however, I was to discover that it was all a façade.  Deep down, I felt really small.