Daily living

I know myself, Dad was a pretty hard man and this was brought about  by the upbringing that they had because those old Irish people had put up with so much belting and bashing by the British that it was part of their lifestyle.  It sort of rubbed up on to them.  But deep down, the happiness we had here was absolutely magnificent, because as I say, in those hard times, everything that we wanted as far as our own welfare- tucker and a nice home, with no amenities.  What amazed me John, back in those days, when they built houses there was never ever a thought of having a tap inside.  Every country house always had the tap out at the tank and for some reason or other they always built them almost on the ground.  You couldn’t get an ordinary bucket underneath them.  You could get a kettle or saucepan under them and that went on for years and years and there was no such thing as a bathroom. There was only a big galvanised tub and ever one had one.  And you bathed in the kitchen.

John “How big was the tub?”

Big enough to hold a full grown person.  We were sitting around and when one finished and the other one would hop in; now that was common.  As far as having a bathroom or a wash house.  Well you never ever thought of it.  With the washing I can still recall the old copper out there where the bougainvillea is, now that is where the copper was and the clothes line.

John “Was there a shed over it?”

Good God no!  If you had one you were looked on like a millionaire and I can still remember Mum out there and in those days they made all their own soap with the fat that they required here from their sheep and whatever – cows or pigs – lard and such and put the caustic soda in it and it was terrible hard on their hands.  It would crack them because I remember poor old Mum going up to milk after using this harsh darn soap.  It would dry out all your skin and make your hands crack..  Anyway, that was their lot and I often think that when you’re talking about preparing meals.  There was only 5 of us all included but to be able to come up tucker on the table in those harsh times was absolutely magnificent performance.

Ballie, Jack and Dad in the kitchen