Saturday 25 July 2015

Very Early Days

Apologies I just updated a label here and it has jumped back to the end instead of at the beginning!!!

I was born during the latter part of the Second World War, in Poole, which is a coastal town in the English county of Dorset.

Apparently I was two weeks late arriving and my mother Dulcie told the story many times, of how, during this period, she had been put in baths of hot water, and then wrapped in hot towels to induce the birth. One of her favourite anecdotes about this treatment was the occasion when the doctor said she may as well go home for the weekend and come back on Monday. She was leaving the hospital with her suitcase when the senior matron asked her where she was going. My mother told her what the doctor had suggested and the response from the matron was “What do you think this is - a bloody hotel?” My mother duly went home and returned to the ‘hotel’ on Monday! If all this had happened nowadays, I guess that my Mum would have had a caesarean, or been given some drug to induce the birth and I would now be a few days older than I am at present! Nevertheless, it was a normal birth, and apart from the fact that I apparently looked two weeks old when born, all went well.
Another of my mother’s favourite stories was that she had prayed that I would have red hair, to take after my father Don, who was in the Merchant Navy at the time. When I was born one of the first questions she asked was “has she got red hair?” and the answer was "yes". In horror, my Mum said “Oh I forgot to pray that it would be curly”; she did not have to worry, as a teenager I spent my time trying to iron my hair straight!

30 comments:

  1. I have enjoyed reading your first post Diane, this could well end up as a published autobiography maybe one day. You do not tell us what time of the year you were born, or is that to be another story.

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  2. Hi Linda, not really another story, I just did not want to give too much away:) For all that it is pretty obvious, 16 months to the next major birthday in my life!!

    I actually started it out as an autobiography, but I decided there was few people who would really want to know about me!!! We shall see what reaction I get here. Thanks for the visit and the comment, also for following. Keep well Diane

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  3. I guess nurses could have used a little bedside manners back then. Things have certainly changed. Love your hair. Funny 'your mum forgot to pray about the hair'.

    Take care.

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  4. Hmmm, interesting. It was probable best to have waited as you were just not ready to join the world. I think the Doctors these days are to quick to get things over with.

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  5. I too enjoyed reading this post.

    By way of contrast: I was 3 1/2 weeks early, had a full head of dark hair and, to quote my dear mother "looked like a skinned rabbit"!

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  6. You started off not ready to rush.

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  7. Good for you for identifying a need to create another blog for other interests.

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  8. Thats lovely Diane. What a gorgeous baby you were. I love the curly hair story! xxxxx

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  9. Becca my Mum must have told that story 100's of times, she never let me forget:) Diane

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  10. Horst you could well be right, let nature take its course in many cases would be far better unless there is a problem. Diane

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  11. Mickle in NZ hehe I love the skinned rabbit bit. I have to say I don't often thing babies look beautiful but maybe not being a mother has something to do with it!. Diane

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  12. Gaeylyn, if you asked Nigel he would tell you I have been trying to catch up ever since, I never sit still! Diane

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  13. rosaria I hope that thee is some interest for others here. It is very different to the norm. Diane

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  14. Diane I think that my Mum was over the moon that I had red hair and that it was curly as well...... :) t'other Diane

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  15. I'm glad I called in on the first instalment. I love autobiographies and I hope to follow your story. I am also writing my story but not on a separate blog. However, I link the posts to my side bar.

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  16. Look forward to reading about your life, Diane. I wrote about mine, and it was very good for sorting out my past for me - sort of cathartic!

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  17. diane b I am glad also that you are here at the beginning. I must remember to look at the links on the side bar of your blog. Thanks for visiting. Diane

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  18. Vera I have sort of written it all but it was a case of putting things together. I had originally planned a book, but then I decided, who would ever bother to buy it!! Thanks for following Diane

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  19. First let me say that I love your mothers name, Dulcie. I have never heard that name before. Second, I also have curly hair, spent years using huge rollers to straighten it and now I have a flat iron...woohoo.
    Third, I love the picture of you with the horse. Can't wait to hear that story. Keep writing girl. I am going to love this blog.

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  20. kclily thanks so much for your visit and comment, greatly appreciated especially when I know how tired you are at the moment. Hope you will soon be back to feeling great again. Diane

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  21. Ok we are here too. And it looks like its just as hard to get a word in with all your commentors.
    Looking forward to the stories to come - any skeletons in the wardrobe???

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  22. Leon and Sue think this blog will be quiet, it is not of interest to everyone, but I just wanted to do something about my autobigraphy. I am sure nobody would be interested in buying a book!! I also have not the skill to make a book that interesting! No major skeletons that I can think of at this stage :) Diane

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  23. Interesting beginnings. I'm looking forward to the coming installments.

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  24. Gaynor you have just managed to catch the first instalment, here comes number two :) Diane

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  25. Diane, I really enjoyed reading about your early life and love all the animals, esp. your pony. Your mom's name is great. A family friend of ours was named Dulcie, and that's the only person I've heard of with that name. Sweet in Spanish is dulce and I always thought of that with her. Nice new blog!

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  26. Pam my mother was the sweetest person ever so maybe she did take after her name :) Glad you enjoyed reading this, it is quite personal and will not be everyone's cup of tea! Diane

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  27. How wonderful this idea is Diane. Congrats on your new blog, I think it is a marvellous idea, I so enjoy reading life stories and look forward to your posts here. X

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  28. Dolly I hope that I can keep this up, as I have said though this blog maybe a bit erratic! Diane

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  29. Replies
    1. Thanks Pierre, I appreciate your visit and interest. Diane

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