Sue James

Stories, Reflections & Journeys

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Things My Mother Said …

Filed Under: Featured, Reflections · March 5, 2015 · Leave a Comment ·

my-motherStill travelling memory road – like the topics for my last two posts.

This time, I’m remembering the things my mother used to say. I think many of them are pretty classic ‘mum’ sayings actually! I wonder how many on the list other people can tick off as well …

Here they are – in alphabetical order, for want of a better way to arrange them:

  • As long as you live under this roof, you’ll do as I say.
  • Because I SAID so!
  • Did you brush your teeth?
  • Do as I say, not as I do.
  • Don’t EVER let me see you do that again!
  • Don’t speak with your mouth full!
  • Don’t you use that tone with me!
  • Elbows OFF the table!
  • Mum and MeFinish your dinner, or you won’t get any pudding.
  • Hmmph … yes, get out of bed NOW. If you could stay out last night, you can get up this morning.
  • How many times do I have to tell you …
  • I don’t care WHO started it!
  • I’ll give you till I count to three …
  • If I catch you doing that one more time …
  • I’m not going to ask you again!
  • It’s way past your bedtime!
  • Leave your sister alone!
  • Look at me when I’m talking to you.
  • Stop that crying! Or I’ll give you something to cry about!
  • This is for your own good.
  • Turn that noise down!
  • When I was your age …
  • Wipe that smile off your face!
  • You’ll eat what you’re given and like it!
  • You’re older – you should know better.

And the final one … this became a family classic. :) As we got older, we used to tease mum by getting in first and saying it to her!

“Be good. Be careful crossing the road. Have you got a clean hanky? And don’t forget to say thank you!”

Only yesterday …

Filed Under: Featured, Journeys, Reflections · March 2, 2015 · Leave a Comment ·

Life passing in an hourglassI was sitting on a tram on my way home the other day and idly looking out of the window.

We pulled up to a very crowded stop where I saw all the hopeful faces of people waiting to board. And the thought suddenly crossed my mind … “Wow …. they’re all younger than I am!”

A young woman climbed aboard, dressed to the nines for a night out. Surely it was only yesterday I was as young as she is now, full of fun and hope on my way to a party. Some fashions haven’t changed all that much. Mini skirts and wedge heels are back in!

There’s a serious-looking Uni student, laden with books, presumably on her way home. Only yesterday I was at Uni too. Of course I didn’t have a smartphone in those days. But I recognise myself in her worried look. I guess there must be an assignment due.

I also find myself smiling when I see a wee girl in school uniform, juggling her heavy bag and moving down the tram to find a seat to hold because she’s too short to reach the overhead bar. I remember that very well! Hmm … though lots may have changed, my stature hasn’t. I’m still too short to reach!

And surely it was only yesterday when, at family gatherings, I saw all the ‘oldies’ sitting around the edges of the room, watching with smiles on their faces as we young ones mingled, danced and exuded energy. Now I’m one of those oldies myself.

Only yesterday, it seems, I could leap out of bed without a single muscle twinging or complaining. And only yesterday, I could see my reflection in a mirror without any if those wrinkle-shadows cast by an overhead light.

Only yesterday – just a heartbeat ago – I was much younger.

To forget is the secret of eternal youth. One grows old only through memory. There’s much too little forgetting.

(Erich Marie Remarque)

Perhaps Remarque was right and I need to do more forgetting! :)

Things My Grandmother Taught Me …

Filed Under: Featured, Journeys, Stories · February 26, 2015 · Leave a Comment ·

My Grandmother

If someone gives you something nice, you should probably “keep it for a better thing”.

You need no more than three of anything anyway – one on, one clean and one in the wash.

Always remember to wear clean underwear, in case you get run over by a bus and have to go to hospital.

And if you’re going anywhere, be sure to have a clean hanky!

If you can’t be nice, then hold your tongue.

Sometimes rules are made to be broken.

And remember you can’t always trust a Sassenach! (My granny was Scottish …)

Staying in bed after 7.00 a.m. is sheer laziness …

Nature needs five
Custom takes seven
Laziness nine …
And wickedness eleven!

Finally … she taught me a very important lesson! How to make tea …

  • Warm the teapot first
  • Put in one for each person and one for the pot (spoons of tea leaves)
  • Take the pot to the kettle, not the kettle to the pot
  • Put milk in the cups first (for those “contrary enough” to take their tea with milk)
  • Let it steep for at least two or three minutes before pouring …

old_teacosyThat last is absolutely necessary if you’re making tea for someone who appreciates a decent cup!

I remember Granny commenting disgustedly about visiting someone where she was served tea that was “nae mair than a cup o’ hot water wi’ a couple o’ tea leaves floatin’ in it!”

My grandmother died a very long time ago, when I was only 17.

But all these years later, I still hear her voice. :)

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Books I’ve Read

Sue's bookshelf: read

The Chase
3 of 5 stars
The Chase
by Janet Evanovich
The Heist
3 of 5 stars
The Heist
by Janet Evanovich
Vanish in Plain Sight
3 of 5 stars
Vanish in Plain Sight
by Marta Perry
Eat Me
4 of 5 stars
Eat Me
by Agnès Desarthe
Odd One Out
3 of 5 stars
Odd One Out
by Monica McInerney

goodreads.com