When I was a child, so many years ago, I went to kindergarten. And I am sure Joyce Grenville was one of my teachers. Putting one's head on ones arms and having a nap in the afternoon. You never did of course, stayed awake quietly waiting to be told to wake up. The little bottles of milk warming on the radiator! Yuk, I have hated warmed milk ever since. Her voice is comforting and yet has that beautiful edge of steel only a teacher can have. Below is a poem she wrote, I wonder if her ashes were allowed to blow in the wind and she has no burial spot. Her recordings live on, that crisp middle class enunciation she mocked ever so gently.
If I should go before the rest of you
Break not a flower nor inscribe a stone
Nor when I’m gone speak in a Sunday voice
Weep if you must
Parting is Hell
But life goes on
So sing as well
Joyce Grenfell
You may remember that I have her bird-watching hat...
ReplyDeleteNo Tom, never seen it ;)
DeleteLove Joyce Grenfell. George, don’t do that. Thanks for the memories.
ReplyDeleteAnd we shall never know what George was doing sadly!
DeleteEven in primary school we put our heads down on Friday afternoons - gave the teacher time to tidy up!
ReplyDeleteI suspect it was quietening down over excited children and a time to relax for the teacher Sue.
DeleteJoyce Grenfell - thanks for the reminder - and what a super poem. Remember those little bottles of milk. We never had them on the radiator - but they were good when the cream on the top froze and pushed the little 'hole' in the middle up.
ReplyDeleteO dear Pat you must be remembering the cold as well in winter.
DeleteThat is a poem that sums up my take on things as well. I remember kindergarten as well. We had mats from home to put on the floor and we stretched out. Our teacher sat quietly in a chair while we napped. Unlike you, I remember beings surprised awake when she went about the room telling us that it was time to get up.
ReplyDeleteI think from early childhood Debby I was always on 'Alert' and that is why I couldn't sleep.
ReplyDelete