Let's go back to The Streets were we lived for a minute.

Christmas Mail brings News from my Relations from Down Under. I was tickled pink when I was sent this News clipping from my cousins in Wallaroo. Of all things an old school photo of the Kadina Primary School Grade V in1948.

I have written about those School days days in The Street where we lived Post, Labelled under Growing up and Memories and mentioned that my brother was in Grade V when I started school. How right I was! I had worked it out on my fingers. The teacher would have given my a rap on my fingers if he had seen me do that.

Names of Teachers in those School years came back to me......Miss Norman, Mr. Mudge, Miss Emerson. Three! Well, that's not bad, maybe I will remember more and add to this list!

Do you still remember the smell of the School rooms? A mixture of ink, flowers, and paper, not to forget the kids! Oh, those ink wells!!! I was always in a mess with the ink, on my fingers, on my clothes and on my books. I always had holes in the blotting paper! I still am messy with paints and ink. What about you?


If you Click on this photo it will enlarge and easy to look at the faces of the kids. Can you find my brother?

How thrilled I was to see him standing in the middle of the Second Row. As I read the names of all the kids in his class I had a feeling that it was just yesterday that we were at the Kadina School. Do you get that feeling too? I wonder if there are any old photos of my School class.
I can remember those days of photographing. I remembered names too, a lot of these kids lived in our neighbourhood. They look a great bunch of kids don't they! I wonder what they are doing now? Each one with a different story.

I sent a copy of this clipping to my brother's son through the Internet, and he passed it on to my brother. I wonder what he thought when he saw the faces of his school-mates again, and read through their names.

If I was my brother, I would be tickled pink.

Backyard kids and Freda

Just thought I would go back with my thoughts of the first days of Alice Springs. I have written in the past various things that have happened in my life and about some of my relations.

The film Australia had it's Premier at Christmas time here in Austria. I went to the Cinema with my son to see it. I do hope that you all take the time to see it. I have the feeling that this film was made just for me. I was able to lose myself in this film for a couple hours. The scenery of the beautiful country, the mystic of the Aboriginals, the story and most of all the acting of the famous Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and the brilliant Aboriginal Stars.


At last a film of reality, a film that helps me to find the threads of my life. I was born in the 2nd World war years, and life must have been similar in Alice Springs as it was in Darwin. The Film showed many things I knew like how the Aboriginal women were misused by the White men and the fear of the Police who went around to the stations and settlements looking for the children and the Japanese bombing Darwin. ( How lucky we were that they didn't occupy the country, that we were able to live free.) I do hope that you are able to see this new Australia film, it is very impressing and a great Ozzie humour and showed the Australian of the forties very well.

Memories come back to me of special Aboriginal friends that I had when I went to live in Alice Springs. I was 12 years old when I returned to Alice Springs in January 1954. I had to learn to live with parents, a new way of life, new people, new schooling, and new friends. When I think of my life I think I was pretty-well lost myself.

Of course it wasn't easy, I soon got put in place by my Stepmother, I couldn't find comfort from my sister as she had had her own experiences of growing up, plus, she was planning her marriage and she had her own life, and at the time I wasn't included in her plans. We both had the same experience, we both were Backyard kids. We were luckier than our brother, who spent his Teenage life in a Men's Hostel and didn't finish his High schooling. Dad's flat only had one bedroom, so a couple of months after I arrived in Alice Springs he built me a little Tin Hut in the back yard. My sister had spent some of her childhood living in an old Caravan in the Back Yard. I didn't mind being in my Tin Hut, apart that the ants liked to come in too, apart it was stinking cold in the winter and stinking hot in the summer and apart that I was lonely and wondering where my connections were.

Our next-door neighbours built a Hut in the back yard about the same time as dad did. Much bigger than mine and made out of straw, and much cooler than my Tin Hut. It was built for the House Maid. She was a lovely Aboriginal lady with a beautiful smile. She had two daughters. One daughter was Down South studying in College, and then there was Freda.

Freda was 3 years older than me, and was in her last year of High School were I had just started my First Year. She was very popular with all the kids at school and a great Sportler. I can still see her in her Blue Uniform from St. Marys Hostel where she was staying. It wasn't long after the straw Hut was finished that Freda moved in with her Mum.


This photo was taken a few years later and I am sitting with my best friend in the sunshine on a winter day...(.hmm another good story.) The Straw Hut and the Tin Hut can be seen in the background. Can't see my Tin Hut too well, but it is the only photo I have.

Freda and I got to know each other, I spent quite a bit of time in their Straw Hut. We had a sympathy for each other as we were Back-yard kids. We laughed and talked as kids do, went riding our bikes all over town and out of town and we loved listening to the tales from Freda's mum. I didn't know at the time but they had been through many hardships in their lives and they were Lost Children.

After Freda finished school she started working for a Local Photograph in Todd Street. We did see each other now and again. I was still in High School and she was a working girl, and how life is with younger people we went our different ways and we lost contact.

I was reading in Google about Pioneer Women of the Northern Territory. I got tears in my eyes when I saw that Freda was named a Pioneer, and read her story, and I am so proud to think I know Freda too. When I look at her smile in the photo, I can see she hasn't changed one bit.

FREDA GLYNN (b1939)A co-founder of the Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association Group of Companies (CAAMA) in 1980 which includes Imparja, the first Aboriginal commercial television station commenced broadcasting 1988 in Alice Springs. She also established the first licensed Aboriginal radio station, Radio 8KIN FM, broadcasting in regional languages.


If you click on this picture it will enlarge so you are able to read it.

I didn't get to know Rona so well. She was older, and was learning and studying. I can remember her jolly laugh and beautiful smile. She was a well-respected citizen of Alice Springs, and loved by the Patients and Staff in the Hospital where she worked. How sad Freda must have been when her sister Rona left her so suddenly, they must have still had lots of things to say to each other.

So that was my little friendship with Freda. How lucky I was that she was there when I was so young. I wonder if she remembers that mixed-up kid from next door who lived in a Tin Hut in the Back-yard.

A Christmas Eve in the Circus Gabriele Lorenzo

(This is the story that we played last night in the Shadow Theatre. We had lots of fun with the children, and we were happy to hear that they knew so about baby Jesus, Maria and Joseph. We tried to show the children that Christmas comes everywhere when we want it to. So here is the story........)

The Circus people decide to stay in the little town till after the Christmas Season. They had just finished their last Show on Christmas Eve, and the people from the town said Merry Christmas and went quickly home to celebrate Christmas, without thinking of inviting the lonely Circus people to their houses. The snow lay on the ground, and a cold wind is blowing. The houses soon darkened, and as Miriam and José walk along the streets they lose hope of finding somewhere to sleep. Miriam is complaining that it was cold and she is so tired. José suggests that they move on to the Circus Tent as it is still bright with light. Miriam agrees. (The scenery changes)

In the meantime inside the Circus Tent the Circus Director has become melancholy, and thinks loud what the Circus people will do tonight on Christmas Eve. They will sit together, eat and drink and talk about their Circus life. First of all, the Arena has to be tidied up. He has already shooed the two Circus mice who were looking for bits of Pop Corn and goodies on the floor. He sees that Rosina's chair is still in the Arena and the Target Board from the Camel act is leaning on the post, and the balloons are still hanging from above.

He calls Rosina the Clown to come and get her Chair, and she complains that always she has to do that every time and why not the others. The Circus Director tells her off lovingly and removes the Target Board and they both leave the Arena.

Cinderella the Ballet Dancer sees the Arena is empty and takes the chance to dance. She just loves dancing. The Director calls to her that she should also tidy up, but she just wants to dance, why should she tidy up. She hears a beautiful Music and feels excited, something is going to happen. The Mule comes into the Arena Heehaw-ing and Cinderella is surprised, she was sure that she heard a beautiful Music which she hadn't heard before. Perhaps she had been dancing too much and springs out of the Arena say she is sure something is going to happen.

The Mule keeps up his HeeHaw-ing as the two strangers enter the Arena. Miriam tells the Mule that he is a friendly little fellow and hopes the Director is friendly too.

The Director enters the Arena because the Mule is making so much noise, and sees the Strangers and tells them they will have to go as the Show is over for the Day. Miriam asks him for help, it is so cold outside and they are very tired. The Director (who really has a good heart) protests a little, and then José tells him that they have come a long way, the country from where they come is having war, and there are many people dead, and the people are hungry and that they had to escape. And most of all his wife is due to have her baby any time now. Oh! Dear...what will the Director do?

He calls Rosina the Clown to come quickly., and tells her of the strangers dilemma. Oh! she is so excited that a baby is going to be born, and runs out calling Longlegs the stilts-man and Cinderella. Miriam and José thank the Director as he leads them to their quarters., and tells him their names. (The Scene changes again.)

A light comes on, and Angels assemble above the couple and a beautiful star shines.
The Baby is born.

Rosina the Clown is the first to come to see the baby. She calls Longlegs. He comes in to admire the baby and then suggests to Rosina that it would be a good idea if they be Mama and Papa too. Rosina laughs. They then go out calling for Cinderella and the Director.

The Director comes first to congratulate the couple for their beautiful baby boy.
He then suggests that the little Dragon comes into the Arena to make a fire to keep the Strangers warm.

He also says that the Circus animals are interested to see the Baby. The Director and the Dragon settle on the side of the Arena. The Camel enters. The Director tells him to behave and not to spit as the Camel hasn't got many manners.

Bimbo the Elephant comes next. The Director tells the Strangers that Bimbo is very old, and often falls to sleep in the Arena.

One of the beautiful horses was next. there was not enough room for all four of the horses. The horse is very proudly canters and springs for the Strangers and their baby.

The mice return to see what was going on. Cinderella dances over their heads. She also wants to show the Strangers her beautiful dancing.

She stops, and asks the watching guests (the children) if anyone has seen the Kaspar-Mütze.
( that is a strange name for you? He is a famous Toy Clown here in Austria and Germany.)

Cinderella tells the guests that he usually sticks his nose in everywhere and annoys the Director. Perhaps the guests can help her find him and starts calling his name, and the children call too.

(He is sitting on the lap of one of the children)

My partner then enters the room and starts taking the speaking part for sleepy Kaspar-Mütze, who tells the children that he has been dreaming about a baby being born in the Circus.What a surprise he has to see Strangers with their baby in the Arena. He admires the baby. She then sits down with Kaspar-Mütze amongst the children and tells them in short the story of the real Christmas Eve.

In this story time Candles had been lit and the scene is Christmas was showing on our little stage.

The End

I hope you enjoy our little Christmas Tale as we enjoyed playing it.......

Merry Christmas to you all from Buttercup Villa.....

When Grandma got run over by a Reindeer

Just Click on YouTube and enjoy the song about poor old Grandma.

I hadn't heard this song until I was invited to join in Christmas Carol singing in Gmunden I think that must be 5 years ago.

What an impressing event the Christmas Carol Evening is. It is amazing how many of us English speaking women and men like to get together on this evening. It all depends on first of all the weather, it could be very foggy, or snowy or it could be Flues and Colds that hold us back from joining in. I have been there when English, Scotch, Irish, American, South African, Trinidad and not forgetting us from Down Under, from far and wide in Upper Austria.

It is usually the 3rd or 4th Advent Sunday before Christmas.

I will tell you about the Christmas Carol Evening last Sunday as best I can.

We have an American friend who opens her Penthouse for this occasion. She has a very large lounge room with a piano and a collection of comfortable sitting chairs. We come about five o'clock, and bring some goodies to eat with us, and drinks.

Yes, I moved the camera, but we can still see it is food can't we. No I wasn't tiddly. This evening there were quite a few new Singers, and many of the Singers who are usually there, weren't there. It is inspiring to hear the accents. English, Scottish,American and Australian were the accents of this evening.

There is always a Christmas Tree, and lots of decorations.

The special Treat is Eggnog. Delicious and well-made. Compliments to the Hostess.
Has anyone tried to make Eggnog? I haven't, but I think I will have a go at it, as I am always curious.

Well after tasting all the goodies, chatting and drinking, we took our seats to Sing the Carols.

The piano was ready and so were we.

We all had a Song Book.

Yes, I know my hand is a bit shaky but I'm not tiddly. You can see that these girls are having fun singing though, can't you.

Yes, it's fun to sit with these girls, the left is an Ozzie the right from the old country. Both been blessed with the same name, so of course the one on the right gets called Syd (short for Sydney) from me.

Another Ozzie on the right. This must have been a serious Song. This time we had two musicians. The singing is always loud with mixed tones, some sing high, some sing low,
me, well my voice is pretty rusty, sometimes high and sometimes low.

A little American family came for the first time. I am sure we will see them again. They just love that song about Grandma and it is lots of fun to sing. We sing the songs once the American way and once the English way. Of course each country has their traditions and we try to fulfil them. There are always lots of smiles and laughs between us all.

After the singing we sat a while chatting and laughing, telling of events that we had been through during the year, and wishing everyone Merry Christmas, and we thanked our Hostess for having us and hope next year will be another Christmas Carol time.

We hope so... Merry Christmas

New Hobby in Austria

This year I have found a new Hobby. I have found that I have new abilities and have the chance to learn more about them. My daughter-in-law's mother is a retired Arts Teacher and much younger than me. We get on well together as Grandmothers and enjoy our Grandchildren and we enjoy each other's company.

She has a very large Workplace at her home, with lots of light and space and a huge table and she invited her friends to join in a Project of Shadow Theatre. In February we started off as a group of 6 people and reduced to a group of 5. Three of us to work the Figures and one to play the Music, and one to tell the story.

Our Project was Circus.

All very strange to me. Cutting out figures from different paper, cardboard and material, and making them into interesting figures for the Circus. It didn't take me that long to get the knack of cutting and finding figures. I am no artist, so I had to cheat a bit by looking through Google to find inspiration. We needed quite a few figures before we could make a successful story that would interest the children.

Our first Show was in August.

WE were a bit shy about our Theatre and we didn't invite so many children as we would have liked to. We surprised ourselves as it was a great success, and the parents of the children and friends gave us encouragement to continue.

Well, we all went our different ways in Summer, and we didn't get together until late in October.
We were two Grandmothers, the other three were pretty busy and were sure they would not be able to join us for a while, though we were lucky that the Music-man had time to join us in December. Yes we decided to do another Show just before Christmas for the children called Christmas in the Circus.

We had no story, no plan, but we had our Circus figures and we had our friendship and humour.

I will tell you the story of our Theatre in my next Blog.

Baby it's cold outside

Yes, we had the first signs of Winter this past weekend. First there was a very strong wind with rain, and as the temperatures dropped the wind was accompanied with snow. The Traunstein is covered in snow.

We feel very smug looking out of the new windows. How lucky we are that we have finished the major renovations of Buttercup Villa, and we have already saved on our Heating costs.

The world always looks peaceful when it snows. We have packed the summer furniture away, and the garden is ready for the Spring. Tulips and Daffodils have been planted, and if the mice don't eat them we should enjoy the first flowers next year.

When it snows I get the feeling of baking Biscuits. Guess what! I made some Anzac Biscuits, using the Recipe that is on my Anzac Biscuit Blog. I decided to roast or toast the Coconut this time, yes, it is a good idea, the Biscuits are crispier. I made a Double quantity as our Grandkids and their parents like them too. I will add the Recipe again, maybe you will try them out as well.
Another thing I noticed on the Recipe that it says one cup of Sugar, well, I use Brown Sugar, gives a better colour and taste.

The Christmas Season has started. One of my Grandsons said to me " Leen-Oma (that's me, part of my name and Oma is for Granny) when you come at Christmastime what presents are you going to bring? " He is four years old and goes to Kindergarten, so I have the feeling the kids in Kindergarten are already chatting about their wishes. Our Grandson's wish is anything to do with Pirates will do.

Back to the Anzac Biscuits




They are still my favourite biscuit, and I am amazed how each time I make them they taste better. I did find that roasting-toasting the Coconut isn't such a bad idea. What do you think?

Gotta make Christmas better

Have you ever thought about the Christmases that have gone by? Have you ever thought " why can't Christmas be like it used to be"? Why can't we be happy with a Gift that is given with love instead of a Gift that we put on a Wish list and has to cost so much? Why have we got so practical at Christmas by asking "what do you want for Christmas?" What have we done to make Christmas into a overdone Celebration? Why do we have to buy the best of food? Why do we have to make Christmas such an expensive Celebration? Or are there people out there who really are sensible at Christmas.

I often wonder if I have ever really understood the meaning of Christmas. I learnt by going to Sunday School and the lessons that I had in School, about the Bible Christmas. It is a beautiful story, and I am always ready to listen to it again at Christmas. But as a youngster it was a bit confusing with this Father Christmas that was always being mentioned, and who had a sled pulled by Reindeer that flew around in the sky and who slid down Chimneys.

I have no photos to show you about my first Christmases, only memories, maybe a bit scattered but somehow really worth keeping. (I have just added photos of some of our Christmas Trees over the years.)

The Christmases that really meant something to me were at Kadina. November-December was mostly a busy time for us kids. We had our School Exams to learn for and to make, and there was always a School Concert, where each Class showed their abilities with Singing Christmas Songs, or a play, or Gymnastics and dancing on the stage in the Town Hall. After the Exams were over we spent a lot of time in the Town Hall practising for the Concert. ( I was fascinated with the School plays. One was called Babushka, I think it is a Russian Christmas Story. I secretly learnt every word of this play off by heart, and at home I used to play all the parts.) This was a celebration that was really taken to heart by the school kids and the Towns people, lots of costumes to be made and lots of songs and poems and play parts to be learnt off by heart. The School Concert before the Summer holidays and Christmas.

The children with excellent School-marks were rewarded with a book. No I never got a reward, but my brother did. I am sure he got a Book for every Primary School Year.

He had a good collection of Biggles Books, which were very popular when we were young. Have you ever heard of Biggles? These were stories of a Pilot in the First World War. I know my brother loved those books. I wonder if he still has them.

I can remember there was always a Christmas Tree that was decorated standing in one of the streets, certainly not as elaborate as these days. We would make paper decorations from Crepe paper and hang them in the School and at home. We didn't have a Christmas Tree, but there were two Chimneys that Father Christmas could slip down. Though Grandma had her big iron bed blocking one fire-place opening!

Our presents were always laid on the end of the bed for when we awoke on Christmas morning.
Once I received a Humpty-Dumpty toy. I loved it. It had a handle to turn which played the music to Humpty Dumpty quite loud. I drove everyone crazy, oh! yes I can remember that I did. Yes, it broke, nobody could fix my Humpty Dumpty. Once I received a Doll. I had my sister's doll, so I suppose Father Christmas decided I should have my own Doll. I am sure that my sister was so glad to get her Doll back again, even though I had bitten it's nose off, and a couple of fingers. It was a Celluloid Doll. Yes, she loved that doll, and I am sure she still has it. ( I did have my doll for quite a while, but once I left it in the morning dew and the skin peeled off, but I still played with her, but she just couldn't be put in the Yearly Doll Show in Kadina.) Once I wished for a Bike, but alas! I can remember walking vainly out on the footpath looking in the sky, perhaps Father Christmas was still on his way. Maybe that was the last time I believed in Father Christmas, not sure!

I can't remember Grandma baking cakes or biscuits for Christmas, but I can remember her chasing the Chooks to cut their heads off for Christmas Dinner. I can remember Christmas pudding and custard. I think it was the only time that I ate the Raisins that were in the Christmas Pudding (probably swallowed them whole), the reason being that there were always Threepences in the Christmas Pudding. Of course we had competitions who would get the most Threepences. (Can you remember Threepence? Gee we used to get a heap of lollies for Threepence in those days, didn't we!) A real treat!

Sometimes we were lucky on Boxing Day to go to the Beach at Wallaroo. Sometimes we went with friends of Grandma who had a big Tent pitched and I can remember that we slept in that big tent. They had lots of kids so there was always something going on. Or one of my Uncles would take us. Oh! what a wonderful day and Oh! what a wonderful Beach it used to be. Grandma used to like to take us to the beach so that we could swim and chase the waves and get plenty of salt water on our skin to heal sores and scabs that we had. She was a clever lady. It did take me a while to get used to the waves, I used to ball my eyes out when I went in the sea. I can remember that as if it was yesterday.

We were happy with Grandma's Christmas, she showed us that Goodwill, Peace and Good Health were the right things to wish for Christmas.

Here in Austria Christmas Eve is the Celebration night. Christmas Songs to be sang, a Good Meal and presents, and many people go to Midnight Mass.

The Christmases in my life have all been different, and lots of different shaped and sized Christmas Trees. Like this strange little one, which seemed to be more wide than high.

I have tried to give my kids good Christmases, We have had Christmases when there was not so much money to buy elaborate presents, there was a Christmas when one of the kids got sick and we spent Christmas Eve by the sick bed, and we didn't even get to decorate our Christmas tree, or even have a Christmas Meal, another Christmas my husband celebrated his Birthday which is on the 24th (hmm he did a that couple of times) and he was unable to enjoy his Christmas Meal,and he couldn't help the kids put their presents together. We have also had Christmases when the Peace and Goodwill got a bit shaky.

There is so much to be done on Christmas Eve. Usually the families come together on Christmas Eve for the Celebrations, so of course there is the Evening Meal to get ready. In the morning there is the last-minute shopping to be done. The Christmas Tree usually is decorated in the afternoon and the presents get put under the tree and, so there is a hustle-bustle as the kids are all excited and impatient to see the Tree and presents. Yes, a stress. Sometimes it is a good stress and sometimes not.

There are so many things that can go wrong. Gee, we have good friends over here, and they bought their grand kids Bunk beds from IKEA and tried to build them ready for Christmas Eve. Oh! so much went wrong, you can imagine, Tempers were flying, thank heavens the kids weren't home. My hubby had to help, and he absolutely fears IKEA furniture especially a few hours before Christmas, because of all the bits and pieces to be put together. We like most people forget to look at the directions which would help a lot of frustration. So the Peace and Goodwill got lost in that household too for a while!

One Christmas Eve we went to Midnight Mass with friends, the ones who built the Bunk Beds from IKEA. It was a beautiful Christmas Evening, White with snow and cold. Buses pulled up at the Church and Tourists joined us in the Christmas Ceremony, English Guests. It was fantastic for me to hear the Hymns in English. Silent Night sung in English ringing through a little Church in a little town in Midnight Mass. That was a Christmas that I will never forget. I don't know if the other people could here the English, but I could.

Well, another Christmas is in the air! What will it bring?

Peace, Goodwill and Good Health are my wishes to you all....