Category Archives: In Memoriam

People tend to talk of traits and skills as if they’re hereditary. I have no idea if they really are but I do know that both my mother and my grandmother wrote, as well as many other “artistic hobbies”. (No, I have no colour co-ordination skills to speak of, Sam got that.) Unfortunately, I have nothing that my grandmother wrote but I do have a few pieces that my mother put together and so, in memory of two amazing women, here they are.

In memory of
Alice Marjory BECK nee HOPKINSON
(1913-2000)
and
Jennifer Anne THOMAS nee BECK formerly FOX
(1948-1988)

Kids Will Be Kids by Jennifer Thomas

  September 12, 2010 - 09:56 | In Memoriam
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This is one of a sequence of short pieces about life on the small-holding. The copy I have is in a notebook, with the nearest dated work being 1985. I suspect that these were writing exercises rather than final pieces.

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Before becoming a parent I imagined how wonderful it would be. I knew that I would not quash the children’s enthusiasm and curiosity; I would nurture these traits as delicate flowers. Now … Continue reading →

Why Goats? by Jennifer Thomas

  July 4, 2010 - 20:38 | In Memoriam
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This is one of a sequence of short pieces about life on the small-holding. The copy I have is in a notebook, with the nearest dated work being 1985. I suspect that these were writing exercises rather than final pieces.

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It seemed so simple in the books. Did you know that size for size a goat produces more milk than a cow on poorer grazing and less food? That the milk can be frozen … Continue reading →

Mice by Jennifer Thomas

  July 3, 2010 - 20:46 | In Memoriam
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This is one of a sequence of short pieces about life on the small-holding. The copy I have is in a notebook, with the nearest dated work being 1985. I suspect that these were writing exercises rather than final pieces.

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It definitely was not in the brochure. I have looked again and it’s not there. No-one warned me that the motor compartments of a freezer is high on the ideal home list … Continue reading →

Geese by Jennifer Thomas

  July 3, 2010 - 19:33 | In Memoriam
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This is one of a sequence of short pieces about life on the small-holding. The copy I have is in a notebook, with the nearest dated work being 1985. I suspect that these were writing exercises rather than final pieces.

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“Geese are what you need.”

Usually, advice is easily given and not so easily taken. However, we were told that in the days of cottaging when everyone had a cow, a … Continue reading →

France 1986 by Jennifer Thomas

  March 21, 2010 - 10:03 | In Memoriam
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Mum wrote this non-fiction piece after a summer holiday in France in 1986. We believe it was for the Caravan Club. I’ve no idea whether it was accepted, rejected or never sent out. This may even just be an early-ish draft.

Clicking on the images should take you to a separate page with the largest image size I have currently (not great but legible). The transcription has been cleaned up to remove excess spaces, etc, … Continue reading →