UNDERCONSTRUCTION
DUE TO THE FACT I HAVE LEARNT SO MUCH MORE AND WISH TO REWRITE
D O N O T R E A D pleeeeeeeeeeeeease
UPDATED Feb 2 2010: Kindly edited by Jan Mulcahy, Northern Rivers Family History Writer's Group.
"Hurry up youse guys, it's 'arpast' four, e'll be here soon!" I said with my newly aquired 'Loo accent. My cousin Michael, my brother Martin and I looked forward to Mr McKnight's daily treck home. Nonchalantly swinging on the wrought iron gate awaiting the man who my mother oft stated 'invented the Kettle Whistle'.
An elderly man soon appeared over the crest of the hill. His little derby hat perched on his head, and his pin-striped suit flapping; he seemed to me from a lost time.
An elderly man soon appeared over the crest of the hill. His little derby hat perched on his head, and his pin-striped suit flapping; he seemed to me from a lost time.
"Let's see what I have here," he smiled and reached with great difficulty into his waistcoat pocket, fob watch dangling. Palming a handful of coins he selected and placed a coin in our outstretched hands. I received a penny and the little kids half pennies, 'haypnees' we called them.
"I wonder if kept any farthings for babies?" I thought.
"Oh gee, thanks Mr. McKnight", we all chorused, gratefully eyeing off our ice-cream money.
With the deed done he struggled down Brougham Street, cane in hand, towards Aunty Billy's house. His face was very close to the ground. Was he searching for more coins along the way? Mr McKnight's face was always close to the ground. Bent over double, he suffered from curvature of the spine.
As a child I thought he was a lovely old gentleman who maybe got all his money from inventing the kettle whistle. Mum later told me Mr. McKnight invented the cork screw, not the kettle whistle .. neither of which are credited to him.
