Buttons and Bows

East is East and West is West and the wrong road I have chose .... "Button and Bows" and "Baby Face" were the first songs I recall. Singing and entertaining the family with my deep, deep voice from a very early age. 

"Haven't I got a lovely woice Mummy?"
"Yes Lynette, you sound just like Sophie Tucker."  Smiling inwardly I thought, she must be good, this Sophie Tucker.

it was a very happy Easter - not much of a 'doll' child I was thrilled with my new Teddy. Teddy accompanyed me throughout my journey's'. In 1970 Teddy ran away, some say he missed me while I was temporarily following a 'tattooing' career in Newcastle.

Mummy, me and Nanny Hoffman at Brookvale.

 

Lactose intolerant?

Rather a chunky child with very strange legs I was put to work very early carpet cleaning  to pay for my keep. The roads that ran from Sydney Harbour to Williams Street had originally been large sandstone cliffs. The houses of Brougham Street backed onto the damp hewn stone. Water trickled through this rock and moss grew. Most householders 'whitewashed' to rid these walls of the watery green.

Aunty Eva and her Dutch friend, Jean McGinty & me and my Nanny

Aunty Eva (Catherine Eva Hoffman) was very fond of Dutchmen and I soon picked up the odd phrase. I was frequently hushed, as the phrases were 'grown up' sayings and not to be repeated by children.

Parties and drinking at an early age were the go, I am present here at a wedding and wondering why my grandmother is wearing such a ridiculous psychedelic dress so soon after my grandfather had been killed in an accident  in the Phillipines! Grandad had purchased a 'bar' in Iloilo and was on his way back to Sydney to fetch the family when the earthquake struck - he was crushed when the church he had  found refuge in collapsed.

I loved sitting on Jean McGinty's lap she was a 'maiden' aunt who had travelled to Australia with  Aunty Bessy.  Aunty Jean had been 'jilted' and never married, I always felt sorry for her, until the day of my wedding when she informed me that my cousin Cheryle's coat was much nicer than my fake white one.

My 'fake fur' coat

As promised here's the bows ..

Not sure if your can see the 'bow' but, I am sure it's there. The 'bow' replaced 'the bonnet' it was to be seen perched on my head for years to come until the day the 'scissors' decided to remove it, and the hair it was attached to.

This haircut style below was not the result of my wayward scissor attack, rather the regrowth from a mandatory chicken box shaving.  My mother, well known for her dexterity was able to sit the bow on top of my head regardless of the lack of hair.

many more bow photos to be added at a later date ..    there were bows stuck on my head until at the age of nine I rebelled and steadfastly refused to wear one.   I now found my wetted hair was firmly twirled in clumps and held in place with bobby pins until it dried when brushed my head was adorned with a mop of unwnted curls. A perm later replaced the 'curling sessions'. What was it with her anyway .. just let my locks flow I reckoned.