Up With The Lark: My Life On the Land
4 journalers for this copy...
Bought this from a huge church book sale I accidently run into on George Street, Edinburgh, last month.
Still reading, but have to start commenting or I'll forget what I want to say. Joan is so perfect that either some of it is due to remembering things in a bit better light than they were or I would have hated her had I known her. I was a lazy kid, always found where the fence was the lowest, so merely reading about Joan's childhood stories sucks away my energy. Can kids like her actually exist?
The story about the German POW was sad, but apparently girls often wrote white lies to men on the front or like in this case, kept as a prisoner in another country, probably so that they would not lose their spirit. Of course it was devastating for them if and when they returned, to find out that it had all been a lie, but would they have endured everything, had they known the truth? Some would, but not all.
The marriage, argh. That is also something I would have handled very differently, meaning the mother-in-law from hell. The option of moving to Joan's parent's land was never even mentioned, although they seemed to have a lot of land. That would have been my first suggestion, when facing the evil. The laundry and other minor issues would have aroused my anger so that I would not have kept quiet. But the remark about the first baby would have had me out of Irene's life forever and she would not have seen her grandsons either. I tend to burn bridges when cross enough and her comment was something which there would have been no return. It is one thing to treasure one's son so that no woman is good enough for him, but for a grandmother to say a thing like that about her own grandchild when first seeing her is unforgivable. In my book Irene would have been as good as dead then; out of her house and end of that story. Never see, never talk to again. Dead. So there would not have been the car episode, had it been my biography, but even if that had been the first and only incident, it would also have meant a total wipe out from my life. Some things just can't be forgiven. I've never had a mother-in-law, so I'm perhaps lucky. My mother has been quite awful to the wife of my eldest brother, though nothing compered to Irene, so I do know something about these tensions.
Still reading, but have to start commenting or I'll forget what I want to say. Joan is so perfect that either some of it is due to remembering things in a bit better light than they were or I would have hated her had I known her. I was a lazy kid, always found where the fence was the lowest, so merely reading about Joan's childhood stories sucks away my energy. Can kids like her actually exist?
The story about the German POW was sad, but apparently girls often wrote white lies to men on the front or like in this case, kept as a prisoner in another country, probably so that they would not lose their spirit. Of course it was devastating for them if and when they returned, to find out that it had all been a lie, but would they have endured everything, had they known the truth? Some would, but not all.
The marriage, argh. That is also something I would have handled very differently, meaning the mother-in-law from hell. The option of moving to Joan's parent's land was never even mentioned, although they seemed to have a lot of land. That would have been my first suggestion, when facing the evil. The laundry and other minor issues would have aroused my anger so that I would not have kept quiet. But the remark about the first baby would have had me out of Irene's life forever and she would not have seen her grandsons either. I tend to burn bridges when cross enough and her comment was something which there would have been no return. It is one thing to treasure one's son so that no woman is good enough for him, but for a grandmother to say a thing like that about her own grandchild when first seeing her is unforgivable. In my book Irene would have been as good as dead then; out of her house and end of that story. Never see, never talk to again. Dead. So there would not have been the car episode, had it been my biography, but even if that had been the first and only incident, it would also have meant a total wipe out from my life. Some things just can't be forgiven. I've never had a mother-in-law, so I'm perhaps lucky. My mother has been quite awful to the wife of my eldest brother, though nothing compered to Irene, so I do know something about these tensions.
Finished.
This couple must have had more hours to a day than the rest of us. Four children, dairy cattle (all that milking twice a day) and a riding school with over 100 equines (most of them home-bred) + all the riders to teach.
I didn't know that internet has won over riding as a hobby, even in the UK. I think in Finland adult riding is more popular than ever.
What I didn't understand was that due to red tape regulations Tony and Joan had to live in different houses to run these two farms - who would have been there to see where they were lodging at the end of the day?
When remembering Tony's good qualities Joan said he never took sides between his mother or Joan. I would call such a man a wimp, when he saw what his mother was doing to his wife (and baby girl) and yet he didn't protest or make her put an end to it.
It seems that none of the children or grandchildren is going to continue farming her place, if they only come daily to check that all is OK. As far as I understood, none of them is working there beside her, which is kind of sad but understandable - they've seen what it takes.
I'll be cruising around the British Isles in August, so I'll put this book aside to be released back in the UK where I think it belongs.
Edit: Forgot to pack this book...
This couple must have had more hours to a day than the rest of us. Four children, dairy cattle (all that milking twice a day) and a riding school with over 100 equines (most of them home-bred) + all the riders to teach.
I didn't know that internet has won over riding as a hobby, even in the UK. I think in Finland adult riding is more popular than ever.
What I didn't understand was that due to red tape regulations Tony and Joan had to live in different houses to run these two farms - who would have been there to see where they were lodging at the end of the day?
When remembering Tony's good qualities Joan said he never took sides between his mother or Joan. I would call such a man a wimp, when he saw what his mother was doing to his wife (and baby girl) and yet he didn't protest or make her put an end to it.
It seems that none of the children or grandchildren is going to continue farming her place, if they only come daily to check that all is OK. As far as I understood, none of them is working there beside her, which is kind of sad but understandable - they've seen what it takes.
I'll be cruising around the British Isles in August, so I'll put this book aside to be released back in the UK where I think it belongs.
Edit: Forgot to pack this book...
Journal Entry 3 by kirjakko at Roasberg in Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, July 21, 2017
Yes, this really looks like my kind of book. I started reading it on the train. Sadly I think I must leave it at home when we leave for Russia. It is better take with me something I can leave behind nad not bring back home again.
Thank you for the book Kirjakko!
Thank you for the book Kirjakko!
This was quite a pleasing book to read. The description of life in the countryside was interesting as I am a country girl as well. I am not a farmer's daughter though. My father had a grocery store. In the 1950's almost all the neighbours who had a small house had a cow of their own and perhaps a pig or a couple of sheep or some hens. I mean those who were not farmers. My uncles had no cow but they had a summer pig or two summer sheep which were slaughtered in autumn in front of their houses. There was a man who came to do the bloody work and we children were watching. First he did it with a knife when the pig was hung from its hind legs. Later he used a gun. The head was hanging down because the blood was taken into a bucket. The sheep were taken to a slaughterhouse, I think. I don't remember seeing any sheep hanging head downwards in the yard. Or is it the first pig I still see being slaughtered before my eyes? My uncles did the shearing, though. They were not farmers, but lorry drivers.
The mother-in-law was even more terrible than mine was and it really is an achievement.
Perhaps the writer was inclined to remember the good things and forget most of the less good things, but the book was interesting anyway.
Kirja on vapautukseni #184 Chanian haasteessa Vapautusten vuosi: Elokuu
Book #90 in the 2017 Keep Them Moving -challence by Booklady331
The mother-in-law was even more terrible than mine was and it really is an achievement.
Perhaps the writer was inclined to remember the good things and forget most of the less good things, but the book was interesting anyway.
Kirja on vapautukseni #184 Chanian haasteessa Vapautusten vuosi: Elokuu
Book #90 in the 2017 Keep Them Moving -challence by Booklady331
The book came back from Annelis and my work mate saw it... so it left again.
Edit pic: July 2018: As this was the only JE without a picture I added one of Henley-on-Thames in honour of the good people in Henley who journalled the book twice within 24 h (see below, July 2018). We drove through Henley before visiting Highclere Castle and the town was preparing for the annual boat races.
Edit pic: July 2018: As this was the only JE without a picture I added one of Henley-on-Thames in honour of the good people in Henley who journalled the book twice within 24 h (see below, July 2018). We drove through Henley before visiting Highclere Castle and the town was preparing for the annual boat races.
Journal Entry 8 by kirjakko at Highclere Castle in Newbury, Berkshire United Kingdom on Monday, May 7, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (5/7/2018 UTC) at Highclere Castle in Newbury, Berkshire United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Had a lovely day at the Highclere Castle & grounds, where Downton Abbey was filmed. There sits the so called Jackdaws Castle - more or less a group of columns. Left the book there, on the left side windowsill.
Edit: July 2018: I'm so happy the book was picked up by somebody as it deserves more readers.
Edit 2: July 2018: Wow, it's been caught again and by somebody who knew the family! I'm so thrilled! Thank you for journalling the book (and not putting it in the bin!), Pennystella, and joining bookcrossing. It's fun, exciting and addicting...
Edit: July 2018: I'm so happy the book was picked up by somebody as it deserves more readers.
Edit 2: July 2018: Wow, it's been caught again and by somebody who knew the family! I'm so thrilled! Thank you for journalling the book (and not putting it in the bin!), Pennystella, and joining bookcrossing. It's fun, exciting and addicting...
Found in the beautiful setting of Highclere Castle. Left for someone else to discover and enjoy in our lovely home town of Henley on Thames.
Journal Entry 10 by Pennystella at Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire United Kingdom on Monday, July 23, 2018
I found this book (actually thought discarded rubbish and was picking up to put in bin!) but was intrigued as had heard of bookcrossing, but not participated. Also I knew some members of the Bomford family as a child so will be interested to read the story.