I love to see my Mum laughing and having a good time. She never learned to drive and so since Dad died, she doesn't get out a great deal and looks forward to days in the holidays when I can take her out and about. Today, acting on the helpful suggestions of Peter and Jessamy, I took her to Styal Mill. I took the above photo over coffee (she didn't realise my phone has a camera) as she was chuckling about her days as a weaver. Just before her 14th birthday, my Mum started work in a mill, looking after four looms just like these. She worked from 7.30am until 5.30pm! (Sometimes I think our children don't know they're born, do they?)
Being there brought out stories I'd never heard before; Such as the story of how she and her friend went to visit the mill from school, to see if they would like to work there. They were shown round by two very handsome boys, one of whom was tall and blond and he was the reason she decided to work in the mill!!!"They knew what they were doing, didn't they?" she chuckled, "Getting them to show us round!"
I made some comment about it being a hard life.
"But actually," said Mum, "That was when my life began. Because that was where I met your Aunty Janet, who took me home and introduced me to your Dad."
I smiled at that. Mum says meeting Dad was when her life began. He would have loved to hear that. I'm sure he did hear it, I'm sure she would have told him. But how lovely!
And although heavy rain had been forecast, the first drops didn't fall until we set off to return to the car park. I love our mother and daughter days and this one was just perfect.
There was even a little electric "shuttle" to transport Mum from the mill to the house where the child apprentices lived. There we bumped into Tom H about to go for the tour as we came out. And, no, he didn't lose an arm in one of the machines, but what a cracking photo!
I wonder where our next adventure will take us?
No comments:
Post a Comment