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Post by gus2 on Feb 1, 2007 19:14:47 GMT
Nella Last wrote a wartime diary as part of Britain's "Mass Observation project. What was that I never heard of it??
Here are a few of her observations I think you may like to read.
5th September 1939
she speaks of the blackout
I don't think there is much need for the wireless to advise people to stay indoors - I'd need a dog to lead me
29th November 1939
I think exco and scorp would have cheered Mrs Last for this one.
I wish sometimes i was a religious woman. My next door neighbour prays to God to strike Hitler dead.
Cannot help thinking if God wanted to do that he would not wait till Mrs Helm asked him
18th October 1940
A group of rough youths banged into my husband and me. I kicked one lout in the shins and grasped the ear of another and said "Where's your manners" . I told my husband "if every citizen took a good thick stick and routed the young devils It would do a lot more good than complaining to the police or writing to the newspapers"
I rather think Mrs Last would get 3 months porridge if she tried that today.
24th January 1942
Cliff her son is home on leave
I opened a tin of pineapple and made a jelly
7th May 1945
Stuart hibbard said that tomorrow is VE day I thought we must celebrate - I'll open a tin of pears- and I did
Nellas Last War, Profile books
gus
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Daz Madrigal
lounge lizard 
a Child of the Matrix
Posts: 11,120
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Post by Daz Madrigal on Feb 1, 2007 19:29:19 GMT
They tried to bomb Salford Docks and Trafford because it was the largest Industrial Park in the World at the time but they seemed to have left most of the bombs in the local vicinity. I'm not sure why they bothered bombing Coventry but Salford got blitzed a number of times. You wouldn't have found anyone there thinking too badly of Bomber Harris. In M/Cr theres a saying 'You start it and I'll finish it!'  |
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Post by mrscrabapple on Feb 1, 2007 19:44:06 GMT
I remember reading about Nella Last recently, Gus - Victoria Wood is/was doing a film or TV programme about her. Mrs Last carried on doing the Mass Observation thing long after most other people had stopped, possibly due to her rather bleak-sounding marriage.
Your quotes make her sound most entertaining - I especially like the one about God and Hitler. Where did you get these from? Have you read the book? Is it all as good as that?
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Post by gus2 on Feb 1, 2007 23:49:17 GMT
They tried to bomb Salford Docks and Trafford because it was the largest Industrial Park in the World at the time but they seemed to have left most of the bombs in the local vicinity. I'm not sure why they bothered bombing Coventry but Salford got blitzed a number of times. You wouldn't have found anyone there thinking too badly of Bomber Harris. In M/Cr theres a saying 'You start it and I'll finish it!' I think you will find that at the time of which we speak that Coventry was a if not the leading city in car production. This was stopped during the war and they started turning out war vehicles amongst other things, so very important as far as the Germans were concerned. Oh boy did he ( Harris) ever finish it . he would still be bombimg them today if he was still alive. God rot him in hell. gus |
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Post by gus2 on Feb 1, 2007 23:55:25 GMT
I remember reading about Nella Last recently, Gus - Victoria Wood is/was doing a film or TV programme about her. Mrs Last carried on doing the Mass Observation thing long after most other people had stopped, possibly due to her rather bleak-sounding marriage. Your quotes make her sound most entertaining - I especially like the one about God and Hitler. Where did you get these from? Have you read the book? Is it all as good as that? No mrs C I have not read the book although I intend to next time I pass Waterstones. You are right in saying she had a crisis in her marriage during the war. I think this came about as i am sure it did for a lot of woman at that time when they found their independence and realised that they could do it alone if needs be. She seemed terribly relieved when Mr Last under the pretence of a cold left the marital bed and never returned. gus |
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Post by mrscrabapple on Feb 2, 2007 0:25:57 GMT
No mrs C I have not read the book although I intend to next time I pass Waterstones. gus That sounds like a very good idea. Let us see if I can race you to it and then we can share our joy. In the book. |
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sandywinder
Madrigal Member
Holistic Philosopher
The private sector makes boxes, the public sector ticks them
Posts: 16,929
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Post by sandywinder on Feb 2, 2007 7:25:01 GMT
I remember reading about Nella Last recently, Gus - Victoria Wood is/was doing a film or TV programme about her. Mrs Last carried on doing the Mass Observation thing long after most other people had stopped, possibly due to her rather bleak-sounding marriage. Your quotes make her sound most entertaining - I especially like the one about God and Hitler. Where did you get these from? Have you read the book? Is it all as good as that? No mrs C I have not read the book although I intend to next time I pass Water stones. gus Have you seen a doctor about it Gus? I understand passing water stones can be rather painful. ;D |
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Post by gus2 on Feb 2, 2007 10:58:00 GMT
No mrs C I have not read the book although I intend to next time I pass Waterstones. gus That sounds like a very good idea. Let us see if I can race you to it and then we can share our joy. In the book. Well I surely would like to share our joy in the book but let's not forget there are other things we can share our joy in  gus |
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Post by gus2 on Feb 2, 2007 11:00:51 GMT
No mrs C I have not read the book although I intend to next time I pass Water stones. gus Have you seen a doctor about it Gus? I understand passing water stones can be rather painful. ;D ;D ;D Is that not passing stones in the water and not water stones. i do believe it is painful but God willing I won't have to find out. gus |
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sandywinder
Madrigal Member
Holistic Philosopher
The private sector makes boxes, the public sector ticks them
Posts: 16,929
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Post by sandywinder on Feb 3, 2007 10:15:58 GMT
I watched a program called Timewatch last night which featured those bastard Huns bombing Britain.
Of course you could all blame it on Adolf Hitler were it not for the fact that the bombs were being dropped by Zeppelins onto schools in World War ONE (1916/17).
I think they said that this was the first time that any army had sought to terrorise civilians by aerial bombing.
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Daz Madrigal
lounge lizard
a Child of the Matrix
Posts: 11,120
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Post by Daz Madrigal on Feb 3, 2007 12:06:23 GMT
Good point, Sandy.
I eagerly await Comrade Distings reply - no doubt it will be similarly held aloft with a mixture of hot air and bilious gas!
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Post by gus2 on Feb 3, 2007 18:58:10 GMT
Good point, Sandy. I eagerly await Comrade Distings reply - no doubt it will be similarly held aloft with a mixture of hot air and bilious gas! Comrade ha ha O God billy daz don't try to tell me that you have hopped on the side of those lunatics to the right of Attila the Hun on A N Other board. gus |
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Post by mrs crabapple on Feb 8, 2007 21:25:49 GMT
Well I surely would like to share our joy in the book but let's not forget there are other things we can share our joy in gus I had a feeling you'd say that.  |
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Post by gus2 on Feb 8, 2007 21:34:08 GMT
Well I surely would like to share our joy in the book but let's not forget there are other things we can share our joy in gus I had a feeling you'd say that. I wrote it on the 02.02.07 it has took you a long time to get the feeling. Are you sure you are not a hairy arsed sailor just docked ;D gus |
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Post by mrscrabapple on Feb 10, 2007 15:48:10 GMT
I had a feeling you'd say that. I wrote it on the 02.02.07 it has took you a long time to get the feeling. Are you sure you are not a hairy arsed sailor just docked ;D gus OK my dear gus, I ought not to engage in badinage if it's going to take me so long to do it. But then ... it always takes women longer than it takes men, don't you find? |
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