Pies, Planes, and White Feathers.
OLIVE’S FOURTH POST
The story so far. Olive Riley, half way through her 107th year, started her blog, or blob as she calls it, in late Feb. 2007 with help from Mike. Olive does not see well and so Mike records her stories and types them out.
So far, as you’ll see below, Olive has flown to Brisbane where she had a swim, a shandy, and almost folied the toilet brigade, all in her first busy post. The second post found Olive working to save the lettuce man, still under threat and grateful for all support. The third post was all about teeth, her Pearlies, and the post below will make your mouth water. The comments are also worth reading. Ollie is an inspiration, it seems.
Signed; Mike the helper.
Speaking of Barnie, he was very bold as a tyke (a kid). Once he stopped a football match. He ran out into the middle of the field and just stopped the game. That was in Broken Hill in the Depression. I used to go to the game of a Saturday with a pram full of home made pies and pasties, and I’d be selling them to the crowd.
So, here comes Barnie in just a nappie and a singlet, running into the middle of the field and everyone stopped playing. They didn’t want to crush him, yer see.
- Mike
Didn’t Barnie see the first plane to come to Broken Hill?
- Olive
That was later. One day, Evelyn and Barnie disappeared from the yard. They’d taken off to see the first plane land. I didn’t know where they were. I didn’t care anything about planes I was just worried about where the kids were.
Hours later, a fella bought them back in a horse and cart and said he’d found ‘em on the road. Barnie thought I was going to give him a hiding. (a smack) He was crying; “Oh, she’s going to kill us. She’s going to kill us. â€? Barnie was such a sook.(cry-baby)
- Mike
Not later in the war, he wasn’t
- Olive
No, not later.
- Mike
Did you see the plane yourself?
- Olive
No , Well, I seen it flying over.
- Mike
But what did you think about a plane coming? Was it amazing?
- Olive
No………. Is all this going in my blob?
- Mike
- Mike
Of course! (I found out later that Olive’s memory was probably playing her tricks. The first plane to Broken hill landed in 1916, flown by a Captain Pickles who was thinking to open an air service between Broken hill and Sydney. Olive’s kids could not have gone to meet the captain because they were not yet born. Evelyn was born in 1918. Barnie was born the day the huge general strike ended in 1920.
Evelyn and Barnie might have gone to to see the arrival of Charles Kingsford Smith, Smithy as he was known. He was famous for doing the first solo flight from California to Australia in 1928.
Smithy flew in to Broken hill in 1932 and sold joy rides to the brave. I can imagine Barnie nudging up to the hero of the skies and trying to score a freebie. Here’s Barnie!)
Back to meat pies, Ollie. You say you sold pies at the football. Were pies very popular then? I mean they’ve always been our national fast food haven’t they? Like the hamburger and the hot dog elsewhere, we’ve always had the good old meat pie with tomato sauce.
- Olive
Yes, I’ve always loved a nice pie. ‘Cos they’re cheap you see. They only cost about sixpence in those days. Though I liked pasties better, to tell the truth.
- Mike
The Cornish style pasties with vegetables, turnips and potatoes and that special shape like a wedge of orange?
- Olive
Yeah. Yummy!
- Mike
I always loved pies. When I was living in Canada and couldn’t get them. I tried to interest a local bakery in starting them in Quebec. I baked a batch as I remembered them, and tried to persuade the Quebecers that they’d be the next big thing. But it did not work.
Now, Katya (my wife) won’t let me eat them, too rich she says. But I still love them. (sigh)
Let’s go to Ettalong. I know a good little pie shop there and my mouth is watering just talking about them. You can see the pie shop across the road if you look hard, the green sign.
- Olive
Ettalong’s quite nice, actually. Nice beach somewhere round here.
- Mike
Heres’ the shop! This place makes good pies. Chloe can get you close. (Chloe is Mike’s brother’s daughter who is visiting )
There is such a big selection.
See all the sorts you can get. Plain beef steak, beef curry, cheese bacon and beef, tomato, onion and beef and mushroom and beef.
- Olive
Oh Gawd! In my day we only had the one sort, the mince pie like Sergeants pies.
- Mike
What sort do you want?
- Olive
Just a plain one, the plainest one they have, not too rich.
- Mike
Alex makes them. He’ll bring them out to us. Alex, how many do you make a day?
- Alex
Well, we start at 4.30 in the morning making pies and finish about 9 o’clock
- Mike
And how many do you make a day?
- Alex
Well, that’s something between me and….
- Mike
It’s a secret? Approximately, then.
- Alex
Thousands a week.
- Mike
What’s the secret of a good pie?
- Alex
Good quality ingredients.
- Mike
Do you have a special recipe?
- Alex
I threw everyone else’s recipe out and started again. I spent $700 on meat before I got it right.
- Mike
Is it a secret, the recipe?
- Alex
Yes, I’m not telling. So, don’t ask. . (Alex goes)
- Mike
Well, this is a good looking pie you’ve got, Ollie. That flaky pastry and the meat is juicy looking. Gravy is very important in a good pie.
- Olive
Too Right!
- Mike
Now, are you going to eat it in the hand like we used to, or cut it up?
- Olive
You know in the olden days, there were men with carts and they used to sell the pies from the carts.
- Mike
How did they keep them hot? Did they have a fire underneath?
- Olive
I don’t know. I never saw any fire. But they were warm. I remember that quite clearly
- Mike
Can you manage the pie? Do you want Chloe to break it up for you?
- Olive
I’ll manage thank you. I’m making a bit of a mess, though.
- Mike
Never mind. How is it?
- Olive
Delicious, aren’t you going to have one?
- Mike
I’ll have one if you don’t tell Katya.
- Olive
Then you better not have one.
- Mike
You don’t eat much, do you?
- Olive
Not much.
- Mike
I used to know a centenarian called Roy Fox who lived round here. He was famous for two things. He was still driving at 100 and he knew the secret of long life, at least he thought he did.
- Chloe
What was it?
- Mike
He chewed his food really slowly. He was convinced this was the reason for his reaching 100 and he may have been right because, his eating slowly meant that he was full quicker and so he actually ate less. So, Ollie, you do the same thing, you eat very little and that explains why you are still with us without a doubt!
- Olive
Are you going to have something or not? You’re annoying me.
- Mike
Maybe not. To change the subject, I guess you remember the Second World War better than the first, do you?
- Olive
Yes, because that’s the one Barnie went to.
- Mike
Did all the men feel they had to go?
- Olive
Well, Barnie did. He was under age, you see, and he said Mum, if you don’t sign the papers, I’ll change my name and go anyway. So I had to sign the papers. It was terrible. I was sick with worry all the time he was gone.
- Mike
Did men feel they were cowards if they did not go?
- Olive
They went for the adventure. They never thought of the danger. It was all a big adventure to them.
Later they found out the truth. But was too late then, wasn’t it?
- Mike
My uncle, Francis was a conscientious objector. It was very hard for him. Pop, that was his wife’s father, wouldn’t speak to him for years. It took courage to say no to going to war.
- Olive
If you were a man on the streets, they might give you a white feather.
- Mike
What was that?
- Olive
A feather meant you were a coward. There was a funny thing happened on the train. Evelyn, my eldest, was going back to Westmead with Alvin, her husband, this was during the war. And they were sitting opposite some ladies who were looking at Alvin and getting more and more angry, him being a young man.
Suddenly, one gets up and tries to give him a white feather. That meant he was a coward, yer see. But he would not take it. Anyway, the train comes to his stop and Alvin gets up and Evelyn hands him his crutches from the rack. He’d lost a leg and they hadn’t noticed, the ladies with the feather, I mean. Well, they were that ashamed of themselves, giving him the feather and him having been wounded in the war. They were blushing and stuttering and trying to help.
But that was the joke. He wasn’t wounded in the war at all. He’d lost his leg in a motorcycle accident, the silly boy
- Mike
That’s a great story. Your Dad lost an arm in an accident didn’t he?
- Olive
Yeah, in a mine accident in the British mine. He was a miner in broken Hill.
- Mike
Thanks for the pies, Alex. They were good.
- Olive
- Mike
- Mike
Yes very good indeed.Thank you.
Next time we come to Ettlaong, Ollie, I’m taking you to the beach. I found a place where we can get your wheelchair directly onto hard sand. It’s a great spot and it’s just round the corner.
And by the way, dear blob readers. Olive is really enjoying the comments which keep bloshing in. I print them off and read them to her. We especially love the fact that they come from all over the world.
It’s like we are inventing a different world to the one in the newspapers. That world is full of violence, of people taking offence, willfully misunderstanding and demonizing each other. But our world has you folks being spontaneously friendly across exactly the same barriers of language and culture as exist in that other sad newspaper world. Very curious isn’t it?
We were a bit worried about the teeth story, whether it would turn you off. But you have replied with lots of toothy tales of your own. We like it that your comments are now changing from one line congratulations to your own stories. Jan told us that her aunt was given false teeth as a wedding present. Now, that’s memorable.
So, keep those coming but not to long of course. By the way, are Olive’s stories too long?
This is Etttalong beach. Maybe next time.
Phạm Trung Kiên is the first person to repy to the fourth post. Congratulations to Kien from Vietnam.
Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 at 7:08 pm
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129 Responses to “Pies, Planes, and White Feathers.”
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March 3rd, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Dear mrs Olive,
On France Inter, i heard about your site and i went
Your are a beautiful granma and its a pitty you are so far away
i am 51 years old
My housband died in 2003
I have 3 children 2 girls and a boy
Sometimes I am afraid about the time which is going so quickly. What is your opinion about that?
have a good day and I hope you will have a few minutes to answer me
very sincerly
Dear Chantal, We feel that helping people is the way to stay happy and busy. Both Olive and I care little about money. But we love stories, the stories of people’s lives. After being helpful, it probably helps if you can record in some way what you do and share that record, as we are doing with this blob.
We want to make this blob like a movie. If you get to see Olive’s movie we made three years ago, All About Olive, you’ll see that Olive directs part of it. Mike the helper
March 3rd, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Oh, the first time visiting your blog, wade through your confidence, I feel really impressed and admire. How can a woman in such that age can have a sound mind sanguine like you! Wish you always happy and healthy
Dear Pham, you were the first to reply to the pie story. Congratulations, Mike the Helper.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Dear Olive,
Thank you for the wonderful retrospective…I feel like a ‘pie floater’ now !
Warm regards
Dork
A pie floater is a pie with peas and gravy, isn’t it? mike the helper
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Excuse me for my english, but I’m french…
I’ve heard about your blog on radio, and it’s as fabulous as it was told to me ! (I’m not sure this sentence is correct..)
You have a great humour and I wish you a lot of good things.
Marie Claire, Olive has a great sense of humor. You have only just begun to see it. Wait till you hear the Red for danger story! Mike the helper.
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Wow, what a blessing to have found your beautiful, inspiring blog! If you haven’t already received an invitation, I would like to cordially invite you to The Ultimate Blog Party. We would be honored by your presence. Blog on Ms Riley; I’ll be reading
Dear Sogna, thanks for telling your friends about Olive. Lots are coming to meet her. Olive has never been to Italy and I think it a bit late to plan a trip, though, as you saw, she flew to brisbane. I love italy, it’s the home of my ancestors. They are from Pontelandolfo which you wont find on the map. Mike the helper.
March 3rd, 2007 at 9:30 pm
love your blob. keep with the long stories. as long as they are interesting I’ll love them.
but one thing you could do better is to post the pictures as thumbnails that when you click on them you see the bigger (or original) version.
Thanks for the tip. Ziv. We have not worked out the thumbnail business yet. Also, we do like the look of the pix at the present size. As for your T shirt idea, its a good one but dangerous . We dont want any commercializtion on the blog . No ads, nothing but free friendliness and stories. Mike the helper.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Hello from Saskatchewan, Canada!
Dear Olive,
What a delight your blog is. The posts are definitely NOT too long! Keep up the good work. I look forward to a happy read every day.
Best Wishes from Ruth Marie
Dear Ruth Marie, are the winters less severe than they were. I remember winter in Saskatoon like a force that would knock you flat. Mike the helper.
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Dear Mrs Olive,
to answer Mike’s question if your stories are too long I answer with a big NO! I just love your stories and wished I could sit next to Mike and listen to them.
love, Kasia
Dear kaisa. we are so glad we are not rambling too much. Eric Shackle, who is himself 87, and is probably the oldest journalist in the world, tells me they are too long. You can find him on Eric Shackle’s E book. Eric launched Olive’s blog by talking about it on Ohmynews which is published in Korea. The strange thing is, there has not been a single comment from Korea. Mike the helper
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 pm
Dear Olive,
I’m a 14 year old girl from San Diego. I absolutely enjoy reading your blog! I love all the interesting stories you have - especially the teeth one!! My father also has a pair of false teeth. I hope you have more stories to come, because I have told my friends from school about you and they are also quite fascinated. I hope you and Mike both have a wonderful day!
Dear Stephanie, Olive is very happy you answered. I am sure other kids will love Ollie just as much as do old people. If you get to see her film some day, you’ll find out how funny she is and also, sometimes, how sad too.
Do you know Thehill88. She’s an australian girl, Caitlin Hill, who has a huge following on you tube. She is charming and funny and I’m sure she’d love oOive too. I tried to write to Caitlin but it did not work. Anyway, have a look at Caitlin and see what you think. She’s in your country at the moment. Mike the helper
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
I m not speek ingles
Muitas felicidades, Tanks!!
No probelm, Luiz. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 12:29 am
Hello
I just read about the meat pies and it all remembered me when I was travelling in Australia (backpacking). I just loved all the pies you`re having in Oz. Unfortunately you can`t get them in Germany or Switzerland. You should export them overseas.
Bye Miriam
PS: No, Olive`s stories aren`t too long. They`re just right. It`s great with all the pictures.
Miriam, Here’s how I made the pies in Quebec. You form a shell with a pasty on the bottom which is not too rich, a dryer pastry than the top. Make the bottom shell round and cup shaped up about 1-2 inches deep. Make the top ideally with puff pastry.
Make the filling with good quality small beef chunks cooked up in a rich gravy and spiced or not as you wish. Then, fill the pie, cover it and bake the lot till the top is golden brown and the bottom cooked as well. That’s how I do it. Variations are; meat with musrooms, onions, cheeze, bacon etc. I especially like beef burgundy with some red wine.
The pie should all stay together well so you can eat it out of your hand. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 12:47 am
Dearest Olive and Mike…I can’t tell you enough times how much I am enjoying your words. The memories that Olive is sharing with all of us is just so very precious. I make meatpies (the French Canadian way) every Christmas and that’s been a tradition in my family since I can remember:-) Bless you, Olive, you are simply delightful!! xox
Dear Pea, Perhaps you can try making a pie our way. I used to live in Quebec and stayed there many years. I miss the white winters. Olive has never seen snow. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Dear Ollive,
I am a 23 years young german student. I liked your 4th post, because it is very interesting to see how the people in Australia thought the war would be like (especially the youungsters). Since I am a german citizen I like to read expereinces of others during that time. One more reason for that curiosity might be the fact that my grandpa and grandma never actually wanted to talk about that time. And when I was old enought to ask the right questions they were already gone. So all I can learn about that time is by reading or watching movies and documentaries. It might interest you to hear, that in germany we still have the duty to go to the ‘Bundeswehr’ (that’s our army) but we can neglect that and have to do social services in stead. There used to be a time when those neglectors were some kind of marked, but today the hospitals and other social associations couldn’t live with out them. And I am happy to report that there are less going to the army than those who go to do social service.
Keep on blobbing, I’ll be reading
March 4th, 2007 at 1:46 am
parabens pelo blog, e ja agora que continue a navegar na net e a postar no blog por mais 100 anitos, beijos
de portugal,se quizer ir tanbem ao meu blog eis o link:
http://mota_34.blogs.sapo.pt/
March 4th, 2007 at 2:50 am
The stories are definitely not too long. I reaaly love them and it’s great to read about things that happened long before I was born (I’ll become 28 next April) So please keep on blogging !
Love from Holland,
Esther
Dear Esther, I wish Olive could see Holland. I love your country. I made a film there once, Vincent and Me, about van Gogh, your most famous artist. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:22 am
to the moderator: concerning my previous comment i accidently gave you the wrong e-mail adress…. it does not end with ‘.de’ but with ‘.net’ i am sorry about that so please feel free to change that
sorry, René
March 4th, 2007 at 3:26 am
Nice to see your Blog.It was wonderful to see something from your Live.Sorry my bad English.Have a nice Weekend.Greetings from Germany.
Carsten
wwww,kante.servmax.de
Thanks Carsten, same to you. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 3:36 am
im glad that where I live, we are not ordered to go to war
(canada)
I havve three wee boys, two four and seven and the thought of them leaving my side to face billets? thats horrid
u must have been so scared, i do hope there was someone to hold your hand during this
Yes, the idea of sons going off to war is so terrible. Mike the hekper.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:46 am
Dear Mrs Riley,
I’ve read about your blog in a german web-newspaper and I think what you do is great. It should be an inspiration for more elder people not to be feared about modern technology.
Sincerly yours, Kai Loh (germany)
Dear kai, lots of people have written saying that they plan to get their own old folks onto the computer. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 4:04 am
Dear Ms. Riley, I have such fun reading your “blob”!
I think I will have to visit Australia so I can try one of those meat pies! Those look so yummy and we don’t have anything like that pie shop in the US.
Judy, try making them yourself. I wrote the recipe for Miriam. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 4:22 am
I can’t wait to hear more stories from your life Olive. I found your blog thanks to Sognatrice, us expats in Italy must stick together!
I’d love to hear more about when you were younger, it’s not often that we bet to hear a first hand experience of how life was one hundred years ago. I’m not being nosy, just genuine interest. I always grill my Dad on what his life was like growing up in the war.
Keep on blobbing Olive!
Nicki, We have to be careful. 107 is very old. I dont want to tire her. Last night Olive was hungry. She did not feel well during the day and missed the evening meal. I went to the supermarket to get her some late night bananas, she loves bananas, but then I decided to wait till this morning to take them to her. She was wide awake and ready to hear all the comments. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 4:36 am
Big hello from Kent, England.
Another admirerer of your blog and of Cornish pasties.
ZVRK, what’s the recipe? Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 5:03 am
Olive,
You’re site is very inspiring. I found it through digg.com and have told many friends about it. You’re personality is so infectious and brings joy to my day. I myself have never had any sort of meat pie, but with your visit to Ettalong, I am going to have to find one around here.
Greetings from Ohio, USA and all the best with your blob!
- Jason
Jason, if not, make one yourself. You might start something. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 5:06 am
You look amazing, Ms Olive!
I am a friend of Sogatrice just ahead of me, and she blooged about your blog. It’s pretty amazing these days that you can speak once and your words last forever on the internet.
I am American, living in Italy and have a vast curiosity about old time Australia.
More to come, Judith. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 6:14 am
Dear Olive!
I wish you health and happiness for many, many years.
Marina, Croatia
Dear Marina, I wonder why there have been so many replies from Croatia. Was the blog in your media? Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 6:27 am
This blog is absolutely amazing. It’s so significant, that a person born in the 19th century can be active user of a 21st century medium. That will come to the history. And Your retrospections too, Mrs. Riley!
I’m going to tell about You in my radio programme!
March 4th, 2007 at 7:30 am
Bonjour de France,j’ai entendu parler de votre blog sur une grande radio française et je suis fier de vous féliciter pour votre humour et votre joie de vivre qui devrait sevir d’exemple au monde entier.
bravo et je vous souhaite de continuer encore longtemps sur cette voix !
excusez la traduction automatique “reverso” car je suis français.
Hello of France, I heard about your blog on a big French radio and I am proud to congratulate you on your humor and your joy of living which should sevir of example in the whole world. Bravo and I wish you to continue even for a long time on this voice(vote)! Excuse the machine translation “Reverso” because I am French.
Cher Jean-claude. merci pour tes felictitations. Evidement, Olive ne parle pas francais, mais moi, bien sur je parle votre belle langue. Pas comme il faut, mais selon mes limits. salut, Michel, L’assistant de Olive
March 4th, 2007 at 7:31 am
What a lovely blog! I love your stories! Thank you for sharing with us!
Heather, we are not only sharing stories, you can keep them. Just joking. More to come. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 7:33 am
Hello ms. Olive…
I´m Brazilian and your blog was in the biggest computer magazine here in brazil, so, I read about and entered to see this…
it´s really amazing that a person in your age have an open mind to open a blog. congratulations and I hope you live many more years. I hope I can live until such age too :D.
regards.
Anderson, I’m awaiting news about that magazine if you can send the link. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Hello from Italy !
give Olive a big big big huge from italian girl!
:):):)
great !!!!
LONG LIFE FOR OLIVE !
March 4th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Greetings from Boston, Olive! I’m just enjoying your blob tremendously! No, I don’t think your posts are too long at all. I do appreciate Mike translating bits of the local jargon from time to time - that’s helpful.
I’m probably being dense, but I got confused somewhere along the way - what’s the difference between a pie & a pasty?
Be well,
Neasa
Dear, Neasa, a pastie is mainly vegetables. Turnip is actually a dominant flavor. Pies are all beef based. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I love your blog and find your stories fascinating. You are truly an inspiration.
(By the way, I am from Quebec and i’m so sad that bakery would not buy your pies because those in the pics look delicious!)
Cara, who knows? Pies may one day arrive in Quebec, I cant remember the name of the bakery in Ville de Quebec that I took my pies to, it was a big company and they showed some interest. But as I said, nothing came of it, and making pies really was not my thing anyway. I wish I had a photo of Olive with her pram full of pies from the Broken Hill days. But alas, no. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Inspiring blog, one of those things that makes you feel life all over… best regards from Lima, Peru.
Thanks Ignacio. I think you are the first from Peru to comment. I went to Machu Pichu some years ago. Olive was not with me and it would have been far too hard for her anyway. I remember the boys who race the busses down the hill. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Hello Olive!
Would you be able to put some of your favorite recipees on your blob?
I love a good meat pie but have never been able to make good ones myself. I’m sure many of your blob readers would enjoy trying to make your favorite dishes all over the world!
Thank you!
March 4th, 2007 at 10:29 am
Hi Olive & Mike! I’m an American reader of your blob, and I love it! Can you believe I’ve never had a meat pie? I don’t know where I would even find one! However, your post and pictures have inspired me to find a recipe because they look delicious! Keep up the good work; I’m looking forward to many more posts!
Sarah, as you know, I’ve already sent you what I think you’d need to do to make a good meat pie, Aussie style. If it does not turn out maybe it could be used in a local pie throwing contest. Hoping for a report on how it goes. Olive sends best wishes, Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 10:55 am
Hi Olive,
I just happened on your blob as I was reading a friend’s blob, clicked on one of his links, then that person had a link to you. Absolutely fascinating stories, and no, mike, not too long! I will keep reading your lovely blob.
Christina in Florida, USA
Glad you found it. Its an amazing place the internet, isn’t it. It might just make a better world. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Olive,
I read a blob from a woman in Italy and she has a post about your blob, which intrigued me to read it.
I have VERY much enjoyed reading it! It’s such a wonderful thing to hear about life over there, and your history. I love hearing about history and how it affect people’s lives.
I very much look forward to reading more entries!
Tina in California, USA
More on the way, Tina, when we get our breath. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Hello again from California in the USA. Your posts are not too long. I’m always being teased about mine. It’s your blog after all.
We have meat pies here but they probably don’t hold a candle to yours.
Ann, by strange co incidence you have the same name as a lady, Ann Adams, who was walking her dog on our beach this morning. We fell into conversation about this and that, and I told her Olive’s blog address and then here comes Ann Adams with a comment. I thought, boy, that’s quick. Now I’ll just have to call this, six degress of jumping to conclusions. I am hoping to have Olive on the beach, thursday. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Olive, over here in the US we have pot pies, as we call them, mostly chicken or beef. They also have vegetables in them, such as peas and carrots and onions, and a creamy gravy. Your pies look great, and I would love to taste one.
I know what you mean about being nervous when your boy was in the war. My boy is now 41 years old, and so far, he has been able to escape having to go to war. For that, I am very thankful.
Please keep telling your stories and having adventures with Mike. We all enjoy reading about you and your remarkable life.
Judy (kenju) in North Carolina.
Judy, the taste may be similar. A big difference is that here they are a fast food. You can buy them at any little bakery for lunch. Interestingly, there are no pie chains as yet, no McDonalds in pies. Mike the helper.
March 4th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Dear Olive -
Hello from Kenmore, Washington State! (Kenmore is just outside of Seattle, two miles away.) I very much like your blob; it’s such a nice change of pace from most of the blogs I read. I’ve never been to Australia, and it’s really interesting to hear stories from your country - particularly the older ones. I hope you and Mike the Helper don’t lose interest in doing it. Thanks! ^_^
– Dara in Kenmore
If Olive does not lose interest, then I propbably wont either. The orginal motivation was to give her an interest and stimulation. So many old people are just left to die, their great bank of memories lost. Olive is full of stories and opinions on the modern world, and I thought, this may be a way to keep her with us. It’s proving to be true. She’s having a lot of fun. Mike the helper
March 4th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
I’m so glad you’re blogging. Hope to interest some elders here in southern California USA to take up blogging just like you are doing. I like your stories — my mouth is watering for one of those pies, as they look and sound tasty. Hope the hydrophonic lettuce farmer prevails. Keep writing!
This is my second visit. I came here from a very special blog called “Time Goes By” about aging topics, that also has a list of many blogs written by Elderbloggers. I’m going to add a link to your blog at my blog.
My older brother served with the U.S. Navy in Perth during WWII. I hope he’ll record some of his memories of those times from his home now, on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Joared
http://joared-along.blogspot.com
March 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Dear Olive
Wow!
I’m so encouraged by your blog.
Well done!
Praise the Lord =)
March 5th, 2007 at 1:05 am
very good.
March 5th, 2007 at 1:06 am
Oh, no, Olive’s posts are not too long. I love sitting here reading her stories! I’ve even read some parts to my boys (5 and 3) and shown them the photos. They especially like the photo of Bernie by the plane.
Can’t wait until the next entry, Olive!
March 5th, 2007 at 2:28 am
Hello Olive and Mike the helper,
Thanks for your delightful blob. The old family photos are a treat. Please share more memories. Australia should declare you a national historic treasure.
Interesting about the pies not catching on in Quebec Mike. How do they compare in taste to traditional tourtières (which usually have potato and sometimes game)?
looking forward to your next post olive.
Cheers,
Mark
March 5th, 2007 at 3:00 am
Hello!!
my best regards for you.
congratulations.
sálvia
March 5th, 2007 at 3:01 am
Dear Olive and Mike:
I’m from Brazil and I’m glad to tell you that a read about in a very famous magazine called Epoca! The magazine releases new number every Sunday, so, today, as soon as I read it, I run to come to know you, and I must tell you, you are adorable!
Dear Valaria, can you send us the link to teh magazine Epoca. Is it on line or print? Mike the helper.
March 5th, 2007 at 3:38 am
I just love this blob! I don’t think the stories are too long, in fact I sit with a smile on my face while reading it! I have always wanted to visit Australia and the meat pies sound so yummy!
It is funny to think Ollie has never seen snow! I am Canadian and in my 5th straight month of snow! It is interesting her view of the boys going to war, my grandfathers were never close to where the “action” was. Can’t wait to hear about the beach!
March 5th, 2007 at 3:52 am
I just received an email from Michelle a.k.a. Sognatrice telling me about you and your wonderful blog. She mentioned that she invited you to our Ultimate Blog Party.
We would be honored if you attended our little party!
What a blessing it is to read your blog! You have so many wonderful stories to share!!
Sounds like you are in great hands with such a wonderful helper in Mike!
Welcome to the blogosphere and I am looking forward to reading more of your posts.
We will try to get involved in your blog party. Dont fully uderstand it yet. Mike the helper.
March 5th, 2007 at 4:31 am
ah ma.. ho bo?… how is the weather in australia?
March 5th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Greetings from Arizona, just outside of Phoenix! I love your blog, and have linked to you from mine.
I am astonished by your story about your teeth! I feel like such a Sheila; I’ve only had my four oldest molars pulled (we call them wisdom teeth here in the states), and I begged the dentist to put me out to have it done.
I would love to visit Australia some day and have a meat pie!
I am so thankful that you decided to put your stories online. I feel that we have much to learn from others, especially from those who have experienced as much life as you.
May God continue to bless you with a long and productive life!
March 5th, 2007 at 7:15 am
Hello, i really like your blog…and i really admire you! Bye =)
March 5th, 2007 at 7:19 am
Hi Olive,
Sounds like you had a nice day out with Mike and Chloe at the pie shop! What I’d give for an Aussie meat pie! Mmmmm. Love ‘em! I’ve only ever tried making them once, a long time ago. They weren’t as good as your Aussie pies. Another thing I miss is those delicious sausage rolls. But the thing is miss most is the beautiful Aussie beaches!!!
How exciting it would’ve been to see Charles Kingsford Smith arrive in Broken Hill when planes were still such a novelty!
That was very enterprising of you to sell pies and pasties at the football match.
I hope you’re keeping well Olive, and not overdoing.
Mike, I can see this blog is keeping you very busy! I’m happy to see that Olive is making friends all over the world.
Kerry, you should be able to make the pies without any trouble. If tens of thousands of small bakeries can make them across Aust and NZ every morning, (they are even bigger in NZ than in Aust.) why can’t Kerri in upstate new york? When I was baking them in Canada, I had th dream of recapaturing what was an elusive spicy memory. I thought I would do it systemicatically. I went to a health food shop and bought every bulk spice, an ounce of each, I could find, about 30 in all. Then, tried them one by one, and in combination, with my meat mixture. All results were recorded on a grid. katya thought I was mad.
Nothing was really proved but remember I did think cardimon added something special. I have since read that experts think Cardimon might prevent Alstheimers, and so I add cardimon to lots of things these days. I must ask Ollie this morning if she has ever used cardimon. A local journalist will be interviwing her and I will be there. Mike the Helper.
March 5th, 2007 at 7:52 am
It’s easy to forget why we are here some days. Your blob helps to remind me of the things that matter in my life.
Don’t lose the fire. Looking forward to your next meeting with Mike!
Ollie and I will be conferencing this morning to see what we do next. Mike the Helper
March 5th, 2007 at 9:31 am
Mmmmmmm - pasties! These are very popular in the area of the State of Michigan (US) known as The U.P. (Upper Penisula). My father grew up just over the border in the State of Wisconsin so we were exposed to them at an early age. We order pasties for him now from pasty.com - he claims they are as delicious as the ones he paid a quarter for “back in the day.”
March 5th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Ettalong looks lovely, I’m glad you had a nice outing.
The story should dictate the length of the post so they are neither too long or too short, rather just right.
March 5th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Dear Mike, this part of the magazine is not available in ther site, but tomorrow I’ll see if I can get the page scanned but then I need an e-mail adress to send it on. Anyways, this is their website:www.epoca.com.br. You can try and e-mail them (epoca@edglobo.com.br) telling that you know about they about about Olive in this week’s edition, page 30.
March 5th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Olive,
It makes me feel so good to read your comments. My grandfather was born in 1897 and my grandmother in 1905. Even half a world away your recollections and such sound so familiar to my ears. Both of them died in 1983.
My parents just died in the last year and it saddens me to know that my child (my wife just got pregnant with our first this month) will never get to talk to his grandparents.
Older people are a treasure and bestow upon us the gifts of living history and perspective.
May you have another 107 years!
Chris
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
March 5th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
You are smart and very funny Olive..I like that fact that you told Mike he was annoying you…that was funny….and you have made me hungry for your pies..In the states we have a pot pie..but it is nothing like your pies..and I am jealous…Can’t wait for your next adventure…
March 5th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
Hello Olive
I am new to your site (sent here by Bubba above). I have enjoyed your fourth post on your blob very much. Now I’m going to go back and read the first three.
You look marvelous, by the way! You are the same age as my Grandmother would have been, if she were alive today. She was born in May 1900 in County Kerry Ireland.
I hope you enjoyed that pie as it sounded delicious.
Sincerely
Irish Church Lady
From Ottawa, Canada
March 5th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Hi Olive,
It is really interesting reading your blog. God bless. Greetings from India.
n.b
N.B, so glad to have a visitor from India. Olive says hi, Mike
March 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Dear Ms. Olive Riley,
I am so grateful that you have added me to your blogroll. I shall happily do the same!
An admirer.
March 5th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
Hi Olive and Mike- I write to you from Illinois,USA. Olive thank you for your wonderful memories of your life. I love reading about them so much. Your stories remind me of my grandparents stories. When they were still alive, I wrote many of the stories down so they would not be forgotten.
Thank you both so much.
March 5th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Olive!
I love your blog! Please do not stop and do not worry your entries are not too long. They are just right.
I hope you are able to help your friends and have many more happy and healthy years of blogging.
Thank you and Take care.
March 5th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
THIS is AWESOME!! I just found you through ICL, & am blogrolling you to make sure I can come back, read your archives, & keep up - it’s late for me now. TOO TOO COOL!!
March 5th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Hello Olive -
Thank you for making me hungry! I have never had a meat pie, but I do love pasties - they are made in northern Michigan, where my mother’s family lives.
March 5th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
Hi there Olive (and Mike),
I’m in my second year at Amherst College in Massachusetts (studying Bio. and Classics) and just stumbled across your blog tonight. It’s funny because I’d been thinking a lot about my own grandma Violet, who was born in 1909 (and left us in 2005, unfortunately) and what a wonderful time she’d have at college or university if she’d had the chance to go (she left school at 14, a pretty normal thing for an English girl whose family worked in the midlands carpet factories; she was always interested in archaeology though). And, like you, she was full of interesting stories. (As is another of the most interesting venerable ladies I know, Mrs. Olive Bloomer of Malta.) I’m so glad you’re getting the chance to share all this with the whole world! I hope that 90 years from now I’ll be able to make people as happy as you’ve been! Keep it up!
Hi Joanna, why should you not, be around 90 years from now? Just follow the magic rule, eat less. Amherst is beautiful place to be studying. Enjoy yourself to the full. Olive is a working class girl who did not go past 14 at school, very common in those days. But she is full of wisdom none the less, and has a well developed sense of right and wrong. She is very outspoken about our present leaders, for example. Mike the helper
March 5th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
I’m an Indian who spent almost a decade in Australia, and this blob reminds me why I miss it so much!
Let’s have some more, Ms. Olive.
March 5th, 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hi Olive
I love pies too, but sometimes they give me heartburn. I’m 62 and my mum is 88. We think she is pretty great but I took great pleasure yesterday in telling her she was just a baby compared with you!
I think she’s going to try to have a look at your blob. They’ve only got dial up which is pretty slow, so I’m trying to talk them into getting broadband which can access the internet and therefore, your blob, a lot faster.
I’m really looking forward to your next post, Olive.
Take care
Hugs
Robyn
Robyn, I’d be interested how long it takes then with dial up. Mike
March 5th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
Dear Olive,
I agree that a plain mince pie is the best. My husband prefers steak and pepper. Pies (and pasties) are hard to find here in Japan, so I have made my own recipe. I’m sure it’s isn’t as good as Alex’s, though. That one looked really delicious. (Mike, seize the day and have a pie. None of us readers will tell Katya!)
Your stories are truly wonderful. I enjoy hearing about your life and seeing the places you go and the people you meet. I don’t think they are too long and I especially like the photos that you and Mike are including.
Regards from Tokyo,
Kristen
Great comment Kristin, I called Katya from the kitchen and she laughed over my shoulder. So you are “outed” with your seductive advice. But who knows, I might just sneak back to Alex’s.I am waiting eagerly to hear from someone who has made a respectable pie as a edible pie as a result of Olive’s blob.Mike the helper
March 5th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Bom dia. Estou em Portugal e a sua fama já chegou cá, espero que por muitos e bons anos. Estou no Porto Portugal e tenho um blog sobre Moçambique, onde estive dois anos na tropa. Muita saude.
Obrigado.
Antero Ferreira.
March 5th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
Hello Olive & Mike. I am 16 year old from Massachusetts, U.S.A. It’s a joy to read these stories that Olive has to share. I don’t think they are too long, either. Good Health & Take Care!
Edward, Olive loves having visits from young folks. Thre is a girl in San Diego who wrote. and who is 14. I think you are the second to comment under 20.
I have a challenge for you. There is a very charming Aussie girl who is a hit on You Tube. She has a phenomenal following. Her name is Caitlin Hill and she comes up as Thehill88. I want her to find out about Olive. It seems appropriate that two women from Aust. at the two ends of the age spectrum, should know about each other. I tried to email Caitlin to her web site but it did not work. You are probably much better at that sort of thing than us. So, see if you can tell Caitlin about Olive. She can bring Olive to a whole different audience. Mike the Helper
March 5th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Dear Olive,
is so lovely your blog….the photos, the words. I’m from Italy, near Venice.
I’ll come back.
Sincerely
Laura
Dear Laura, I love your part of Italy. I wish I could take Olive there, but its too late. She’s too too frail. I made a film about violin making a few years ago, shot it in Cremona of course. Mike the Helper
March 5th, 2007 at 10:22 pm
no way are the stories too long they remind me of the times my grandmother would tell us of this and that during our visits thankyou once again for helping olive to continue telling her story.
March 5th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
hi! Olive!
very beatiful your blog!
que Deus lhe abençoe sempre!
aguardo sua visita!
um grande abraço!
good bye!!
March 5th, 2007 at 11:25 pm
Dear Olive,
Today (March, 5th), our french calendar says that it is the Saint Olive’s day. I wanted to wish you a very happy fete and thank you for your stories.
You are the only Olive I know ( except Popey’s wife!)
Here, in Nîmes (south of France) we also celebrate the olives and olive-trees very numerous around there (http://www.radiofrance.fr/thematiques/gout/agenda/index.php?page=3&agenda=250010145). Could you please,tell us, one of these days ,the reason of your surname, if there is one.
Please keep on with your blog! Many thanks to Mike for his help to you.
Kind regards
Genevieve
Dear Genevieve, I have a prediction to make about Olive’s name and the pie story. But first, some background. In the 20’s when Olive was
a single mum in Broken Hill, there was a mining engineer called Robert Flaherty exploring the Canadian Artic for minerals. He fell in love with the harshy scenery and the tough eskimo peole, so well adapted to their environment. On his second visit to the Arctic, he took along an early movie camera and began recording his experiecnes with the locals.
On his third visit, he realized he had the makings of a different sort of movie, one that had never been done before, the tory of the North and it’s people. He also realized he needed a main character to tie it all together. He chose Nanook, the hunter, and his famiy. The film became Nanook of the North, the most famous documentary of all time. The film was a huge hit in Europe, especially because the horrible first world war had just ended and people needed to hear about someone who knew nothing about war and destruction, but who had been happy in with his family in the arctic wilderness during the years of senseless carnage.
Anyway, Nanook was so compelling that Icreams in France came to be called Nanooks. So, here is the point of my story. Fance is the gourmet capital of the world. Perhas some French chef will read Olive’s bog, and decide to make a gourmet version of the Aussie pie and call it the Olive just as the ice cream got named after someone else who caught te public imagination . I am sure she’d love to have a pie named after her, or preferably a pastie since she actually prefers those. We’ll see. Mike the Helper
March 5th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I liked your blog!
Regards from Hungary,
awender
March 6th, 2007 at 3:45 am
Y a esa señora de tantos años (Olive Riley, 107 años, http://www.allaboutolive.com.au/) le digo que me alegro mucho que otras viejas como yo se pongan con el Internet y que haga propaganda de que todo el mundo coja el Internet. Tendrá amigas, buenos consejos y tendrá felicidad, que a nuestra edad ya sabe que es muy difÃcil.
Please, translate.
Best Regards
MarÃa Amelia - 95 years old blogger
Hello, Maria Amelia. We are very honored that you have left a comment on our blog. It was, of course your blog which inspired me to make a blog for olive. When I heard what your grandson had done for you, it seemed natural to do the same thing for Olive. It is pity we can’t get the two of you together to swap stories.
By the way, I loved your story about the epidemic and how you secretly ate buscuits and stayed healthy. That story stayed in my mind and encouraged me to remember Olive’s amusing stories, of which there are many more to come. Best wishes and good health to you. Mike the Helper.
March 6th, 2007 at 7:01 am
My name is Lori-Ann (38) and I am a mother of a boy and girl. I love your story about your past, I hope there will be more. Mike is right about being active and busy. My great passion is creating art works. You can see my art at my blob.
I will be visiting you alot more.
I plan on being creative as long as I can. I live in New Brunswick, Canada. Word has spread aaall the way here. I often dream of visiting other places, but even if I had the money, I think I would to too scared. I’ll do my travel visiting with people on the internet. Thanks to you, I have visited Australia.
Polar bear hugs, Lori-Ann
Had a look at your blog, Lori. What an amazing amount you’ve done , and so diverse. Mike
March 6th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Hi Granma!
Sorry to be so intimous but it’s impossible not seeing you and not fall in love.
You life it’s amazying and I wish all the luck e health of the world.
Life is the best school, and you are a PhD Teacher.
A huge kiss…
Rodrigo (Brasil)
I’ll tell Olive she has a a new boy friend, Rodrigo. Mike
March 6th, 2007 at 7:26 am
Dear Olive!
Hello! How are you doing? My name is Camila, I’m 24 and I live in Brazil. I heard nice things about your “blob” in a bralizian magazine and I came to take a look! I just wanted to say: May God continue to bless you! You’re a lovely lady!
Take care!
Best regards,
Camila
São Paulo - Brazil
Jesus come!
March 6th, 2007 at 8:39 am
Hi Olive and Mike,
Your posts are definitely not too long.
If Olive is up to it, there are a couple of really great pie shops not too far away from you, but each would be a day trip on its own.
The first is on the highway at Belmont North. It’s called “The Federation Pie Co”, and it has not only a great tasting pie, but quite a diverse range as well. It’s situated between The Salvation Army Op Shop and a battery shop, right at the traffic light to Redhead.
The next is called “The Bakers Cottage” and it’s situated on the New England Highway at East Maitland, next to “Camping World” and “The Good Guys”. We stop there most times if we are on our way past at meal time. MMMMMMM.
Thanks again: there is lots of appreciation for your blob, Olive.
Cheers, Cyndy
Thanks Cyndi, If we drive up to see her, kids, we’ll check them out. Mike
March 6th, 2007 at 8:53 am
Hey!!! nice blog!!!! i’m Hugo from Santa Cruz - Bolivia - South America!!!!… i love your blog… and you are amazing!!!!!… hugs!!!!.
Sorry about my english.
Hugo, you are the first frolm Bolivia. Mike
March 6th, 2007 at 11:12 am
Wow
this is great to read ! 
Please continue
Best regards from the cold northerns (Iceland/Europe)
Gunnar
March 6th, 2007 at 11:53 am
Dear Olive,
I´ve just seen your blog on TV, and decided send you my best wishes from Argentina. Forgive my poor english, I love your site!!!
Kisses: Regina
March 6th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Dearest Olive,
I’m a 33 years old Mexican, and have recently lost my grandmother. When I discovered your site I just felt so well about everything. Reading you has helped me recover from my loss. I wanted to let you know what a delight your stories are.
Keep up the excellent work Mike, and congratulations for the iniciative.
Olive, I sincerely hope to keep on reading your blog for many, many years.
Claudia
Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, México
March 6th, 2007 at 2:07 pm
Hello Olive and Mike!
I found your link on an online friend’s blog (Irish Church Lady), and had to stop by to say hello from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
We never learn as much as we do from the stories handed down to us.. and I’m saddened when I think of all the wisdom that hasn’t been shared and lost through the generations.
Thank you for sharing your stories with us. You have a great sense of humour, and I can’t wait to read more! Keep it up!
I’ll be back, and I’d like to leave a link on my own “blob” if that’s alright with you.
Warmest regards,
Trish
March 6th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Hello dear Olive,
I’m an Icelandic girl 30 years old and found your blog posted on a site here in Iceland called http://www.b2.is. It is one of these sites that collects interesting things on the internet too read. So your blog is right at home there. Iceland is an island in the north Atlantic ocean and if you were to dig a hole right through the earth from where I live, it would pop out just about in Australia. We are right on the opposite ends of the globe. I found your blog quite nice to read, I like how it focuses on important local issues with a dab of internationality, instead of being as most blogs are, about everything and anything in the world. I have a blog of my own but it is in Icelandic so you wouldn’t be able to enjoy it.
Lifðu lengi og vel, kær kveðja frá frónbúunum til ÓlÃfu.
“English translation of the Icelandic text: Live long and well, dear greetings form the inhabitants of our chilly land to you Olive.
Goodbye for now,
Bára
Dear Bara, I think you are the first comment from Iceland. I will ask olive if she has any mental picture of Iceland. I have a
very vivid one. Iceland fascinates me. I dont know why. I have heard about an Icelandic woman who has beome famous for her nature phtography. We want to maske our photography compelling too. Glad you like the blog.
Mike the helper.
March 6th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Olive
What does one say to someone who was over 100 years old, that you have not heard so many times before?
I knew a lady about 20 years ago, near Edmonton Alberta, who was nearly 100. She said she was 12 years old during the time on Haley’s
March 6th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
Olive
What does one say to someone who is over 100 years old, that you have not heard so many times before?
I knew a lady about 15 years ago, near Edmonton Alberta, who was nearly 100. She said she was 12 years old during the time of Haley’s comet. I had asked her if she would consider writing her memoirs or dictating them. This wonderful lady agreed to do so but she passed away before she could get a chance.
Unfortunately, when we go, we take all of our life’s experiences along with us and in so doing an enormous amount of useful information is lost. I’m so very pleased to see that you are making an effort to save for posterity, your life experiences. You may not think that those experiences are anything special but to those of us who are younger, they are more precious than gold.
I am already 65 years old and to think that you have 42 years of experiences more than me just blows my mind.
We can have a record written in stone, or in books, and so forth of history, but the one thing we can never really truly know is what a person was thinking in that historical setting. The best way that we have available to us is to have that person actually speak about their experiences. It’s secondhand but the best we can do.
I salute you, and wish you many more years in which to tell the incredible story of an incredible life.
Dear Lorne, it’s true what you say and I guess it’s one of the reasons why I am putting a lot of time into helping Olive with her blob. It all began about 6 years ago when my sister, Anna, asked me to video the birthday of her friend, Cissie. I had not met Cissie but was intrigued that she’d be turning 100. We’ll, I went along to the party and the striking image of the day was Cissie’s cake aflame with 100 candles, a ball of fire, being carried towards a bright eyed old lady who looked like she might be immolated.
Anyway, after that bit of strange hilarity was over, I went back and interviewed Cissie at length, amazed at her recall. From this, came a proposal to the ABC (our public broadcaster) for a film on Centenarians, working title, 100 not Out (from cricket parlance.) Reasearch progressed on that as I found out that centenarians are the fastest growing age group in the world.
Mid point, with 30 Aust. centenarians on the books, I met Olive and found her to be a stand out talent, not only for her recall, but her story telling abilities. She was able to revive in verbal drama a moment that happened 80 years ago, complete with who said what. This led to me thowing out the idea of an essay on the centenarian phenomenon and opting for a protrait of Olive alone, based on her return to her native Broken Hill.
Soon, the blog will be covering some of the stories she tells in that film, All about Olive. As well as the film itself, which runs an hour, I have many extra hours, maybe 50, of Olive just rambling on. The material is not trying to cover great moments in history, famous people she may have seen, etc. just little details of her life. In any case, Olive tends to remember the little moments, those happenings in the wings of history’s theatre, which luckliy, fascinate me the most as well. Mike the Helper.
March 6th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
Dear Mike, I thank you from the deepest depths of my heart for the great times you have helped my Nan to have. You are one of those exceptional humans able to give your time to help others whilst most of us are caught up in our own little worlds. My wife, Lynne, our four kids, Tim, Steven, Michael & Katherine & myself have learnt more about Nan in the last four years than I have in my short 53 year life.
We travel up whenever we can to Nan; we only need to ask one question to Nan; it’s like looking back in history. I’m absolutely amazed at Nan’s detailed memory. Has Nan told you about Uncle Barney getting the two bob (shillings) so they could all go to the pictures in Sydney? He snuck around to a neighbors chook pen, grabbed a chook, then went to the lady and said he’d found it on the street. It was her favourite one so she gave him two bob reward.
Dear Nan, we’ve still got a lot more to hear about your life so far. Steven is in Canada at the moment riding a snowboard down some mountain slope but he should be back by the end of March. We’ll get the troops together then and come for a drive up north. I’ll let you know beforehand, I’d like to meet that young man in your life (Mike).
All our Love Ross, Lynne, Tim, Steven, Michael & Katie.
Dear Ross, It’s nice to see that Olive’s family are beginning to discover her blob. You must be Bonnie’s son, and Bonnie is Olive’s youngest daughter, right? I am sure that she has so many descendants that it will take a while for the word to get around. I know she has great great grandchildren. Anyway, thanks for the kind words about my involvement.
Normally I guess when you make a film about someone as a journalist, as I did about her, the relationship ends when the film is done. But in this case because she is so amazing, because she lives quite close, and because katya loves Olive so much too, she has become our dear family friend, and it just goes on and on.
The blog was neither my idea nor Olive’s. It was Eric’s. He lives close by too. Eric’s 87 and is possibly the oldest working internet journalist in the world. Look up Eric Shackle’s e-book. http://bdb.co.za/shackle
Anyway, I guess it all began when I was in the local ABC radio station at Erina Fair being interviewed by Scott Levi about saving the Avoca beach theatre, my major passion, when the guest before me was this eric Shackle. He was being interviewed about his e-book and the fact that he was not scared of computers, that he’d more or less mastered them at his ripe old age of 79.
Naturally I was fascinated by Eric since we all find computers and the internet daunting no matter how old we are, that is if we are over 50. There was passing thought at the time; “I’ll have to try and explain computers to Olive.” Anyway a few years passed, the film on Olive got made and broadcast and I kept in touch with Eric. Recently he said. “Olive could have a blog. There is a woman in Spain, Maria Amelia and she’s blogging at 95, why not Olive?”
The trouble was neither Eric nor I knew how to set up a blog. We found some ordinary templates and we did not like them. For Olive it had to be very special. It had to look good. We found Wordpress. that was the start. But Olive had to look striking. she had to be in the black dress of hers with the embroidered flowers. I had the photo of her with arms outstretched, in that dress. Eric insisted that photo be on the top, the banner, and he was right.
A chance visit to Maleny on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast found me looking at a faded black dress, very similar to Olive’s, hanging outside a second hand shop. I photgraphed the dress and that material became the border which runs down the left hand side of the blog. Then, flowers in a Maleny garden where we stayed overnight, became the screen behind her outstretched arms.
Gradually with the help of Wordpress and Gerard O’Farrell of The Silvetrees Partnership, the look of the blog got built and shown to Olive at every step of course. So it was born and now it’s gone around the world. Best of all, her family like you folks, are discovering it. I just hope that something which I won’t specify, but which you can guess, happens. Mike the helper
March 6th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Dear Mrs. Riley and Mike!
I was surfing on the internet this morning and accidently bumped into your blog. My first reaction was WOW! A person who lived through the 20th century! Since I love history for me just the fact is so amazing that you saw all the technical improvements (car, train, plane, ship, computer), two World Wars, etc. so incredible! I have a friend from Brisbane, but she lives in The Netherlands right now.
I would like to wish you all the best from this little country, Hungary.
Sincerely,
Attila
March 6th, 2007 at 7:15 pm
Dear Mrs. Riley and Mike!
There is a lady (post 75) who would like somebody to translate her Spanish comment. Let me be the one!:) :
“I would like to tell you that I am so happy that other elder people like me get on the internet and inspire others to use it. Have friends, good advices and wish you happiness because as you may know in this age is not that easy.
Best regards,
Maria Amelia- 95 year old blogger”
March 6th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
oi friend! its blog is very pretty, that God always blesses to it! desire the vc and to all its family, much peace, health, joy and that all its dreams if carry through, or at least a good part of them! I will be very happy in receiving its visit, ok! an excellent end of week, and a kiss in its heart! abraçossssss!
March 7th, 2007 at 2:33 am
Dear Ollie and Mike.
As Bára before I also come from Iceland. The reason for this sudden interest in down under is the fact that your blog was published on one of our link sites. However after reading the stories I felt inclined to post a comment here.
First of all to Ollie. You are an inspiration to us all and its wonderful to sit and read your stories about the present and past. Rest assured that I will be a regular guest at your blog.
Mike thank you for using you time in this way and appreciating what so many dont have the chance to know. Through you we have the chance to hear Ollie’s stories and witness the friendship you share.
Warm greetings from Reykjavik
Anna
Dear Anna, as you will see if you search hard, you have the same name as my sister and it was she who is actually responsible for this whole adventure as i explained before. You Iscelanders are creating a great interest for us to come and see your country. Many years ago, when I lived in Montreal, the cheapest way to fly to europe from Canada was from newfoundland with a stop at Reykjavik. Many went that way but sady, i never did. Mike
March 7th, 2007 at 2:43 am
Excuse me my english, I am from Portugal.
I found your name in a portuguese journal and write you name in the website google to see your blog.
so far I like to read the pie story, but I am a beginner in reading your stories, but I think that I will go like read the olhers.
When I see your picture see a Lady in yours 107TH years old strong and I think you have a great sense of humor.
Congratulations to you, and to mike the helper.
Best Regards,
PatrÃcia Oliveira
Welcome Patricia. maybe you are the first from Portugal. Mike the helper.
March 7th, 2007 at 3:39 am
Miss Olive, I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed reading your blob. It’s fascinating about the lettuces, and I was astonished at your bravery and spontaneity about your teeth! I wouldn’t have had the nerve, myself!
I look forward to hearing a bit more about your family, and your growing up in Broken Hill.
Thanks for sharing your stories with all of us strangers on the internet. It’s amazing how small the world’s gotten these days, isn’t it?
Best regards,
Sarah, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
March 7th, 2007 at 4:54 am
Hola Sra. Olive, Me encanta este ejemplo de vitalidad que usted nos da, un gran abrazo y su larga vida me sirve para apreciar la mia que está aún joven.
A hug an kisses for you mrs. Olive.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:43 am
Dear Olive,
I just want to leave a lovely greet on your side!!! All the best wishes from germany! Have a nice life!
Annika :O)
March 7th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Good morning Olive!
What a wonderful surprise this morning, to wake up and get my local paper off the drive to find your story!It was so much nicer to read something encouraging rather than the rif raf news we mostly get each week! I emmediately had to come online and read the rest of your stories I love it! And I’m absolutely sure many others on the Central Coast will be doing the same today, maybe this will be a way to get council to listen to many of our community needs hmmmm? Keep it up Olive. Best Wishes and Blessings! Tracey
Tracey, nice to hear from someone on the central coast. I think you are the first. I’ll tell olive. Mike the helper
March 7th, 2007 at 6:55 am
Hello Olive!
I’ve enjoyed reading the stories you’ve posted so far, and hope to see many more from you
In fact, I liked them so much that I’ve put a link from my own blog to your ‘blob’ so that my readers can enjoy your stories too!
To answer your question: no the stories are not too long at all! (also, I like all the pictures, please keep them coming!)
Your Friend,
Amy
(Virginia, USA)
March 7th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I can’t really be sure how I accidentally landed on your blog, but it’s absolutely incredible! I am a 23 year old photographer living in Canada’s arctic! Thank you so much for the inspirational idea and I hope you won’t mind if I take your great idea and make a “blob” with some of my Nana’s stories (won’t be as fantastic as yours, of course!). I can’t believe how world wide your blog is already, after only 4 posts especially! Please keep up the great stories, I will be back!
Jennifer, Nunavut, Canada
Jennifer, what story are you referring to exactly? The one about Flaherty? That was only told in answer to a comment. Did you find that one? It could not be the story about Tom the prospector and Inuvik because, whilst I’ve it to Olive, no one else had heard it yet. So, you have got me curtious. Also how about a photograph of you area, the beauty of nature? Perhaps we can use it. No promises but we might. Mike the Helper.
March 7th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
Dear Olive and Mike. What lovely stories and great memories they evoke.I recently helped my mother, who is a spritely 86 year old, compile a story of her wonderful life growing up in New Zealand.The early recollections of her upbringing in the NZ bush sawmilling days,romantic notions to us now but a hardship in those days. Anecdotes of family happenings, just like those of Olive and her family, game me a great sense of history and just where I fit in the grand scheme of things.These stories are essential in the telling and the reading to keep them a living history.
A funny false teeth story I have as well. I remember a family summer holiday in the North Island of NZ in the mid-60’s and like many Kiwis we gravitated to the beaches to enjoy the sun. This particular day the surf was quite rough and my dad dived in to the waves and bobbed up minus his teeth, the top plate, I think. Despite immediately diving below the surface he never managed to find them.They were a treasured item, besides not being able to eat properly, so every day at low tide for about 3 days we all went back to the beach and dug around in the sand, with shovels as well,hoping to find those teeth. It never happened!!. My mum is an avid e-mailer and a ’skyper’ as well. It keeps her in touch with all her overseas children, grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Keep up the great stories you two. Warmest regards, Pam, Gosford, NSW
Thanks, Pam, great contributions. Mike the helper. Olive says hi, but is a bit overwhelmed.
March 7th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for the wonderful story about the pies. I’ve enjoyed your stories and look forward to reading more of them.
– Renae from Seattle
March 7th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
dear olive!
i really love your stories and i hope you write more! greetings from germany!
March 7th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Hello Olive and Mike
I’ve been dabbling in genealogy so I know how valuable ’stories’ about the past are. My hobby began when I was sent a simple family tree and discovered that my great grandfather was interned during the Boer War in Ladysmith South Africa. More research led me to a beautiful illustrated album in the Rhodesion Archives - it had photographs of prisoners of war and letters etc. Keep up the good work and keep writing and researching Mike, you will be amazed at what you will discover. Congratulations and thank you for sharing.
PS We are also Woy Woy residents - great little place, full of what Spike of ‘this isn’t sydney’ blog calls DOT’s (dear old things).
March 7th, 2007 at 10:35 pm
Enjoying your BLOB Olive, (Thanks Mike).
Roy Fox was my friend and he did get to be 102 almost. We took him for his driving test on his 100th birthday and the driving testing officer bloke almost dies when he realised he was 100. he said, Why do you need a licence at your age Mr Fox”.
Roys answer almost floored him. He said ” I need it so I can take elderly people shopping from the village”.
He did pass his test and we laughed about it all the way home..
Like you Olive he had many stories and a great sense of humour.
I loved your teeth story, same thing happened to my uncle and he still has the same teeth some 55 years later. he has some catching up to do to beat your record though Olive.. I also know about the white feathers during the war, my mum told me all about it.
My dad had a heart condition ( due to reumatic fever as a youngster. he was not accepted in the forces because of it.
Mum said a lady tried to give him a white feather one day and he threatened to push it up her you know what, I believe she backed away pretty fast……
Cruel thing to do to people, my dad had 2 brothers fighting and badly wanted to join them but wasn’t able to.
He worked as a toolmaker and served the war effort in many other ways. He would have loved your BLOB olive, just as I do.
God bless you mate, Hope you keep blobbing …….
Judith. great story about Roy. I have footage of him, you know. Good stuff. I have Ivy too. Olive remembers riding with both of them in the Limo to Darling harbour for the Centenarians conference at which Roy expounded his theory about chewing one’s food as the sure fire path to a ripe old age. Mike the Helper.
March 7th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Hello Mike & Olive
Arctic Jen again. Sorry, I didn’t have a specific story in mind, I meant only the “idea” of the entire blog was fantastic. Although I can’t wait to hear about a story in Inuvik, hope you have pictures! Please feel free to drop me an e-mail and I will send you a link to some very chilly arctic pictures.
Take Care,
Jennifer, Nunavut, Canada
Jennifer, I did tell Olive the Inuvik story the other day and she was rapt. But it is quote long and I should keep for a blog where it becomes relevant. You might be able to do some detective work to find out what the outcome is. I will send you a private email to get some phots from you. I’d like Ollie sto see some magestic arctic shots, some of that great whiteness while its still there. If she holds a large photos close, she can see it pretty well. Mike the helper
March 7th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
Dear Mike,
How fanatstic this all is - you must be doing nothing but blogging - good on you bro!
How about that? Heres’ my brother visiting and impressed. Mark runs bookshops in Melbourne, Readings. He’s the really hard working member of the family. Sad that you are past reading books, isn’t it, Ollie. Ollie has what is called macular degeneration. There is a cure but it involves long and, I guess, painful injections in the eyes, and the eye doctor I consulted said it was not suitable for a person so old . Mike the helper
March 8th, 2007 at 3:27 am
Hello Olive
I am a 13 year old girl from iceland (perhaps the youngest commentor?) who is really inspired by you and your blog ! I think you are a great person and i love hearing about what has happend to you in your truly long life ! I also figured out that when i will be 107 the year will be 2100 :D!
-SignyMalin
Signy, I have a photo of olive taken when she was about your age, the only one remaining fom that era. She has on a white dress and and hair inringlets. I probably will put it on th blob if Ollie lets me. Yes, it is amazing that it will be 2100 if you reach Olive’s age. Try and imagine the life you have lived by then. Make up a story about your past as a very old woman. It will be fun to make some guesses about how the world will change. Maybe we can can put it on the blob. Though I am probably promising far too much here. It’s all going to be a lot of work for me. Mike the helper
March 8th, 2007 at 3:32 am
Hello Olive
I am a 13 year old from iceland (perhaps the youngest commentor?) who thinks you are a great person. I just love hearing about what has happened for you in your truly long life ! I also figured out for fun that when i will be 107 years old the year will be 2100 :D!
-SignyMalin
March 8th, 2007 at 4:37 am
hi to everyone, I m from bosnia and herzegovina,and I love this blo(b)g….Just keep writeing Mike…..
Dario, Bosnia and Herzegovina…
Hi Dario,. so glad that your part of the world is now much more peaceful after the terrible nineties. Mike and Ollie.
March 8th, 2007 at 5:02 am
I comment in my blog, about this nice blog. Thank’s for my blog ( http://badulaque.wordpress.com ) add in your blogroll.
Bye
Hi franklin, had a look and you very smart Blog but could not read it, sadly. Wordpress is good, isnt it/ Mike and Ollie
March 8th, 2007 at 5:11 am
Hello Olive and Mike. My friend Ruth (ruthjen.blogspot) gave me your details. Oh wow! I’m so glad she did. I’m putting your link on my own blog which is gledwood2.blogspot and you’re most welcome to pop by and have a read of my most secret confessions. What a fascinating lady you are. I’m too pressed for time this evening but I can’t wait to come back and read your “blob” at leisure. All the very best to both of you
from
Gledwood
Everyone, go to Gledwood’s blog. gledwood2.blogspot.com. There’s a very interesting piece on googling your own name and the big question, is all this information about us which is floating around, good or bad? Mike and Ollie.
March 8th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Hi there Olive and Mike, I ran across your blog just by chance, I,m really impressed with Olive, I hope I,m as full of life as Olive is if I make it to her age. I really enjoy the stories and her spirit. I,m in New Brunswick, Canada, it,s been really cold here the last few nights going down to -22c, that,s cold, hope the weather is warmer there. Keep up the great blog, like they say, you are as old as you feel, best wishes, take care!!
March 8th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
I’m enjoying your blob all the way in Washington, D.C. in the U.S. Its amazing how long you’ve lived and I hope you have many more years to come.
March 9th, 2007 at 5:38 am
He Olive
I like your Blogg very much.
Hallo from Sweden
March 9th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
I just wanted to say, that I only tonight found your blog,(blob) through another blog friend. I have read all of your posts and have so enjoyed every one of them. I am from Ohio in the USA. I will return many times to read everything you and Mike write. You are so interesting!
Thank you for sharing so much with us!
March 10th, 2007 at 8:37 am
I don’t think your post are to long as I read the entire blog in one setting;) I am a middle aged mother of two living in the mid west of the US. Your stories are facinating and Ican’t wait to read more. Have a good day!
March 13th, 2007 at 6:20 am
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with the world! I only wish that my grandmother had documented her own experiences before she passed. Our parent’s lives are not often told to us, and it’s such a shame. I am positive that your family members take much joy from this ‘blob’!
Please keep telling your wonderful stories!
-Vanessa (from America)
Vanessa, so many people say they wished they had recorded Gran before she passed away. It’s just procrastination often and the fear of admitting that the loved one will go.
People just dont get around to it and its so easy to do. With video cameras so easy to get and use now, there is really no excuse for not sitting down with all the old relatives and getting theit stories on tape. It might seem a bit calculated, but those growing up will be so grateful later on on.
Moreover, there are discoveries to be made. Working with Ollie, making the film and now this blob, I’ve helped Ollie discover relatives she did not know she had. A daughter of Barnie’s turned up, a daughter from his brief first marriage who Ollie knew nothing about. Thus Barbara, was discovered and now Barbara is sending Ollie photos of great grerat grandchildren who Ollie has never seen. I’ll print them off and take them to her. Mike the helper.
March 13th, 2007 at 8:26 am
I’m loving your blob. Terrific. Brings back so many wholesome memories of the stories my own mother and grandmother told about their youths. — I’m with you, Olive. I Love Pasties. My family is from Northern Michigan, and it’s part of our heritage to make pasties (since my grandfather ate them every day in the copper mine). We make ours with some ground beef and of course all the vegetables, but others make them with chopped sirloin steak. Next time I make pasties, I’ll tell my family they’re called Olive’s Pasties.
March 14th, 2007 at 4:19 am
My name is Sarah and I live in Switzerland. I found an article about this blob and decided to check it out. Your stories are very cute and lovey!
Keep up the good work!
I plan to, Sarah. But is’s a lot of work. Mike the helper.
March 16th, 2007 at 11:49 pm
My mum , lives not too far from Ettalong next time I visit I gonna get me one of those yummy looking pies..
And Pasties I love more than a pie, I make them too as well as my own pies..
Cheers to you both..
Carol
Carol, Say Hi, to Alex and ask him if he’s had any extra customers. Mike (not allowed to eat pies)
March 21st, 2007 at 7:17 am
Hello
I am retired in the south of France. I was a médical doctor in the north french country.
What is your secret ? good food ? génétic ? love ? régular life ? good wine ?
You are wonderfull and everybody in the world hopes to have a mother like you.
I kiss you very very much.
Alain
Alain, I can also ask you, what was the secret of Jeanne Calmant? (see the first post) I heard that Jeanne died of boredom. Perhaps you can help confirm that theory. One motivation for helping Ollie with this blog, is that I am convinced it is very good for her health. Mike the helper.
April 3rd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Dear Olive,
I am living in Korea and read about your
blog on the newspages on the web.
Congratulations your blob(?) and
amazing that you are enjoying
life itself. Wonderful,,,,
I had a friend in Scotland who is around 70s
and we have known alomost 10 years now.
I am going to post your blog and
may be she can get some idea about internet.
because of her age 70s, she used write a letter
to me which takes two weeks to receive.
I hope you life be a full of joy
and good health, too.
bye,
Thanks so much. mike
April 6th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Olive, You are just amazing to me. I enjoy your stories so much and what a wonderful and useful life you have lead. Mike you seem like a very nice friend and a big help to Olive. Grettings from Virginia and please keep writing.
August 4th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I’m chuckling at the thought of Barnie, in a nappie and singlet, stopping a football match. One of my half-brothers was nicknamed Barney. He also went to the Second World War. Yes, they thought it was a great adventure, learnt the truth too late. Your pies and pasties sound great; I bet you sold lots. I remember my mother making pasties, and crimping the tops. The ones in shops today don’t look as good.
Ruth, it’s very strange to ready your comment since you are dipping into the blog written many months ago, and we’ve almost fogotten what you are talking about. Anyway, it’s nice to have the past posts recalled. Mike the helper
September 10th, 2007 at 7:35 am
My dad, being descended from Cornish Miners, loves pasties. I send them to him on occasion for holidays. Go to PastyCentral.com to order them. That is in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They ship all over the continental United States but I don’t know if they ship abroad.
Constance, thanks for all the comments. We have great pasties here too. Very addictive. Mike the helper
July 27th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
These pies are not like normal american pies right?
When I think of pies I think fruit pies, like apple. What kind of pies are meat pies?