LETTUCE NEWS AND THAI
OLIVE’S TENTH POST
Good morning, everyone. This is Mike, not Olive. I’ll be seeing her this afterrnoon, reading her your comments. Then, katya and I are taking her out for a Thai meal at our local Thai place in Avoca beach.
She’s never had Thai food before she tells me. So, that will be worth blogging about. She’s going to wear her black dress with the flowers on it, she says, the one she wears on the masthead. She scrubs up pretty well, does our Ollie!
Also, news on the Lettuce front. (See second post) You may have been following the story of Johnny Bosco and his hyrdoponic lettuce patch.
He is being closed down due to a techicality. They will let him grow lettuces in the ground, using far more water, but he can’t grow them at waist height in a clean and economical way.
Ollie has been stewing about the stupidity of it all.
Well, good and bad news. A powerful public affairs program, Today/Tonight, finally got around to telling his story on TV. So, hopefully this will raise the pressure on Gosford Council to find a compromise.
The bad news, as you can see, is that the 15,000 lettuces once grown for us here locally are now gone, the racks empty.
Johnny’s not going to pull these racks down, not for moment at least. They told him to stop growing lettuces. O.K. He’s done so. Now, they’ll have to tell him to take those racks down.
Some of you have written to Gosford council. More letters won’t hurt if you feel like helping, even if you are far away. (Address. goscity@gosford.nsw.gov.au. attention, Colleen Worthy- Jennings.)
At least it might make Gosford council pause a moment to know that their silliness is being observed globally. “Boooooo!” as Ollie says.
Even Time has got right, about eating local stuff!
Johnny’s empty racks
In news just in, Robert, one of our readers in New Jersey, has been admirably pro active. He’s written to Colleen at Gosford Council and got an anwer. But I’ll let him tell the news,
Yes, I actually received a personal response from Ms. Worthy-Jennings just now, in reply to the email I sent on behalf of Mr. Bosco.
She said she may be posting “the whole story� on the Gosford Council website, after I suggested she do so. She explained that her hands are tied though, that the decision was not hers personally, and that the law was meant to protect valuable natural resources.
In the meantime, I’ve done some determined detective work! The keys were blob mentions of “on the road to MacMasters Beach�, and “Nina’s Little Shop�.
Here’s a Google-Maps satellite view of Johnny Bosco’s plot; “Nina’s Little Shop� is immediately to the west:
http://tinyurl.com/2enfjr
And here are the February 6, 2007 Gosford Council meeting minutes with the official analysis and ruling (PDF file; at page 98/99 of 101):
http://tinyurl.com/26jd4o
In my opinion, this case is still clearly nothing more than bureaucratic Bull and a petty power game. Mr. Bosco’s operation could hardly be classified as “intensive farming� and is certainly no real threat to the landscape.
The law was introduced to restrict livestock farming in a protected area, not hydroponic lettuce production that uses less water and more gently impacts the land, than more traditional methods. signed. Robert
CULLODEN
Karen, who nows owns Culloden, the station where Ollie worked as a cook in the 1930s, has gotten very interested in Ollie’s stories and has sent a letter about her daily life to our 107 year old. Here’s how they get around on their 88,000 acres.
No more horses, sadly.
And here are the weaners being mustered. They look in good shape.
And here’s the Johnsons (Ollie’s first husband’s name) as they were then at Culloden. Barnie, Evelyn and Olive appox. 1937
And now, the letter from Karen.
Dear Ollie.
I love your blob. Mike suggested I write you a short note about life on Culloden today. Much has changed since you were here as a cook in the thirties. The photo of the Culloden house as it was then, may bring back some memories for you I imagine.
I have also sent some snaps of us at work. Anyway, these days my sister Fiona, my son Dane, my Mum, Jake my cousin, and myself are managing to look after the 4 properties. We lost Dad last to cancer, January ‘06.
I am at Culloden while my husband works on the property next door. In your day there was more staff, I know. We only run cattle here but it was once a sheep station. Cattle require less handling than sheep.
There is only one sheep still at culloden, Rosie, and she is in no danger of being eaten. I’ll send more of the Rosie story later ‘cos it’s funny. She’s a pet.
The biggest part of my work is checking water. This means making sure the troughs are full, that there no leaks in the poly pipe that feeds in from bores to all those troughs. I also check that the windmills are pumping, the floats are intact, etc. Being so arid here, water is soaked up like a sponge and is precious!.
Fences have their problems with ‘roos and emus running into them and smashing wires. Cattle can break fences as well. Flood waters flatten large areas of fence but That’s OK. We need the water.
Another job that is never ending here, is poisoning Prickly Acacia trees. These trees were introduced many years ago from Africa. They were planted as feed and shelter for the sheep. It’s a hard timber and I’ve seen some beautiful furniture made from the wood. I wish some furniture makers would come and get the wood!
We have busy times at the moment. We are sorting out paddocks ready for the weaned calves to come from one of the other properties. Weaning of course means taking calves around 6 months of age off their mothers milk and branding them.
Then, they are placed in a paddock where they will grow out till they are sold. Generally, they will be sold at 2-3years of age. Then, the cycle starts again.
I like living here. I love the huge sky, which I’m sure you would remember. It makes me think of a bowl of blue being tipped over me and the land, which is a flat thin platform of endless grass, stretches out to every horizon.
At the height of summer the heat haze ripples constantly across the downs. But by nightfall, the harsness of the hot dry land makes way for the most beautiful twinkling skies. How easy it is to forgive day and love the night.
From Karen,
Your inernet friend on Culloden.
Saturday, March 31st, 2007 at 9:23 am
This post is filed under Uncategorized.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
33 Responses to “LETTUCE NEWS AND THAI”
Leave a Reply
March 31st, 2007 at 10:03 am
That was an interesting letter, and being in Oklahoma I know dry!!!Now we have rain, and its now wetter than I have ever seen it here, I just moved here from Florida 5 years ago. Its so diverse here, and we also have flat land here and big sky. I do love taking pictures of the sunsets they are wonderful to see, I can’t get over the streaks of color sometimes. I love reading the posts on here its nice, thanks Jan
Send us some sunsets, Jan. Mike and Ollie
March 31st, 2007 at 2:18 pm
Olive, I just found your website tonight and have spent hours reading your stories and all the blogs. Your a best seller! Thanks Mike for all your hard work in putting this together. I wish my grandmother where alive to tell me all her stories. Hopefully Olive’s stories will inspire others to do the same. I have friends in Brisbane and I am always asking what the heck they are talking about(Aussie’s Slang) so I appreciate Mike’s efforts in writing exactly what you say and then letting the rest of us know what it was that you really meant. Love you Aussie’s! Love your stories!I hope to read many more in the years to come.
PH in Kansas (land of OZ)
How did you find the blob, Peggy? Mike the helper
March 31st, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Just sent a stern email to the Gosford council address. Mike, I wanted to CC you a personal copy - you should provide a contact email address somewhere on this blob. There doesn’t appear to be any other way to communicate with you and Olive, except by posting publicly.
Keep kickin’ Ollie!
Robert, I have sent you several emails, and have now made your news, what you’ve achieved on the lettuce story, part of the 10th post. Mike the helper.
March 31st, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Wahoo! Took some determined digging, but here’s the news clip!
http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/video
Click “Lettuce prey: shut down for saving water” on the left side, and wait a minute for video clip to load and start playing on the upper-right side.
March 31st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Actually received a personal response from Ms. Worthy-Jennings just now, in reply to the email I sent on behalf of Mr. Bosco.
She said she may be posting “the whole story” on the Gosford Council website, after I suggested she do so. Explained that her hands are tied, that the decision was not hers personally, and that the law was meant to protect valuable natural resources.
In the meantime, I’ve done some determined detective work! The keys were blob mentions of “on the road to MacMasters Beach”, and “Nina’s Little Shop”.
Here’s a Google-Maps satellite view of Johnny Bosco’s plot; “Nina’s Little Shop” is immediately to the west:
http://tinyurl.com/2enfjr
And here are the February 6, 2007 Gosford Council meeting minutes with the official analysis and ruling (PDF file; at page 98/99 of 101):
http://tinyurl.com/26jd4o
In my opinion, this case is still clearly nothing more than bureaucratic BS and a petty power game. Mr. Bosco’s operation could hardly be classified as “intensive farming” and is certainly no real threat to the landscape.
The law was introduced to restrict livestock farming in a protected area, not hydroponic lettuce production that uses less water and more gently impacts the land, than more traditional methods.
Robert, You are amazing. Perhaps you might seriously thinking of emigrating. We need you. This coucil needs serious suveilance and few people are prepared to put in the work. It’s amazing too that Coollen Worthy jenning answered you. No one else has got an answer as far as i know. But there you go, you tothers. The letters are having an impact.
Thanks so much for putting those links you found in this comment. You have done all the leg work I should have done, but keeping the blogs going, is a lot of work as well.
People will hear of some other local issues that we care about, esp. the Avoca beach Theatre. Olive is the theatre’s oldest patron and had her 104th there. We’ll tell that story soon
http://www.avoca-beach-theatre-story.org.au
Mike and ollie
March 31st, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Think it is so neat to read of your life would that more of our people who have lived and experenced life would do this for kids who have no ideas what it was like a part of histroy that We can enjoy form some one who lived it .Thnks Mike an even more to Olive.From Missouri.U.S.A.
Melvia, what an interesting name. Never heard it before. What’s the orgin? Mike and Ollie
April 1st, 2007 at 1:47 am
I seen you were asking about how some found the website. I get a newsletter from a woman that has a computer show in our area called Kim Komando and she had said she discovered it and it had a link and here I am!!!! I do appreciate your hard work and yes, I will link to some pics of our sunsets today. Jan
Well, thanks to Kim, Jan. can you pass on out best wishes to her? Mike and Ollie
April 1st, 2007 at 2:11 am
ok, I am trying to link to an album I uploaded pictures too, let me know if it works for you, thanks Jan
http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u121/jenny_girl56/
So far no pics, Jan. Mike the helper.
April 1st, 2007 at 2:36 am
Rats about the lettuce, but great, I’m sure, to hear from Karen from Culloden again! I liked the photo of the dogs on the back of the motorcycle and the shot of Ollie and the kids. Looking forward to hearing the Thai food adventure!
Much love,
Amy
The Thai experience went very well, Amy. We ate at 6 and had Ollie home by 7.30 pm. in time for her to watch the football. She’s a a great Swans fan (Aust. rules) and last night was the first game of the season. Last year they came second in the league, and we were there. Ollie Katya and I, in a special box above the game in our huge Sydney Stadium. Ollie was cheering herself hoarse. Mike the helper
April 1st, 2007 at 3:23 am
Just wanted to say I’m loving this blog! Keep on blobbing Olive and Mike!
April 1st, 2007 at 3:43 am
Hi Olive,
My father’s friend from Birmingham, Alabama, USA sent me the link to your blog. Thanks for posting the stories and pictures and sharing a bit of your interesting life with us.
Regards,
Amy
Jacksonville, Florida, USA
April 1st, 2007 at 3:06 pm
i hope you liked the Thai food, Olive! i LOVE thai food, especially pad thai noodles with vegetables!
Indeed she did. She had Tom Kha Gai, often known as Chicken laksa. Mike the co diner.
April 1st, 2007 at 9:07 pm
Hi again Olive, it’s paula from the UK. I left a note on your first blog earlier this morning and have just finished reading the last. What an inspiring story of your life. I know that the internet is more popular these days, but it would be great if you published your biography as well, I know that I would buy it.
The story about Johnny and his lettuces has made me so mad. How silly to stop such an environmentally sound way of growing. Thats bureaucrats for you. They live in their ivory towers and don’t care about the ‘little people’. My thoughts are with him and I sincerely hope it all works out for the best.
Good luck to all and I look forward to the next ‘blob’. xx
April 1st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
I, too, came by way of Kim Komando (who, by the way, has a nation-wide syndicated radio talk show and website). One of her features she offers is a “Cool Site” email newsletter and your site was listed yesterday. So I imagine, Mike and Olive, that she is reading right along with the rest of us.
To say that Olive’s “blob” is interesting is quite the understatement. I read a couple of Australian blogs but this one has shown me a view of your beautiful and diverse country than I could ever have imagined. I appreciate Karen’s pictures and account of life on the station today as well. “How easy it is to forgive the day and love the night” was so poetic. It brought home what the “feeling” of living so isolated of a life must truly be like. Karen - if you’re reading this - I suggest you start your own blog and share your world with the rest of us.
Olive- God bless you, and thank you for sharing your life with us. If you follow the link to my blog, I suggest you go back to the beginning (it’s not long; I’ve only blogged for about a year and I’m not a prolific writer) and read my posts about my life. (I need to do more of those.)
Bye for now Olive and Mike. I’ll be “seeing” more of you soon I imagine.
Sally from Iowa, USA.
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:08 am
Ok, I will try this link again, click on it and let me know if it works, sorry!!! Hopefully it will work.
http://s167.photobucket.com/albums/u121/jenny_girl56/
April 2nd, 2007 at 6:41 am
Thank you Ollie! I WAS having a very bad day but just reading your blog, at 5 in the morning, has just put a sparkle to the new day ahead.
Thank you
Samantha
How can you be having a bad day at 5 am, Samantha? Surely you wouldn’t know yet, would you. Seems like you are in Aust. Good! We need some Aussie readers. Mike and Ollie
April 2nd, 2007 at 8:14 am
Hi Olive and Mike! Greetings from Copperas Cove, Texas. I have really enjoyed reading your blob! I too heard about your site from Kim Komando! I think the history that you remember from so long ago is wonderful. I wish that my own grandparents lived long enough for me to hear some of the tales from when they were younger. Sadly they all passed on before I was old enough to know them. The pictures are great that you have posted here! Olive, you are so full of life! I think that it is a rotten thing what has happened to your friend Johnny Bosco in regards to his lettuce! There is no figuring the whys and where fors of the government! I hope that with all the attention brought to this issue that they will change their laws soon! I can relate to Karen and the isulation out on the station. I for many years work on a horse farm that was isolated from humanity in many ways. I remember feeding in the early morning hours when the stars were the brightest. I’d sit on my bucket out in the fields waiting for the horses (and one cow!) to finish eating, and gaze up in wonder at all the beautiful stars! That was my favorite time of the day! Mike, you are wonderful for doing this and I look forward to the next blob! Take care! Tracy from Copperas Cove,TX. USA
Tracy, Karen will be pleased that you found her writing so evocative. The horse farm sounds special too. I can picture you on that bucket. Mike the helper.
April 2nd, 2007 at 9:50 am
Dear Mike and Ollie, I’ve greatly enjoyed reading the Blob. It brings to mind many of the places I’ve read about in Nevil Shute’s Australian novels and the Napolean Bonaparte mysteries set in Australia - one was set in Broken Hill and had the town’s name in the title. My mother is 97 and still in good health and we are blessed with having her close by. We pray she will live as long as you, Ollie. All the best to both of you and I look forward to reading more of your stories and, God willing, one day visiting your wonderful country. Warmest regards, John
I wonder if they are still in print those Neville Shute books, John. He wrote, On the beach, the famous post nuclear story which was made into a film.
I am presently in QLD helping a friend on a nuclear documentary. Mike the helper.
April 2nd, 2007 at 3:09 pm
G’day Olive and Mike,
What a wonderful post! And the pictures are beautiful. I much prefer the old cottages and homes to the new eye-sore. What a shame the beach houses of old are disappearing from all our beaches. The “seaside” no longer exists, it would seem, not in the it was when we were kids. More’s the pity!
Congratulations, Olive, on having your own blog. I’ll definitely be back to visit you regularly. I’m up here in Queensland at Mount Tamborine. So your promotion of the ferry hasn’t been wasted. You never know what’s around the corner and I might even have a ride in it one day if it’s still around, and let’s hope it is.
Two comments from QLD today, Lee. I wonder how that comes about? Did you read that Robyn tried to get the Courier -
Mail interested and after initial interest, decided Ollie’s blob did not cut the mustard. So, how did you find it?
We have also been complaining about seeming to have no Aussie readers, too. So, it’s good you wrote. As for the Cockatoo boat, I asked Margaret to track down their contacts and give them a boost. Maybe you coulld do the same. Mike and ollie
April 2nd, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Hi Olive, it is a shame that beautiful ferry is not drawing the croud, I would ride on it if I came down your way from Queensland some time. Who knows the writng about it on your blob may help, I hope it does.
I am very glad that you enjoyed the thai food, that Mike certainly keeps you up with the times does’nt he. I am sure he is a treasured friend to you.
Cheers and hugs Margaret..
Margaret, can I suggest you do a bit of digging, find out how to contact them, I think it’s centralcoastferries.com.au, and congratulate them on their nice boat. Some approval and expression of interest might be encouraging. Mike and ollie
April 3rd, 2007 at 4:06 am
I came over from Peter’s Blog. Glad I did. Loved the post.
April 3rd, 2007 at 8:06 am
Maybe there’s hope yet for the lettuce man. I cont. to enjoy Ollie’s stories and the pictures. I must tell you that Karen’s last lines really fed my romantic notions of Australia, but having lived in the country with some animals, garden, etc. I know the life can be hard. Then there are those moments when you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I picture Karen’s words: “At the height of summer the heat haze ripples constantly across the downs. But by nightfall, the harsness of the hot dry land makes way for the most beautiful.” twinkling skies. How easy it is to forgive day and love the night.”
Yes, isn’t interesting. I had to push Karen to write. She felt she couldn’t. And then she came up with those poetic lines. I’ll have to phone her and make sure she sees your comment. Mike
April 4th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Mike, I suggest you get in touch with one of the current affair programmes about Olive’s “blob”…I reckon it would make for a very nice, and uplifting story. It’s worth a shot, I think.
I, too, learned about Olive through Peter’s “Holtie’s Hothouse” blog. I think it is wonderful and good on Olive for doing it!
April 4th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Ollie,
You are a great little lady and I love reading your blogs and memories. When I was little, I loved listening to my grandparents and parents tell stories about their lives and their memories. They are gone now and how I wished I had gotten them to write or record those stories so I could pass them down to my children and grandchildren and their grandchildren. Just remember that you are 108 years young.
Best wishes from Texas,
Mike Helton
April 5th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Happy Easter to you Olive…I hope you enjoy a relaxed and safe Easter with lots of Easter eggs to devour!
April 8th, 2007 at 1:41 am
My son made your blog known to me and I thouroughly enjoyed reading it. I am getting on in years my self and still manage to work at a rehab clinic with some more in our generation. Again, it makes me so happy to see someone doing well as you and enjoying life to the fullest. May “GOD” Bless you. With Love and Prayers Bill
Thanks for the encouragement, Bill. Do you think you might start a blog too? Mike the helper.
April 8th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I found this on a friend’s Blog and felt I should congratulate you Olive, and Mike as well of course on such a great job, I enjoyed reading it immensely.
I know a little of the area in Woy Woy as my parents in law lived there quite a few years ago.
Keep up the good work please I shall return.
I really enjoyed reading about your life especially in Culloden.
You are a true Aussie battler for sure.
Dear Mick, thanks for the comments. We have not had that many Aussie visitors and so they are precious. Mike the Helper.
April 9th, 2007 at 1:33 am
Dear Ollie & Mike
I have just sent a polite email from my real identity to Mrs. Worthy-Jennings about Mr. Bosco’s lettuce plight.
I do hope that they can look at the legislation to get it changed or a deviation filed so that Mr. Bosco can continue with his practice.
Sincerely
Irish Church Lady
April 11th, 2007 at 12:26 am
The 7News video clip on Johnny Bosco the-Lettuce-Man is no longer “front page news”, has been relocated, and is now archived here:
http://au.news.yahoo.com/video/public/index.html?pn=2
“Lettuce prey: shut down for saving water”
April 13th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Thanks for sharing Karen’s letter Mike. Ollie must’ve loved receiving it and seeing the old and new pictures of Cullodon. Karen describes life on the cattle station very eloquently, and clearly loves living there. I’ve been out in the boon docks in the back of QLD and the Northern Territory and found it bit too remote for me, but I know some love it.
I do hope a compromise can be found so that Johnny can resume growing his lettuces. It seems so senseless.
April 18th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Hi Guys, This is my first venture on to your site. A friend pointed me in the right direction. I have emailed the council about the lettuces, for all the good it will do, but you never know!
I will go back and try and catch up on your earlier writings. I have enjoyed what I have read so far. Keep it coming. Keep well Ollie and thanks to Mike for the help he gives.
Look forward to reading more.
Rana, it might do a lot of good indeed, writing to Gosford council. I am sure they are quite surprised and sensitive to concerns such as yours, coming from in around the world.
I mean, how does it look for a beautful area like the Central Coast, which aspires to be an international destination, to be seen to be so silly on this lettuce matter, stifling delicious locally grown greens for no good reason except……. red tape?
If you visited from overseas for instance, and discovered Nina’s little shop, itself a treat, you’d be charmed, not just by its look, but by the way Nina’s place is the prime drop-in spot for Mc Masters locals, a place to have a coffee and shoot the breeze at her famous round table.
You’d appreciate that the big heads of lettuce until recently on sale there were grown next door, carried on foot from the growing beds to point of sale, and I bet you’d find the whole set-up both sane and charming.
Contrast this with dropping in these last weeks to overhear that Johnny Bosco has been closed down for no good reason, and then sampling the sour feeling of betrayal which now pervades.
Couple that with discovering that one of the 3 neignbours who objected, and and whose petty objections resulted in the shut down, is reputedly a council employee, and the whole thing smells very bad in an area which seeks to sell itself overseas on the basis of wholesome holidays and living.
So, in a word, writing to Gosford council is a very good thing to do, and supporting our gracious 107 year old activist, another.
Mike and Ollie champions of the lettuce man
April 26th, 2007 at 5:29 am
I’m also a Kim Komando E-Newsletter refer-ee. I’ve enjoyed your blob very much and I plan to keep coming back as long as you’re willing to keep posting it.
It reminds me of hearing my late grandmother, born in 1907, talk about how things were when she was a child in southern Alabama. In the USA it’s hard to get more southern than that! lol.
They had a big old black iron washpot outside in the back yard that they’d build a fire. And they would melt a bunch of lard and add in lye (I seem to remember that they got the lye from ashes, somehow), and mix it and stir it until it was all melted together. And they made - big as a man’s hand size - white, brick shaped cakes of lye soap. It seems like Grandmama said they had wooden boxes (molds) that they poured it and let it cool.
And they would carve shavings off of that bar of soap for washing clothes and cleaning floors and washing dishes and bathing and everything else one would use soap for.
I loved hearing her stories of how they lived and what they did for fun and just everyday life.
Grandmama said Granddaddy was the first person in town to have a car. And her “old maid” (Grandmama’s words!), sister-in-law wanted to learn to drive. So Granddaddy got his sister into the car and showed her where everything was and started it for her. And off she went. But she forgot how to use the brake and Grandmama said she went around and around the block and everytime she came past she would holler “How do I stop this thing? And, “Whoa!”, and roll right past them! Of course they were laughing so hard they couldn’t even stand up much less run after the car! She and Great Aunt Della later became best friends, but she still laughed 60 years later when she would tell that story. And so did Aunt Della.
I found a recipe for Lye Soap on the internet: Boiled Soap No.1 For cooking outdoors in a kettle.
32 pounds lard
16 quarts soft water
8 cans lye
Boil 2 hours and then add 1 more gallon of water.Stir and remove fire from kettle and pour into molds.
and here’s the site address: http://farmgal.tripod.com/lyesoapconcoctions.html
The recipe tickles me, because, at least here in our part of Texas, I don’t know where you’d find 32 lbs. of lard OR soft water! ha.
All the best to you and your sweet helper and great good wishes,
Charlotte
Charlotte, those are great stories. I hope others will follow your lead and make this a place to post such stopries as well. I laughed too reading about the Old maid in the runaway car.
Eric, above another commenter, says its curious that the stories are so similar across great distances. I think its something to do with ways of doing practical things, technology, like making soap. Probably the way you describe it is the way Ollie made soap as well. I’ll ask her. Mike the Helper.
August 31st, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Thanks Olive for your interesting account of life at CULLODEN in 1937.
I was told by an elderly relative not long ago that my late Grandmother also worked at CULLODEN.
She would have probably worked there as a cook sometime in the 1920’s or early 1930’s?
Her hometown was at Townsville where she owned a Boarding House. A friend looked after her Boarding House when Grandma Ann was away doing cooking jobs to make a few extra pounds to pay for her son’s education.
Her name was Ann/Annie Mearns O’KEEFE (nee EDWARDS). She could have used the name Annie OWENS from her first marriage?
Would Mr. Tommy Spence have any knowledge of her employment there?
Judith.
Judith, I’ll put you in touch with Tommy Spence and you can see if he remembers your grandmother. We are ticlked that the blog will help you make this connection. Mike the helper