ERIC AND THE POSTMISTRESS
OLIVE’S THIRTY FIRST POST
Mike
(To the reader) I caught Ollie on the phone, obviously talking to someone about the Swans, her favorite Aussie Rules team.
This gives me a moment to tell you what’s been happening.
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Though we’ve managed to get her singing in recent blogs, Olive has never seen the clips.
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I’ve just driven her to see Eric. Taking Ollie out, as she gets close to her 108th birthday, is not done as lightly as it was. Our trip to Broken Hill seems a long time ago.
But I knew that Ollie’s very fond of Eric and indeed she jumped at the idea when I suggested we visit him. They live quite close to each other.
I’ve been trying to get Eric into our Blog for some time now. But every time I invent some sort of cameo appearance for him, he wriggles out of it.
He’s extremely shy of publicity. But, as you’ve probably read in previous posts, it was Eric who had the idea of getting our Ollie into blogging. So he has to be included!
He’d found the blogsite of Maria Amelia in Spain. This would be round about January this year.
He discovered that Maria Amelia, with the help of her grandson, was blogging at 95, and so he says to me; “If Maria can do it, so can our Olive.”
What I didn’t realize, as I hestitantly agreed, was that the actual posting was all going to fall on me.
Then I thought, well, this is something I’ve wanted to learn, blogging, and now here’s the way to do just that! I was also very impressed with Eric’s courage.
I’d been at our local ABC radio station, the one in Erina fair, this would be at least 2 years ago now.
As I waited to be interviewed by Scott Levi about the Avoca beach Theatre, a cause I’m passionate about, Eric was on the air before me.
He was telling older listeners that they did not have to be afraid of all this internet stuff. He should know. At 88, he’ surely the oldest internet journalist in the world.
(There’s a nice pattern to our team. I’m 68, Eric’s 88 and Olive is 108, or a month short of that)
Eric and i got chatting, and kept in touch. I guess he found out about Olive and her longevity through me.
And so here we were, early 2007, and Eric lays down the challenge. “Let’s get Olive blogging.” And it seems we did, didn’t we Ollie?
Olive
He’s a nice man…. When are you going to pick me up, Mike?
Mike
At ten on friday. It’s just a short drive to his place. We’ll have morning tea there.
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Olive
We must get him a little present on the way
Mike
(To the reader) We stopped at Umina shops where by chance we found ourselves in front of a shop selling a superior sort of chocolate, Darrell Lee.
This prompted Ollie to remember that she loves ginger pieces dipped in chocolate, and this shop had that delicacy.
Several times back and forth from the car I scuttled, getting first a box for Eric , (we hoped he was partial to ginger) and then, on second thoughts, a box for Ollie too.
Here you see us at Eric’s and the yellow-green box on the left is the ginger chocolates, much appreciated I can tell you!
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So, we had our tea, and Olive asked him to read her an article she’d found in a local magazine about her “blob,” not knowing that Eric had actually written it himself.
Olive
That was funny. Here’s me thinking he’d like a copy when he wrote it himself !
Mike
Anwway, here’s Eric reading , and a chance to get a look at the elusive journalistic record holder.
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Mike
While that was going on, I fired up Eric’s computer
We put earphones on Ollie because his speakers weren’t workingShe sat there watching herself , or rather listening to herself, because Ollie does not see very well.
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Olive sings click here
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Olive
That was good, Mike
Mike
Just good?
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Olive
Very good, then…… But I sing terrible.
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Mike
You don’t at all………..!
Anyway, now you see how video blogging works, Ollie We can put anything up.
For instance, that story you just told Eric at the table about the horse who liked his beer, that can go up.
(Olive had told us about a horse who came every day to the pub at Silverton, near Broken Hill, and would go to the back door for a glass of beer. This was before the first World War.)
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Olive
Fancy that! But I just told it.
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Mike
And I just filmed it.
No, I lie…….I mean, it will have to wait till I get home but it will be around the world by tomorrow morning.
It’ll leave the Central Coast tomorow round about 8 am and arrive in the US, where you know we have so many readers, about 6pm their time the day before.
Here we go! Ladies and gentleman, the horse who liked a beer.
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Click for the horse story
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Mike
I had to have Ollie back at her place for lunch, so we hustled off.
Here they come down the path from Eric’s house, vowing to get together again soon. Once Ollie was in the car…..
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Mike
…… Eric handed her a daisy with old fashioned courtesy.
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Mike
Back at Ollie’s place, I had something to show her which has given me a great thrill.
Perhaps some of you discovered the story I told in post 30 about a ghost town, an old mining town in Victoria called Talbotville, which I found when young
Here it is, if you missed it. the gold mining story
It was a bush walking weekend with a German backpacker friend who loved history. He’s found an old map with this lost town marked on it.
In the 1860’s, Talbotville had 7 pubs and been rich in in gold , mined from the Crooked river.
Then, the gold ran out and many of the inhabitants who left for the First World War. A large number did not come back from the trenches.
When Wolfgang and I found it one autumn weekend in 1959, it had already been abandoned for many years.
I heard in fact that it had struggled to stay alive between the World wars, and that the postmistress, Mrs Stout, had mailed herself three letters a week just to stay open
The rules said that a post office had to process 3 letters a week to be financed by the system
I told this story to you, Ollie, and then wondering if I was making up the better bits, so I did some reseach into this last week.
I love historical research, starting with nothing, or almost, and digging deep like a greedy miner..
In this case, I used a trick that had worked in the past when digging up your lost rellies. Ollie.
I phoned the nearest general store still running, in a town called Dargo (map on previous post) and asked the lady who answered who the local historians were.
Brian Madigan and Rob Cristie were the names I was given, with phone their numbers.Happily, we are still a country where, at least in the bush, people are trusting and they share things like phone numbers without fear or suspicion.
It’s only in the city that we’ve become obsessed by terrorists.
Anway, Brian was very helpful. “Yes,” he said, the simple minded man I’d remembered under a walnut tree as we set out from Gibbs farm for Talbotville, was a real person, not my imagination.
It was a vivid image. The man under the speading tree, cracking nuts and talking to himself. Was our quest crazy too?
His name was Ginty Guy and he had a backslap greeting so strong, it’d knock you over, more like a punch.
Yes, Brian said, that would be right that Talbotville was cut off by a wall of blackberries growing along the river.
We found that blackberries ringed what was left of the town like a moat round a castle.
Unwilling to give up, we’d cut a tunnel through the thick and prickly mass and found a grassy meadow with a row of cottages, seemily perfect in the noon sun, with light sparkling off their tin roofs.
Going closer, we’d found four or five houses abandoned and full of the most marvellous old stuff .
Why would they have left the old phonograph with wax cylinders, the wind up wall telephone, the butter churn, saddles, all that stuff we found?
Brian wasn’t sure, only that it would’ve been hard to carry it all out, as it was hard for us to do as well.
We too took nothing, as it turned out.
it was a thrill adding to this story, Ollie, an adventure that I hadn’t thought of in years.
Then, two days ago, Merle , who reads this blog, reported astonishing news. Remember, we are talking about a town with about half a dozen people towards the end, if that.
She reported that she’s related to two women, Phyllis and Edna, who grew up in the dwindling settlement. Their Grandmother was Martha Stout, the postmistress, the very same I’d hear about!
I’d called her Mrs Trail. That was her daughter, Phyllis and Edna’s mother, who no doubt helped in the post office sometimes
I phoned Phyllis. The story about three letters is true she said, “I remember writing some of those letters myself as a girl.”
A day later photos arrived from Brian and Talbotville stopped being just a mental picture.
Here are the cottages we would have seen as we came through the hole in the blackberry wall.
Except that what we saw was far more lush, apple and plum trees heavy with fruit, cottages wrapped in weeds and creepers.
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Mike
And here comes their grandfather, Albert Stout, down the only street, a real old Bushie, who’d been there since the 1860’s
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Mike
“Are you goin’ to take this bag of letters, Dad, or am I?” calls Grandma Stout. Yes, that’s the postmistress heself.
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Mike
“Whatever you want, Luv,” replies the old fella, thinking of a pint and a pipe no doubt though the pubs have all gone. .
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Mike
Ollie, Brian, told me two more stories which I cherish.
I’d been speaking about the wreck of a cart which we found on the track as we walked into Talbotville
He told me that the bullockies (drivers of the Bullock drays) would bring up loads of provisions from the coast and in the shipment would be casks of whisky.
The bullockiess would get thirsty and with a gimlet , they’d drill a tiny hole in the cask and help themselves to a drop, a sort of tax on the shipment you might say.
Then, they’d cork the hole with a twig and smooth it off. Apparently, after many trips, the casks were full of tiny holes, “Like a porcupine” said Brian .
The next tale is even better. In the early days when there were seven pubs in Talbotville, miners would come in for a drink and pay with gold dust.
They’d plunk tbeir pouch on the bar and the barman would take a pinch of gold dust from the pouch as payment for the drink.
These barmen grew long fingernails and, with a strong pinch, could drive quite a lot of dust up under their nails to be washed out later into a dish, the miners never the wiser about the double dipping.
Isn’t that a hell of a tale, Ollie? Pure gold!
Olive
It’s a wonderful story. I hope I don’t run out of stories for this blob, Mike.
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Mike
You don’thave to worry, Ollie. We can find stories everywhere.
Last night I saw on ABC TV, the 7.30 report, actually, a great story about John Duigan.
John is 80 and still flys his homebuilt plane on Flinders Island. He’s related to other Duigans who built and flew Australia’s first plane, round about 1910. Another amazing oldie, ollie!Anyway, I find that we can add stories like this to our blog.
Try it here, folks. When you get to the ABC site , click on the liitle picture of John Duigan on the extreme right to see the video.
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John Duigan, aviator story
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Olive
All lovely, Mike.
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Saturday, August 11th, 2007 at 9:04 am
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38 Responses to “ERIC AND THE POSTMISTRESS”
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August 11th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
How wonderful that you and Eric got together Ollie - it sounds like you had a lovely visit.
Mike - will get Ollie’s movie back to you next week, have been housebound with sick children this past week
That’s fine, Mandier. Don’t stress about it. Mike the helper
August 11th, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Wonderful story about the horse that drank beer. I’m glad you had a chance to get out and visit. I also love the bit about the three letters a week! I’m glad to find out that was a true story.
Keep up the great work, Mike and Ollie! I’m still looking forward to the one about the shooting on the train.
Christina
Hi, Christina. Yes we haven’t forgotten the shooting on the picnic train. But its rather depressing and so we are waiting for the right moment.
In the meantime, if you want a good story, go to this site and read about the Occurance at Owl Creek . I haven’t told Ollie this one yet. Mike the helper
http://www.timegoesby.net/elderstorytelling/mike_rubbo/index.html
August 12th, 2007 at 8:40 am
Ill say Happy Birthday now to Ollie in case I dont get back this way before then.have a blessed day my dear..
I love the story about the town.its always nice to hear news from the past.
when I was young I use to love the old places,houses,stores.but one by one things always change and not always for the good.
Id drive thought places when I got older and the heart of the town was gone.the old building,s long since ripped down to put up cardbord boxes with no style.
my heart would feel this empty sad feeling for a time long past.
I am sure Ollie has the same feeling for she most have sorrowed over many loses in her life.
she is a remarkable lady.and what you are doing for her is very wonderful.
wish the computer as I know it would have been here when my granny was still here with us.
she went home to be with Jesus at the young age of 94..she had a mind like a trap.and could have given me many more story,s then she did.
{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
Ollie and God bless you with many more healthy happy birthdays filled with those you love.and cake,gift,s and joy…
That’s a great message Leann. It is so sad to lose th past. We have been fighting here for our single screen movie theatre, at Avoca beach. There are photos on the blog round about the 15th post.
People do love the past, but will they make a sacrifice for it, go out of their way to protect it? It’s not so easy! Anyway, the internet is helping, building up a group of people who encorage each other in good ways. Mike the helper
August 12th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Wow, what a post full of stories and memories! Those old cottages sound fabulous and fancy our Merle being a part of the story, too!
You know, those funny things like the horse having a glass of beer each day can only happen in the country. The city is too noisy, too busy, too…regulated to have any really human (or animal) interest stories like that. Now I know why I moved onto acreage.
I’m so glad Olive got to visit Eric and chocolate coated ginger…yummm. I just know I’m going to have to go to Darrell Lea’s and get some…sigh…see what you’ve done now! Lol!
Glad all is going well with Ollie. Take care.
Glad you liked it. It was certianly a thill for me to discover all that about Talbotville. OIllie semed to like it too. Mike the helper.
August 12th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
That was an interesting post. That’s really amazing about the old town. It is kind of odd that all that stuff would be left behind in the houses. Can’t blame you for leaving it behind. Those blackberries can be hazardous with all the briars.
My mom had a horse when she was young. She said it always liked to eat her dad’s cigars when he was done with them. Don’t know if it liked beer or not, though.
Thanks for the chance to see the movie, Mike. It’s now on it’s way to Ronni in Maine.
Good work, Eric, with the movie. A DVD of the full length doco on Olive, which was the beginning of our friendship, is presently circling the Globe, folks.
The DVD which Eric has just passed on to Maine, went first to Italy. Then, having made three stops in Italy, it went to Scotland. From Scotland, it headed off to three sites in the States where it now is.
If anyone else would like to be on the mailing list as it moves around, do let us know. Your only obligation is to record on the cover that you got it and passed it on. Mike the helper.
August 13th, 2007 at 12:22 am
Hello Olive and Mike - - Another great post. You two are doing well. Loved the story of the horse who drank beer Olive. Thanks for telling us that one.
Thanks Mike for the link and mention. I have printed the photos to show to Phyll next time I see her.Her mother, Mrs. Trail was post mistress at Talbotville. I think her grandfather was at Dargo.He was Mr. Stout, and his daughter obviously married a Mr. Trail. It is all so interesting.
So glad Olive had a nice meeting with Eric and you made that video. Take care, both of you, Love, Merle.
Glad we are still cutting the Mustard for you. I am confused as to who was th TalbotvIlle postmistress. Edna insists it was her grandmother, Martha Stout. But I had heard, Mrs. Trail was the one at the time when in the area, and you say the same. What’s the truth, I wonder.
Glad also that you are passing on the photos. I described them to Edna and she did not know them. Mike the Helper
August 13th, 2007 at 5:10 am
Oh, I would love to be on the list for the DVD!!! Do you still have my address?
The DVD is currently on its way to Maine. You can be next. I’ll email you. Mike the helper
August 13th, 2007 at 11:58 am
I would also wish to add my name to the DVD list and will list my address with you. I will share it with my sister and brother-in-law, whose Mom will be celebrating her 100th on September 4th. a
true blessing for the family.
Every 2 weeks I have to work the week-end, 12 hour shifts. Coming home Sunday, tired in body and soul, I turn to your blog, Olive, to catch up on your doings. Your stories, memories and pictures transport me into a calmer, friendlier time and uplift my spirits.
If you like crabs, and here in Virginia on the Chesapeake Bay are the best blue crabs, bar none, I just cleaned 9 big jimmies (males) that I caught in my crab pot off the dock and would love to share my crabcakes with you. They are luscious, just enough mayonaise to hold the meat together and breaded very lightly, then fried in butter.
May rays of sunshine light up your birthday. Peace, joy and the love of your world-wide friends to you.
Olena
Olena, You have our promise the movie will reach you before your sister in law’s mum reaches her century. I’ll probably have to send it from here. I;ll get your address via email. Thanks to for the crab stories. Mike the helper.
August 14th, 2007 at 2:56 am
Hello Ollie and Mike:
Glad to hear that all is well and that you are both still “blobbing”.
Thought you might want to read about a 107 year old lady in Cuba who is still going strong. Maybe the illustrious Olive can write in to help her get her funds back from US banks?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070812/wl_canada_nm/canada_cuba_widow_col;_ylt=Av9_QfajlPThYhL0ZSXAR1zq188F
Best wishes,
D. Belfiore
This is a great story tip Doreva. I’m going to ask Ollie this moring if she would like to write to this woman, Maria, in cuba who as you noted is the same age as Ollie and is so hard done by.
Did you see the story in Canada or the US? I’m wondering of course how to get an addess for Maria. I urge those reading this to go to the URL Doreva has provided and read this strange and touching story. Mike the helper
August 14th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Hello Olive and Mike,
I’m very impressed by your website and blogs. I work at Randwick City Library in Sydney, and I am going to do a short article about your website, in relation to the increased use of internet technology by senior citizens. We are in the business of promoting internet and computer usage for seniors here at the library, as such technology has become the norm for library users. Would it be possible to use a couple of the images from your webpage to illustrate the article? Thanks, and best of luck for your ongoing venture! I love the old photos in particular
You are most welcome, Sue, to use the photos. Just let us know when someting is published that we can see. I have suggested to Australia Talks Back on ABC radio, that they do a session on the internet and seniors. There are many interesting examples besides Olive of seniors claiming a bit of the internet turf from the younger users.
When you think about it, the internet is perfect for th older user whose mobiltity is not what it might have once been. It allows them to keep exploring, keep wandering, kto eep in touch without leaving home. This is what I sent to the ABC producer.
” Many older people are realizing that if they don’t overcome their fear and learn how to use this internet thing, them, they’ll be missing out on a lot.
They also realize that in a way, it’s made for them since by internetting you can reach around the world without actually having to physically rush about.
Thirdly, they are at that time of life when family members are saying to them, “Why don’t you write down what you’ve done un your long life, all those lovely stories you tell, you should be sharing them with the Grandkids.”
It is not a big step to realizing that the best way to share such things is through the internet. There are now apparently 76 million blogs world wide, internet diaries that people with a little help can start themselves, and at no cost.
More and more of these appeal to older folks. Sites like As time goes By in the US are devoted to telling older people’s stories.
The amazing phenomenon of Peter Oakley in GB who gets hundreds of thousands of hits from all ages on his youtube site, telling stories at geriatric1927.
And then there are our own efforts. I’ve been helping Olive Riley with her blog for the last six months ,and she’s inspired many people.”
Mike the helper
August 14th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Mike,
I read the article on Yahoo in the US. The news story came from Reuters so maybe Reuters news can help you find Maria. Apparently her address has not changed in all these years.
Good luck and keep on blogging!
D.
Thanks Doreva. I’ll hand the sleuthing over to Eric. He’s very good at that sort of thing. Mike the helper
August 14th, 2007 at 9:20 pm
It is so nice that Eric and Ollie could meet in person! Good blob, Mike; lots of nice stories and music and asides.
Kenju, I saw your name somewhere. Could it have been on As Time goes by? Mike the helper
August 14th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
Greetings Mike and Ollie,
Yes, please, I would love to be added to the mailing list. I would be more than happy to have a look at the DVD.
In the meantime, I’m sure you’ve heard that 114-year old Yone Minagawa just passed away in southwestern Japan. It is amazing, the life she lived. I hope someone was recording her stories as well; it is such a treasure and a gift to be able to learn from people like Ollie about the past.
Keep at it, it’s always such a pleasure to read about your adventures, past and present.
Lyne, no. we did not heat about Yone. As you say, lets hope she’s been recorded. Mike the helper
August 15th, 2007 at 12:05 am
Really enjoyed reading this post, hearing you sing, Olive. I especially liked hearing you talk about the horse drinking beer, reading about your meeting with Eric and seeing the video. Surely do hope Eric agrees to appear more on the blog as I’ll bet he has some stories to tell, too.
I’m patiently waiting for some older people here in the U.S. to get to a point where I hope they’ll send some stories your way, Olive. Would love to read an exchange between you and some people here in the U.S. As always, I enjoy the stories that you add, Mike, so I keep coming back.
In the meantime, Ronni Bennett (”Time Goes By” blog) was invited to speak at a tech convention in Seattle, Washington which I wrote about on my blog. She’s trying to explain to all these young tech gurus about the special needs of older/elder people when they design computers and programs. I added some comments some of these young people made, ’cause they don’t always realize what good ideas some of us older people have. Ronni did a great job of representing us Elderbloggers.
We’ll take a look at your report of Ronnie’s talk, Jo ann. Thanks. Mike the helper
August 15th, 2007 at 5:28 am
Hi Mike and Olive ~
I’d love to see Olive’s full length movie. I’m fascinated by everything about Olive. The stories are varied and always interesting. I’d even be happy to hear Olive’s recollections about day-to-day life before modern conveniences. Thanks for sharing your lives with us!
Mary Bradt
36 Clovernook Drive
Arden, North Carolina, USA 28704
Looks like I’m going to have to start another copy circulating. Mike the helper.
August 15th, 2007 at 7:32 am
That’s a nice story!! I think it’s really great that people like Ollie, Eric or whoever is in the same position that they are get used to technologies. It can encourage many people (young or old) to do so. A good example is my grandfather: he has always loved everything related to new technologies but has also been really scared of them. I bought him a computer and I’m really happy when I see him work with it. I teach him how to use it and he really loves it. He is almost 80 and it’s difficult for him, he often gets nervous and asks for help when something ’strange’ pops up, but he loves it and I love seeing him.
That’s one of the best stories we’ve had, Monica about older people and the computer. Can you sed a photo of your Dad at the computer? We’d love to use it on the blog. Mike the Helper.
August 15th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Dear Olive and Mike,
What a wonderful post this was. I love history, and you just gave me a marvelous dose of it. Thank you. I especially enjoyed the story of the old mining town. It’s sad that you weren’t able to carry any of that wonderful history out with you, but it’s even sadder that the people felt compelled to put the town to the torch. Such are the vagaries of life.
I am privileged to know several World War Two veterans here in the U.S. and to count a few as true friends. Hearing their stories gives me much more appreciation for the history of my country just as hearing Ollie’s stories enriches your understanding of Australia. All the best to both of you and an early Happy Birthday! to Olive.
P.S. I too would like to see the full length DVD whenever it’s available.
John
We’ll get another DVD circulating soon, John. Mike the helper.
August 17th, 2007 at 10:20 pm
What a wonderful blog! I enjoy the stories so much. I’ve told several friends about it. I am in North Carolina, USA and would love to be on the circulation list for the DVD. Best wishes to you, Mike, and to Ollie.
Rosemary, I’ll put you on the list. Mike the hekper.
August 18th, 2007 at 12:59 am
A big hug to you both, Ollie and Mike, from Bountiful, Utah, USA!
Thanks so much for all of the wonderful stories and videos! What a treasure your BLOB is, Ollie. I tell all my friends about you!
Isn’t it strange and wonderful how we consider you both our good friends and feel we know you and love you dearly, when we have never met face to face. What a blessing you are to those of us all over the world who “stop by for a visit”.
Success in all you do! …Ron
Hi Ron, That’s touching that you think of us as friends. it is strange that one can get attached like this to people around the world. I think it’s a good thing. As one can see from the comments to Olive’s blog, they are invariably good hearted. Mike the helper
August 18th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Dear, dear Ollie,
Thank you so much for your blog. You are so interesting and inspiring. Keep teaching us and challenging us all with your great example of how to live.
Thanks for the kind comments, Katherine. I wonder where you are writing from? Your letter gives no clue. Mike the nosey one.
August 18th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Only heard about your Blog site on the ABC radio this morning and had to have a look! I love it and I’m not really much of a blogger myself being new to this blog game! I will slowly make my way thru all of those lovely stories and video clips. I just saw the one about the old irons. My dad had kept a few of those and even restored a couple of them. One even sits pride of place on my wood heater during winter (but only as a decoration!)It was a hard physical life. Wish Ollie well and keep up the stories. I am trying to get my mum to do the same except in a hand written form in a book. I hope I find it filled in when she passes on (she is 85 now!) so I too can have a treasure trove of memories just like Ollie’s!
So we have to thank Geraldine, Sue! Thank God for our ABC where ideas and good thing happening do get a play midst all the horrors and cheap stuff in the world.
Why not show the blog to your mum the blog? It might inspire her. Let her read the steam tram story. That’s one of my favorites. Mike the helper
August 18th, 2007 at 6:05 pm
I also heard about Olive’ blog this morning with Geraldine Doogue on the ABC radio. We found it fascinating. Good on both of you. I look forward to reading the stories.
Take care
Robyn, It was good of Geraldine to put it on. Lots more to come. In the meantime, the steam tram is one of my favorites. Mike the helper
August 19th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Hello Mike & Olive - I too heard you on Geraldine’s show yesterday morning and was totally captured by the story of your wonderful friendship. I know I’m in for a treat as I get to know you both through your blog Smiles to you both *!*
Thanks Annie, hope to hear from you after you’ve had a bit of a read. And thanks to Geraldine as well. Mike the Helper.
August 19th, 2007 at 4:19 pm
What a lovely surprise to hear of your Blog on ABC radio(Geraldine Doogue) yesterday. Since then I’ve been reading all your posts with much interest and joy. I already had the DVD from Mike from soon after it was first shown on ABCTV.
but since ‘global roaming’ can connect with friends in many countries. I’m thinking of you as a kind of ‘big sister’ to me - something I didn’t ever have.
I value it very much, and admire your courage and outgoingness. It’s so good that you have Mike and Katya and family, and also I’m thinking the carers at Woy Woy deserve special tribute too(for their care of ‘Gracious Olive’).
Your story of ‘the Ragman’ sparks a memory of my own - - When I was in Sunday School(c.1933) we had always an annual Sunday School picnic. One of the activities was that a man would put on a dust-coat over his clothes; to it was lightly sewn lots of packets of lollies(maybe boiled sweets?), and at a signal he’d take off, running, with all the kids haring after him to see if they could catch him to pull off a bag of sweets. I wasn’t ever fast enough, and was always disappointed. I dimly remember that at least one time my Dad was the ‘lolly-man’ and said he’d save a bag for me.
I’m still ‘physically challenged’
Thankyou for being here Olive, and God bless you!
Nan, yours is surely one of the nicest comments we’ve had. Tell us how you are making out with the computer sicne you are clearly old enough to be in the age bracket of those who are usually fearful. How did you get used to the darn thing?
Ad tell us more about connecting with friends around the world. What you say fits my theory that the internet is a natural tool for thos whose mobility is lessening since you can compensate for jittery legs by being able to roam by finger tip.
Thanks for the lolly man story too. How fondly you must think of your Dad for saving you a bag. I wonder if we’ll ever find anyone who chased an actual ragman on rollers skaters as Ollie did. Mike the helper
August 19th, 2007 at 10:37 pm
a wonderful post..I just love ginger chocolates too. I can’t stop at one I can devour the entire box in a matter of seconds..The photo of you and Eric is just lovely..Sorry I haven’t been by for a few weeks, not forgotten you though.. Keep on blobbing..:)
The one of Eric giving her the flower is special, isn’t it, Carol? Welcome back, by the way. Mike the helper
August 20th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
Hi all you wonderful folks. I’m Annie from California USA. I found you through my friend Annie in Australia. I’m totally charmed by your blog and plan to read every word. Expect to hear from more of my friends as I plan to lead them to your wonderful conversations. All my best to you.
Hi Annie, do spread us far and wide. We love it. Also draw your contacts attention to the fact that we love getting early days sories. You’ll find quite a few which have come in through the comments section.
By the way, I am also interested (as an individual) in US, Canadian and French readers responses to SICKO. This is not Ollies’s interest but mine. Mike the helper
August 20th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Greetings from Toronto Canada!! Annie at Bimbimbie AU. wrote to tell me about Olive’s blog as we have a 104 years young Nana whom we are all amazed by. Our Nana originally came to Canada from Scotland when she was 4-5 years old. I will be sharing Olive’s stories with her. Like Olive, her eyesight is not what it used to be however she is as sharp as a tack as well. I am off to read more …. I am also a Stout by birth and was amazed to see the name in your “blob”! Best wishes!!!
This is an exciting contact, Jenny. We hope that your Nana and Olive will be able to share some stories. Her rellies call Olive “Nana” too, by the way. If you can help with the sharing, that would be great. If you can send a photo, I’ll put it in the blog. Mike the helper
August 21st, 2007 at 11:12 am
I would like to speak to Olive about the possibility of doing a radio interview. Can you let me know the best phone number to call.
Kind regards,
Kari Keenan
Producer - Weekend Afternoons
Radio 2UE, Sydney.
kari, I will contact you directly. Mike the Helper
August 21st, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Hello to you both. wonderful to have that visit with Eric. So interesting to read all the replies people are leaving. Lynne from Bulli.
Hi Lynne, I ‘ve been way so that’s why your comment was not approved . Thanks for visiting. Mike the Helper
August 23rd, 2007 at 11:15 pm
hello dear Ollivia. i am Dorijana Škoro from Croatia. Croatia is soo small and Croatia is on continetn Europe. I read sam yours post and i think that you arent too old. i am not gut in enlish soo i want to wish you that you live 1000000 years 107 i much for some grandma you can write me at meidenica_os@hotmail.com please thear oly read this comment and i forgot something go to my web page http://pricajprice.blog.hr if you want to coments me click komentiraj=komments or komentari=comments i dont have any grandma or grandpa soo can i call you grandma’??? from:dorijana škoro!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 25th, 2007 at 1:22 am
This is Kathryn from post #20. I never thought to say where I was from. I’m in sunny Florida USA. I’m almost exactly half Olive’s age, which I find amazing.
I am fascinated with stories of our recent past. I love practicing and learning many of the older skills of making things, fixing things, reusing things especially anything having to do with fabric or fibers; sewing, knitting, weaving, spinning etc. I am all the time finding books, patterns or pamphlets from the first half of the last century on how people made things. When I spread out a dress pattern form the 30’s with sketches on the envelope, use a crochet pattern from the ’20s with notes in the margin or pull out a do-it-yourself book from the 40’s I am struck with the thought of the people before me who used these resources to create things they needed. I can see the history; the depression, war years or prosperity that influenced the styles. I am amazed by the resiliency of people who not only made the things but were compelled to find some way to put beauty in them. When I read a crochet pattern for taking the rough twine from bales of hay and making a door mat, not just some plain thing but with a pretty pattern I am inspired.
I put Olive’s blog right in there with those kind of things. You are making the world more beautiful for all of us.
Thanks.
Kathryn
Kathryn, you really hit on something in your reply, the way people added beauty to utilitarian objects. I am going to talking about that with Olive soon, so thanks for that. Mike the helper.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:15 am
Yes Mike, I have noticed when talking with friends or family old enough to remember really hard times,or when looking at books, patterns, pamphlets etc. from the time period, there was a strong emphasis on putting beauty in utilitarian objects. Just for example in sewing patterns, the little style details that were more labor intensive are fascinating. I incorporate so many of them into everyday things I make to wear and get so many compliments. Today we may have the availability of buying 20 cheap shirts, but they are dull, boring even ugly, just mass produced pluff. I’m sure there are studies and books out there on the correlation between comparatively prosperous times and the lack of creativity we put into our everyday lives as compared to the harder times when people gathered around and coaxed beauty out of trash. When you think about how hard it was in those times to eke out a basic existence, why the extra effort to find some way to add the trim?
Kathryn (the one from Florida)
You raise a very interesting subject, Kathryn, one which resonates with a trip I’ve just made to Bega. But that will have to wait. I’ve not had time to tell Olllie yet, and Now I’m away for a week. Mike the helper.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Erin Ellington
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.
August 30th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Enjoyed your story Olive….and your singing….
judypatooote
Thanks, Judy. Mike the helper
August 30th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
I have just discovered this blog through someone else and now I am transfixed to it! I am amazed by Ollie and her recall is so truly incredible. How lucky she is to have you Mike so she can be heard around the world. I am in California(USA). I love seeing the videos but I’ve had to hold the laptop up to my ear to hear her…no I can hear great but even with the volume turned to max she doesn’t come in as clear as your voice does. don’t know if anyone mentioned that…I just don’t want to miss a thing!
I can’t wait to read more and more!
Please tell Ollie hello from the USA!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:31 am
I found this blog doing research for a Uni paper when I read your Culloden story. I just wanted to tell you that I was backpacking last year in Australia and I’ve worked on what i think is the same station you’ve been a cook on. It was then still owned by the Spence family and I have had a great time there. Keep writing, I really enjoy your blog.all the best
September 6th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Ollie, I have really enjoyed reading about your meeting with Eric. The pictures are wonderful. I hope to be able to meet him myself one day. Cheers!
September 8th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Lisa Dergan
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.