Sunday 11 March 2012

Old Friends

Old Friends

I visited my oldest friend this week. Jan and I started school together in September 1959, in Mrs Braithwaites’ class. We were in the same class all through primary school and then went to the same secondary school. We did some of the same “O” levels, and then were in 2 “A” level classes together. Then we both headed north from London, me to Manchester and Jan to Salford, so it was easy to keep in touch. Jan became a physiotherapist and I became a teacher. I introduced her to Mick, a teacher friend, and they married......must be 32 years ago now. I was one of their bridesmaids, and we have remained friends ever since. ( Jan and Mick’s daughter was one of my bridesmaids).
There have been some periods when we only saw each other once or twice a year but when my daughter was very young, I made a weekly journey across the Pennines, from Yorkshire to Lancashire to see her. It was Jan who helped keep me sane as I learned how to be a mother at the ancient age of 37.
So, you get the picture, we are each others’ oldest friends. It’s one of those relationships where you just pick up where you left off.
When I returned from my visit  last week, thinking about all the times we have known each other, I dug out an old school diary. The extract in the photo is from 6th July 1962. Jan and I were 7. Clearly our teacher ( Mrs Childs) wasn’t bothered about calling “Indians” Native Americans at that stage, and she did give me a gold star for my work ( that’s on the next page ). I can't imagine us climbing up onto the sides of the swing now....but I can remember it well. I must send this to her, and see if she remembers it too.

This is a picture that Jan's daughter, Kirsty, drew for me when I was looking to move to Yorkshire, in 1988.  Kirsty said this was the house I should  buy. Kirsty would have been 7, the same age I was when I made that diary entry back in 1962..... no doubt about it..... her artistic abilities were much better than mine. I dont think I can blame it on only having wax crayons in 1962 and Kirsty having a full set of felt tip pens.
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19 comments:

  1. ArtyZen11 March 2012 at 16:38

    This is beautiful Janice. How I envy you having this sort of memorabilia! My mother was an early minimalist - she threw everything out, heartless beast! I have one or two books from Junior High School but nothing from so far back. And wonderful to have a friend for so long - really special. My best friend harks back to 1971 but no less special for that! Axxx

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  2. Janice11 March 2012 at 17:02

    Thanks Annie, I certainly do have my mother to thank for preserving the school diary. Knowing how delighted I am to still have it, along with other bits and pieces that she kept, I have had great troubles deciding what to preserve for Jess. I think, somehow, scanning art work and keeping it on some sensible media storage system beats having floor to ceiling cupboards stuffed with the originals.

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  3. Kathy12 March 2012 at 10:40

    I really loved this, Janice, right down to the childish writing which is just like the way I and my children were taught to write. Like Annie I don't have anything other than photos from so far back in my childhood, but I have kept some of our children's early efforts in case they are interested one day.

    You are very lucky to have kept such a good friend for so long. I'm still in touch with one grammar school friend, but only at Christmas, but one of my sisters still goes on holiday with her oldest friend from school days. My closest friends date from my university years and since.

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    1. Janice12 March 2012 at 14:28

      Thanks Perpetua, It is strange to think Jan and I have been friends for 52 of our 57 years. We did have some wonderful teenage arguments though, but always forgave each other in the end. Having such a long shared past is important sometimes, and it is something I relish and enjoy. J.

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  4. lifeonthecutoff12 March 2012 at 13:58

    What treasures you have here, Janice; your journal entry, Kristy's picture, and the long, enduring friendship between you and Jan.

    My mother did keep some things from my childhood, and I have done the same with our girls, but, you can only keep so much for so long and then the weeding out begins. I've passed a few things on now to the girls, and will do so slowly through time, but what I will keep, as I know you will as well, are all those memories that are stored in one's heart.

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    1. Janice12 March 2012 at 14:31

      I suppose we do have the advantage over our mothers when it comes to the weeding out process, in that we can scan precious things and preserve them digitally. I have good intentions regarding my next weeding out session.....and then presenting my daughter with a CD or memory stick or something, with all her art work age 2 -10, perfectly preserved. However, you are right, the important stuff is so imprinted, you dont need the physical reminders. J.

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  5. Ayak12 March 2012 at 16:18

    I think it's wonderful that you still have these things from your childhood. Such beautiful memories.

    Lovely post Janice.

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    1. Janice12 March 2012 at 17:09

      Thanks Ayak, I suspect with all the moving about you have done over recent years, some things you might like to have kept hold of for a little longer, have been "rationalised" away. I think every time I have moved, that is what has happened. Sometimes that is great, and having space is good !

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  6. Janice12 March 2012 at 17:06

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Jan13 March 2012 at 19:36

    Is your friend Jan a Janice too? I'm a Janice and I have a friend of the same name, although we don't go back nearly as far as you and yours!

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  8. Janice13 March 2012 at 22:09

    Hi Jan, no my friend Jan is a Janine, although she has always been Jan to everyone. I am only Jan to a couple of people ( Jan being one of them )...otherwise I've always been Janice.

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  9. Erica (Irene)15 March 2012 at 12:40

    This was such a nice post.....great memories. I too have saved my daughter's things when she was lil'. I too still have a very good friend from the 1st grade and we stil see each other. Both of us married to men from Europe, she from Switzerland and me from Turkey so we get to visit each other then when we are there.
    Such nice memories to keep.

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  10. Janice15 March 2012 at 13:47

    Thanks Erica (Irene) ..interesting how friends lives sometimes run in parallel too....1st grade friends both marrying Europeans. J

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  11. Kathy16 March 2012 at 00:04

    Janice, if you'd like to pop across to my blog, I have something for you. :-)

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    1. Janice16 March 2012 at 11:35

      Thank you so much Perpetua. You have really put a smile on my face thismorning. J.

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  12. The Broad16 March 2012 at 11:19

    Thanks to Perpetua I have discovered your lovely blog! I, too, share my time between France (the Lot) and the UK (Southport, Lancashire or Merseyside, depending on your point of view!) I'm looking forward to reading more of your posts.

    I have friends from my childhood -- four of us from the age of 10! No matter how long between seeing each other -- and sometimes that is quite a long period -- when we get together it's like yesterday
    !

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    1. Janice16 March 2012 at 11:34

      Thanks for calling in ! It was lovely of Perpetua to mention me. I am looking forward to this living in 2 places, and as we only completed on the house in France last September, it all feels very new and exciting. I shall look forward to seeing how you manage it. I'm also delighted to have another new "friend" through blogging, to go alongside those valued old ones. best wishes, Janice

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  13. Rosemary18 March 2012 at 10:28

    I have also discovered your blog through Perpetua, who I have also just discovered due to Blogger being so difficult. Good things can come out of adversity. Look forward to following your adventures.

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  14. Janice18 March 2012 at 11:33

    Hello Rosemary, thanks for commenting, and I am sure you will love following Perpetua. I have called in at your blog and love your spectacular photos. You can expect me to call again . best wishes Janice

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