Poor Little Thing

A deeply personal, moving and revealing memoir of "ordinary" people from the late 19th Century, through two World Wars to the beginning of the second Millennium. Betty Jones was born on Friday 13th January 1922; her father in 1866, her grandfather in 1808; her son in 1964. Therefore, three generations span almost 160 years. Her memories of her mother and grandmother, both "in service" to the gentry, vividly describe the time when women were merely "hewers of wood and drawers of water". Escape was only possible through marriage. "Why do people get married?" - Betty asked her mother. "To get a house" - came the unexpected reply. Betty's uses her fantastic memory along with diaries, photographs and letters dating back to the early 1900's together with memories of her parents. Later, her own diaries and records provide a wealth of insight into "real life". A huge number of friends and relatives are named; revelations are made; the truth might make uncomfortable reading for some descendants! Subjects include: - -Humble upbringings and illness before antibiotics.

-Home life before electricity and hot running water.

-The vast amount of written communication in the early twentieth century by people with limited education.

-The search for Love, marriage and becoming a mother in her forties.

-Caring for elderly parents before "social care" was invented.

-Loss - from the Great War to parents and husbands to friends and relatives.

-Working life to early retirement and the freedom to travel the world.

-Marriage again at 76 years old. Betty's life starts with money being scarce; a time of "make do and mend". Gaining a scholarship could provide a way out of "service" but the lack of a "dead language" means no University place. Teaching is the only career choice - not wanted - but what else? The search for love and adventures are restricted by the need to care for aging parents without "state handouts". The death of her parents is quickly followed by marriage and motherhood. Why not leave everyone and everything you know to start a guest house in the middle of no-where? Why not foster four unruly boys at the same time?Back to teaching to earn a pension and ensure a comfortable old age. Early retirement and Betty reaps the rewards for a lifetime of thriftiness. How did she manage to squeeze it all into just 94 years?