It seems (C8 for days now) that there are two types of school students: those who have Globites and those wishing, nay, yearning, for one.
In reply to Ron Wheeler of Wagga Wagga and his wooden case, Annemarie Turner of Dapto would like to say, “Looxury! We had paper cases and we walked 20 miles to school, through snow, with …” No, hang on, that was Monty Python’s Yorkshiremen, what Annemarie would like to say is, “Luxury! When our family of seven arrived in Australia, my parents bought us compressed cardboard school cases. You spent every school day praying it wouldn’t rain as the cardboard school cases would permanently warp and let off a wet paper smell. How we coveted a Globite.”
Rob Hosking of Paddington adds, “I had the cheaper inferior Fordite case. Bad move: the Globites were indestructible.”
As is shown by the experiences of Bob Perry of Clovelly, who reports, “In the late 1950s we had our school sport in Centennial Park. During nesting season for the magpies we would put our Globite cases on our heads to save being dive-bombed by the birds. Those classmates foolish enough to try to brave it out often had a trip to nearby Eastern Suburbs hospital (now the site of Moriah College) to get stitched up from a direct hit.”
Then, remembering home sewing (C8 recently), Judy Bower of Burraneer says, “Even more recently than my own childhood, I have sat at my machine long into the night, creating pyjamas for my grandchildren from the ‘good’ sides of flannelette sheets.” Admirably thrifty, Judy.
Mary Foley of Wahroonga grew up using a treadle machine and was very surprised when she started treadling the first electric machine she tried, at high school. “The machine jumped and stuttered and thread went everywhere. The teacher had to patiently explain about not treadling, just keeping the foot gently down on the floor pedal. A whole new world of ease opened up, although with less exercise.”
In reply to Stephanie Edwards of Leichhardt (C8 Friday) about developing foresight, Caz Willis of Bowral would like to say, “Good thing Stephanie didn’t buy a nuclear bunker.” Chrissie Whitlock of Earlwood suggests that Stephanie return both the online purchases (umbrella and gumboots) and “perhaps the sun will keep shining and all will be well”. Crossed fingers, everyone, now that the sun has returned, Stephanie won’t be forced to take such drastic action.
Column8@smh.com.au
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