Written by Gordon Aspey
22 December 2018
Profound Statements
I was enjoying a cup of tea and a chocolate Wagon Wheel (a real treat in the 1950’s) in a Transport Cafe somewhere in Somerset. There was a small Christmas tree with fairy lights beside the door and coloured paper decorations festooned the walls with rousing background music of Christmas carols.
My lady companion on a working holiday from France was hoping to improve her English at the same time. Despite our fairly brief acquaintance she referred to me as ‘Cheri’ and my lack of French led me to believe it was short for cherry. I presumed it had something to do with my frequent blushes.
She also called Haystacks, Grass stacks, which I thought rather odd.
The memory lingers around a profound statement she made as I was fumbling for change to pay the bill. She lowered her voice and announced in her stilted English ‘you know I was de only girl left in de Casablanca.’
I remember her distinct look of pain at my lack lustre reaction, a casual nod of the head. ‘Really’ I said. She clammed up after that and went into a bit of a sulk. Now I had no reason to doubt her statement but I knew nothing about Casablanca and its inhabitants. I didn’t have much idea where it was on the Atlas and it wasn’t nudging my interest levels, it was off my radar. On reflection I’m annoyed at my ignorance and lack of grace. This event must have been a hugely unique situation for her and seventy years later I still regret not showing more interest. How could such a situation have arisen? My best guess, it was something to do with the war but I will never know.
I had a similar experience recently when discussing Christmas with the heating engineer servicing our boiler.’ I expect you are looking forward to Christmas.’ I said.
‘Nar I it’s the same every year going to the in-laws, I’m no fan of this time of year, it’s all expense, too commercialised.’
‘I usually finish up in the bloody Dog House. ‘
‘Hmm, do you know, I said in lowered tones ‘I spent my first Christmas in the workhouse, I was only 2 days old!’
‘Is that right?’ he said in a polite voice as he rummaged in his tool box.
I then realised he was too young to have any knowledge about workhouses; I could have said Christmas in The Whitehouse and it wouldn’t have made much difference it was right off his radar.
Although I believe like the French girl my experience is very unique, I would be surprised if you could count on one hand how many individuals in the whole country with the same experience. The reality is many of us may recall some unique feature about our lives but for those without any knowledge it is of little interest. The unique event becomes a mild bragging memory.
Our great grandson will be joining us for Christmas dinner and I can’t help wondering about the unique events that will unravel for him and his children in the next seventy years. He is unlikely to remember this Christmas (he’s only 14 months old) and he can’t talk at the present. Although he has his moments when he gabbles away like a Greens Party spokesperson nursing a bee sting in the bottom. Maybe with the rapidly advancing technology of Artificial Intelligence his children may think speech and memory are functions surplus to requirements.