Sometimes I’m a slow speaker- it takes me a while to form my
sentences, I really should only open my mouth when I’ve concluded the idea in
my head- but frustratingly I’m usually in a rush. My husband has a habit of finishing of my
sentences during these lapses- its very frustrating- at times I give up or get
angry. Many of the older people we
work with daily face having words put in their mouth and getting left out of
the conversation completely either with hearing loss or dementia’s.
My dad in his later years was very hard of hearing. For years he blamed me for
mumbling, or here’s the irony- speaking to fast. I did encourage him to get his
hearing tested. The Sainsbury’s food delivery would ring me sometimes,
explaining they had been ringing his door bell for ages, but there was no
reply- he blamed it on a faulty door bell. He was a very intelligent man, perhaps the denial was his
pride getting in the way, or fear of aging, that hearing loss would get worse
and next could be his eyes or memory…?
When he evenly got his hearing aid, its great promise of
opening up the world, a reduction in his isolation, was quickly replaced with frustration. Sadly it just
didn’t suit dad. Our main way of communicating- the phone, was as bad as ever-
conversations were at time frustrating for both of us.
Hearing loss is a great loss for all people in the family or
community.
May was born during WW2 in Oldham, she worked in a Cotton Mill as did her mother and father.
Men knocking on the door. Sort of sling round
their neck saying who they were and what they were about. Asking for money,
begging. Soldiers with half a leg, come back from the war. My mother always
said: "What you give, you get back." True. Remember gypsies selling
combs. Sikhs selling this and that. Little things stick in your mind. A turban
with a jewel.
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| Gypsy Caravans 1910. Images courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives |
Deborah:
Gypsies, they'd curse you.
Mutter at you.. If you didn't buy they'd chunner at you and mutter. Never quite
sure what they were saying.
Anne:
Gypsies coming around, my mother was petrified, she would always buy
something so they didn’t put a curse on her. Fearful my mum was, she'd
always a buy a piece of lucky heather or pegs they made. They wore a black head
scarves, a shawl, quite a few were Irish. Sometimes they would have a child
with them, a lady and a child. We never saw a man.
Pauline:
"Buy a piece of lucky
heather missus, or I'll put a curse on the house." I could never work out
if they were supposed to be cursing me or bringing luck! Heather or pegs. A
child with them, it was a pity thing.
 |
| Gypsy Caravans Manchester 1910. Images courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives |
Anne:
There was a fair next to the first school I worked in in Bury, the old
St Marie’s. we’d have gypsy/fairground children in the school, they didn’t get any
education, always moving on. They weren’t disruptive. Would stay for two weeks then move
onto the next area.
Bob:
It's a good
life, a hard life. Can get stuck there. Worked for grub a lot of times on
building sites. You get stuck on a site they might not pay you, but if you were
a good worker you always got fed. If the kids needed to go to school, we'd
move. The kids, we kept them at work. It's a hard life for kids, sleeping in
the back of vans or whatever. Meet different people, have a drink with them.
I'm too old now, give me 10 years I'll be in my box.
