I get a phone from call from her, can I help with her assignment.
She has to write about a 14 yr old girl who came to Oz as a convict.
So off we went into Anx and found poor Mary 14 in Dublin prison for larceny, found the ship she
was transported on to Van Dieman's Lane, put into the care of the Sister's of Mercy in Hobart, taught to sew, cook, lay a table, be polite, and got work in service as a scullery maid, gradually rising to kitchen maid.
She married a ticket of leave man....won't bore you with the rest.
School mates very impressed she even admitted that I helped her!!
Now we are awaiting her marks.
She was moaning how busy she was at her Pizza job Fri/Sat nights, as it was so hot, every man and his dog ordered take-away.
I told her how my Nan left school at 12, worked in a pickle factory, standing on a stool to reach a huge trough filled with cold water and peeled pickle onions all day. Her hands cracked and dry, the onion juice stinging.
Her reply "why didn't she quit?".....
