DS_2011.30.03

The Cedars Daily Sparkle

The Reminiscence Newspaper

TM

Wednesday 30th March 2011

TODAY IN HISTORY

THE WAY WE WERE

On 30th March, 1951, two Americans, Julius Rosenberg and his wife Ethel , appeared in Court in New York. They were charged with spying They had been passing information about the atomic bomb to the Russians. There were several others in the spy ring who were also charged.

I used to do such a lot of sewing years ago. I hardly do any dressmaking nowadays, but I enjoyed doing it for years. I kept my paper patterns for a long time. Some of the basic shapes and styles didn’t really go out of fashion. You could always keep up with the times by choosing an upto-date fabric or trimmings.

The Rosenbergs were found guilty and were executed a few years later. They were the only people to be executed for spying during the Cold War. People found the idea of Russia and America developing atomic bombs very frightening.

I made this circular skirt pattern up many times. It took a lot of fabric and it was fiendishly difficult to get the hem level. It made it worse if you used either very thick material, or fabric that was rather slippery.

DO YOU REMEMBER?

OVER TO YOU

hartleys

Dear Mary and Jack I’ve always liked old maps. Maps of the world are interesting because there are sometimes bits missing. Sometimes there are old names for countries, or boundaries in different places. I like old local maps too. My grandfather often spoke about the village where he grew up. Looking at an old map he had, next to one I had in the 1970s, you can see big changes. Some of the little lanes and alleyways have gone. The main road has been widened and diverted slightly through what used to be an old farm yard. The major landmarks - like the church and the manor house are still there, but the village school has gone.

I had a lovely watch that I think used to be called a ‘cocktail watch’. It’s still in my dressing table drawer, but I don’t use it now because the dial and numbers are too small for me to be able to see them properly. I used to wear it when I went out in the evening, or to smart occasions like a wedding. It had an oval face and Roman numerals. The edge was set with little diamante crystals that caught the light and sparkled. It was very pretty. Nowadays I wear a bigger plainer watch, but I’ll always keep my pretty cocktail watch. Best wishes from Margaret

PLACES QUIZ Today’s quiz is about places. 1. In which country did the Olympic Games originate? 2. What is the name of the river that runs through Paris? 3. In The Sound of Music, where did the Von Trapp family live?

4. Which country did Hitler invade, causing the Second World War? 5. What is the old name for Iran? 6. Which country is situated off the toe of Italy?

ANSWERS 1. Greece 3. Austria 5. Persia

2. Seine 4. Poland 6. Malta

SINGALONG Do you remember this nostalgic song that Vera Lynn used to sing? I saw the harbour - - - - - They only told me we were ------The same old - - - - - - - lights that once brought you to me I watched the harbour lights How could I help if tears were starting Goodbye to tender - - - - - beside the silv’ry - - I long to hold you near and kiss you just once - - - But you were on the ship and I was on the - - - - Now I know lonely nights For all the while my - - - - - is whisp’ring Some other harbour lights will steal your love from me

ANSWERS 1. lights 2. parting 3. me 4. harbour 5. nights 6. sea 7. more 8. shore 9. heart

The Daily Sparkle Carer’s Notes Wednesday, March 30th 2011 PAGE 1 • TODAY IN HISTORY• through the years • 30th March 1951 Background: Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg, and Julius Rosenberg were American Communists who were executed in 1953 for conspiracy to commit espionage. The charges related to passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Questions: Did you hear about the Rosenbergs spying activities at the time? Did you listen

to news on the radio? Which newspapers did you read? Did you read spy novels?

PAGE 1 • THE WAY WE WERE • from Mary’s point of view Paper Patterns Background: Lots of women used to make their own clothes, and their children’s clothes.

It was much cheaper than buying things readymade. Fabrics were plentiful and often inexpensive. All the other things you needed for dressmaking, like zips, buttons, thread and patterns were much cheaper and more widely available than they are now. Paper patterns could be used many times. Well known makes were McCalls, Butterick, Vogue, Simplicity. Questions: Did you like sewing? Did you make your own clothes? Did you make clothes for your children? What did you make? What make of patterns did you like best? Did you ever cut things out without using a pattern? Did anyone help you with the fitting when you were making something for yourself?

PAGE 2 • DO YOU REMEMBER? • from Jack’s point of view Maps Background: There have been maps for centuries but in the olden days they were often

quite inaccurate and not always to scale. Local maps are interesting because they show comparatively recent changes. Questions: Do you like looking at maps? Are you good at drawing maps eg. to give people directions? Are you good at reading maps? Have you ever used a compass?

PAGE 2 • OVER TO YOU • Readers’ Letters Cocktail Watch Background: Ladies watches were often small and prettily decorated. This meant that it

was not always easy to see the time. Fashions change, and recently big watches have been fashionable even for women. Questions: Do you wear a watch? What sort of face does it have? What sort of numerals? Is it easy to read the time on it? How old were you when you had your first watch? Was it a pretty watch or a practical watch? How long did you have it for before you got another one? Did you used to have an alarm clock? Were you able to tell more or less what time of day it was without a watch?

PAGE 3 • QUIZ • Places PAGE 3 • SINGALONG • Harbour Lights

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