Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-ay: The Diaries of Mary Ann Wennell (Polly) in Grantham

Tipperary House in Grantham 1894

www.tipperaryhouse.co.uk

a story from the heart and beyond

Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-ay

This is a private creative project from Dr. Michael G Millett outside of his main work as a psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, meta physicist and counsellor now based in Grantham in Lincolnshire.
Everything here carries full copyright © by Dr. Michael G Millett, Elevated Therapy ®. All rights reserved.
May not be used, copied or redistributed by anyone in any manner whatsoever.

Wednesday August 29th, 1894

Take me "Home"

7:30am – Got up.

Down back stairs into the kitchen, pulled up the blind and opened the window.
A nice day again, but very warm and close so early. Feels like thunder in the air.

Got water from the pump in the bucket. Cleaned the range and fireplace. Breakfast.

Master James looked very relaxed this morning reading his usual papers again and was talking about jellyfish falling from the sky over in Bath. Well, I never !
He brought up George Moore, the Irish novelist from County Mayo who has just published another book called “Esther Waters” and he was in the paper again.

Master James said the book was a story set in today`s times in England about a young, religious and "fallen woman" from a poor family who, while working as a kitchen maid, is seduced by a footman, becomes pregnant, is deserted by him, and against all odds decides to raise her baby boy as a single woman.
I always say that it`s the courage to continue that counts.

She becomes a wet nurse by leaving her baby with a baby farmer and the story unfolds. Master James said the red-haired George Moore is the first great modern Irish and British novelist.
I must read that book - sounds very interesting. Curiosity raises interest in all things, I always say. I`ll finish Walter Scott`s book, "The Heart of Midlothian" first though.
I don`t want to plan for adventures before finishing the adventure that`s at hand.

Master James said George`s father even served as an Independent Member of Parliament for Mayo in the House of Commons until `57.
How interesting is that ? People interest me and that makes me life even more interesting. Everything is full of rich treasures, interesting souls and life stories.
We should always follow our destiny and accept it, no matter where it leads us, I always say.

I have heard some say that George Moore is deeply in love with the society hostess, Emerald Burke, but she is now seeing Bache Cunard, from the shipping people just down the road from here in Nevill Holt Hall. That is most interesting too. It is all on our doorstep here in Grantham !
I didn`t mention it to Master James in case he didn`t know. Discretion is more important than intelligence, I always say.

I remember reading a George Moore book “A Drama in Muslin” a couple of years back about the marriage trade in Anglo-Irish society and suggestions of same-sex relationships among the unmarried daughters of the gentry. Quite shocked me it did at the time but soon realised nature is beyond all teaching. Knowledge makes us humble and ignorance makes us proud. Therefore, knowledge is the best any day !
These selective literalists and a proportion of unworthy folk of varying man-written books do make me mad, they do. Sexuality is a discovery, not a sin nor a choice.

Those righteous folk need a broader view of spirituality and the human experience. I mentioned this point but Master James howled when I said it and he said it would take a while for things to change.
I always thought it were right queer that the Labouchere Amendment to the Criminal Law Amendment Bill some years ago now, never mentioned same-sex relationships between women only men.
Maybe it never crossed Henry Labouchere`s mind because too much eating and drinking keep men from thinking as me Mam always said. I howled then too, Master James and I both did now.

More likely, ol` Henry was fearful of drawing women’s attention to its existence ! When there is in elephant in the room, introduce him or her, I always say.

Relationships between people are like shoes..... find a pair that fit you and are comfortable, but don't tell other people what shoes they should wear or insist others wear your shoes.
It doesn`t pick your pocket or break your leg to let others wear their shoes while you wear yours.

Master James then went on to read about Lottie Collins, who`s back from America and her great song, ‘Tar-ra-ra-boom-der-ay’.
It`s a major hit now since the Tivoli in London where she launches into the skirt dance. Her legs flashing in high-kicking Can-Can style steps, revealing her stockings held up by sparkling suspenders.
Master James said this always sends the audience wild. I should think it does and probably leaves poor Lottie exhausted. I`d say. Exciting though !
I do like the song ‘Tar-ra-ra-boom-der-ay’, I have to say. Lots of energy to it and energy creates energy.

Love the Folies Bergère and the American dancer Loie Fuller and her Fire Dance as well.
Loie, I heard, is very close with Princess Marie of Edinburgh, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria who only married Prince Ferdinand of Romania last year.
Love these ‘Naughty Nineties’. It`s all about having a good time creatively, following your inner moonlight, expressing and being yourself and nothing more.
I didn`t say that to Master James either.
Aye, don`t want him to get the wrong idea, mind.

11:00am – Archibald and young Tim went to play cricket up Slate Mill Park along the river near the public swimming pool with some friends. Nice boys from here in New Somerby they were.
They were still excited about the 2 day cricket match between Lincolnshire and Norfolk over in Norfolk a few weeks back where the match was drawn.
They told me while they were up in Slate Mill Park, a big black cloud descended and it rained so much and there were thunder and lightening. It were the same here on Dudley Road.
They sheltered under a tree they told me, even though they know they are not supposed to. When thunder roars, go indoors, I always say.
Me Mam always said to stay inside until 30 minutes after you hear the last clap of thunder. Do not shelter under trees. You are not safe anywhere outside with lightening.
There was only a case over in Gonerby a while back where a little lass were killed sheltering under a tree from thunder and lightening. Bless her!

Archibald and young Tim told me while they were sheltering under the tree, they heard a meowing and after a hunt in the grass and undergrowth they found the little black kitten.
Archibald put the kitten in his pocket and in between the heavy showers they ran home with the other boys and their cricket bats.
I was pleased to see them racing up the drive-in and they ran through the door dripping wet and very excited. I wondered what all the commotion was about and the excitement too.
They wanted to show me and their Mam, Mrs Chapman this little black kitten.
I told them `never mind` and get those wet clothes off or they`ll get their death of cold. I held this little kitten while they ran upstairs to change. Poor little mite, all wet and meowing.
What a lovely little thing entirely, it is.

I recited the Nursery Rhyme:

"Pussycat pussycat, where have you been?"

"I've been up to London to visit the Queen."

"Pussycat pussycat, what did you there?"

"I frightened a little mouse under her chair"

"MEOWW!"

I made them a hot drink and the boys came back into the kitchen worried about what their Mam would say.
Young Tim asked if we could keep the little kitten. Well, I told them it`s not for me to say. I do know that when they are back to school in a couple of weeks, it`ll be me looking after this kitten.
Well, I don`t mind. The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way people treat animals, I always say.
The boys decided to call the kitten Blackie for now.
I told them we`ll find a nicer name in time, we will. One more fitting for it.
Names are very important and are something that we truly own. They don't get old and die and they can't be taken from us, I always say. Names are wholly ours.
We`ll find a grand name for Blackie, so we will.

Mrs Chapman said later that Blackie can stay until the weather settles.
We were all so pleased and relieved too, we were. Mrs Chapman has a good heart, Bless her. We hope now the weather doesn`t settle for a while, quite a long while !

3:00pm – In the afternoon, I made Grantham Gingerbread Biscuits for later. Folks say me Gingerbread Biscuits are even nicer than Halls Grantham Gingerbread up the High Street.
Do pride meself on me Grantham Gingerbread Biscuits.

Grantham Gingerbread
In 1740, William Eggleston, a baker who had moved from the family business in Newark on Trent in Nottinghamshire to Grantham in Lincolnshire, had been making Grantham Whetstones, a flat hard biscuit, a "biscuit for travellers," because of the preservative effects of saltpetre. It was the earliest form of biscuit recorded as offered for sale.
But William made an interesting mistake when mixing his ingredients, and accidentally stumbled across the formula for gingerbread and the Grantham gingerbread was born.

7:00pm – Served dinner of Fried Soles with melted butter with Yorkshire Relish and Leeks with Lemon. We had the Gingerbread Biscuits afterwards.
Everone said it was most nice. I said well, every pea helps to fill the peck, so it does.
Master James said after dinner, he was thinking of joining the new Golf Club on Harrowby Hill. He went up to visit earlier and came back most impressed.
And he met the Lord Mayor there and that nice gentleman from Beaconfield House.

Archibald and young Tim were playing with Blackie who was beginning to get used to us all, and they took her upstairs later to sleep in one of the boy`s bed chambers.
I`ll find out tomorrow – where.

11:00pm – Going to sleep thinking about our new household member for now, Little Blackie and thinking of the Folies Bergère and the Moulin Rouge and yes – Paris and the Can-Can dance.
Thinking there should also be a men`s Can-Can dance to liberate them more and put them in touch with their `other side` !

I`ll leave Walter Scott where he is tonight - in the bedside drawer.

La Belle Époque. Ooh La La !

A sweet tuxedo girl you see

A queen of swell society

Fond of fun as fond can be

When it's on the strict Q.T.

I'm not too young, I'm not too old

Not too timid, not too bold

Just the kind you'd like to hold

Just the kind for sport I'm told.

Ta-ra-ra Boom-der-ay!

POLLY`S DIARIES RECIPE

Polly`s Grantham Gingerbread Biscuits