The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Each week, our writers Mary and Jimmy, bring their memories and reminiscences to life, in a variety
of columns that are written especially for your residents. Use these pages to encourage your
residents to relive their own memories. Ask questions, listen, reassure. Acknowledge each person’s
contribution, as this is a great opportunity to give quiet people a chance to express themselves.
Monday 14 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 14 March 1945 ~ Jasper Carrott
Background: Jasper Carrott is a successful all-round entertainer. His trade-mark is his Birmingham accent. He
was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Comedy Awards in 2008, and honorary doctorates from
Birmingham University and Aston University.
Questions: Do you like Jasper Carrott? Would you rather watch comedy programmes or drama? Who are your
favourite TV personalities? What do you like about them? Do you think women make good comedians? Is there
anything in your opinion that comedians shouldn’t joke about?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Pyrex kitchenware
Background: Pyrex was first marketed in 1915. It didn’t crack in the oven because it was a special kind of glass
that did not expand much when it got hot. After years of use it often began to look a bit cloudy. Pyrex also came
with quite a long guarantee and was very durable. It didn’t chip easily.
Questions: Did you have any Pyrex kitchenware? What was the most useful Pyrex item in your kitchen? What
else you get that was made of Pyrex? What sort of detergent or scouring powder did you use to get cooking
utensils clean? Where did you buy it?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Barometer
Background: Most people would have had a barometer like this one, usually hung on the wall of the hallway or in
a living room. Tapping the glass just undoes the inertia of the needle. Low pressure (the glass falling back) nearly
always means bad weather - rain, winds or storms.
Questions: Did you have a barometer on the wall? What did it look like? Did you or anyone in the household tap
it regularly? What is a barometer used for? In the story, Nan Stanley always reckons the glass is falling, giving bad
weather. Is Nan Stanley an optimist or a pessimist, do you think?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Thunderbox
Background: The examples of soldiers’ slang given in this letter are fairly mild – there were no doubt many more
colourful words and phrases used by men in the Forces or on National Service. ‘Thunderbox’ referred to the
noise of the water rushing out and sometimes noisy pipes refilling it.
Questions: Did any of the houses you have lived in have a ‘Thunderbox’ (a high level cistern)? Was it noisy?
What did people call an outside toilet in your area? When did modern low level toilets first become widely
available?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Flowery Quiz
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘Early One Morning’ by Pernell Roberts
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Tuesday 15 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 15 March 44BC ~ Julius Caesar assassinated
Background: Julius Caesar was a Roman statesman, writer and military man. He was the first Roman Emperor
to invade Britain, so the legacy of his rule had a big influence on British history and culture. He was murdered by
a group of rebellious senators, and civil war broke out. He was 55 when he died. He is believed to have had two
wives at the time of his death – Calpurnia and Cleopatra.
Questions: Did you learn about Julius Caesar and the Romans when you were at school? Did you like history
lessons? Which towns or cities in Britain were originally Roman settlements? [Bath, Colchester, Dorchester, Derby,
York, St Albans and many others]. Have you seen any Roman items in museums?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Woman’s Realm magazine
Background: Woman’s Realm started in 1958. It came out weekly, and it cost 4d when it was first introduced
but had gone up to 5d by the 1960s. It was at the cheaper end of the market. Glossy magazines like Vogue and
Good Housekeeping were thicker, came out monthly and were a lot more expensive. Woman’s Realm merged
with Woman’s Weekly in 2001.
Questions: Did you like reading magazines? Which ones did you like best? What did you like about them? How
often did you get them? Were they delivered to the house or did you buy one when you were out shopping? Did
any of the men in your family read magazines? Which ones?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ GPO Social Telegram
Background: As telephones in homes became more popular, telegrams were used less. As a marketing ploy, the
GPO (General Post Office) introduced social telegrams from the late 30s to the early 50s. The cost was 5 shillings
for up to 12 words - still a lot of money in those days. Aunty Mabel’s social telegram would not just have given
everyone a shock but would have been considered a waste of good money.
Questions: Do you remember the days of telegrams? Why did people send telegrams back then? Can you
remember you or your family receiving a telegram? If you want to talk about it, was it good or bad news? Why did
most people prefer the telephone to using telegrams for keeping in touch?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Gardening in March
Background: Keen gardeners are usually itching to get their green fingers in the soil again at this time of year.
Spring flowers and a few sunny days can make a great difference to how people feel. It’s the time to plant out
summer flowering bulbs. The good weather also encourages the weeds to get going again and it can be a neverending job to keep them at bay.
Questions: Were you a keen gardener? What did you like to grow? What jobs did you do in the garden at this
time of year? Did you have a compost heap? What was the soil like in your part of the country? Did you have a
greenhouse? What did you grow in it? Did you grow things in pots?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Gnashers!
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘Great Balls of Fire’ by Jerry Lee Lewis
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Wednesday 16 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 16 March 1971 ~ Campaign for Real Ale founded
Background: As well as campaigning for better beer, CAMRA also supports pubs as part of the community,
historic pubs and good pub design. It gives awards for good pubs and good beers. CAMRA is also interested in
locally produced beers. Centuries ago, when it was safer to drink beer than water, there were dozens of brewers
in every town.
Questions: Do you like beer? What were the best pubs in your area when you were a young adult? Did you go
there often? When you were a child, what did people think about women going to pubs? What is your favourite
‘tipple’? [alcoholic drink].
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Making Chelsea Buns
Background: Chelsea Bun recipes date back to the 17th century and were said to be a favourite of royalty.
Making bread dough can be very satisfying, and the smell of bread and similar products cooking is very seductive.
Chelsea Buns are usually glazed with sugar and water, making them sticky.
Questions: Do you like Chelsea Buns? Have you ever made them? Where could you buy them from? Have you
ever made your own bread? How did you activate the yeast? Did you use fresh or dried yeast? Which worked
better? Where did you get it from? What was it like?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Dundas Aqueduct, Wiltshire
Background: The canals in Britain were built mainly between 1760 and 1840. They helped move goods during
the Industrial Revolution. Later, the railways took on most of this role. Many people enjoy walking along canal tow
paths as well as taking canal boats for holidays or pleasure.
Questions: Do you enjoy walking along canal tow paths? Where have you walked? Which was the nearest canal
to where you lived? Which two towns or cities did it connect? Do you, like Jimmy, marvel at the engineering and
hard work that went into building such as the canals? What is the most impressive bridge or aqueduct you know?
What makes it so impressive?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Managing household finances
Background: In previous generations it was traditional for the wife to manage the housekeeping tasks and the
husband to manage the money. This often meant that widows found it hard to look after household finances, and
widowers were not very good at cooking and washing etc. Maybe since more people have lived independently
before they get married, both genders have to learn how to do both.
Questions: How did you share out tasks in your household? If you lived independently, which aspect did you find
easiest – managing the finances or the practical tasks around the house? Which household bills had to be paid
regularly? [Gas, electricity, rates or Council Tax, TV licence, rent or mortgage etc]
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Titter Ye Not!
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘The Girl That I Marry’ by Howard Keel
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Thursday 17 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 17 March 1921 ~ First Birth Control Clinic opens
Background: Dr Marie Stopes was a well known women’s rights campaigner and the author of a book on birth
control called ‘Married Love’. She recognised that poor families could not afford to support large numbers of
children. Her counterpart in USA was Margaret Sanger. They both believed that women should have control over
their own fertility.
Questions: What do you think is the ideal number of children in a family? What do you think of the comments
made by church leaders and doctors at the time that it would ‘lead to increased immorality’? When you were
young, where could you get information about such matters?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Changing hairstyles
Background: Some people find a hairstyle that suits them and stick with it for years. There are so many variables
– shape of your face, fine or thick hair, to dye or not to dye, straight or curly. Fashions change, and some styles
are much better suited to youngsters than adults of mature years. There are probably many people of pensionable
age who fancied a Mohican . . . . . . . . .
Questions: How long have you had your current hairstyle? When was the last time someone paid you a
compliment about your hair? Did you change your hairstyle often when you were younger? What sort of styles
suited you best? How did you keep it in shape? Do men change hairstyles often?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Dulux Paint
Background: Most people will have done painting inside or outside the house, though many, unlike Jimmy, will
have found it a chore rather than a pleasure. Jimmy finds enjoyment from doing a good job and can relax as he
brushes the gloss oil paint onto the wood.
Questions: Do you like painting? Is this artistic painting or painting round the house? Were you like Jimmy, did
you enjoy household painting? Or did you find it tedious and a chore? Were you good at household painting?
How would you go about painting a wooden door? Jimmy takes pride in a job well done. What job about the
house did you take most pride in?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Buying at an auction sale
Background: There are lots of salerooms all over the country, from the famous London auction houses like
Sotheby’s and Christie’s who sell objects for millions of pounds, to small local auctioneers where you can pick
up quite cheap household items. You can often view items before the sale and decide if you want to bid. The
auctioneer bangs a hammer on the block when the highest bid is reached.
Questions: Have you ever been to an auction sale? Where was it held? Did you buy anything? How did you feel
when you were bidding? What happens when there are no more bids? Have you ever sold anything at auction?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Irish Songs
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘California Here I Come’ by Al Jolson
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Friday 18 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 18 March 1893 ~ Wilfred Owen, poet
Background: Wilfred Owen joined the Army in October 1915, in the Artists’ Rifles Officers Training Corps. He
transferred to the Manchester Regiment in June 1916. He fell into a shell hole and was concussed, and after
being blown up by a trench mortar he was diagnosed as having shell-shock. He met Siegfried Sassoon when they
were patients at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh.
Questions: Do you like Wilfred Owen’s poetry? Do you like reading about the First World War? What sort of
poetry did you learn at school? Can you remember any of it? Who was your teacher? Did you have to read poetry,
recite it, or copy it out?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ A recipe for a good marriage
Background: There are several variations of this ‘recipe’ and it’s a sweet idea. Lots of people kept recipes from
magazines etc and I probably used mine acquired like this more than I used recipe books that I had bought.
Recipes from magazines often included illustrations, so you knew what the dish was supposed to look like, which
was useful.
Questions: Did you collect recipes and household tips? Where did you get them from? Where did you keep
them? How often did you use them? If you were writing a recipe for a good friendship, what might you substitute
for ‘tenderness’ and ‘romance’? [kindness? shared interests? fun? etc]
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Michael Foot
Background: Michael Foot was leader of the Labour Party from 1980 to 1983. He was from the left-wing of the
party. He was heavily defeated by Margaret Thatcher in the 1983 General Election. It was the worst result for the
Labour Party since before the Second World War, far worse than the recent defeats under Gordon Brown and Ed
Miliband. (Floating voter: not committed to just one party.)
Questions: Do you remember the politician, Michael Foot? What did you think of him when he became leader of
the Labour Party? Were you ever actively involved in politics? Who for? What did you do? Who, in your opinion,
was the greatest politician of your lifetime? Why do you think that?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Candlewick bedspreads and dressing gowns
Background: Candlewick was a fabric that was used almost exclusively for bedding and nightwear. It had a
woven base with tufts of cotton threads like pile on a rug. It was called candlewick because the tufts were made
of threads similar to the stuff used for candles. It was warm and soft to wear and could have patterns woven into
it.
Questions: Did you have any candlewick items in your home? Where did you get them from? How did you wash
them? How long did candlewick fabric last before it wore out? What other fabrics did you like for bedspreads and
dressing gowns?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : General Knowledge
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘Congratulations’ by Cliff Richard
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Saturday 19 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 19 March 1931 ~ Alka-Seltzer
Background: Alka-Seltzer was advertised as an antacid pain reliever. It was made by the Dr Miles Medicine
Company in Indiana USA. It was an ‘over the counter’ medicine. One of its most famous slogans featured in
adverts in the 1960s – ‘Plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is, plink plink, fizz fizz.’
Questions: Have you ever taken Alka-Seltzer? Did it work? What did it taste like? What do you think is the best
remedy for indigestion? Do you remember any of the Alka-Seltzer adverts? What were they like?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Household cleaning and elbow grease
Background: Commercially produced cleaning products are often expensive and they are often not very good
for the environment. Some of the old fashioned ‘home remedies’ like the ones mentioned in the column, are
cheaper and less polluting. Putting some ‘elbow grease’ into a task is an expression that means working hard at
it, especially polishing or cleaning.
Questions: What everyday products did you use for cleaning and other jobs around the home? Where did you
pick up tips about cleaning? Which commercially produced cleaning products did you think were most effective?
What is ‘elbow grease’?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Zam-Buk Liniment
Background: Zam-Buk is a soothing ointment for the skin that goes back to 1902. It was very common in
households up to the 1960s. It has recently been revived as a brand. Liniment, balm and embrocation are rather
old-fashioned words for any skin treatment like Zam-Buk.
Questions: Do you remember Zam-Buk? Did you or your family ever use it? What did you use it for? Do you use
some form of soothing skin ointment today? Who helps you put it on? Which word did you or your family use for
these sorts of treatments - ointment, balm, liniment or embrocation? Which of these words do you think sounds
best? What other words come to mind when you say that word?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Teach Yourself books
Background: Lots of people left school at 14 or 15 because family circumstances made it impossible for them
to continue. Night school, evening classes, the Workers Education Association and other charitable organisations
provided opportunities for people to study as adults. The Teach Yourself series and other self help books provided
opportunities for individuals to study at home.
Questions: Have you ever studied something independently, using a ‘Teach Yourself’ book or similar? What
subject did you study? How hard was it? Did it help you to get another job or change direction? Have you ever
been to evening classes? Where? Did you have to pay for them?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Farming Quiz
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘Baby, It’s Cold Outside’ by Bing Crosby
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The
Daily Sparkle
®
Carer’s Notes
14 – 20 March 2016
Sunday 20 March 2016
PAGE 1 ~ Today in History ~ 20 March 1974 ~ Kidnap attempt on Princess Anne
Background: Ian Ball blocked the path of Princess Anne’s car with his own car and then tried to attack her.
Fortunately she was protected by her bodyguard who had been in the car with her. All the same it must have been
a nasty experience. Several members of the Royal family have had similar incidents. One man even got into the
Queen’s bedroom. Not always fun being a Royal is it?
Questions: Do you remember reading about or hearing about this incident? Where did you usually get to know
what is in the news – from newspapers, or radio or television? How do you think Princess Anne felt when it
happened?
PAGE 1 ~ THE WAY WE WERE ~ (from Mary’s point of view) ~ Weighing ingredients or doing it by
guesswork?
Background: Some people measure ingredients out by the tablespoonful or cupful. Others weigh everything.
Really intuitive cooks can just tip the ingredients in by guesswork with equally successful results. Most cook books
give ingredients by weight. American measures in cupfuls are slightly different from ‘a full cup’ in English recipes.
Some use pounds and ounces, others use metric.
Questions: When you were cooking, did you weigh ingredients or guess? If you weighed them, what sort of
scales did you use? Which dishes did you cook most often? Did you have any recipes that gave the weight in
metric i.e grams not pounds and ounces? How did you convert it?
PAGE 2 ~ DO YOU REMEMBER ~ (from Jimmy’s point of view) ~ Turnips
Background: Older varieties of turnips, especially these smaller, white ones were often quite bitter. Many people
kept a large vegetable plot or an allotment, especially during and after the Second World War, when many foods
were rationed.
Questions: Are you keen on turnips? What about swedes? What is the difference between swedes and these
white turnips? [Swedes grow much larger, and are generally a little sweeter.] Did you or your family grow turnips?
What sort did you grow? Is there a particular vegetable that you were not keen on when you were young? Why
did you not like it? Have you taken to it since, or not?
PAGE 2 ~ OVER TO YOU ~ Travelling by bus
Background: Years ago, when fewer people had cars, many people travelled by bus to school, work, shops
and leisure. Bus companies had their own distinctive colours. London’s red buses are famous all over the world.
Buses used to have conductors selling the tickets whereas nowadays people buy their ticket from the driver.
Questions: How did you travel to school or work when you were young? What colour were the buses in your
area? Have you ever travelled by Tube/Underground? What is your preferred way of travelling: car, bus, bike or
train? What did you like about it?
PAGE 3 ~ Quiz : Cake and Produce Stall
PAGE 3 ~ Singalong : ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ by Gene Austin
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