Of Interest to Women

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 220, 2 October 1940, Page 2

Of Interest to Women

A WOMAN'S DIARY AS A MAN WOULD WRITE IT Simply had to go to bed early Inst night because to-night the Moretalks are coming and they dc take such a long time to say goodb3 T e but was just washing the dishes when Mrs Gabfat came in to do hers and it appeared that the woman downstairs had left her husband and he was there with a lot of bottles and was making a lot of noise. It was awful, and Ave just had to talk it over and I| was as surprised as anything to find it was ■sifter 11 ' o'clock when Cecil; came in to ask where his supper was and ■did T want the light left on. To-day I was just tired out, and worse because the Moretalks rang to say they're bringing the Lessences, and the old cat reminded me in the cunningest way that the cream was sour in the puffs last time she camc. Now I'm too upset to sleep because that clever little mouse with the natural' wave started us talking politics and. oh dear, the trouble there was! I was just talking to Mr Lessence /about the man downstairs in the most harmless way possible when Daphne Gabfat said it ought to be stopped. Naturally, I thought shs meant what we meant, that is, Mr Lessence and, me, and I said oi course it should and that someone should do something about it, when Mrs Lessence chipped in to say she was surprised, and couldn't imagine how I came to be thinking such things. Then Mrs Gabfat put in her spoke and said with a lot of Isaids and she saids and wesaids and theysaids that they'd been talking about'the price of Daphne's new hat. As far as I could make it out Daphne said she liked the look of Mr Coates and Mrs Lessence said she thought Mr Jones looked sortofnice and it was here that Daphne said it ought to be stopped. What she meant 1 do not know and can't imagine, but perhaps she w r as talking about whal Mrs Tinselbutton and Miss Fl'urtlewoppen were saying in the corner near the servery where they always sit becauuse it's the only space near there for the dumb Avaiter. I know I only sorted this out afterwards, remembering Avhat I'd "been hearing Avhile Mr Lessence talked about how a man he kneAV had once drunk himself out of a perfectly good job and all that time all< I could think Aval, that I had a right to my opinions and Mrs Lessence could be surprised if she liked but it made no difference. Of course I didn't put it just like that but every body took it the wrong Avay and there Avas such, a long silence that I had to go out and bIoAV my nose and put the kettle on.. When I came back poor Miss FKurtleAvoppen Avas red in the face and I just heard the tail end of Mrs Gabfat muttering something about the fifth column and it appears that Miss FlurtleAA'oppen, Avho has a funny sounding name, had said that she wouldn't' join the seAving party the -next afternoon (for the troops) because old Mrs Staystight (who runs them) had tricked them all into buying the avool in a lump sum from the one shop and she (Miss Flurtl'ewoppen) had found out that Mrs, Staystight's husband really OAvned the shop and had sacked one of his miserably paid girls because he heard her talking about his nose_(it'sS a little Roman). Noav Miss F. didn't knoAV, but I did, that Mrs Gabfat was a particular friend of Mrs Staystight and that it was her husband Avho OAvned the shoi* and Mr Staystight Avas just the manager, and inany.case Mr Gabfat had that sort of nose too. All I could do in the circumstances Avas pray for the kettle to hurry. Mrs Gabfat Avouldn't touch the cream puffs so I made sure Miss F had plenty although that Lessence man kept the plate close by him pretending to be polite and pass them round but he only passed the plate Avhen everybody had their mouths fuJL All the time-they cast glances at poor Miss FurleAVoppen and Miss! Tinselbutton moved over to sit beside the natural AvaA*e and they all left early, except Miss F. who came back when they'd gone and positively -Avept OA-er my neAV tweed skirt and had to be aslked to stay for tea. Then when Cecil' came home from the office for his meal what did he do but start reading in the

paper about the fifth column am Miss F wept again on the tableclotl and Cecil didn't know what it wa: about and lost his temper and lef! the room, and now lie's sulking ii the living-room with the crossword puzzle and I think I'Ui have just t quiet weep myself .... YOUR WALK—HOW TO IMPROVE IT Get the habit of taking a daily walk. Pull in your middle section Shoulders back. Step out briskly and firmly. Hum a little tune and note the improvement after several weeks. There is such distinction and dignity in a good carriage and correcl posture. How many mature women walk well? The secret of tvalking gracefully and having good carriage lies in posture and balance. If you have been neglected—just allowed yourself to "clump" along —make up your mind now,, this minute, that you are going to improve. Push back the furniture, turn ,or the radio, walk around the room keeping time to the music. See! You are afraid to step out firmly. That middle-aged "waddle" comes from little unbalanced steps.. Shift your weight forward, pull in your middle section. Lift the bosom by putting the shoulders back. Tuck in ywuy buttocks. Now walk. One, tAVo, three! Now relax! Take a look in the mirror. See that old slumped look. Just think, you have actually beer walking that way. The Pack of Cards. You have heard of the old trick of tossing a pack of playing cards high in the air, then stooping, to pick them up, every last one! This limbers your entire body. Yoiur knees will creak,/ you will fall breathless in a chair, if you have just been sitting about or walking in a sloppy fashion. Get the habit of taking a daily wal ! k. List the things you need and walk to the shops., Think of how you are balancing. Walk, dont shuffle. Keep time to a little tune. Soon it will become natural to walk with rhythm! To improve your carriage takes a little effort and real determination, but you can do it! It will take years off your age, your clothes will look better, you will feel better! Get Out of the Slump. When you sag mentally j-ou sag physically. Get out of the slump! Think about how you are to improve. You can get rid of that dowager's hump, that fatty accumulation at, the back of the neck. Shoulders up, chin up, bosom high. These words must be in your consciousness every minute. One very clever mature Avoman whom I knoAV sits at her desk many hours of the day. She suddenly realised she Avas letting herself go. Her shoulders were doA\ r n. head drooping. She hung a mirror over her desk. When she seated herself she assumed correct posture. Every 1 time she looked up she could slee hoAV she looked. She has improved Avouderfully, even her mental attitude. Think how you must look Avlien stepping up on a bus. Practise stepping up. Right foot first, balance your Aveight, then the left foot., AHAvays grasp the handle of the Mi's Avith the right hand. Don't "back out" of a bus. Face the door, step out briskly with the right foot first. Improve your balance and your posture Avill improve almost immediately. Truly then it can be said: "She Avalks in beautyf" PATRIOTIC JEWELS Red, AAdiite and blue gems are incorporated in many Avar-time jewellery designs, says an Rnglish exchange. Ganets, amethysts, sapphires, zircons, and brilliants are used to make little Union Jack brooches and Tricolour badges. Pow der compacts and cigarette cases dainty clasps made of garnets, brilliants and zircons in the form of a red, Avhite and blu6 rose. Flag shaped ear-rings are also made of these stones set in platinum.