James takes me down memory lane

Mr C and the boys dropped me at the bus stop while they risked the car up to Cragside. The garage said it would be ok for short distances. On the bus were a young couple and a toddler in a pushchair. When she threw her dummy on the floor a few times the mum gave her a packet of Quavers. When she’d finished she was given a bottle with a pink drink in it while the parents had a can of something each.

I got the broken tooth patched up again. To save time I didn’t have the painkiller injection as I thought if I rushed I’d get the 12 bus back instead of the 1. It fact it was 20 minutes late.

Phil arrived to help Mr C set up Plex with the Firestick for our TV. It all took a while. I had to leave to walk in the sudden downpour to get work done on my knee by the sports therapist. Meanwhile the boys decided to cut the other side of the hedge. They made a great job. My dad would have been pleased as they curved the top a bit as they thought it looked a “bit blocky” otherwise. Unfortunately they’d had to leave before I got back as #2 daughter is taking Thomas to the theatre to see a musical based on the Percy Jackson books he likes.

Last night to delay bedtime, James kept up the chat by asking about a photo of a boy I had on the shelf near his bed. I explained about Kae Sung and Ik Sung Chu, two Korean boys I taught in Hong Kong in the 60s. At that time I worked in a small private school which taught only in English. Children from other Asian countries came there rather than a Chinese school. These brothers had no English when they came so I sat them beside Korean boys who could already speak English. They were bright and so well- motivated. They asked if they could come to our flat on Saturday and Sunday mornings for further help.They had to learn to write English characters as well. Not long before we left the elder boy had applied to go KGV the prestigious English high school. He failed the entrance exam as he had no French though he did well in English and Maths. Mr C went to speak to the headteacher to explain how he’d learned to read and write English in such a short time and he was accepted. Later Ik was also accepted, they both went to university and eventually became engineers. We used to keep in touch and they sent presents to our girls till China took over Hong Kong and we never heard from them again. I often think of them. I showed James his writing which is on the blip, one of Ik and one of me at the back of the class with Kae Sung second from the right.

The filling has fallen out and I didn’t even eat on it.