SMITH  HODGSON  FAMILY  BOOK

Cath with spirit of Joan.

Cath with spirit of Joan, 2006.

Chris: Cath and I were searching for tigers in the jungle of Rajistan. I called out something to her and Mum was there. She never liked missing out on adventures! I think the forest rangers had a roar machine.

Cath:: After Joan had been widowed, I took her on several holidays to Europe and New Zealand. She died in 2004 so then I took Chris on holidays to Europe, the Middle East and India. It was while we were camel trekking in India that Chris had a vision of Joan. I didn't feel her presence but I am not as psychic as Chris.

Caroline washing up.

Caroline washing up, 1961.

Chris: There was once a beautiful princess Caroline who lived with her two ugly sisters at 56 Cherry Tree Walk. Caroline had previously met a friend from gay Paris, Prince Jerome Bessac. She really fell for his charms, but she had to find a way to ensnare him. By the luck of the gods her sisters were told to tell her that if she did all the Sunday roast washing up by herself she would win the handsome French man. So she did it all and found out that the ugly sisters told porky pies!!!

Cath: 56 Cherry Tree Walk was our address in Kent. 'Porky pies' is rhyming slang for lies

Cath with baby Caroline.

Cath with baby Caroline, 1955.

Chris: Catherine aged 6 pushed Carol in the pram and also walked Bruin the dog while pointing her toe.

Cath: I was given almost total responsibility for my baby sister Caroline born in 1955. I was sent to do the weekly shopping, going to four or five shops, loading up the pram and returning with the right change. I had been taking ballet lessons from the age of three and it amused Chris that I was always willing to perform.

Chris's first Admirer.

Chris's first Admirer, 1956.

Chris: The curious case of Fatty Freeman, was a friend of my brother Michael. All of a sudden he started to meet me on my way home from school with a stupid embarrassed smile on his face. Knowing looks and fat wet lips. It was quite awful. When I eventually asked my brother he laughed and said he had told Fatty that I was keen on him but shy. Michael could get us together if Fatty passed on all his comics every week!!!

Кэт: Cath: This would have been in 1956 when our brother was 10 and Chris was 16. Michael was pimping his older sister shamelessly.

Chris's first holiday job

Chris's first holiday job, 1955.

Chris: When I was 15, I got a holiday job at a holiday camp Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight. I worked in the cafe in the main hall serving teas, coffees etc. What the advert didn't mention was that the floor of the cafe had to be washed by hand before work began. No mops - a real waste of energy. I must have been so naive then. I was asked to get some stuffing from one of the chefs in the kitchen (there were loads of them) and yes all the chefs screamed with laughter and said they all wanted to stuff! I remember running, running back across the compound to the safety of the cafe, horrified. Working in the cafe I was shocked to see how the holiday makers were treated. On a very loud tannoy a voice would humiliate and abuse any unhappy campers. Campers were made to do forfeits if they were late but no one complained. It seemed that this was their fun holiday.

Cath: In the 1950s, holiday camps were popular in seaside towns, the most famous being Butlins. Our father never took us to one as he thought they were too working class. The humour was very sexist and misogynistic. Stuffing as in stuffing a turkey before roasting it. Also used as a euphemism for sexual intercourse.