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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 14, Issue 2 (May 1, 1939)
The Batchelor-Woman Retires
The Batchelor-Woman Retires
She Muses on Winter Leisure.
“The holiday period is over, and here am I, settling down in my new domesticity to the difficult winter season. As fast as I can I'm trying to grow into the skin of the home-loving women, but they've had such years of practice that I find it hard to catch up, much as I love my new little house. Even when I expand my usual interests, as I have always longed to do, there is still time left over—but I am not going to spend that time rashly. “Time” is my miser's treasure.
During the long months of winter I'm going to find out whether I can settle happily into this new life or whether I am better as a flat-dweller and a club-woman. We shall see.
So far, the only decisions I have made are in regard to the open air. Most of us women, especially the older ones who have not kept up an interest in winter games, look forward to hugging the fire and our knitting in hours of leisure. (Knitting is much better than a novel as an excuse for laziness). It's not such a pleasant prospect, for though socks and pullovers are admirable in their way, fire-hugging brings many evils, chief of which is the common cold. I prefer to buy sweaters readymade with the money I save on cough-cures, and, incidentally, on indigestion mixtures, for I do enjoy heavy winter food which doesn't agree with the inactive.
Refusing, therefore, to become a dyspeptic or a chimney-corner draught-detector, I have been looking over my heavy shoes. I have one pair, large and comfortable, which have been a winter boon for years, but which are almost too decrepit for public display. I shall wear them to the last, but meantime I shall haunt the shoe stores until I find just what I want in the way of a straight-lasted, broad-toed, firmly laced, sensible shoe.
Then, on winter afternoons when some of my friends are comforting themselves and their colds by fires, I shall be tramping the countryside—I hope. I have always been a gregarious soul, but I must try to cultivate a liking for solitude, and the ability to appreciate the starkness of winter-skies, bare hill-slopes and alien trees, without an ever-present companion as recipient for my thoughts. I have found it curiously difficult to pry woman friends from their household cares for any reason unconnected with bridge or merely social occasions. Therefore, lacking the “perfect friend,” I must be self-sufficient.
Another winter pastime of mine is to be gardening. Don't laugh! Even I know that gardening is for spring and summer. But I, who have never had time or opportunity, having suddenly acquired both, desire to use these treasures immediately. Therefore I have bought a gardening book and collected seedsmen's catalogues. I talk earnestly about my bare patch to friends who have made their deserts blossom
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and hope that I shall be able to do the same.
The heavy digging will be too much for me. I shall employ a man, who will turn vegetation under, or burn it, according to which is best. My land will lie fallow for a few months. Frost, I believe, is good for it. Then, with everything flattened out, and traces of earlier dabblers erased, I can plan things in my own amateurish fashion.
I shall spend hours this winter planning my own tiny landscape. I shall study to conserve my few trees and shrubs, to make full use of the sunny corner and of the shade near the gate. The drying green will have to stay as it is. Much as I long to use it for vegetables.
I must hurry and decide what hedge plant I want for shutting off the drive-way to the garage, as I have been advised to get that job done this month. I am afraid that hedge-planting, also, is a job I must delegate to others.
Maybe I should plant bulbs for spring, but I haven't yet decided where permanent beds are to be. I shall grow a few in bowls for the house.
I can, at least, get some seed-boxes, and, as the correct season arrives, sow those flowers which I love and have never grown before. Permanent places must be planned for the seedlings.
Altogether, my garden will be of an absorbing interest even during the winter. The mere planning of it will be as much fun as a season's hockey used to be.
Yes, what with walking and gardening, I'm certainly going to have an enjoyable winter.
page 60
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Health [sic: Heath] Notes.
Commonsense Hints for the Care of the Eyes.
No doubt most of us are ready for a period of relaxation after a year of hard work. Physically and mentally we relax, but often overlook the fact that our eyes have been subjected to consistent work during the greater part of the year.
Even in the holidays the eyes work hard viewing bright lights, new scenes, the special strains of holiday sports and of summer reading—anywhere and anytime regardless of the light glancing down on the reading matter.
Give the eyes a rest while on holiday. Don't frequent the cinema at night after a day in the sunshine, and don't read except if absolutely necessary for more than an hour at a time. Be fair to the eyes by allowing them to benefit by the holiday.
Winter is really the best time to take stock of the eyes, as the greater strain of working, reading, writing and living under artificial light begins.
If you have to screw up your eyes to read a newspaper, if they smart after reading, or you wake up in the morning with bloodshot eyes, lose no time before expert advice is obtained.
However, we can help ourselves by giving our eyes a fair chance, an adequate amount of sleep and avoidance of strain. Simple and effective eyewashes are easily obtainable. Here are a few:—
1. Boracic lotion solution of a teaspoon of boracic to a tumbler of warm water.
2. Put your head into cold water, keeping the eyes open.
3. Wash the eyes with a cotton wool pad dipped into a little warm water.
4. The old-fashioned remedy of green tea-leaves for sore and aching eyes is excellent.
The best way, however, of bathing the eyes themselves is by the eye-cup, rolling the head in a circle so that every part of the eye is reached.
General Health.
The following are a few rules for maintenance of health:—
1. Avoidance of molly-coddling.
2. Restrained and reasonable consumption of starch.
3. Banish excess of comfort.
4. Don't overlook necessity for exercise.
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Recipes.
A Dish of Peas.
Boil 2lbs. of peas till tender in salted boiling water, then drain thoroughly. Place in a saucepan, add a heaped tea-spoon of butter. Toss them lightly in this for 3 minutes, then add a shaking of powdered sugar, a good dust of ground cinnamon and just enough thick cream to make peas creamy. Make piping hot and serve on toast or by themselves.
Plum Pudding Sauce.
One cup butter, 3 cups sifted icing sugar, ½ cup brandy, 1 egg white, pinch of salt, 1 lemon, ½ cup port wine, 1 cup thick cream.
Beat butter to a cream with salt and sugar. Strain and stir in brandy and port wine gradually. Beat well, then fold in lightly whipped egg white and thickly whipped cream. Pile in and mound in a glass dish. Dust lightly with grated nutmeg and cinnamon, if liked. Serve at once.
Devilled Crayfish.
One crayfish, 2 teaspoons curry powder, 1 ½ tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon dry mustard, salt and pepper to taste, 2 teaspoons vinegar, water.
Remove meat from crayfish, mince and mix with mustard. Place in a saucepan. Add just enough water to prevent mixture browning. Boil up twice, stir in vinegar and butter. Boil up again. Serve at once.
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A scene at the New Plymouth railway station during the inauguration ceremony of the Wellington-New Plymouth railcar service.
Inset: The Government representative, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, speaking at the ceremony