A day like today - cloudy, heavy, grim, really - always reminds me of exams. The Big, Serious Ones. The ones at the end. When you only went into school to sit them and then you came home again. I could walk quickly between the house and school in my little country town; but I still got wet.
I can remember starting a English Literature paper with my hair still slicked down into my eyes; my feet still squeaking in damp leather; wiping my fingers against my skirt to stop my pen from slipping. The invigilator took pity on us then; and worked her way quietly through the desks, setting a single sweet like a talisman on the top of each of our papers. Sometimes it's the little things you remember.
Ooh, starting to feel old. Better stop. I've found a different weather photo to scrapbook. One where I'm not quite so ancient. Can you guess which one is me?
18 comments:
As I sit here in the exams office at work (sneakily checking blogs instead of working!) I had to smile at your memories of exams. I shall suggest the sweet distribution to 'those above' and see what they say!
As for voting, well, if he's offering free apple crumble - he's the one for me!
Silly American here - did not "get" the vote for horsey sign from last week. Best of luck with your election today!
Rinda
Horsey gets my vote ~ if only I hadn't already voted!
I smiled when you said about this time of the year and always remembering the rain. I always remember hot & glorious weather when I left home in 1985.
Love that photo ~ are you the one on the right?
Hmmm, not sure about the limbo dancing....may have to reconsider my vote.
Apple crumble, apple crumble! Though my limbo dancing does suffer after too big a portion of crumble - and it wasn't great to start with...
My exams were always in hay fever season :-(
I'm sure I didn't see Horsey on my ballot paper otherwise he would have got my vote. Apple crumble for all would cure alot of this country's problems!
My exam memories are more of the "wish I'd revised" type and it was definitely warmer.
ooh could we add some blackberries to the crumble please, ur the one in blue i think looking very eliza doolittle with her parasol!!!!! hhmm exam memories............english literature o and a levels g8 fun. reading loads of g8 books and shakespearean plays........we did a winters tale, othello and i cant remember the other one. i developed my love for w h auden from that and also thomas hardy. i have voted and im sorry i didnt vote for horsey but he is definately worth considering for the future.
Jo xxxx
There is so much family resemblance here that it is hard to choose, but I think you are the little one. Am I right?
Fraid I can't guess....but you're both looking very cute.
Sorry Horsey....didn't vote early or often...did manage once though.
Hmmmmm. I did have my Vote Marmite posters in the window today but I'm thinking I could be swayed by apple crumble :P
Our local schools are in their week of "finals" and it's sunshiney and starting to get HOT.
I have a 50/50 chance, and I'm going to say that you are on the left. What an adorable photo.
And, I keep seeing "Horsey" on my UK friend's blog and I have no idea what this is. He seems to have a zany personality and is quite persistent. Is this a TV character?
I love the picture of you and,I'm thinking it must be, your sister?!? So cute and seasonal.
I've spent most of my life living in dry climates but still can see the definite connection between cloudy days and big tests. I'm a teacher and we only have two more weeks of school. :-)
Your posts always bring a smile to my face. What I remember most about exams is that it was the one time of year when the dress code was relaxed (now that's a sign of my age) EXCEPT at our house. My mother believed if you were dressed up, you did better so no jeans and sloppy shirts for us!
Love the photo! Our exams always seemed to take place when it was so hot and sunny outside. I can remember sitting in the exam hall and staring out of the window (for inspiration of course) and seeing all the non exam kids sitting on the grass outside and seeming to have fun!
I love the titles of your blog posts! They are always so imaginative, yet so to-the-point!
I would have voted for Horsey, only they didn't put him on the ballot paper.. I had to choose someone else instead (and Paddington Bear was missing too, so it was my 3rd choice!).
Loved the description of your exams. Ours were usually in May, but I don't remember pouring rain... it always seemed to be warm and sunny. We would sit outside after our morning exam, sunning ourselves while we did a quick swot-up for the afternoon!
Our 'O' Levels were during May and into June. It was roasting hot that year and I remember some girls suffering badly with hayfever - one poor girl had to leave part-way through her Geography exam because she was quite ill with it (she wanted to take A level Geog. so it was a biiig deal!). We were at least allowed to wear non-uniform clothes when we took A levels, so that was a bit better. It was very hot that year too...
I can't quite decide about the two little girls, but I think maybe you're the little one?
Horsey wasn't on our ballot paper...mores the pity!!! I took my O'levels in 1976 & it was a scorcher!! So, between exams I was to be found prostrate on the back lawn, sunning my bones!! They had less of a covering back then, so I wore an itsy bitsy teeny weeny etc etc etc!! Thanks for bringing back those memories!! Sigh!!! Oh...& I think you're the little one too!!
Your museum has a Dodo??? I'd love to see that! You'll have to sneak a photo of it for me! :D
Such a sweet photo, Sian - are you the little one? ( well I've got a 50:50 chance of being right!)
Yes, I remember exam time- it really doesn't seem so very long ago and yet here I am with a daughter who is at that stage already - AS levels started yesterday... how time flies.
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