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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: River Tyne Lass on Monday 05 April 21 07:32 BST (UK)
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http://www.massobs.org.uk/write-for-us/12th-may
I know it is still more than a month away yet but I thought I would ask RootsChatters if they would like to consider writing a one day diary for Mass Observation on May 12 2021? Last year they received over 5,000 entries and they write that they were 'touched' at how so many had been willing to share their stories.
Mass Observation diaries started in 1937. Some of the ones from the WW2 period were later made into books - some of you may be aware of the Nella Last diaries and the superb drama 'Housewife, 49' which starred the wonderful Victoria Wood in the role of Nella.
I think this year as we have all just lived through another type of 'war' on covid, these one day diaries will be of particular historical significance for future generations. This year we are invited not only to share our day but we can also share our reflections on the year gone and our thoughts of the future. Will you do your bit?
Thank you for reading this.
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Definitely. I have done it in previous years and I am glad that you have put out a reminder.
Jackie
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I shall be taking part again. 12th May is my sisters birthday, she's my only sibling and I haven't seen her since just before the first lockdown :'(.
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I shall be doing the diary again this year - hopefully it can't be much more of a none-event than last year's was, but then I suppose it reflects what is actually going on in the country at the time.
TY
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Thank you for the reminder. I have bookmarked the page. will be interesting to see what additional freedoms we might have by then, and which of those I will choose to take up.
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That is good to read that some of you will be joining in again too, this year. :)
Hopefully, you might be able to spend time with your sister this year Bearnan?
I think no matter how humdrum non event our day might feel to us, this will be of interest to people in the future, especially our direct/indirect descendants.
Yes, it will be interesting to see what freedoms we have by May 12 and what we will choose to take up.
I am so happy that I will be able to meet up with my son and his family again and I am also quite desperate to get to a hairdresser. I have reached a point now where I would be happy to wear an entire head covering rather than just a face covering. :-[
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Most certainly RTL, and thanks for the reminder.
It would probably help if you give me another nudge in five weeks time. ;)
I have my submissions for the previous years too, and I always read through them.
My hair has grown quite long, I trim the ends off myself every few weeks. I wear it clipped back at the base of my neck, or twisted up in hotter weather. It doesn't really matter much as no-one is looking!
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I have a file of my previous diaries, and they don't vary much! I will do it again though.
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Yes, I'll give you a nudge, when the time comes, Mowsehowse. ;)
That's good that you can tie your hair back. Mine is in growing out layers and getting wilder by the day. I overheard a woman yesterday say to her companion "I don't care what I look like as long as I've got my hat". I feel the same way and only wish I was able to wear a hat for my shifts at work. :-[ Roll on next week!
I expect some of us might be writing a repeat of previous years, TotH. I think they might be quite interested to hear how covid has affected people's mental health and how people have fared with change of circumstances and restrictions.
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I was surprised I made my first in 2017.
How long has everyone else been doing it?
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RTL, hopefully I will get to see my sister this year, we spent a lot of time together in the year before lockdown, our dad passed away March 2019 and it was comforting to be with her.
Mowsehowse I did my first one in 2017 just a few weeks after I lost my husband.
By the way I love the diary thread!
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Hi Bearnan.... glad you like the diary thread.... why not join in ?
Hope you and your sister can get together again very soon.
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My first one was 2017 as well. That is probably the year we were told about it.
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Perhaps 2017 was the first year RTL wrote about it here?
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Thanks for the reminder RTL... I shall be doing mine this year too... it’s my SiL’s birthday on 12th....
I too have been writing it since 2017... I kept copies on the computer and have a nostalgic read each year!
Don’t talk about hair!..... mine is now long enough for quite a ponytail... needs colouring mostly... I like it long... others do too...OH doesn’t! Oh well trying a new hairdresser when the time comes.... I’d love to have it up in the hairstyle my mums sporting in my avatar!
Caroline
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https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=771144.0
Yes, Bearnan, why not join in the diary thread? It would be great to have you on there too I am sure. I don't always manage to keep up but will keep popping in as I can.
Yes, it was 2017 when I saw an article about Mass Observation in a family history magazine and posted about this. I remember that you were the first to respond Caroline to say you would do it too. Little did we know then that several years later we would be contributing to another diary on here recording our lives during a pandemic! :o I can hardly believe it will be the 5th year coming up in May we will be writing for Mass Observation.
Caroline, your Mother, looks like a very pretty and elegant lady with perfectly groomed hair and make up in your avatar.
I am quite embarrassed by the state of my hair now and I am a bit nervous of cutting my own hair in case I make things worse. I think so many of us are in the same boat. A sister in law of mine recently wrote to me that she is looking like raggy Annie (whoever that is) and she adds that my brother now looks like Mozart. ;D
I hope you will like your new hair dresser .. I am hoping my old one will still be in business.
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Don’t talk about hair!..... mine is now long enough for quite a ponytail... needs colouring mostly... I like it long... others do too...OH doesn’t! Oh well trying a new hairdresser when the time comes.... I’d love to have it up in the hairstyle my mums sporting in my avatar!
Caroline
If you have a local college running a hair dresser's course I am sure they would be delighted to try and emulate the style for you Caroline. (I often used to go to the one in Risca, and you can negotiate if you will model for beginners or almost qualified.)
It is a lovely photo. :D
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How time flies doesn’t ... non more so than over the past year which is remarkable and scary at the same time!
Thank you for your comments regarding my mother she was beautiful in her youth... I always think it sad to look at her picture aged 90 not long before she died and compare the two you’d have never known it was the same person... suppose it’s the same for us all! 😢
Don’t think we have a hairdressing college nearby... as a WI we used to go to a catering college and have a meal there as a celebration... they were very good and much cheaper than a restaurant!
Caroline
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My OH made a desperate plea to me to "at least trim the length a bit for me".
Reluctantly I did so. carefully.
Actually, I'm becoming rather fond of the "Medieval peasant look" that has resulted on his head.
I've not asked him to trim mine - just hunted out a large box of old hairslides, clasps combs etc from when my hair was really long, decades ago.
Who says I should have thrown them when I got my hair cut from waist length, all that time ago? Coming in very useful now.
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I've not asked him to trim mine - just hunted out a large box of old hairslides, clasps combs etc from when my hair was really long, decades ago.
Who says I should have thrown them when I got my hair cut from waist length, all that time ago? Coming in very useful now.
I have been wishing I had kept mine... but after a dozen or more removals into a tiny space they had to go! :'(
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I'll give it a go, especially as its my daughters 50th birthday on 12th May, 2021 !
I've kept diaries intermittently for 50 years and more, so this will be a bit different.
Certainly, a reminder nearer the time would be very useful !!
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Yes, I will certainly give a reminder nearer the time - will remind the day before Lydart - only one week to go now! :)
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Thanks RTL for the reminder all in hand as it’s my SiL’s birthday on 12th so won’t forget...
Would love to be able to read some from last year just to see what people thought about what was going on!
Don’t know if it’s possible to read any online is it?
Caroline
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Yes, thanks for the reminder. I have written a little note and stuck it on my screen!
Jackie
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Just reading back over this thread and having a good laugh at RTL's brother Mozart and his wife raggy Annie. ;D ;D ;D
I have an appointment with the dentist on the 12th so that should make for exciting reading. :D
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Unfortunately, I don't think these diaries are available online. I agree though Caroline, they would likely make for fascinating reading as they must cover so many diverse experiences of lockdown.
I wonder if in years to come they might publish some of the entries in book form, perhaps?
I think once all these are collated these are studied by various groups and researchers.
This is great that you plan to take part too, Jackie.
I think this is such an opportunity to help those who govern understand how we have each been affected and hopefully this might be useful for services and support now and in the future.
How will they know if people don't tell them? For instance, I remember at the start of the lockdown it was deemed acceptable to shut all public toilets down. However, following a bit of a public hoo ha the powers that be decided to open some again.
Yes, poor them .. although I have heard brother has had hair cut now Roobarb but sister in law is risking waiting for an appointment with favourite hairdresser so she seems happy to stay Raggy Annie for a while longer. Brother has always been musical so his Mozart look might have been quite fitting for him. ;D
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As promised, this is a reminder that tomorrow is Mass Observation Diary Day event.
Save the date! :)
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Thank you RTL...
Caroline
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Thanks RTL. :D
Hope it is a hugely interesting day for us all so we have masses to write about.....
BTW, I was searching for the bit you have to add giving permission for use after my death, and found this which may help contributors:
"Diaries can record 12th May and reflect back over the past year and look forward to the future and life beyond this year."
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😂😂😂 - me too ....must make reading hard when it’s not!
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Got my pad and pen ready for noting down the "excitements" the 12th will bring - just read last year's offering from me .... boring, boring, boring!
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Hello everyone.
I have started making my notes. We had quite a hailstorm last night so will be checking for damage /debris around the house. So, that will get mentioned.
Jackie
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Well, it sounds like we are all poised to write about our day. Thanks mowsehowse for adding that. I think it will make for interesting reading to see people's reflections and thoughts on the future. Not that we can read them, but perhaps our direct/indirect ancestors might see these one day.
I am just travelling to work on the bus. I have a 14 hour work day :-\ ahead and feeling tired already at the prospect of it. Of course, I can't write about that but I will be writing about what I do either side and definitely some reflections on last year and thoughts for the future. Will be far too tired when I get in to do it but do plan to do it at some point within next week.
Thanks everyone for participating. I really do think this will be of historical importance one day. :)
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Gosh RTL.... fingers crossed you have a good day. You really are a hero.
You can't write about your work, but you can make oblique references to the temperament of colleagues and clients, and how that made you feel.
I have already been for a sea front walk in the sun.... hugs to you.x
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Thanks Mowsehowse, perhaps you are right. It will have to be oblique as people have to be so careful these days.
Hope you enjoyed your seaside walk .. sounds lovely!
I am not looking forward to working 14 hours but hopefully it will go fast. Hugs to you too. You are such great support to people :) Xx
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:D
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RTL, I was thinking along the lines of .....
I work in the care industry, and the hours of the long shift really flew by as the Team on duty included a favourite colleague whose sunny nature makes it a pleasure to work with her.....
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Well, I think something like that sounds positive and cheery and would meet the 'oblique' standard for not saying anything too revealing. ;)
I'm afraid in reality I don't feel quite that breezy. In fact I feel absolutely jiggered and my feet are aching. Can't wait to crash into bed tonight when I get in. I am just setting off for home.
Just realised that I wrote this morning of our 'ancestors' possibly one day reading our entries but obviously meant to say 'descendants.'
Weather seems to have been quite fair today. Hopefully, it will nice again tomorrow so you can walk at the coast again Mowsehowse. :)
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RTL, I am sure I would be totally trashed by now!!
Hope it all looks better after a good sleep. :-*
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BBC radio seems to have taken this on, and are asking for diaries. I wonder whether they will be adding the cautions about identifying people and the legal declaration? Or will these be used in a different way? One I heard this morning included some children's names.
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Yes, I heard that on the "Today" programme, and was quite surprised.
Sent mine off, but heard somewhere "they" are really looking for males from teens to mid 40s - I suppose they are under represented in existing contributors.
TY
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Yes, you have heard this before Threllfallyorky, but this is not true as far as the 12th May One Day diaries are concerned.
This misconception arose after I first posted about Mass Observation and one RootsChatter inadvertentally applied to be a long term Mass Observation writer which is an entirely different thing.
See link below which shows how the mix up first started - page 7, post 54 - 58.
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=771144.0
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I have sent mine in for yesterday. :D
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Well done MH.... still trying to write mine along side communicating with these two new cousins who between them are bombarding me with details that I’m desperately trying to onto my tree along with records!
Caroline
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Fantastic Caroline.
If I had such exciting other tasks I would still be writing as well. :)
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I’ve got two of them ( new cousins that is) and we’ve had constant emails all afternoon... it’s brilliant and it does at least confirm my Dad is my Dad... I know that sounds an odd thing to say but theirs and my back ground is quite perculiar that you always wonder 😂😢.
Caroline
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Well done Mowsehowse in getting yours sent off already. You have inspired me to get on with mine and I have just sent it off now so that is that for another year. :)
Congratulations Caroline on these new cousins. You must be feeling over the moon, what an exciting discovery! :D It always feels good to feel that things are confirmed. :)
I will never forget how elated I felt when a half cousin of my Mother contacted me in 2014 when I had been embarking on a long search for my missing maternal Great Grandmother.
Just to add I have had a confirmation email that my entry has been received.
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Just sent my diary off, what a boring day it was too! At least my sisters birthday card and present arrived on the day. It comes to something when you get excited about having a supermarket delivery. ;D
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I have just sent mine off - I actually had two "events" to report! A group of five had our first craft group meeting since one last summer, outdoors in a member's garden, and it was so nice to just sit and natter! In the evening I joined a Zoom talk with the gardening society. Otherwise it would have been washing up, gardening, reading, and playing with the computer. ::)
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I hope your sister enjoyed her Birthday, Bearnan. You must be relieved your card and prezzie arrived in time.
Glad life is gradually getting a bit back to normal for you ToTH.
It is good that you have both got your diaries sent off early too. I wonder with all the publicity there has been this year they might receive more than the 5,000 they got last year?
I have just found out that there is a another Mass Observation diaries book out covering the war years - 'Blitz Spirit'. From the description (i have seen this described as 'darkly funny') I can see parallels with recent times. I will be adding this on my reading list.
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Doubt I’m going to get mine sent off. I did it, and then my computer hard drive corrupted during a Microsoft update overnight. While everything is backed up, I finished that too late for that day’s back-up, so I’ve probably lost it!
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Doubt I’m going to get mine sent off. I did it, and then my computer hard drive corrupted during a Microsoft update overnight. While everything is backed up, I finished that too late for that day’s back-up, so I’ve probably lost it!
How very annoying for you!! :'(
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PrawnCocktail, how frustrating for you that you may have lost your work on this. 😯
I have read that they will accept physical/hard copies but they ask that this type of diary entry is not sent until after lockdown.