olden days

Today I went along as a 'grandparent' helper on the junior school's outing to the Kalamunda History Village.
A very hands on history of the original settlers in this area, it includes some of the old houses which have been transported to the 'village' and decked out as they were back in 'the day', the original Kalamunda Village School complete with desks, slates and Janet and John reading books!, post office, blacksmith and fruit sorting shed.

The guides were dressed up in olden day garb and and led the kids through a session in the classroom (appearance of the cane causing great astonishment), washing day using scrub board and wringer, fruit sorting and a tiny house that housed a family of six including the Saturday night metal bath. Great ooohs and aaahs at that one.

Fantastic day out and an insight into how different, and tough, things were, and just how much children were expected to do as well as walking the two kilometres along dust roads to and from school.

This setting of the table in a guest house and a typical days menu which started out with breakfast (served in bed!) and ended with supper after morning tea, dinner, afternoon tea and 'tea'.
Some serious eating going on!