Wild & windy washing Monday :)

[dinahsmum]

You're all far too young to remember the days when Monday was washing day; when the boiler was lit as soon as anyone got up and the place was full of the smell of suds. Your Mum or Gran stood at the sink all morning, you got the chance to turn the handle on the mangle and your 'dinner' (eaten in the middle of the day) was cold roast meat from Sunday with bubble & squeak (from Sunday) all with a hint of lather about them.
Anyway - this was the type of day Mum or Gran would love, clear blue skies and very strong, drying, wind.
So, now we've been down memory lane, back to the real world of today! I hope yours is good.

[angieh]

Morning DM - yes wild and windy washing Monday here too - I have the towels out on the line and another lot in the washing machine - what would we do without these machines now? I remember when Monday was washing day - my mum had one of those twin tub machines and a pair of wooden tongs that you had to hoist the hot wet washing from the washing tub into the spinning bit - water went everywhere! Monday is just one of my washing days now - I do MIL's laundry on Mondays and I am VERY GLAD that I don't have to do it by hand.

Have a good day everyone, washing or not!

[dinahsmum]

I should have added that this is also the kind of day that cats seem to hate. They look out the window and find bright sunshine; it feels warm; they trot off happily - then WOW!. Nasty nasty wind, blows their fur the wrong way and makes them generally miserable.
Does anyone know why it upsets them so? Does it hurt their ears and upset their normally wonderful balance? Is it just that they hate their fur going the wrong way (which they do - if you don't believe me try brushing puss the wrong way ). Does it compromise their acute hearing?
I should just google shouldn't I? Maybe I will in a while - I'll wait and see if anyone knows, or has a theory.

[yola]

I remember the old tub washing machine that was open on the top and swished round and round with horrible grey water in it. She used to have to put all her weight on the thing when it started spinning to stop it walking around the kitchen! My Mum had the wooden tongs as well and hoisted the washing into a mangle that ran off the power in the washing machine.

Today? It's sunny and windy. I'm at work having just had a meeting about possibly carrying out some quite high level marketing for a small local company. Would be nice. Just need to work at it a bit to reel it in!

My theory with the cats is that it just spooks them because they feel they are being touched and can't see the offending toucher! Mine always jump around to see who's behind them when the wind blows their fur.

[MrsH]

Great day for washing, yes, even on my birthday! Got bedding and towels out there, flappinng away.

I clearly remember those washdays of yore! Mum had a boiler a Baby Burco I recall and she used to shave a bar of Fairy or Sunlight soap in lieu of washing powder. My aunt had a big outhouse called (surprise. surprise) "The Wash-house" with a huge copper boiler with a fire underneath, no electrics out there. She used to pound the clothes with a poss-stick to scare the dirt out. People must have had a lot more strength then!

[angieh]

Yes, I am sure that women must have been much stronger physically in "the old days" which is quite amazing considering child bearing and bad food.

I think Yola's theory about cats hating the wind because they keep feeling they are being touched and can't see what it is must be part of the answer. I am also sure that they must pick up all sorts of interference on those whiskers!

[Leesy]

Hi all,
Yes it is wash Monday here as well, nice a sunny and a lovely breeze, got towels and bedding out on the washing line.
Yes I agree with Yola`s theory with the cats and wind as well.
Have a great day Pauline,Maxi & Maisy Xxx .

[dandysmom]

I remember washing day all too well! Mom had two big stoneware set tubs in the basement and a washing board; later we got a round machine that also tended to "walk"across the floor, and a mangle to squeeze out the water! NOT the good old days!
My wind theory is noise. They are so attuned to sounds...a little rustling might be a mouse, or possibly something creeping up on them ....when it's windy there are too many sounds for them to keep track of ...it's distracting and a bit scary!

Gloomy here, unseasonably chilly, 13 C (the furnace has clicked on!) and a 50% chance of drizzle. So had a lie in and am doing absolutely nothing today but relax with a book, the crossword and Catsey!

Enjoy the day!

[PoshPuss]

Ah washday Mondays, remember them well. The Servis twin tub my mum had was delightful & reliable, and the smell of the sudsy water was bliss. The feel of the wooden tongs, bleached white by the water, the vibrations from the spin cycle... now THAT was washing! so glad I don't have to mind My cousin couldn't say 'copper boiler' which my Nan used, instead he said dopper doiler. I still have to say dopper doiler whenever I see or hear of one
Good times!

Had a very nice shift in work and on call for the night again. Settling down after to watch Ashes to Ashes.
Have a lovely evening!

[calismum]

Hi all - memories of childhood there with all the washtub stories. Mum had a washing machine with manual mangle attached. At some point we also got a small round spinner. Later still we had a twin tub, remember we were amazed at how easy it made our washing days!!

Had couple hours weeding after work tonight. - getting there.