Background

Born, Onehunga 1938. Father went into farming and they moved around a lot. Spent teenage years in Te Kauwhata. Describes house she grew up in. Two brothers, one adopted, two sisters. Talks about large age difference between herself, her two sisters and her eldest brother. Details what she did with adopted brother, how she felt about his adoption.

"I had to be playing the boy's games, not him playing girl's games"

Strictly disciplined, mostly by mother. Talks about typical meal, mentions brother's eeling. Father retired from farming when she was ten, family moved to Te Kauwhata where he worked on Government Station as a labourer. She hated the move, details.

Describes Christmases, mentions her mother was English. Talks about doll she was surprised to get. Says they did not go on holidays because of the petrol rationing, also it was difficult for a farmer to find the time to get away. Later on her and her brother would go and stay with eldest sister and her husband, details staying on farms in Mangere and "Waiuk". Talks about brother-in-law's Austin Seven always breaking down.