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[Page 49]
to see his boss, who's name was Charlie Bootie and begged him to take him back. He said "no, the rules are, when the men go in they are not to stay talking to the girls. By the way, your name is Hawkins isn't it", I said "Yes", he asked me if my Dad's name was Harry, I said "yes", he asked me if he worked in the mine at Cobar, I said "Yes", he then said "well I have nursed you when you were a baby there", I asked him if he boarded with gran and he said "yes". So I said "well what about Ray, it was my fault too for talking to him, no, rules are rules". Anyhow we still see each other and then he went away shearing and said he would see me when he came home and this he did. We started going out to the pictures and he took me to his mothers place to meet her and the family. I fell in love with his mother, she was so sweet, kind and good.
Well things were going along real good and he came to meet me one night and he had had a lot of drink. So we just sat on our front veranda and I said "It's no use you coming here with drink in you Ray. My father won't allow me to go out with you, so you must give up the drink if you want me". Well he came to see me one night and he was O.K., so I asked him in. My father and stepmother were there and dad told him in no uncertain words, so long as he kept sober it was alright for him to see me. Well after that we only saw each other of a Saturday night and I used to walk up the street to meet him outside the pictures. I got away with that with my father. But one night, I was waiting for him and low and behold who should turn up but his young brother Albert. He was about my age, as Ray was 5 years older than me. Anyhow I said "what's the matter?" He said "my brother is drunk and he sent me to take you to the pictures". I said "well thank you Albert, but I will go home" so I left him. Well after a couple of weeks Ray turns up again and I told him I meant what I said. "If you want me you must give the drink up altogether, it is the drink or me, so good bye". Well I believe he told his mother and his mother said I think she is a good girl and if you like her you must give up the drink son, and for goodness sake don't turn out like your father. Well I saw him again and things were fine and dandy.
It's coming up to 1929 and Dad and Essie were going to Aunty Ida's for Christmas. I said Mrs Wood has asked me if I would like to have Christmas with their family and said "yes I would", it's a lovely family". We had our Christmas with his mother and Ray asked me would I get engaged to him in front of all the family and I said "yes", well I went with him after Christmas was over and he bought me a 3 stone ring. They were only three small diamonds and I never did like big splashy rings and things. Anyway before he gave it to me, he asked dad and they both said no. She is far to young, she does not know her own mind. Well O.K. I said to them both. I am sick of being told what I can and can not do. So I was very friendly with the lady next door, but one her name was Mrs Taylor and they had 3 boys and her husband was a train driver. I used to call her Aunty Peg. After a few days I went to see her and I told her and I said can I come and live with you, I had a big argument with my father and Essie. She said "you best ask your father and if he says yes I would love to have you here with me. Ray can come here and see you". So I asked dad and he said "you leave home again, don't come back", I said "I won't. I will get married soon and i want to have some children of my own and then I will be happy.". So I moved up to the Taylor's and Dad came up now and again but not Essie.