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  • 9 months ago
Even at the incredible age of 109, Edna Bateman says if she had her way she would clean her own windows and do her own chores. Listen to this incredible lady's stories from her life.
Transcript
00:00Did you have fun working in the munitions factory?
00:03Oh yes, we had bingo there.
00:06And I won.
00:08I traded amongst my friends.
00:11What are some of the things you enjoy doing these days?
00:14It might be the secret, we never know.
00:16Well, it's today now.
00:18What do you do? You were living...
00:21I'm getting very bored.
00:25Because they said you would clean the windows if it was up to you.
00:28I said, why don't you leave those? I can do them.
00:32Dust the shelf.
00:34What are you doing that for? Dusting.
00:36I said, I can dust the shelf.
00:39I said, in fact, I've asked for the tin of polish to do the dressing tables.
00:45And I thought I'd better get on with them before they come.
00:50Because they're starting the girls, sweeping the floor, polishing the furniture.
00:54What can I do?
00:56You could work here if you wanted to.
00:58Like, if they had the means, you would just start working here, I suppose.
01:00Well, yes.
01:01There's some nowhere to keep me going.
01:03But, er...
01:05How do you like to relax?
01:07I'll relax.
01:08How do you like to relax?
01:09With my eyes.
01:11You're a Terry, you are.
01:12She used to knit.
01:13Not long ago, she stopped knitting.
01:14She used to knit blankets.
01:15Oh, they wanted me to start knitting.
01:16I said, I've been knitting when she was born.
01:17And before.
01:18How was the party yesterday?
01:19It was very nice.
01:20I was amazed how many were here.
01:21Good.
01:22But it was all very nice.
01:23But the cake was beautiful.
01:24Oh, good.
01:25Your birthday cake.
01:26They all wanted a second round.
01:27Oh.
01:28But they didn't get it.
01:29No.
01:30How's the world changed since, like, when you were born in 1916?
01:31How's, how's the world changed since, like, when you were born in 1916? How's, how's, how's the world changed? How's your local area changed since then?
01:51Well, I think it changed for the better then, but now it's a little bit.
01:57for the better then but now it's changed for the worse. Oh dear, when was the tipping point?
02:03When did it go down? I don't think the world is nice now. That's a shame. It is a shame.
02:11Yes, I think people looked after themselves, they helped the people if they wanted but now
02:19they'd sooner shove them away. But I don't think they're very kind to people now.
02:26They just come in and have a look, see if you're alright, if you're alright, well that's the next customer too.
02:35Don't stand and talk. It's cursory, they come and say, are you okay? That's all the time and then move on to the next one or they just don't.
02:42That's right, no, they don't come as they used to do now. I can't walk. When I was 103 and 104, I used to walk a mile a day.
02:55And that was in the morning where I lived and it was about a mile from school, wasn't it?
03:04You used to walk about a mile? Yes. Every day? Apart from Saturday and Sunday, you gave yourselves two days off?
03:10You used to walk with the youngest one to school and back. Have another cup of coffee when I got back. Then start my house work.
03:19Tell me more about your husband. What?
03:22Tell me more about your husband. What about him?
03:25I was just going to Rotherham Pictures when this telegram come to say I had to report to Sheffield.
03:34And then he was away for three years? Yes. I saw him on the bus and I never saw him again for three years.
03:40Oh, almighty. I had no idea. I never got a leaf from Singapore.
03:43Yeah, came home. Home a week and they got married in 1942.
03:48The first thing he did, he got older me hand. This hand. And he pushed his finger in. Oh, it's not a bad size.
03:59He had it in his pocket in the army for two years. Oh my God.
04:05I'd like to ask what sort of treats you enjoy, because we've heard about whisky.
04:08What are some of your favourite things to have? What do you enjoy?
04:11One of my friends still bring me a bottle of whisky at Christmas.
04:15There you go, yeah.
04:16I've got a full bottle this Christmas ready. I said, I hate it a bit.
04:21Otherwise it'll go home.
04:24As a doctor always told a lady next door, she says, never drink a lot.
04:30I don't know if I would give that thing. Yeah, I agree.
04:41So, whisky is good for you. Yeah. Yeah.
04:44A doctor says so. Yeah.
04:47What do you like to eat? What treats do you like?
04:50Sausage.
04:52And what about chocolate? Oh.
04:56And nuts. Nuts and chocolate. Yes.
04:59If you had any advice you'd like to share, if you wanted to tell people something, tell them one thing to live by, what would you tell them?
05:10I don't know. I've never been a lot of friendly with them, have I?
05:14Right. And where that happens? No way.
05:16Just look at me. Oh, you're all right. Look over there.
05:19Look at me straight at this cat, that's it. And smile. Smile.
05:22Look at the camera. Yeah. Oh, better than mine.
05:25Oh. Oh, it's getting better. Look at the camera.
05:31Oh.
05:33Oh, well.
05:36Bye.
05:37Bye.
05:48Okay.
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