ANGELA LASSIG: LETTERS FROM MAUDIE The monthly jottings of a free-spirited Ponsonby dressmaker of the 1920s, as imagined by Angela Lassig. VERMONT STREET, PONSONBY 15 AUGUST 1925
Dear Bunty,
I don’t mind a bit of baking every now and again but now George’s mother’s friend, who is in charge of the fundraising committee for St Margaret’s Maternity Hospital [ii], has asked if I would contribute four dozen more almond biscuits. I must admit that they are delicious and not difficult to make, but I’m up to my ears in orders at present. If I didn’t have laryngitis I would scream with the stress of it all... screaming, even if into a cushion, does one a power of good! You must try it! Because I had to get to the fair early to deliver my goodies, I was able to have first pick of the fudge! Apart from the Costley Training Institute [iii] fete, which without doubt attracts the suburb’s best fudge makers (a very competitive bunch!), today’s haul was rather good. I’m just having another piece with my cup of tea. As I am determined to be svelte by summer, I am limiting myself to two pieces of fudge a day, one each with my morning and afternoon tea. I must say that St John’s white elephant stall was also rather good. I got two good books about beekeeping for George (who rather fancies himself as an apiarist one day), and a very fancy wirework birdcage that I think is probably Victorian. I then bought a large maidenhair fern that I had the notion to put inside the birdcage. It’s now hanging up on my verandah at the glassed-in end where it’s not so windy. It looks really quite lovely... a novel idea don’t you think? Even though I’d love to keep a little canary to whistle to me, I don’t dare have a bird with my Pusskins around. She’s such a mighty hunter! What else? I bought a pair of pretty lace curtains that fit very well in my spare bedroom. I just need to take them up a little and give them a jolly good soak. Don’t tell Vera I bought secondhand curtains... she really doesn’t understand that I quite like old things and don’t mind if everything I own isn’t brand new. I know you appreciate that the things that make one’ s heart sing can’t always be bought new in a shop. Which brings me to confess that on the way home from St. Johns (well not directly, I must admit) I popped in to Mrs Keane’s shop to see if there was anything new since I visited last week. To my delight, she’d bought a collection of old jewellery amongst which was a delightful bracelet of Scottish malachite of the most beautiful green. It took the form of a row of ivy leaves and the back is silver. Mrs Keane told me that in the language of flowers the Victorians used, the ivy leaf means fidelity and marriage. As I can’t count on George dropping into a secondhand shop by choice, or popping the question anytime soon, there was nothing for it but to buy it myself ! I have it on as I speak and know I will be wearing it a great deal as this particular green is one of my favourite colours.
Mother dropped by this morning and brought me a bucket full of daffodils from her garden. I’ve put them all over the house and in my workroom and it really does help cheer one up. I think I’ve told you that my spring garden is an absolute disaster this year although I did grow a few pots of hooped petticoat dafs on the verandah. George has promised to help me transform my mess over the summer so this time next year I should be picking armfuls of my own fleurs.
Just back from pouring another cup of tea...What else was I going to tell you? Oh yes, this is so funny! My kowhai tree seems to be a favourite with the local tui, one of which has taken to mimicking my sewing machine. At first I thought Tiger or Pusskins must be the culprit and rushed in to find the room empty. It does get a little frustrating though when I’m having a break... Speaking of Tiger... he has become absolutely obsessed with a new ball that George gave him last week. He is forever dropping it at my feet, and when ignored, nudging my knee with the ball in his mouth and looking at me imploringly! No wonder I was behind schedule this week. I’m going to have to work all day tomorrow to make up for it. George is going to take Tiger (with his inseparable ball) to Western Springs park tomorrow morning, which hopefully will tire him out for the afternoon. My spring wardrobe sample collection has been working a treat. I’ve had so many orders from it that I’ve taken on an assistant who comes in on Fridays to help with finishing. Lily works four days at Shanley’s and is thinking about becoming a dressmaker so she’s very keen. She has such a light and even touch with her needle that already I am having her hem the silk satin gowns that I find so tiresome. While some of my customers want complete exclusivity of design, the sample collection has sold well locally. I’ve had a few ladies knock on the workroom door simply by recommendation and word of mouth! Some of them have brought in their own fabric to be made up in one of my styles... something I didn’t even think about as an option. Well dear, I must get up and into the workroom. There’s still time to cut out a couple of blouses before the light fades which will give me a head start for tomorrow. Do write soon and give little Tommy a hug from his ‘Aunty’ Maudie.
Love Maudie xx [i] St John’s Methodist Church, 229 Ponsonby Road (in 1925) [ii] St Margaret’s Maternity Hospital, 231-235 Ponsonby Road (in 1925) [iii] Carlile House building, 84-90 Richmond Road
+ September + NEWS 48 PONSONBY PONSONBY PARISH NEWS2014
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)
illustration: Michael McClintock
I’ve just come back from St John’s Methodist Church [i] spring fair armed with more than I took which was not the plan. I’ve been very good the past two days, baking dozens of almond biscuits, two chocolate cakes and two apple teacakes. All this, because I wanted to impress George’s mother, who is on the church fundraising committee.