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A nine year old girl with two younger siblings, leaves with her mother for pastures new. Why? 

To join their father. 

Hence the journey begins! 

We left our small village life in Punjab, India to join Dad, who was settled in Coventry, England. He had left his home town six years earlier, in 1954. We were on our way to be with him. I don’t remember very much of that journey, however I had a very clear, vivid picture in my mind of the day he had left us. Even today, I recall clearly him lifting his feet one by one onto a chair to tie his shoelaces on his beautiful shiny black shoes. He looked stunningly handsome. That’s a vivid memory of my three and a half year old self.  

***

It’s 19th July, 1960. We were brought into an amazing new home, a small terraced house in Coventry City. 

My amazing, foresighted father had set up home with all the family necessities. My younger brother, younger sister and me running around, discovering and liking our surroundings. A well supplied and modern kitchen for the early 1960s. A tape recorder, a radio. A television. A tin bath. An ironing table. An iron. A small folding table and chairs. Sofas. Beds. A clothes horse. 

A Singer sewing machine, black with gold writing, manual, with a small handle on the right. Mum was obviously in seventh heaven, especially seeing Dad after six long years. We had all lived as a large, joint family with Dad’s brother and wife, and their three children; my Grandparents, an unmarried Aunt and Uncle! And my Dad’s Grandmother.  

Having arrived in July, we enjoyed an extended summer holiday and soon settled into our new family life. It was a very sociable and busy life for Mum. Dad had so, so many friends and colleagues. He worked shifts in Courtaulds and had progressed well as he was educated. Also, Coventry was the Headquarters of the firm. 

 ***

Dad being a very, very hard worker, and an innovative person became quite a leader of the community. Whilst employed at Courtaulds, he started a small business in supplying household essentials - as in lentils and spices etc. He bought the goods wholesale, made small bags for convenience and sold them at gatherings like at a cinema showing of an Indian film on a Sunday. 

Mum on the other hand was kept very busy with home life. Soon we were joined by two more brothers. As the eldest of five children, I also became responsible for helping out.  

Mum was also a very creative and homely person. She made time to teach us all - especially my sister and me - the skills of her own esteemed personality: cooking, cleaning, knitting, sewing, embroidery and crochet work. In India I had learned how to milk a cow! Oh and weaving on a big loom, making rugs, knitting a ‘rope’ on an empty reel with a few nails.  

These talents or skills taught by Mum were quickly spotted at school. I remember a group of us made a banner which incorporated stitching by hand and machinery, embroidery and patchwork. It was a sea theme. This was then used to cover the back of the school piano. However, it was first used as a banner which was held up on two poles and I was one of the girls chosen to hold it and be present at the visit of Queen Elizabeth II when she came to open Coventry Cathedral.  

So the love of sewing and embroidery artwork had started.  

I remember my Mother teaching my sister and me to knit. It was such a competitive and fun time. Competitive because she would measure the wool by about 10 arm lengths and see who finished first. Then another ten, then another… 

Fun because we created so many beautiful items. From the little booties, cardigans and romper suits for our two little brothers to our own cardigans, skirts and dresses incorporating sewing, stitching and embroidery.  

I can recall that I bought my first doll from a school fair at the age of twelve. I loved dressing her to make her look beautiful. We already had two little brothers to dress up and be proud of! 

***

Time moved on. 

Dad was so proud of all his children, as not only did we become good at home, we all progressed well at school too. 

Dad had also progressed to having a thriving manufacturing business which employed many, many people, mostly women, as it was a garment making venture. He had a team of men for all other jobs like cutting, laying, marking, packing and driving vans for deliveries etc.  

He didn’t, however, involve Mum or us two girls in the factory but Mum made sure we carried on in all other aspects of our lives. My sister and I learnt to make some of our own outfits. Beautiful. 

We embroidered saris with sequins and raffia thread.  

I made a lovely turquoise knee-length coat at school. I also made embroidered cushions and pillowcases, crocheted dressing table mats, knitted cardigans and shawls, jumpers and I crocheted many ponchos.  

In 1970, I left Teacher Training College – my marriage was arranged. Dad bought a lovely modern sewing machine to give to me when I got married. From the day we brought that amazing Singer 720 model home, I have never looked back. It has been the love of my life. A busy life. A very busy life. 

 

My Second Migration to Northern Ireland: Marriage 

My transition from a child to an ‘adult’ was such a steep curve, from the day I got married. All the titles one gets through marriage were so daunting but I’ve survived it all! Pleasantly. 

 

Wedding Ceremony  

My marriage at 4 o’clock in the morning under a four-poster covering. So the Panditji (Priest) performed the rituals at our residence in the garden and we completed our promises around the holy fire, as per the Hindu wedding ceremony. It took about four hours – a real traditional event. Tradition has adapted to a shorter time!! 

An amazing day of celebrations for over 1,000 guests. 

We left that day to get our flight back to Belfast. Now from a massive gathering in Coventry, arriving in Belfast. All guests dispersed from the airport to their respective homes. 

When we reached my new family’s home, there were two elderly ladies and a young girl helping to look after a 15 day old baby. That was my reception! 

I was so shocked, as I had been used to big weddings and gatherings, especially when receiving the new bride. So that was the start of my new life. 

***

As soon as we were back from our honeymoon, I was asked to step in and help out at the very busy retail shop which the family owned. It sold everything in the line of shoes, hosiery, a variety of clothes and workwear. One of my first memorable experiences was a lady asking for ‘gutties’ for her child. My answer was: “I’m sorry, we don’t have gutties,” to which she replied: “Yes you do, they are upstairs in the corner”. So I asked her to show me. She did. I said: "Oh, you mean plimsolls!" Hilarious! 

Still with the shop, when my father-in-law was serving customers, he had the determination to make sure the customer didn’t go away empty-handed. If necessary, he would come running up the stairs, waving a garment and asking me to alter it – as in shorten it or tighten it – and he would say: "The customer is waiting downstairs in the shop". 

Now, let me explain. My husband and I lived above the shop, in a spacious apartment, with his parents and his younger brother.  

My Singer sewing machine was given pride of place in the large living-room. It was housed in a lovely sturdy cabinet, so the machine was always ready to use. The cabinet had a “lift’ [mechanism] so when the machine was not in use it could be put down with the lift mechanism and the cabinet top was clear [then a work surface]. Also, another feature on that machine (the Singer 720) was the ‘in place bobbin winding’. Such a convenient way to keep sewing with [the] least interruption, as the bobbin could be replenished without removing it. 

I’ve tried and tried but cannot find a sewing machine with that amazing feature. My original 720 gave in after forty years of constant use. 

My Singer 720, which my Dad had given to me as one of many wedding presents, lasted a long time, but I finally had to let it go. I gave it to the shop where I had it serviced and repaired many times. He then told me later that he had repaired it as best as he could and donated it to a charity for teaching students!

Just before the above decision to give it away, my own five children saw I was struggling with it, they decided to treat me to a brand new ‘Brother’ machine, again, top of the range!

I made many garments for my growing family. I made curtains for any houses I’ve lived in. Sometimes, I made curtains and bedsets to match the furnishings. Cushions, bags, table runners, upholstery – doing matching stools and ottomans.  

I must say I was very fortunate to have access to other facilities such as overlocking machines, studding machines, quilting machines, as my husband had a factory where all these were accessible. His factory was the second largest employer after the box factory.  

What a journey. From my 12 year old self making clothes/outfits for my first doll to now – my older self having achieved such a prestigious project of making garments for the “God” we worship in our Hindu temple.  

Now, how did I manage to do all these things…. 

My father-in-law did not allow his daughter-in-law to work outside the family business. So to keep myself busy, I started to do voluntary work and involve myself with several organisations in Northern Ireland – practical as well as educational. 

I did this all whilst raising five lovely children. I also needed to mix with the community.

I managed to take piano lessons (so I could help my children to learn piano). Similarly, I did computer studies at the college and gained an O Level qualification; further on in years, I studied ECDL [European Computer Driving Licence] to gain more skills to improve my employability.  

So as I progressed in age, skills and talents had to be kept up to date. 

So, once our own businesses had kept us all busy, I had the foresight to prepare myself for employability and so now even after retirement age, I feel blessed to be still able to work in an enjoyable, respectable job. Thankfully, I’m glad I kept being involved outside the home. It makes life more enjoyable and fulfilled. Now that I have a grown-up family and also lovely grandchildren, I feel I can be part of their lives and try to keep up with their interests too. 

After saying that, I do love my second job at a large Grammar School in Belfast, my voluntary jobs and family life! 

I found I learnt a lot from my own five children. The four daughters kept me up to date with their fashions and music, educating me in many aspects, whilst my son with trying to teach me technology. I find that very emotionally hard since he's left this world. His absence however has led me to other interests which I involve myself in now.  

All in all life brings changes and alternative choices and routes.