Talk about the recollections of a middle-aged person of his childhood and family. Compare them with your grandparents’ life in the country
I have read an extract from the book “Below Stairs” by Margaret Powell. It’s an autobiographical book. The author wrote about her family, the difficulties of their life. The family was very poor. Her father was an odd-job man. He could do almost everything: repair roofs, or do a bit of plastering; but painting and paper-hanging  were his main work. So, it was hardly any work in the winter. People didn’t want their houses done up then. Winters were the hardest time. Her mother went into domestic service from about eight in the morning to six in the evening for two shillings a day. Sometimes she used to bring home little treasures: a basin of dripping, half loaf of bread or something else.
Author recollected her mother, when the family had only one pair of shoes. She went down to the council to try and get more for them. She answered every question under the sun because she hadn’t enough money to live on. When the family was extra hard up, they had a room or two rooms in somebody else’s house. But when her dad was working, they would go around looking for half a house. They never had a house for themselves.
But Margaret Powell had some good recollections about her childhood. For example, she remembered that every Sunday morning her father used to bring his children a comic for half-penny plain and a penny coloured.
My grandmother was the youngest child in family of ten. Her childhood took place during the Second World War. She lived near Moscow on the non-occupied territory. Her farm was engaged in cultivation of vegetables and tobacco for the army. Her worst childhood memory associated with the work on the farm. The family went to cut the grass on the narrow path. Grandma was carrying a scythe on his shoulder and suddenly fell asleep from exhaustion. As he fell, she hurt her braid his sister. This event is so frightened her that since she always went last and went to bed early so as not to hurt anyone else.
After the war, she enrolled in a culinary college, graduating she married my grandfather.

Talk about the qualities a woman need to reach the tom in a male-dominated profession in the early 1950-s
This story is about the life of an outstanding personality. Her name is Mary Grieve. The author didn’t know her very well having always lived along way away, but he sad, that Mary has always been a woman he has respected for many different reasons.
Mary was born in Scotland in 1912. She had one brother, called Tom. Her family were wealthy for those times and luckily for Mary, her father believed in education both his children. He didn’t send his daughter to one of the typical schools for daughters of rich where they only learnt skills preparing them for marriage. That’s why she entered Oxford University.
In the 1930’s there were very few women at University. However, Mary wasn’t a quiet, submissive woman. In fact, she has always been very determined and prepared to be different.
After finishing University she got a hob in journalism writing for a newspaper. She also wrote articles and books later in her life. After the Second World War, she got a job with one of the new women’s magazines that were become more and more popular.  After many years of hard work and struggling in a male-dominated profession she eventually reached the top and became the editor of the magazine. She was the first female-editor of magazine or newspaper in Britain.
She nave married as her work was very important to her and a job and marriage did not mix in Britain in 1950’s. But she loved children and spent a great deal of time with her nieces and nephews. She was interested in what they as a children were doing and that they thought. She also encouraged them to think that they could anything they wanted with their lives. Nothing impossible. The author sad, that she was a good role model. She was confined to a wheelchair after having  several strokes. But she was full of enthusiasm about life, her brain was still active and she learnt a lot of new things.
I think, she was one of the women, who had changed our life.

Describe Annie Light’s personality. Did she have any chance to live a different life? Was she a submissive creature?
I have read a story about Annie Light by Laurie Lee. It’s the story about his mother’s life.
Annie was born in the early 1880’s in the village. She was only sister to a large family of boys. She was a bright dreamy child. With a curious, hungry mind.
When Annie was about thirteen years old her mother was taken ill, so the girl had to leave school for good. She had her five brothers and father to look after, and there was no one else to help her. To the other village girls Annie was something of a case, yet they were curiously drawn to her. Her strain fantasy, her sense of fun, her invention, satire and elegance of manner must have intrigued and perplexed them. When Annie’s brother were big enough to look after themselves, She went into domestic service. Later her father retired from horses and went into the liquor business. And when her mother died, Annie left service to help her father. Then one day she read in a local paper: ”Widower (4 children) Seeks Housekeeper”. She wrote the answer, a reply come back, an appointment was made.
Annie fell in love with widower. And so he married her. And so late he left her – with his children and some more of her own. She waited for thirty years. Her happiness at that time was something she guarded as thought it must ensure his eventual return.
I think, she was happy, because she had love.

Talk about the attitude if a housewife to the hardships of her life
She get’s up early in the morning.  Than she cooks breakfast for all the family. After the breakfast she washing-up and sees her daughter, Jodi, to the school bas Angela. She also view Playschool with her sun Benjamin. Twice a week she  go to washing , ironing and biweekly she laundering. After midday her husband comes home to have a meal. After that she returned to work and play with Ben. They  are chasing and racing and hiding and seeking. After that Jodi comes from school and tells stories about school life. Diana cooks evening meal for her family and after that it’s bath time. She likes to watch her children splash water about. In the late evening Diana and her husband put children to bed.
At weekends the family go for a walk, feed ducks, swing and visit the library.
I think, Diana is a well-educated women. She prefer reading to watching TV.  Also she use literary language in her dairy.  Diana has a good sense of humor. For example, she names Angela the family member. She optimistic about her life. I think, she is a good example for her children and readers.

Talk about the problems and changes in the behavior of a child as described in the article from a psychology  magazine
I have read a letter from a psychology magazine about a small girl Kathy by name. The author describe the changes in her behavior. She was the youngest child in the group. She was small for her age but confident, competent and determined. She was a lovely child, but unfortunately a scratcher. She could defend  herself from the older children. The teacher couldn’t put up with Kathy’s way of bullying other children.  The solution of her problem was promoted by the description of similar case in a magazine. The teacher decided to ignore Kathy’s misbehavior in future. Kathy was puzzled and disappointed by the teacher’s behavior. When the girl bulled other children the teacher ignore Kathy and give the sweet to the victim.  The method was successful l. Kathy never  scratched  a child again. Her case may help parents to deal with bullying in the family, especially with small children.