Wot do we pay ya's for asks the High Lord Squirter. Retired ladies receive their own pension so don't require payment, your Lordship. Those years of being handed the housekeeping are over, or if they aren't should be. We girls are on equal pay with the boys now.

Funny though it was never that way in my home. The money went into a joint account, and there was not much left anyway after the bills were paid. I came of pension age six days before my mate passed away. As I had always paid the bills it was life as usual.

I know women who had to manage the home on what was doled out on payday. They had no idea what he earned and would not ask either. They were not happy homes. Imagine having to book purchases as low as a few dollars because he would not give her any spending cash.

Is this up for discussion or is it a taboo topic. Has to be better than what's on offer at the moment. Lets find out what our Kiwi women have had to do to run a well kept home for the last two hundred years. How did mum and Grandma manage?

Oi

""your Lordship.""

And don't you forget it....all of ya's.

""I know women who had to manage the home on what was doled out on payday""

We had ta keep you in check somehow, and wot about our beer money, we certain can't skimp on tha nectar of the Gods.

""Is this up for discussion or is it a taboo topic. Has to be better than what's on offer at the moment. ""

Too plurry right, agreed whole heartedly, go go go.

Wash car o'clock.

It was just like that (housekeeping money handed out) in my first marriage (1961) I think the final straw came came when I said I needed an increase and was told I'd have to prove it!. When the children had started high school somebody offered me a part time job. I really had lost all my confidence at being able to be anything else but "just a housewife" but I was persuaded and gained my FREEDOM! And there are some people who wonder why I never married again

In my second partnership of 31 years it was vastly different...everything was in joint names and we had 2 bank accounts...one in both our names and one in my name.

Interesting subject.

That seemed to be what wrecked my parents' marriage. He worked, she wasn't 'allowed to' because it would reflect badly on his ability to support his family.

Except, until they adopted me after 15 childless years, they didn't actually have a family. She was the true housewife; a man, a house (which he bought without consulting her as a nice surprise when they married and which she never liked - wonder why?) and a garden to care for and that was her lot.

He gave her 'pin' money but no 'house-keeping'. She was allowed to run up accounts at the grocer, butcher and so on and he paid each month but she had to ask for all but the most minor of personal purchases.

Love him though I did, it was obviously all about power and control. It was an appalling attitude and I understood why my mother up and left us both when I was 13.

All joking aside it would have been really good if someone else had taken over all the bill paying etc in this house. Himself has never used an ATM used to write out a cheque occasionally back in the day. Wouldn't know how much power, groceries etc cost.

However, I did buy him two packs of vacuum cleaner bags yesterday as they were on special. Also always get detergent that is kind to the hands so his hands don't suffer too much in the dishwater. At the moment he is out getting the washing in while inside I have the young-un from over the road cleaning the windows for me. I kid you not

You see Squirter you are not the only man-slave.

Oi,

""However, I did buy him two packs of vacuum cleaner bags yesterday as they were on special. Also always get detergent that is kind to the hands so his hands don't suffer too much in the dishwater. At the moment he is out getting the washing in while inside I have the young-un from over the road cleaning the windows for me. I kid you not""

Wot more can be said, I rest my case.

Cheers 'n' beers.

Crikey , Wheres Melsy ? them Bulldogs are rippin into the Eels

Squirter, did I forget the cup of tea in bed in the mornings.

He loves to tell everyone he has brought me a cup of tea every morning for over 53 years which is so not true, last 20 maybe but I will let him off on that one.

Both going for eye checks tomorrow, what with clean windows and new glasses 'twil be a whole new world out there.

"Wash car o'clock."
Must be a townie. Real men don't wash their cars.

"Funny though it was never that way in my home. The money went into a joint account, and there was not much left anyway after the bills were paid."

That's how it should be but alas it's not always so.
Thinking back to my childhood with dad going to work at 6.30am and coming home at around 8.30pm it was always Mum that did the financing arranging lawyers and Dad only taking time off when something needed his signature. From memory the cheque accounts were always in Mum's name.

To the best of my knowledge my in-laws had a similar arrangement. I can remember Pop saying that he only needed 2/- in his pocket so he could buy an icecream.

As for ourselves we have looked at life as a "Joint Partnership" on equal footing and neither making major decisions without consulting the other. I can remember getting the raspberry from workmates because I would take my pay packet home unopened. Now after 48 years I wouldn't change a single thing!

"He worked, she wasn't 'allowed to' because it would reflect badly on his ability to support his family. "

There was a lot of that,back then - & I think you're right in that much of it was all about power & control;it would be fairly difficult to organise an escape if you're without money,& I guess for some men it may have been the only power they had.




"However, I did buy him two packs of vacuum cleaner bags yesterday as they were on special. Also always get detergent that is kind to the hands so his hands don't suffer too much in the dishwater. At the moment he is out getting the washing in while inside I have the young-un from over the road cleaning the windows for me. I kid you not"

oh Aggie,you big softie,you!

No Dally, real women don't either, they pay their granddaughter to do it.