Unusual description of a wife's occupation

[Pennines]

Coombs -- just to say, I read your message, then noticed amongst your surname interests, the name - BRAIN!

How apt for this thread!

[coombs]

Coombs -- just to say, I read your message, then noticed amongst your surname interests, the name - BRAIN!

How apt for this thread!

How do you mean?

[Pennines]

Oh Coombs - I do hope I haven't offended you -- it was simply that we had been discussing mental incapacity in this particular topic.

I noticed that one of the surname interests you have listed as being in your Ancestry - was the surname of 'Brain'. Our brain is the organ in our body which controls our mental capacity.

Or am I still not making sense? (As usual!!)

[coombs]

Oh Coombs - I do hope I haven't offended you -- it was simply that we had been discussing mental incapacity in this particular topic.

I noticed that one of the surname interests you have listed as being in your Ancestry - was the surname of 'Brain'. Our brain is the organ in our body which controls our mental capacity.

Or am I still not making sense? (As usual!!)

No I do get you, yes all this talk about people who were lunatics, or "imbeciles" or those who were described as "simple minded". My aforementioned old work colleague was born 1944. He was not "retarded" or insane but was eccentric and obtuse with instructions and struggled, but he was also quite assertive when he wanted to be, so did not suffer fools gladly, and a bit of a busybody, and could be opinionated. One time he signed his name and gave his middle initial of "N", and I asked what is his middle name and he said "I shall give you a clue. I was born a week before Christmas".

[Pennines]

Oh goodness Coombs - what on earth did that mean? Or was it completely meaningless?

I just want to laugh at it, as it doesn't mean anything to me.

[coombs]

Oh goodness Coombs - what on earth did that mean? Or was it completely meaningless?

I just want to laugh at it, as it doesn't mean anything to me.

Noel was his middle name. 

[arthurk]

I've just come across an interesting occupation in the 1921 census - it's a Caroline Meredith, age 77, in Kearsley, Lancs, listed as mother-in-law in the household of John Martin.

Her occupation? - "Eating, Sleeping, Grumbling" 

[louisa maud]

Well you should have heard me laugh and that is what life is about if we can  laugh, luckily  I am in on my own otherwise my other half might think I had a funny half an hour, thanks for that

LM

[suey]

Suey -- I came across one who was a Farm Labourer - living with his parents and he was in his 40s - then the parents died - other relatives took him in. He remained working as a farm Labourer though, still described as Imbecile. (This was in my neighbour's family tree - hence I was following the parents through, but became interested in this son.)

Louisa --- that is SO funny, I do hope some descendant did find that census. Such things bring a bit of 'colour' to a family tree and give you something to laugh about.

I tried all his siblings, aunts, uncles, felt sure he’d be with someone, not found a death or burial for him either….I’m going to give him one more try.