Wandering Ways

New Zealand Listener, Volume 32, Issue 809, 28 January 1955, Page 18

Wandering Ways

B Women’s Sessions have been bitten by the travel bug it seems. First of all they have a series of talks which begin from 2ZB on Friday, January 28, and later from other ZB stations, called A Kiwi at Large. Agnes Bray, who wrote the talks, visited England and found herself the incumbent of a series of temporary jobs. With light-hearted colonial resource she became cook, hoppicker, typist-clerk, lady’s companion, mother’s companion, parlour-maid, proxy parent, housekeeper, charwoman and advertising copywriter. These experiences gave her the entree into many kinds of life in England, and some extremely odd and _ interesting views of it. There was the time when, cook to one of the last remaining bachelor baronets who could afford to live on his income, she walked into an exclusive food store wearing her ancient New Zealand ;abardine raincoat. As she charged up the goods she was somewhat surprised to be addressed as "Lady Nigel."

The shabby old gab. evidently carried with it.an authentic county air. On another occasion she found herself companion in a remote part of Bedfordshire to an old, old lady who was almost certainly a witch. She had only one ear, an eye which was a blood-shot, rolling marble covered generally: by a rakish, not-too-clean bandage. Her. mouth was twisted so that she spoke to you sideways. She wore her "sharp teeth" as she called them, only for eating, and Miss Bray was kept perpetually busy finding them when required, as the old lady.was likely to take her milk and unsweetened apple purée, which was all she ever ate, anywhere. That job lasted only a. very short time. Angel’s Flight, the new ZB Women’s Hour serial to follow Meet the Mansons, is a kind of Cinderella-story in reverse. It concerns a_ raggéd little boy who climbs to wealth and importance at sea, in Sydney before the war, in Los Angeles and Hollywood, and finally in London’s Mayfair. Angel's Flight begins from 1ZB at 3.0 p-m. on Tuesday, February 1, and will be heard later from other ZB stations.