Mrs de Jong- de Wilde – My headmisstress!

Which was quite ironic because looking back I think I already spoke very good English to start with.

Also going to local classes did only confirm that, so in no time I got in London Polytechnic while working through the day.

As I was not au pair material, not submissive enough I guess, I got myself some receptionist job, speaking several languages and a very small room somewhere around the Devonshire Terrace W2.

The room did not even have running water or a toilet, for that I had to go down a flight of stairs to a combined bathroom.

I did not have a shower, but it had a bath with two taps, one cold and one hot, so if you wanted to wash yourself when you got up, you got yourself a bucket and a pan, filled it with both taps and used the pan to rinse yourself with.

Also it was missing one of the little pretty windows in the middle of January so you would never stay for very long before you froze over or otherwise someone else was knocking on the door wanting to go to the toilet…

I can still to this day, brush my teeth and wash myself in under three minutes, 5 if I want to enjoy the shower…

I spoke to my mum once a week, incredibly expensive because I could only make the connection if I went through the operator who then called my mum asking if she would accept the charges…

So our conversation were more like a shopping list of things I had done, or had not done along with questions about my family there.

One day I was told that my old Headmistress Mrs De Jong de Wilde would be pensioned off from my old all girls school.

I had actually honoured that school for a couple of years after making a mess at the two previous ones, leaving my mother to think that I was either lazy or really stupid, because I do not think I had many positive marks ever.

So I was enrolled at this all girl institution where you were not to walk fast on the stairs, preferably wear a dress etc etc.

I had one huge advantage, the headmistress was really strict but she caught on quite quickly that something was not quite right at my home, so although she stayed very strict with me, she was also very fair to me.

Within the first month I became head girl and I never looked back. Anyone who had a complaint came past me so I dared to talk to the teachers about it.

I also had one problem which I still have not overcome yet, I came late every day!

I then had to register at the janitor and was sent into class.

The next day you had to be there at 8 am…

I think I made the 8 am curfew most mornings but the normal school hours were beyond my reach…

Even today they still are…

Proving that: I was late at each of own marriages by at least 15 minutes..

Just saying

And if you were late more than once you were invited by mrs de Jong de Wilde.. She was a very impressive lady, she had to be keeping this whole school full of women and girls running smoothly.

So one day I heard from my mother that she had a final reception saying goodbye, I knew I owed it to her patience that I would have to be present.

I booked myself a Harwich > Hoek of Holland ferry, the train from London and a ticket for the other side to get back home.

It used to be quite a journey, especially if it stormed which it did on a regular bases.

So I arrived home, took a luxurious shower, washed my hair, changed my clothes into a dress and biked my way up to the schoolcanteen congratulate her on her retirement.

The canteen was build on top of the gymclass, so you had to have a head for heights in order to be able to eat your lunch there and above all it was vast because of the length of the gym.

So here I am, stowing away my bike in the biking shed, running up the stairs and throwing open the doors of the canteen in order to get in and there was mrs de Jong de Wild in the middle of her speech, probably politely telling how much fun her career had been, and there I was, flushed, hair uncombed but probably dry by then, in a dress and very much present….

Well Ms Pastoor, what is your excuse for your lateness this time?

I looked her in the eye and said that I risked London traffic, British Rail, sailed the North Sea, was halted by the Nederlandse Spoorwegen, the bus to Kortenhoef, needed showering while washing my hair to get London dust out of it and then changed into a dress (!) and bike to school especially in order to say goodbye to you!!

Personally I think, looking back, she must have been one hell of a woman because all she said: “well you better sit down than hey, seeing as you finally arrived!”

I think I got myself a place at the front and I will never forget her to this date.

Have a great day !