Thank you GlitterFluffJust because we like reminiscing and discussing the great and the evil of convent schools and not wishing to de-rail the Jodie Marsh thread
's... Scared the crap out of me. It seems the blackboard rubber was the norm then for punishment 
, but bloody hell the "c" word makes me laugh, but I can't call someone it. Absolutely ridiculous isn't it. But I agree completely that JM is a total one, and many others on the Tattle site that I dip into. 
I’ve read that too…fascinating
We had to say Hail Mary every day but not just in English, in French too, can still recite it to this day! Je vous salut Marie... Going to a convent school made me hate religion and I was a defiant atheist until a few years ago. Going to mass what seemed like every fucking day day at school gave me the creeps, all the reciting in unison *shudders*We had to say Hail Mary every morning and the Lord's Prayer at the end of the day and the two are ingrained in my brain 30 years later. I also know an offensive number of hymns so on the occasion I find myself in Church I can sing a scary number without the hymn book
Such life skills!
Your school sounded lovelyOurs was fully private and I think because it was in a 'nice' area of Surrey it attracted lots of local families so although it was Catholic convent, kids weren't sent there purely for that reason - it was just a decent school in leafy Surrey.
I think the prep school was slightly more 'nunny' than the senior school. Our headmistress was a Sister as were a large number of the teachers, albeit there were some more civilian teachers. Sister Julia used to mooch around with her Golden Retrievers (I'm sure one was called Sheba!)
We had a lovely lawn that went down to a river.
I remember lots of religious relics, lots of praying, LOTS of chapel. Chapel was on a Wednesday morning and we had to all trek across in class order. It was a massive deal in prep school if you were being prepped for First Communion (I wasn't because although my dad was Irish Catholic, my mum was Jewish so)
Some of the nuns were savage and clearly hated girls, but I think having the civilian teachers introduced a balance so we weren't all completely terrorised!
There were a few blackboard rubber lobbing incidents but I don't think I'm particularly traumatised by it!
Overall, I have very fond memories of that school. I made friends that I'm still friends with to this day. I am not religious in any way, but I find a weird comfort on the off occasion that I do go to Church. The RC church has done so much harm over the years and continues to do so but I still find a weird peace going into churches
... 
Ours was fully private and I think because it was in a 'nice' area of Surrey it attracted lots of local families so although it was Catholic convent, kids weren't sent there purely for that reason - it was just a decent school in leafy Surrey.Thank you GlitterFluff
Our school had a Polish order of Nuns - 2 seperate Catholic convent schools had merged, the senior part of the school had originally been a fee paying convent - most of those girls resented us commoners
We only had prayers in English - most of my school mates were Irish and Italian heritage. It was a huge melting pot to be honest - many girls from monied families, and then those where clearly the families must have struggled.
We had some nice teachers (mainly female) that were married, with children. The priests were
In the main the Nuns scared me - they wasn't kind, they just about tolerated being around young girls. On one site they had a big house where they lived, so they never left.
I attend Mass now when I feel the need to go, not because I have to. 10am Sunday Mass, week in/out - I don't blame my parents, they did what they thought was right. I have 3 sisters - only my youngest sister didn't have a convent education, I think by then my parents had given up
I have faith still, I think what you learn from a young age never leaves you - it did shape me and how I viewed men especially. No learning about female things, only talk of you get married, you have children...
So interesting to read about you other Tattlers - I do swear
I left school in 1979 - I'm 63 this year - I have some fond memories, but in the main it was rotten. I was glad to leave after 6th form and get a job. I didn't know anyone that went on to Uni - we all got jobs, started earning money.
Sorry for long reply. Has made me think this evening - not bad thoughts, just ones that were part of life back then.
)
That's because The Lord could see Tattle in your future. WARNED.Ah c’est bon, le bon dieu!
once walked up to the blackboard and the crucifix above fell off and smashed at my feet
Thank you Stillwater, found it cheaply on ebay.
It’s interesting that we have such conflicted feelings over Catholicism.Many years ago I watched the film The Magdalene Sisters with my Dad - so naive to the happenings of the past, and also the present if I'm honest. Only as I've got older that these things hit me hard - like a terrible shame that I am a Catholic too, how can I be part of this "thing" that has caused so much misery and hate to so many.
My Dad sat in silence after, I asked him if he knew of these launderies, he said he did but didn't think that they had been bad places to be.
I'm not able to reconcile those feelings of what I was taught, to the actual dealings of the Church. I can't change it, I can only change my thinking to bring peace to my heart.
Strangely as a Family we don't talk about us not attending Mass often. I asked my Dad last year did he want to go to Good Friday, and Easter Sunday - that was nice, and nice to have done with him too. My Mum is CofE - my Mum knew that any children would need to brought up Catholic. My Nan and Grandad didn't want my Mum to marry my Dad - too much religion they felt. They were the best... That's a whole other talk...
This has brought back some long forgotten memories!!!
I never came across a monk during my Convent years but I now live very close to a silent order and often see the monks out on their daily constitutionals.
Sister Mary was slightly over animated about the return of a saucepan to its rightful cupboard, chased me bezzie round the kitchen with it but other than that all par for the course. Had been at Catholic primary and jr so praying morning, noon and night didn’t even register.
