Jann Thomson - Words of Wisdom

This week I interrupted the loveable Jann Thomson just before she was to get her hair done at the hairdressers, (sorry Jann). A beautiful soul who states, “I’ve had a good life love”.

Age: 85

Where and when were you born? Sydney, 1933.

What are the most important lessons you've learned in life? I just don’t like rude people- you know, be kind and smile and be happy, I find it really hard when some people are nasty. I think, why be nasty!?

What big world events were the most memorable while you were growing up? I was evacuated during the war, to Gilgandra- that was a really big step. I was only seven years old, I went with my Grandmother, and my Aunt and my cousin, his surname was Fox so he called me cousin rabbit. *laughs*

I was an only child, and I loved my Grandmother so much, (she was English and my Grandfather was Scottish), it wasn’t so dramatic for me because I was with family and just loved them so much.

What is your favourite childhood memory? Oh.. That was hard times.. I loved my cousins because I was an only child, they kind of felt like they belonged to me.

I think back to a Sunday and my hair was always washed, I had long hair, Mum would never do it in rags because she would do it in stockings so the curl came out softer. I will always remember that.

I had wonderful parents, I wasn’t spoilt because times were so bad, people often say I would have been but it wasn’t like that at all, my Mother was very clever with her hands, I didn’t ever have a dress brought for me or anything, she would sew for me and a lot of other people, so I was very fortunate.

What life advice would you pass along to your grandchildren? Always be friendly and kind - and they are, they are beautiful.

What did you want to be when you grew up? Hmm.. I don’t know really what I wanted to be.. but I was a receptionist at a young age, and I loved that, I loved working around people.

What are you most proud of? My family, I’ve got a wonderful son, I lost my eldest son. I love them all.

What did you get up to when you were young? I had a bike which I rode almost every day, I did have a bad accident on it and busted my chin pretty badly, that didn’t stop me I just loved it and I loved playing tennis too, our friends’ neighbours had a tennis court.

What is your favourite thing to do for fun now? Going out shopping and seeing my family!