Contents
Ack nowledgments 7
PART 1: Entry 9
1 A n Ordinary Girl 11
2 The Furies at the Door 18
3 A Very Big Decision 24
4 First Impressions 29
5 Black Pudding 35
6 A Real Beginning 38
7 Le arning the Ropes 42
8 Secrets and Mysteries 52
9 House Training 58
PART 2: Noviciate 71
10 Taking the Veil 73
11 A Novice's Life for Me! 81
12 So Much to Learn, to Love, and to Understand 88
13 Music and a Pink Corset 96
14 Holiday Time 101
15 Crisis 111
16 Death and Sister Pauline 120
17 The Turkey Experience 126
18 A Hustings and the delights of Literature 132
19 A Sawdust Carpet and a private Epiphany 138
PART 3: Profession 149
20 St Julien's School, Le Mans 151
21 W retchedness in romiley 158
22 A Happy house and a Change of Direction 164
23 Broadgreen, Val Doonican, and Other Oddities 170
24 Re newal of Vows and Night Duty 179
25 A New Broom and Family Worries 188
26 The Burns Unit and a Child Called David 197
27 Gh astly Gynae! 203
28 More Night-time Drama and that Lovin' Feeling 209
29 Midwifery, Three-Year Vows and Uncertainty 218
30 The Leaving of Liverpool 229
Glossary 237