Frances was born in County Wicklow, Ireland in 1950. She emigrated to Canada when she was nine with her mother and five siblings to join their father who had gained work there as a tailor. She describes the adventure of travelling across Ireland, the Atlantic and Canada in a cold December and the excitement of being reunited with her father in Winnipeg.

Frances remembers the experience of being a new girl in school with a different accent and assumptions made by teachers. She also reflects on the different expectations of her family of her compared to that of her friends, including behaviour, work and hospitality. Frances recalls with affection the arrival of her maternal grandmother to join their household.

She talks about growing up in Canada and her work and social life, including meeting the young man who became her husband. On getting married she moved to more remote areas because of her husband’s work and she shares her memories of having to find friends and activities.

Frances returned to education as a mature student having been frustrated by her early education and parental expectations. She fulfilled her early ambition of becoming a nurse and had a ‘wonderful’ 30 year career.