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Travels in a donkey trap
The author's memories of her life in the early 1900s and her travels with a donkey in England in 1970.
- GenresMemoir
196 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1975
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 19, 2021
I Want a Donkey
1970s England. What a charming story that is filled with humor, nostalgia, and philosophy.
I love simple stories if they are the right kind of simple. This one was the right kind of simple. Daisy is getting up in age for she is76 years old. She used to walk to town but needed help getting there now. She had no one to drive her, so this was no, “Driving Miss Daisy.” Thank God. Furthermore, she was a nice lady, and this is a true story, not one made in Hollywood. She bought a donkey and a trap (cart) to get her to town. The donkey she bought wasn’t just any donkey for this one was nice and easy to get along with, that is, with a little coaxing at times. The donkey didn’t seem to have a personality, but maybe I missed something. And she, the donkey, didn’t seem like she minded where she was as long as there was grass beneath her feet. I once had a dog like that I went to this woman’s ranch to get him, and he jumped in my car. When I let him out at my home, he didn’t try to leave. He was fine living with me, but I gave him to my brother, and he was fine staying there too. Maybe he liked it better since he had kids.
My favorite story in this book was on Christmas Eve when two boys came to see the donkey because they had heard that the donkey in the Bible kneeled in the manger. I hope I got that right. They expected to see Daisy’s donkey kneeling down as well.
I love donkey stories, and if you do too, I know of three more: Saving Simon, Journey with a Baja Burro, and Into a Desert Place. I found more to read by typing in “donkey” in Goodreads.
1970s England. What a charming story that is filled with humor, nostalgia, and philosophy.
I love simple stories if they are the right kind of simple. This one was the right kind of simple. Daisy is getting up in age for she is76 years old. She used to walk to town but needed help getting there now. She had no one to drive her, so this was no, “Driving Miss Daisy.” Thank God. Furthermore, she was a nice lady, and this is a true story, not one made in Hollywood. She bought a donkey and a trap (cart) to get her to town. The donkey she bought wasn’t just any donkey for this one was nice and easy to get along with, that is, with a little coaxing at times. The donkey didn’t seem to have a personality, but maybe I missed something. And she, the donkey, didn’t seem like she minded where she was as long as there was grass beneath her feet. I once had a dog like that I went to this woman’s ranch to get him, and he jumped in my car. When I let him out at my home, he didn’t try to leave. He was fine living with me, but I gave him to my brother, and he was fine staying there too. Maybe he liked it better since he had kids.
My favorite story in this book was on Christmas Eve when two boys came to see the donkey because they had heard that the donkey in the Bible kneeled in the manger. I hope I got that right. They expected to see Daisy’s donkey kneeling down as well.
I love donkey stories, and if you do too, I know of three more: Saving Simon, Journey with a Baja Burro, and Into a Desert Place. I found more to read by typing in “donkey” in Goodreads.
October 9, 2015
This gently enjoyable book with sweet drawings tells of Daisy and her search for a donkey and trap to take her around the Devon lanes. Having acquired Darkie, a good-sized gentle jenny, and a sturdy blue trap, she has to figure out how to put the harness on and drive.
Daisy had been confined more and more by her age - 76 in this book - and lack of strength. But summoning her reduced courage she now finds herself able to get out and about; to the village for her pension firstly. She describes the lands, hedges, woods, the day at the seaside with hay lunch brought for Darkie, the day she went to the town.
Added to this is Daisy's store of memories of growing up in London and moving to the country, where her father took the workers' train to London each day. She had to go into service, and we see three different houses through her eyes, though as a 'tween-maid she saw not much but the hard work of staff in those days.
I definitely got the feeling that having the chance to go out by herself again had given this lady the courage and strength to write her memoirs, with her love and care for Darkie and the various goats, cats and dogs shining through, all paid for on her tight pension budget. Darkie makes her new friends and allows her to reconnect with the wild countryside. I see that there is a second volume and I must look out for it. Anyone enjoying this book might also like 'Donkey Work' by Doreen Tovey about a Siamese cat owner in similar countryside who buys a young donkey.
Daisy had been confined more and more by her age - 76 in this book - and lack of strength. But summoning her reduced courage she now finds herself able to get out and about; to the village for her pension firstly. She describes the lands, hedges, woods, the day at the seaside with hay lunch brought for Darkie, the day she went to the town.
Added to this is Daisy's store of memories of growing up in London and moving to the country, where her father took the workers' train to London each day. She had to go into service, and we see three different houses through her eyes, though as a 'tween-maid she saw not much but the hard work of staff in those days.
I definitely got the feeling that having the chance to go out by herself again had given this lady the courage and strength to write her memoirs, with her love and care for Darkie and the various goats, cats and dogs shining through, all paid for on her tight pension budget. Darkie makes her new friends and allows her to reconnect with the wild countryside. I see that there is a second volume and I must look out for it. Anyone enjoying this book might also like 'Donkey Work' by Doreen Tovey about a Siamese cat owner in similar countryside who buys a young donkey.
July 12, 2016
What a delightful little book! Loved every bit of it. I had no idea what to expect when I pulled this off the shelf at the library; I had determined to read it no matter what its pages held. So glad to have done so. Written by a 76 year old woman, it tells of her purchase of a donkey and a trap as her mode of transportation. She tells of times and thoughts she has while on her excursions and of her life, primarily revolving around her new pet. A little gem!
June 11, 2022
When I was a child, I was given some old books about a little girl called Milly-Molly-Mandy whose 'adventures' consisted of getting her hair cut, having a doll's tea party and fishing for minnows in the stream. This book is 'Milly-Molly-Mandy' for grownups!
Daisy Baker is an elderly and fairly hard-up lady living in rural Devon, whose life is gradually becoming more restricted as her ability to walk long distances decreases with age. She decides that a donkey & trap will be 'just the thing' to give her more freedom. This book tells of how Darkie, the 'middle aged' donkey arrives, and how she & Daisy set out to explore the Devon countryside together. As Darkie dawdles along the narrow lanes, Daisy allows her mind to wander too, and this book is a delightful mix of stories from her past, a little gentle philosophy and the 'adventures' she has with Darkie.
This is not the book for you if you like lots of plot and drama. The most exciting 'adventure' the pair have is driving around looking for Daisy's missing dog, who is found safe and well. Other chapters tell of driving to the village to collect her pension, a visit to local woodland, and a picnic outing to the seaside - a whole 4 miles away! There is a touching account of the little boy who wants to visit Darkie's stable on Christmas Eve, because he believes the old legend that donkeys kneel at midnight to honour the birth of Jesus. Daisy also acquires a new kitten, when a motorist, driving past her trap, mysteriously hands her one out of his car window. As she says 'when you go out in a donkey cart anything is likely to happen'!
This is a beautiful little book, full of gentle contentment. Daisy has had great sorrow in her past, and the family obviously live in straightened circumstances, yet the book overflows with joy and gratitude for all she has. A real delight and a reminder to slow down and look around us.
Daisy Baker is an elderly and fairly hard-up lady living in rural Devon, whose life is gradually becoming more restricted as her ability to walk long distances decreases with age. She decides that a donkey & trap will be 'just the thing' to give her more freedom. This book tells of how Darkie, the 'middle aged' donkey arrives, and how she & Daisy set out to explore the Devon countryside together. As Darkie dawdles along the narrow lanes, Daisy allows her mind to wander too, and this book is a delightful mix of stories from her past, a little gentle philosophy and the 'adventures' she has with Darkie.
This is not the book for you if you like lots of plot and drama. The most exciting 'adventure' the pair have is driving around looking for Daisy's missing dog, who is found safe and well. Other chapters tell of driving to the village to collect her pension, a visit to local woodland, and a picnic outing to the seaside - a whole 4 miles away! There is a touching account of the little boy who wants to visit Darkie's stable on Christmas Eve, because he believes the old legend that donkeys kneel at midnight to honour the birth of Jesus. Daisy also acquires a new kitten, when a motorist, driving past her trap, mysteriously hands her one out of his car window. As she says 'when you go out in a donkey cart anything is likely to happen'!
This is a beautiful little book, full of gentle contentment. Daisy has had great sorrow in her past, and the family obviously live in straightened circumstances, yet the book overflows with joy and gratitude for all she has. A real delight and a reminder to slow down and look around us.
October 31, 2023
Enjoyable. A form of short stories. Journal style.
May 27, 2014
At 76 in 1970, the author in Devon, purchases a gentle donkey and cart and expands her world so she can now travel to town, the woods, and the sea side. This slow pace allows her to reminisce about life.
January 10, 2014
Sweet book. Really a treasure. Older woman gets a donkey and trap to get around and her memories of life.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews