Can Anyone Read Shorthand - Pitman New Era I think

[happyinherts]

Found in loft - relating to brother's O Levels. Mother's shorthand notes. Was she keeping tabs on him. Brother is keen to have this deciphered.

Anyone?

I think it could be Teeline shorthand, but I’m not sure. I learned it many years ago, but can’t remember enough to decipher it, sorry.

I think the first sign is ‘with’ but I would have to look up the symbols again to try to understand the rest.

It looks like Teeline, which I use daily, but it’s pretty tricky to decipher someone else’s. Let me keep trying though.

I recognise some from Teeline but others completely unfamiliar. Not enough to make any sense, just the words like 'with' and 'there is', possibly 'anyone' - whether it's her handwriting or she developed her own method that worked for her (mine is certainly not the official version anymore!).

I think the sloped lines are more a Pitman thing?

I think I have my mum's old shorthand book. I'll see if I can find it. I've completely forgotten all the shorthand I knew.

How old would it be OP? I can only recognise some of it too, but Pitman isn’t really taught these days so that could be a clue.

Eg the x confuses me. In Teeline that would be accident, or axe, but it seems strange in context so could be another meaning

I recognise some from Teeline but despite my chief reporter's insistence that anyone should be able to read another reporter's shorthand, I've never been good at reading other people's and mine has lots of quirks in it which would make it difficult for other people I'm sure!

I didn't do teeline but can read some of this. I did pitman ?new era (can't recall exactly) nearly 46 years ago now! I have had a bash and some characters I had trouble with(/) and others couldn't get at all anything that fitted the sentence(?).

"In the coming years I ? My ?heart will be fulfilled.
"Keep your appetite ? for it and while/more/well can be the word/sort of wisdom given in the years ahead ? as a great working future with/to it/do/day"

Correction: I think it must be "source of wisdom...". Will post again if I can improve on it further.

@knackeredagain

The x is a full stop (though I didn't do mine like that).

I also use teeline daily but I can’t decipher this. Either it’s not teeline or it’s been adapted/evolved over use, as tends to happen. I doubt anyone could read mine!

@knackeredagain i was also taught x was accident. A / is a full stop in Teeline.

It does look like teeline, but everybody has their own adaptations which makes it hard to read, especially when on unlined paper.

It looks like it starts "With time..."

OK. I did Classic which is very similar to t-line. What I have got so far is

"In the years ahead I ...

word of wisdom because in the years ahead....... "

I'll have another look later as I suspect what some of the other words are - assuming I get any more I'll either post it - or DM it if sensitive!! Hopefully somebody else can help too.

Sorry - it starts "In the coming years - copied the wrong bit over!

Nothing positive to add, but it'll probably be tricky to get a precise translation. I asked my late DM a number of times to teach me shorthand (she learnt Pitman in the late '40s) and she refused on the grounds that she'd picked up way too many bad habits & had developed her own style and symbols. Still wish she'd tried, though!

In the coming years ... is the first part.

I wonder was she writing a good luck note/card for your brother and was writing it out in shorthand first.

On reflection, yes it is defo pitman new era. Trouble is you all develop "short forms" of amalgamated words and characters for more speed and so it is not always easy to read other people's shorthand (ie my full stops are a faster adaption of the original one, which was a cross, as here, as it is faster - suggested by our particular tutor). I will be refining my transcription given upthread later today when I have had more time to mull over it. I agree, it looks like a kindly good luck message.

How interesting. Shame she couldn't have said it in person. She was a very religious lady, spend most of her days teaching others.

Definitely New Era but it's so long since I wrote it regularly that I am too rusty to do more than agree with others who think it is a good luck message about ...in the coming years.....of your heart will be fulfilled.

Can't make out much of the second paragraph - but I struggled sometimes to read my own shorthand let along someone else's!

Had another look - think in the second para there is something about...because in the years ahead....the grade would be....

Right, OP, I am pretty sure I have got it now, helped by you saying your mother was very religious.
"In the coming years all the desires of (my - crossed out) your heart will be fulfilled.
"Keep your body fit and well, keep the word of wisdom because in the years ahead the Lord has great work for you to do."
There is a dot before great which may be a (great work)or could just be a random dot by mistake.

Thank you so much. My brother will be delighted. Mum is in a care home and he is sorting through years worth of belongings.

He was never happy with Mum's over zealous religious thoughts and his upbringing. Mine was less strict. He was convinced she 'was on his back' all the time. How interesting.

Massive thanks @mrsjoyfulprizeforraffiawork Delighted you've deciphered it. May be more to come!