Sweetbriar Dreams

So where shall we go on our journey today?

Saturday 17 January 2015

The Cobweb of Memories

The North wind doth blow, and the East, West and South too!  Buffeting, knocking and damaging. Every evening it has been relentless, Mother Nature picking up her vacuum cleaner and hoovering Britain's fair land - I just wish she was a little quieter while I try to get my sleep!    So, this weekend I was determined to surround myself with books, notebooks, good old fashioned pen and paper, maps and plans.  No trips this week, just planning them.  Writing must have been playing on my mind as it seemed that everywhere I looked I could see leaves of paper - including the beautiful roses that hubby had bought me.  I felt I could write on these perfect petals.


After the inevitable housework and hanging out the washing to dry (would you believe it, not a breathe of wind!), I picked up one of the many boxes I have of my Grandad's notes and photos and reached up for an open file high on one of the study shelves that is full of maps and plans.  Even though I wasn't walking the streets of London, I was visualising them instead.  Aren't rolled up plans so intriguing, especially when covered in cobwebs? (Very Victorian!).


Did I say I had finished the housework?!  Let me explain before you judge me, the shelf is very high and the box is open at the top - I work full time - It's in a corner that I don't see very much - OK, OK I missed it!... a few times!!

What could be faceless pieces of paper doomed for the shredder, are coiled up pieces of information just waiting to burst out and tell their historical stories, completing the jigsaw puzzle of times gone by.


Each piece so precious with little notes on them on the London Docklands from the 1800's until late last century.  What used to be there, the stories of the people who lived there and the family memories.  Priceless!  One day each one will be in an A3 binder, flat and dust free... one day!


My house is full of books on London that have come from my Grandad's collection but occasionally I will open one of his boxes and I will find something I haven't come across before.  Today was one of those days where I picked up a Bartholomews Map on the Lake District.  Clearly my Grandad's, but it seemed so out of place amongst all his writings.  The rich, fragile paper was glued to hessian and just looked gorgeous!


I very carefully opened this 1920's map and found the faded colours printed on each sheet.  With time the paper has detached from each other but this gave it even more character.  As I looked at the map I noticed little notes, circles and pathways that were written and drawn by my Grandad, obviously where he had traveled to and walked - maybe a trip for me and my family this year?  Until then, I will be looking for a frame that can display this historical and personalised map.


For now though, I am enjoying the wind free, dry, calm weather and I will continue to write about his life's journey and enjoy every cobweb, frayed binding, stained page and his clear informative writing for the weekend.


Of course I need to plan for the future as well, so me and Miss Teen are busy discussing where we will be going in London this year.  The usual haunts of Greenwich, Camden Town and the South Bank will be obvious choices but we want to see things off the beaten track this year.  I do hope you will come and visit with your tea and cake when we tell our own stories.


Keep safe and warm and I do hope if you had these awful winds, and in some cases snow, that you have not suffered too much damage.

Take care.


 photo 32pt_facebook_zps54bb688b.png  photo 32pt_twitter_zpse0ad82a3.png  photo 32pt_bloglovin_zps007d7617.png  photo 32pt_pinterest_zps82b12372.png  photo 32pt_blog-webstagram_zps452e9160.png  photo 32pt_google-plus_zpsb3f03a30.png  photo 32pt_rss_zps9c0ded94.png

44 comments:

  1. Hi Chel, I love the flowers that your husband gave you so pretty in the winter! It must be interesting to be looking at all of the books from your granddad! I hope you have fun and enjoy them. I know you will have fun on your trips to London and I can't wait to see more of your posts on your trips there! Have a wonderful weekend and week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You have some wonderful documents there and I so love old maps!
    The weather has been awful here too... thundersnow!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Chel, thank you for your visit - I'm really pleased to have found your blog too, it looks right up my street. I love old books and maps and no doubt you are thoroughly enjoying them, they are inspirational in and of themselves, and a family connection makes them all the more precious. Lil xx

    ReplyDelete
  4. I could spend many a happy hour just looking at maps and old ones are somehow even more interesting than new ones. Keep cosy in this cold weather! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well, you know I live in Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains. Someone I knew said once the ferocious winds even blew a earring out and off it went!
    Brenda

    ReplyDelete
  6. It seems it's always windy or breezy on this ridge where we live even in summer, which can be a blessing, but, winter winds howl across our hill behind us and onto our house, sometimes shaking it and I can feel the air blowing in the electrical outlets! It's calm tonight and we shall sleep well too. I love old maps and papers. I have some of my grandparents old letters, etc. and enjoy reading them now and then. Some are over 100 years old now and still in good shape. I'll look forward to your little tours this summer. They are always so interesting. Pam

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's always lovely to plan new outings and trips and doing this, thanks to your grandad's notes and papers, makes your future discoveries even more meaningful. I do like that old map and it will look lovely when you frame it. Such a beautiful rose. I find that we need flowers at this time of the year!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am absolutely and totally and completely jealous of your old books and maps from your granddad! I love old books, I have one that is over 100 years old, and I love maps... any maps, old or new. You are so lucky and so blessed Chel! I too love to just sit and write, or look at magazines and books, I could do that all day long... But alas, I always have studying to do... don't get me wrong, I love it, but how I envy you!!! One day in a gazillan years when I have my degree finished, I shall again write and print and rifle through old papers... until then, I shall live vicariously through you! Oh and those books on London, now that's a cool thing to collect!! Books on London! I have a couple, but not many... Oh how I love books. I can't wait to meet you and your daughter!
    I hope you're having a great weekend and that your Sunday is relaxing...
    Much love,
    Tammy xx
    PS... I think I have switched back to a no reply blogger, so I'm sorry if you can't reply. I'm going to switch my blog to disqus.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Lovely roses from your husband, in that colour like fine parchment. What a treasure trove of information and family history you have there with your Grandad's papers.
    Lots of rain and wind here this weekend. Good for staying indoors.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I envy you... I barely knew my grandparents. I have no idea what it must have felt to unroll these treasures. What a sweet time you have ahead of you exploring.

    Jane x

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love those old topographic Ordnance Survey 1-inch-to-1-mile maps. And the little bit of Langdale you've photographed I know well. Good luck with the planning!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hi Chel, we have 'enjoyed' some pretty high winds over here in Norfolk UK but today, though icy cold, the sun is shining and the is no wind outside.
    The photo of that beautiful rose is incredible, wonderful texture!
    You have a real job ahead of you - not least because it must be hard to be severe with yourself and not spend too much time becoming deflected from the task! I would never be able to move on from the reading =every minute detail! Enjoy what's left of the weekend ! Lxx

    ReplyDelete
  13. Love your precious collections of maps and data!!!!!!
    Happy trip planning!!!!
    xxxxxx Ale

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great set of pictures - there is a part of me that almost prefers the planning to the doing - so many possibilities when you plan, and it never rains!

    Glad you enjoyed the Coast to Coast post.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonderful documents such a window into times gone by.

    Helenxx

    ReplyDelete
  16. I loved this post Chel, the old documents, the map and the promise of new adventures that I would love to follow you on. x

    ReplyDelete
  17. There's something very tactile about creamy rose petals and old papers, and maps, isn't there? How lovely that you have your grandfather's old notes to look at. We went to Greenwich for the first time last summer and were very impressed - so much to do and see there, and so grand. Thank you for giving me the link for decoupage candles, by the way - they are gorgeous :)
    Cathy x

    ReplyDelete
  18. You are so lucky that your granddad kept such treasures.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello Chel,
    What a great shots!!
    Wonderful that rose and nice to see all the old papers and notes.
    That old map is fantastic. Nice post!!

    Kind regards,
    Marco

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm also planning where I'll go when the weather is more cooperative. Right now it's windy and rainy and I feel like staying at home! But I'll be back to check where you're taking us!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Lovely post Chel, nice photos...have a wonderful Sunday
    Hugs from a dull and wet snowy Amsterdam

    ReplyDelete
  22. Lovely post...love all the photos, thanks for sharing. (and I read about your winds in the paper here) Blessings

    ReplyDelete
  23. Glad to hear The Project is alive and well, Chel! Good for you. As you know, I share your affection for old documents etc. The trouble is knowing when to get rid of something; keep it too long and it becomes priceless.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love old maps and am happy that you will frame the one you have!
    Oh my dear, that white rose...I can't tell you how happy that makes me see that. I love the roses in England and you photo is gorgeous, just gorgeous. (Yes, we have roses here in the USA, but they are just NOT the same, they are not.)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great old maps, they fascinate me so. Here in Maine we had terrible winds and Sat. night they kept me awake.
    Besides, we had below 0 degree temps. Stay warm and enjoy your treasures and books. yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  26. It's windy here right now Chel! lol and, it's supposed to last like this all day! sigh

    Beautiful photo shots I found also inspiring as well and for that I think you my friend. ♥

    I don't know about you but, I clean high spots once a year because I forget there's high spots, at five feet tall I never look up there I may get a whiplash. lol

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a treasure of information your granddad has left! I loved the old map. It will be fun to read through all of it.

    ReplyDelete
  28. How interesting, I love the idea of planning your trips and making them a reality. I'm not sure what your Grandpa did? He sounds interesting too! X

    ReplyDelete
  29. chel dear, how fabulous that you have these amazing maps and papers from your Grandfather - you are a lucky lady and I know you are so grateful to be the recipient of so much of your family history of when/where he went. I too love maps, the older the better. I hope you are able to frame the one on the hessian backing - it will look stunning hanging.

    Looking forward to your London rambles coming up this year.

    Hugs - Mary

    ReplyDelete
  30. So many wonderful and interesting things to find in those papers! I look forward to hearing more as they are obviously fascinating! Hope you enjoy your London times this year! xx

    ReplyDelete
  31. I envy you those documents. I've been tracing my family history on and off for years and it's the stories I've found in minute books and newspapers that have brought them alive. One of our most precious belongings are some photo albums my Grandad did when he served in Italy during the war and annotated them. Enjoy your travels around London - it's somewhere I visit very rarely but would love to explore more. x

    ReplyDelete
  32. It sounds as though it would be quite the adventure to follow along where your grandfather had travelled before...You were meant to find the maps!
    Linda at Beautiful Ideas

    ReplyDelete
  33. Chel, what a wonderful adventure you are on with your father's papers and maps!

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've been waiting for a post about your Grandad! I always enjoy learning about him through your words and photos. That map you discovered is amazing and will be so gorgeous frames. What beautiful artwork and personal too. Have a great week my friend!

    Hugs, Vicky

    ReplyDelete
  35. I don't like the wind! Last night it was blowing so hard around here I had to hold the house down so it wouldn't fly away
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  36. Such an endearing post.. Love your blog and happy to find you.. I am now your new follower.. xo

    ReplyDelete
  37. I will be the last to notice dust, or cobwebs, LOL. Your Grandfathers documents are amazing, and such treasures. I would have loved to have a map like that. You could photograph it, and use it as a texture!

    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  38. All your grandad's notes and maps are such wonderful treasure. A bit of dust is nothing!

    ReplyDelete
  39. What amazing treasures your Grandad has left you. They will be a wonderful collection for you to pass your children. Oh I can't wait to see where you get to this coming year, Have fun deciding and stay warm for now. Too chilly to be venturing out.
    Ali xx

    ReplyDelete
  40. Oh what treasures you have there. I can't wait to see where you go this year. I explore London through you.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Looks like you do have a treasure trove!

    ReplyDelete
  42. How wonderful to spend time with old books and maps....and study the history. I could spend a lot of time studying....and dreaming. Enjoy your week my friend! Hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love these, old papers and the edges of those books. Your photographs are gorgeous
    Lauren
    www.artramblingsatlavinias.blogspot.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for visiting, I love reading your comments and will answer either by email or on the blog. You can also email me privately in my side bar. Have a great day x

Other Posts

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...