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.