The Romance of an Empty Chest

The steamer trunk, well used from the 1890's going on wonderful journeys, filled with glamorous gowns and jewelry, exquisite artifacts on its journey home, always robust, sturdy and ready to protect its contents.  Passed down through family members, through generations and the chimes of Big Ben announcing new centuries.  I imagine the romance of the 1920's and 1930's, the harshness of the 1940's, the freedom of later decades.

 Sadly the romance of this empty chest had been lost on its owners and it was listed on Ebay for my Dad to find.  Now in 2016, it has traveled to my home where it will spend its retirement sitting at the top of my stairs, pride of place and perfect proportions to be treasured. 

This beautiful piece of furniture could probably tell some wonderful stories, but for the beginning of this post, let's just look at the interior.  

Sad and forlorn isn't it?  But, this sadness and deterioration is beautiful in its own way.  Some would restore it with jazzy papers or rip it back to the wood, but I'm one that respects history and what an object has to tell. 

Of course there has to be a secret compartment which is now quite obvious.  I wonder how many little hands were told about this little space and immersed themselves for minutes trying to find it.

So, what do I have to offer this delightful new addition to my home?  Well, after planting the acorns from Greenwich Park last week in memory of my Grandad, I thought the time had come to seriously sit down with my Grandad's papers that are dotted around the different rooms, and put them altogether in one place.

It seems appropriate to have them in a chest that was well used during the time he was a child and one that when you open the lid, has the exquisite smell of old mustiness mixed with old papers.

The moments that I will want to immerse myself in history will be in two flicks of old catches, the lid will open, the smells will remind me and the writing will take me back to his arm chair in the back room where I would sit on the floor beside him and listen to the historical facts.

As I spent this day looking through the folders, notebooks, maps and pieces of paper, it was time to let go of some where his history had repeated itself, time to be ruthless but, look what I am left with...

The Empty Chest is now Grandad's Chest.  Full to brimming with historical treasures and family memories, a true heirloom.   The Victorian linen tablecloth passed down through the generations and only used on very special occasions, can now be safely stored on top of the papers.

Heartfelt ribbon separating the different parts of history, London Docklands, Auxiliary Fire Brigade, Ministry of Works, Family History etc etc.

Nostalgia is a big thing with me and I have been throwing up some surprises lately!

An old typewriter in the downstairs study next to the computer...

The Singer Sewing Machine in the dining room...

The old rotary dial phone in the hall...

And now a robust chest containing the thoughts of a very, very dear man to me.  It's been a long time since his death but I now feel strong enough to do this and the sense of achievement of condensing the enormous amount of boxes into one chest has consumed me today.  A productive and happy day spent with my Grandad!

But now, the house is full of people again and the sun is beginning to set casting a golden glow to the buildings we can see from our home.

... and little Tia has been very patient today, watching me go from room to room emptying shelves, cupboards and drawers, but I think she's ready for a walk now.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

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.

      

2014 - The Start of a Positive Year

2014 seems to have a positive feel about it, not just with me, but with blog land as a whole and friends that I have spoken to.  Everyone has such amazing thoughts and feelings about this year that come across as a new start and one to feel glad about.  It lifts the heart and mind to have such positive feelings surrounding us all and encourages these thoughts to continue.  I always think that if you surround yourself with positive people then nothing but good can come from it.  Even the weather as unpredictable as it is, is not getting me down!

My first positive for this year was picking up my much neglected crochet hook.  Within two hours I had completed a project! Yes, I surprised myself, but after receiving a Kindle for Christmas with the sole purpose of reading blogs snuggled up on the sofa, it needed a snuggly jacket.  So with the use of some squares I crocheted last summer and a bit of imagination, I put together this little project in two hours.  Two of my favourite colours, pink and grey.

In my last post I said that this was the year of change for me.  So far it hasn't disappointed.  I have had the advantage of two weeks' away from the day to day work, so have put a few things in place.  Grandad Tom's book now has 550 words written, not many when I type this figure out but it has started and that was the hardest part.

Patience has paid off in one area of the garden, the greenhouse!  Yes, FINALLY, my tomatoes are ripening!!  It's January for goodness sake and the vines themselves are rotting but the red gorgeousness shone through like rubies as I went to get the bird seed.  Yes, they are edible and taste even more sweeter that I can pick these off the vine in January.  A positive thing indeed.

So with the decorations down and safely packed away until the end of the year, I am now hopping back on the hamster wheel of life and keeping positive thoughts in my mind as I look at my living room with Pinterest boards dancing around in my head and the wind and rain lashing against my window panes (which is pretty much why there isn't a lot on this week's blog - rain on a camera lens is never a good thing).

May I wish you a very positive weekend and week ahead.

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Advent Calendar Door 22 - Remembering

December 22nd

My twenty second Advent calendar door has now opened revealing a time to remember. There are some anniversaries that pass by after a while but today is one that I will never forget.  It is the anniversary of my Grandad Tom's passing who was my inspiration, my safety, my thirst of knowledge and history, my trips to Greenwich and the Docklands.  Sometimes it isn't until the person has gone that you realise just how much of an impact they had on you.  I am surrounded by his papers, his CD's, his books, his research.  Each piece is a gem and as I head towards 2014, my inspiration has finally come back to me to take the plunge and write.  Write the book he never got around to completing and re-live his life once more.  His smile will encourage me and his voice on the CD's will bring me back to the times when I sat on the floor next to his chair listening to the stories of the Docklands.

Remember those you love.

Enjoy your day.

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Advent Calendar Door 2 - Re-living Stories of the Past

December 2nd

My second Advent calendar door has now opened reflecting the stories we share with our loved ones at this time of year with our friends and family.  My old Collins book always accompanies my Granddad's stories and will one day be filled with family traditions and his words  passed down through the generations.  I love the swirling old ink on the sides and the excitement of knowing that one day each page will be read and reflected on by future members of the family.

Enjoy your day.

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52 Weeks of Happy 42/52

A bit late this week for one of these posts, but my mojo is back and joining Jen at Little Birdie for 52 Weeks of Happy.  This is where you post about four things that have made you happy in the week.

♥ Watching the fountains at Springfields Gardens in Spalding dancing in the sunlight.  (I LOVE this camera!!).

♥ The amazing vibrant colours of the flowers and butterflies just take my breath away, does it get any better?

♥ Oh yes it can, the lavender can be added to my shortbread (it was delicious!), along with scotch pancakes and gingernuts.

♥ Biting the bullet and starting my Grandad's book (a new tab has appeared in my title bar 'It's Not Just a Piece of Paper' in case you ever want to see how I am getting along with it).

Have a wonderful and happy weekend and week.

Take care.

♥Chel♥

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