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This morning I printed some pictures for Christmas presents, which it would be premature to publish here.
This afternoon I scanned another batch of colour negatives from early 1986.
During that prolonged winter, Sam’s and Louisa’s expressions show quite clearly how cold it was when Matthew, dubbed by Louisa ‘the best big brother ever’, took them out for a buggy ride from Gracedale Road.
It was clearly much more cosy when he read them a story.
At 10.19 one morning Louisa bounced up and down, possibly trying to dislodge her mother and brother from bed. Sam was not impressed. The bedside lamp was made from a stone hot water bottle gained from our ‘Mudlarking’ days.
That year snow lay on the ground for the first three months. It would have been after that when Jessica, Sam, and I spent a week in Mary Dewsberry’s holiday home in Haslemere. The evidence for this is the farm track up which we walked on a recce. Last year’s bracken and autumn leaves lingered in the country terrain.
This may have been the occasion when we discovered that the two children both had allergies to horses, the touch of which caused their eyes to swell up alarmingly.
Under the cloak of a little coppice, Louisa made a diving effort to reenter her mother’s womb. Sam insisted that there was room for two.
Mary’s son, Nick, and his children Jack and Dora, welcomed Sam and Louisa into their boat maintenance crew. Louisa made a quick recovery after her early tip-up, and everyone set to with gusto.
This evening, Jackie produced succulent roast duck, suitably reduced spinach, boiled potatoes, and crunchy carrots and cauliflower. She drank Hoegaarden and I drank Western Cape Fair Trade shiraz 2015.
Lovely family photos, Derrick. Heartwarming is such an overused word, but these photos are.
Matthew does seems like the best big brother ever. 🙂
Thanks, Merril. Apparently Louisa said that to Jackie quite recently
Oh, I thought it was from long ago. It’s sweet either way. 🙂
Oh I agree with your description. Heartwarming, and certainly best big brother is a title earned!
Thank you very much, Crystal
Such a fun post and pics (except for the allergies)
Many thanks, Miriam
Great photos, Derrick! I love the action shot of Louisa. 🙂
Thanks, Jill. So pleased you spotted it.
More really smile-producing pictures. Wish I was at your dinner table!
Many thanks, Lisa. You would make a splendid addition to the company
Thanks, Derrick.
All of your photographs are great, but I kinda like the muddy track and the horses.
Many thanks, Jim
Do you think I was out of line with my last post?jfmcdonaldjr.com/random-thoughts-pervy
No, Jim. You only said what many men think. I have seen women posting pin-ups of men on Facebook
Thanks buddy.
Ah1 awakening old memories; in 1948 i recall going to a ” school holiday home” in Haslemere for a couple of weeks,
I seem to recall on one excursion being taken (along with the rest of course) to a place named “Gibbet Hill”, where they apparently used to hang people up by the neck, until they were quite dead; at least, that’s what we were told, and how could we doubt them? They were teachers! 🙂 The good ol’ days 😀
I love to awaken memories, Brian. That’s partly what it is all about. Thanks
Sam and his pompom hat say it all. What a lovely tolerant expression.
Many thanks, John
Great memories, Derrick! I have been going through some old pictures as well. My nephew doesn’t have many from his childhood and now he has a son he is interested in showing his pictures to his wife. It is very satisfying going through old memories.
It certainly is, Lydia
As always, gorgeous family photos, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Monica
You’re very welcome, Derrick 🙂
Wonderful family photos!
Many thanks, Lynn
The pictures look new and fresh. I wish my slides had survived as well. Most are now too faded to copy properly.
That is such bad luck. Thanks for reaading
The scenes shown here are precious. Family love exudes between the siblings, and what a riot with the kids climbing into Mom’s sweater. The photos of all the kids working on the boat are really wonderful.
Very many thanks, Crystal
love the idea of giving photographs for Christmas. I will be doing the same 🙂
Thanks very much, MSW
“Re enter their mother’s womb.” OMG – I m dying. That’s so funny. When mine were little and climbing all over me like that, I’d say “Are you coming back in?” No one thought it was funny except me. : )
Well I think it must have been hilarious, I’d have laughed right along with you had I have been there and heard that! With all due respects of course 🙂
XD
Thank you both
I’m glad to find someone else with my sense of humor. Mostly, I’m my biggest fan.
Count me in, too, Jodie
Something else in common, Jodie. Thanks a lot.
What a lovely big brother to have. I never knew before this post that one could have allergies to horses!
Many thanks, Geetha
Welcome Derrick 🙂
I really liked the photos of Sam and Louisa with big handsome brother Matthew guiding them in the stroller. Jessica created such special memories with her children. Letting them to go under her sweater made me smile and happy for the use moments which have to cover a lot of time where they were without her. She is in their hearts and minds.
The boat photos are charming.
More perceptive comments, Robin. Thank you very much
Lovely Christmas presents.