Just before lunch Danni, Andy, Elizabeth and Ella joined us, So that the parents could spend the afternoon alone while the rest of us looked after Ella.
We began with lunch laid out by Grauntie Jackie.
Eventually we got rid of the parents, but they felt the need of clocking in with
first ice cream and later beer bulletins via e-mail, as they wandered round Lymington.
Elizabeth brought me a task in the form of Mum’s old photograph album from which we plan to make a reminiscence album in a form that she can see. Except for the photograph of her father in World War I naval uniform, I was working from tiny 5 x 8 cm prints produced by the man himself. As far as we can tell this photograph of our mother was taken on holiday at Conwy in about 1926.
Here Mum poses with her brothers Ben, Roy, and others;
here with our Uncle Roy;
here with her mother;
and here with her mother and brothers, all, we think, on the same holiday.
Our grandfather was occasionally photographed with his three children.
Here our grandmother poses first with an unknown companion and then alone on a wall.
Grandpa Hunter stands alone on the shingle beach.
We think this was probably taken during, before, or soon after 1919.
This street parade, in which Mum and Uncle Roy both participated with others, probably took place in 1927. At this stage I have not repaired any of the images.
Many other important photographs have already been scanned for other occasions. These three colour prints were from June 1982. Mum and Dad often walked in Nonesuch Park. Here they were joined by Dad’s brother, Uncle Norman, on a visit from Adelaide to which he emigrated soon after World War II.
Danni and Andy returned late in the afternoon and for dinner we all tucked into Jackie’s succulent beef in red wine; crunchy carrots and cauliflower; tender runner beans and mange touts; and creamy mashed potatoes. Various red wines – I don’t remember which – were imbibed while the Culinary Queen and Ian drank Amstel.
A fabulous spread of food 😊
And your black and white family photos are terrific.
x
Thanks very much, Melanie x
Awesome photos
That’s quite a task you have in front of you Derrick, those old photos are often so very tiny! I’m sure the viewing of them again with your mum will release a torrent of old memories. In the second last photo which one is dad and which one is uncle Norman? And well done on giving the parents a break for a few hours, retraining them into freedom takes time 🙂
Pauline, I wondered the same about who is Dad.
And YES!!! to giving parents a bit of time. That’s on my list to remember if I ever have grandchildren.
🙂 I have answered Pauline
Thanks very much, Pauline. Dad is the slim one. Uncle Norman carries the Aussie stones. 🙂
Thank you it is as I hoped 🙂
🙂
The tall thin one was my guess, too.
🙂
Oh, what a feast Jackie laid out! That looks amazing. Loved the photos Danni sent you. They are adorable.
Very cool that you are gathering pictures for your mum. She will love it.
Thanks very much, Jodie
Goodness, I’d like to spend time in your neighborhood and have Jackie feed me. I’d have to do a LOT of walking to keep myself from expanding, though. Those pictures are a treasure. That one with your mother and grandmother in the water in their dresses could have been taken last year. These must be a delight to go through.
Thanks very much, Lisa. Becky spent hours trying to identify and locate the shop A.V. Clarke – possibly a Lancashire photographer. Our grandmother was from Lancashire.
I loved this post, Derrick. So many wonderful photos!
I’m pleased, Jill. many thanks
Must be the day for looking after our ‘Grand’ ones, I had the pleasure of my youngest grandchildren for a few hours while their parents went off to purchase a playhouse.
Lunch looks delicious and your evening meal sounds just up my street.
What a lovely idea scanning all the old photos for your mother. A couple of years ago I made a start on our old albums but never finished. I should begin again but it’s so time consuming!
It certainly is time consuming, Sue. I am lucky to have the time. Thanks very much
Now that is food. Love the old photos filled with memories
Thank you very much, Gary
What a wonderful collection of photos!
Thanks very much, Gwen. We are still studying them
What a lot of memories your family has in those photos. I’m sure you are up to the task. Great idea to give the young parents a break. I’m sure they were more than grateful.
Thanks very much, Sylvia
I’ve brought a lot of old family photos back from Philadelphia, and I’m in the process of scanning and enhancing them now…… the old black and white photos, certainly show the colourful times of those days….
A treasure trove, Ivor. Thanks very much
I don’t know exactly why, but beach photos like this seem so very English to me. It’s not just the clothing, although that plays a role. I suppose some of it’s the boats — hard to say. It could very well be that things were the same along the shores of this country in that time period, and I just wasn’t exposed to it. In any event, the photos are wonderful, and filled with a sense of summer pleasure.
Very many thanks, Linda. Just imagine all that sand in your clothes.
What a lunch and what wonderful old family photos, Derrick! I’m sure your mom will love seeing them. I particularly like the large one of your mom as a child on the beach and the one where she’s perched on the wall. She and her companion look very fashionable.
Thanks very much, Merril. The fashionable lady is my maternal grandmother
Of course. I should proofread what I write. 😉
🙂
OH! What wonderful photos! And a great project for you to do for your Mum! What a cutie she is in the photos! I love her hairstyle! 🙂 Love seeing the fashions, too!
My mum made me the keeper of the vintage family photos. Before she went into a senior care apartment I put many of them in photo albums for her so she could look at them whenever she wanted to. And I made a huge collage of B&W photos in a barnwood frame so she could hang it on the wall of her apartment to enjoy. 🙂 I made my Dad’s high school graduation photo the centerpiece of that collage and when I gave it to her, she looked right at his photo first and said, “OH, he was always so handsome!” 🙂 (He’s passed on many years before this.)
OH! So wnderful for Ella’s parents to get some time alone! And SO wonderful of Ella to entertain, and watch over, the rest of you! Ella did a great job! 🙂
OH! Jackie put out a delicious feast! YUM! 🙂
HUGS!!! to all!!! 🙂
Very many thanks, Carolyn. I’m so pleased that we had the same idea. We were intrigued by the fashions, too. X
What a treasure trove you have at hand! I am sure they are going to make your mum speechless with joy.
We hope so, Uma. Many thanks.
Wonderful old black and white photos! What do you use to scan them?
I Have an Epson Perfection V850 Pro. These were scanned flat – there are templates for colour slides and varying sizes of negatives. Thanks very much, Sheree.
Thanks for the info. Derrick. I’ve tried scanning old pictures on our scanner and it’s woeful .
I had a V750 which lasted for 12 years – only recently replaced it with the upgraded one
Old tiny photos, I found it too in an old tin box.
Being able to digitize and improve them …. what a job, but also what a pleasure.
ps: you always make us salivate with the good dishes your wife prepares
Thank you very much, Yoshimi
The Salad Cream bottle is up-side down!!!
Other than that Jackie has served an excellent looking luncheon….Mmmmm that home-made pie i’m certain was delicious!
While the old photos are fantastic memories and am sure your Mum will cherish seeing them again, have you thought about adding to her enjoyment and building up a collection of music and songs from the time of her youth and early family years that she can listen to whenever she likes?
Recollection of the music we enjoyed in our younger years helps our brain retain and recall more of our past so that it does not get ‘lost’ and can have a rejuvenating affect. 🙂
That’s just the way you look at the bottle from down there, Bob. Music is a good idea. Thanks very much.
What a great lunch spread Derick. I am sure you enjoyed going through the old photos.. I certainly do.
Thanks very much, Albert
A family day and family photos – how lovely, Derrick! Those old snaps are full of nostalgia even for those of us who have no family connection. Thanks for sharing 🙂
They are, indeed, Sandra. Many thanks
The photo of your grandmother sitting alone on the wall is absolutely beautiful. It really evokes a certain period of time.
Doesn’t it just, Leslie? I’m pleased you thought so, too
It should be framed and displayed.
I’ll see what I can do once I’ve touched it up a bit
Wonderful photos and memories Derrick!
Thank you very much, Val
What a splendid luncheon! My compliments to the chef. Ella is adorable, and I am sure the three of you enjoyed her company. And I think a treasure trove of old photographs will be an interesting project for you, Derrick.
Thank you very much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick
The essence of summer speaking down the years, such treasure. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much, Libre. I very apt comment
Wonderful, wonderful shots of your mom and her family. And returning to the present day: Oh, the food!
Very many thanks, Laurie
Wonderful photos Derrick. Isn’t it nice to be able to stroll around in the past through them.
It is indeed, Jerry. Many thanks
Wonderful photos, especially the B&Ws. Such memories! Thanks for sharing, Derrick.
Thanks very much, Steve
Great memories! And I’m sure the parents enjoyed their time 🙂
Thank you very much, Ribana
Wonderful photos!
Thanks very much LL/PS
What a wonderful heirloom to get your hands on. Is this the first time you are seeing some of these photos as well?
Yes, it was, msw. Thank you very much