So on the way back from Nottingham to Aberdeen we stayed overnight in 'The White House' - no not THAT one, rather, a modest guest house just outside Penrith. I'm sorry to report that the proprietor failed to recognise my status and so did not upgrade us from their 'too small to swing a cat' single bedroom this time.
There were signs aplenty of recent floods all round Cumbria and SW Scotland, but at least my favourite walk in the lovely little border town of Moffat was dry(ish).
I had been hoping for a nice hill walk in Aberdeenshire today, but for once will concede that Gail was right in decreeing a short stroll around the park to be sufficient, given the weather.
So instead, Gail and I are snuggled up together on the recliner, reading some old letters found in Human Granny's now empty house.
I want to show you a couple of snippets. Gail warns me they won't be as interesting to our readers as they are to us, but I'm going to post them anyway. If your eyes are good, and you click on the images to enlarge, you may even be able to read them.
Both letters, for different reasons, might bring a tear to your eye.
Here's one from Gail's maternal grandfather, to her mother (aka Human Granny, then aged 15), written when he was on active service for the RAF in Egypt at the end of WW2, but describing a trip to Palestine:
And here is one written by Human Grandad to Human Granny in 1955, just a couple of weeks before they became formally engaged. He is away at a work-related conference in Eastbourne, and missing her very much:
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteOh my word... historical documents, the more personal they are, somehow reveal a greater truth of their times! Also shows how little changes really. Language and habits may, but the essential thing called 'humanity' does not. Thank you so much for getting Gail to share these snippets with us Bertie lad.
So very glad you managed to get home without getting your paws too wet. It's as black as all diggery this side of the country - yet not a drop has fallen outside. YET.
Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx
what wonderful mementos to have and it is sad that with all the technology we have today that the simple art of hand written letters is disappearing
ReplyDeleteIt is always very interesting to read old correspondence, esp. that of a releative. I found a letter dating to WWII in an old book I had, written by an American soldier in Japan just after the war ended. It was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteBTW, Happy New Year!
Our people have stayed in tiny rooms like that on travels. It is an adventure. Thank you for sharing those lovely letters.
ReplyDeleteBERTIE WHAT IN THE WORLD...YOUR STATUS WAS NOT RECOGNIZED AT 'THE WHITE HOUSE'. UN ACCEPTABLE. SEND ME THEIR ADDRESS I WILL TAKE CAR OF THIS FOR YOU.
ReplyDeleteWINTER FINALLY ARRIVED HERE WITH THE TEMPERATURE ANYWAY. WE HAD HEAVY FROST THIS MORNING. MONDAY AND TUESDAY WILL BE COLDER BUT NO PRECIPITATION IS PREDICTED. THANK GOODNESS.
GAIL MY GOODNESS WHAT A TREASURE YOU FOUND WHILE CLEANING OUR YOUR PARENT'S HOME. IT IS OBVIOUS FROM BOTH LETTERS THAT HOME WAS FULL OF LOVE. YOU TWO STAY WARM.
Madi says to tell you I have reached new levels for tomorrow's blog post.
Hugs to you both and a nose tap from the Diva
pardon typos above...Mom needs to clean her contacts!!
ReplyDeleteMadi
How lovely for Gail to be able to travel back in time through those beautiful letters!!
ReplyDeleteSmileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
We KNEW that Miss Gail was gonna come home with some MAJOR Treasures... and those letters are TRULY Treasures... She should really FRAME them and display on the Wall.
ReplyDeleteOMD no Wonder you did not want to walk far in Ab BURRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrr Deen. That is nearly FREEZING in C °.
It is such a shame that letter writing is a past art. SHE's slowly coming to terms with communication being a selfie or emjoi.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe the SLIGHT difference in the day's high and low. Bundle up. We think short walks are best.
That would make a wonderful day to just snuggle and read these gems!
ReplyDeleteYour Pals,
Murphy & Stanley
How wonderful to be able to read those old letters.
ReplyDeleteThose letters are fantastic. Enjoy you holiday and make sure you stay snuggle and warm
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that these letters were kept and what an eloquent writer he was. Lucky you, finding such treasure.
ReplyDeleteOh what does one do with those letters and notes ~ who will take care of them next. Our home has many and since Lee is the last of this family she wonders should they be burned for they are of no importance to other. What maternal grandfather wrote so true ~ no peace for the Holy Land.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a friend
Sweet William The Scot
Letters are such a treasure. When my grandmother died, we found tucked away in the back of her closet every single letter my father had sent her while serving in Korea. True treasures. Kind of sad that letters aren't as common anymore for future generations.
ReplyDeleteWhat great finds! Your Dad's was just so touching to me, mainly because I found some similar ones. My Dad worked at Hannford War plant and was away from home for quite a while. He wrote sweet lines to my mother, but he was otherwise very shy and I hadn't seen that side of him at all. Hope you and Bertie are fine! Jo, Stella and Zkhat
ReplyDeleteThats such a great find, letters are so precious. I wish I had letters my dad had written
ReplyDeleteretro rover
Am catching up on your blog Bertie. Wow at your Granddad's letter from palestine. I lived in Jerusalem for 7 years and its unbelievable that your granddad's words are as true today as they were in 1946 about Arabs and Jews hating each other etc...Sad stuff....
ReplyDelete