life
our house has a name -. I wish I could have called it Sparrow Cottage or Anglers rest like out of a favourite book ENGLISH COUNTRY COTTAGE but I just had to call it INGLEWOOD - after my dear nans family property in Wallabadah - where my ancestors settled - a small wattle and daub hut, I am told , not standing there today....and not in the family now, due to it being left to charity when the last of the brothers died.... as far as I am concerned that is sacreligious. I would have loved to have seen it. I only have one photo of the front verandah taken at my great nans wedding breakfast. She married 'down', marrying a fettler on the railways - the family didn't like him - her parents were saddened so she moved, newly married to the big smoke and duly gave birth to 3 children Ken, Jean *my nana* and Elsie. Her husband was an abusive alcoholic but she stayed with him as you did in those days. He was hit by a bus and died - and I remember being told 'always be nice to people cause look what happened to great grandfather - God struck him down in the prime of his life by hitting him by a bus -- he wasn't missed. sad but true. so my great nan spent time between her two daughters homes *dying from pneumonia when still quite young.
the Ingalls still welcomed my mum - their great grand daughter back to Inlgewood for holidays and she has many a good memory of going to the farm. I have been back to Wallabadah & Quirindi, to trace my roots and I had a feeling of belonging . I even walked into a local shop and the lady behind the counter immediately said - 'you must be Viola's relative, you are so much like her' - I tell you, that made my day! To actually look like someone I didn't know but who I was related to directly. I have lots of photos of Viola. And I know that I do fold my arms just like she did. Odd, that. We wandered through the cemetery and found graves of my ancestors - these people were actually related to me. Don't you wish you could go back in time, just to see - how they really lived and more importantly how they decorated & cooked? what fun that would be !!
the Ingalls still welcomed my mum - their great grand daughter back to Inlgewood for holidays and she has many a good memory of going to the farm. I have been back to Wallabadah & Quirindi, to trace my roots and I had a feeling of belonging . I even walked into a local shop and the lady behind the counter immediately said - 'you must be Viola's relative, you are so much like her' - I tell you, that made my day! To actually look like someone I didn't know but who I was related to directly. I have lots of photos of Viola. And I know that I do fold my arms just like she did. Odd, that. We wandered through the cemetery and found graves of my ancestors - these people were actually related to me. Don't you wish you could go back in time, just to see - how they really lived and more importantly how they decorated & cooked? what fun that would be !!
posted by Miss Robyn | 7:29 am
12 Comments:
I often daydream about going back in time! To see who my distant relatives and ancestors were, and to learn about their lives. If only.
I love listening to stories like this, I find them sooo fascinating...and in a way they give me a chance to go back in time for a small moment.
Oh, and what a thrill to be told you looked like Viola, and that you even have some of her mannerisms...amazing.
How fascinating to be told you look like a relative and then to be able to find out all about them. I'm with you here, sounds like a good journey to undertake...
Love the name Inglewood cottage. Family history is indeed fascinating. We're lucky to have an author in our family. She wrote a book (an historical novel) using one of our ancestors as the main character..a fascinating lady. There are pictures of the family and a great, great aunt who looks exactly like my husband. Donna Jean (the author)is so interesting to talk to...she's a mine of information on family history. It's fascinating the way genes are passed down....
Hope Joe is doing well.
Thank you for sharing about your family....I also wish we could travel back in time to see how our relatives and ancestors lived. My grandmother and grandfather told us so many stories about their childhood...sounds like life was much simplier than it is now....thanks again MsRobyn for giving us a glimpse of the past...hugs xo
This is so interesting to read Robyn. My grandfather was an abusive alcoholic too. He lived to be a ripe old age as we say here. My Grandma seperated from him but had 7 kids to him and never would say a bad word against him. Mum said Grandma would have a big dinner on table..hot dishs and all, and he would come home drunk and just flip the whole table over and ....etc. My Mum never had a good word for him, apparently it didn't bother him any. There are a lot of sad things in this world and sadder yet, when sin is given free reign. Odly enough, my Dad's father was an alcoholic too. My parents never touched alcohol as a result....I'm thankful. The stories they told, oh my how sad. Its neat that you have the same mannerisms as your relatives. I know just what you mean. Sometimes I'll say something and I remind myself of Mum or one of my Aunts now gone on. We represent a part of the family tree maybe...smile.
I felt like i was walking side by side with you as you recounted your family story with us. Bttersweet story at that! Your dear Nan having to suffer through an abusive relationship!
I think your name for your home is the nicest of them all!
Don't you just love having a sense of belonging.I almost feel like family history provides us with a way home.I don't mean we have to be as our ancesters but just to know they were there gives us stability.Does that make sense?
Oh Robyn, what a lovely idea. I often think like this. I was so happy when my Mum told me one morning, that seeing my hair on my pillow in the morning light made her realise how like my great grandma (who I never met) I am! I have always carried that thought tucked away in a happy place since!
Oh, go on Robyn - 'fess up. You really named your house after Anne's House of Dreams, didn't you? "Anne Of Inglewood"?! (Don't tell me I've got it wrong - lol!). Seriously, lovely story. Have you ever thought of printing a hard copy of all your blog posts and having them published one day as a memoir? It would make great reading.
I also look at photos of my grandmothers and great GMs and wonder what they were like in person.
Lovely story Robyn. It just reinforces that we must pass on our family history. Keep telling our children and grandchildren (even if they seem uninterested) Dont we all wish we had asked our grandparents to tell us more stories ? Once they have passed on our history is lost forever! Another thing that fascinates me is how you can be more like an Aunt than you can be like your own Mother. Weird that !!! lol
Wonderful story Robyn,I too wish I could go back in time and see how my relatives lived. Also wanted to thank you for your support at this time. Love to you...
I am lucky, all the family history has been done on my Mum's side. But I would dearly love to research my father's family. They were from England and I know there are lots of records. It's something that is always in the back of my mind, and I'm planning to do it when the kids are a little older and not taking up so muchof my time - I know once I get started it will obsess me!
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