Things that made me go ouch!
- banging my head on a cupboard door handle.
- and slicing my hand on a knife whilst washing up.
Things that made me smile :0)
- finding these.....
- Cuter than cute magnetic book marks
- and, these colourful storage boxes
(both the above items were purchased at Habitat, if you're interested).
Things that made me go Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!
- Finding the most delicious tasting yogurt - it tastes like Pina Colada.
I bought 4, and ate 4 - Oink oink!!!
Things that made me cry:
As I mentioned in my previous post, I've begun sorting through old (and very old) documents, trying to make some sense of my family's history. This should have been done when my grandparents and parents were around to ask questions, but as you know, they aren't, so I'm going to have to struggle through a box full of newpaper cuttings, marriage certificates, death certificates, birth certificates etc, trying to work out who is who.
If you can't make out the writing in the letter above, it reads:
Saint Bartholomew's Hospital.
London
Jan 22
Thank you very much for your kind letter. I'm so happy to know your dear boy looked as you would wish him to. I'm so sorry you have been feeling so ill but you had a very great strain all these weeks. He died a noble death and without a murmur. I shall never forget him. A splendid patient and a sweet character. His love for you all is a thing I shall never forget. he rests in peace I'm certain. May God bless and comfort you all in this very sad time. Thanking you for sending cards. Matron was very pleased to have one.
Yours faithfully
Sister Harley
It was a letter I found folded inside one of these cards (sorry I'm not sure what the proper name for one of these 'In Memoriam' cards is)
I've managed to determine that this William Walter Poole was my mother's uncle. The elder brother of her father, who would have been 16 at the time of his brother's death.
You just cannot imagine the emotions that this family would have been going through, can you?
This geneaology stuff sure is emotional.
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Yes it is emotional, but also incredibly insightful, yet leaves you - or it did me - with a great feeling of emptiness as there hasn't been anyone to ask about this stuff for decades. Made me wish I had asked more when they were here, wasted opportunities to get gaps filled in. As an aside, I used to know a girl called Lynne Poole in Lancashire, one of my best friends from the mid-60s when we were teens.
ReplyDeleteLove all the memorabilia you have, so important as it helps a great deal in research. I had nothing! Talk about needles in haystacks.
The past and its people and tales always give me goosebumps. I can imagine such a finding is particularly emotive as you try to imagine what those close to him must have felt. Initially looking at the letter I thought it might have something to do with WW1 - that would have been particularly poignant too. Just finished reading Birdsong so guess it is on the brain...
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note - those magnets are sweet! And sorry to hear you've been in the 'domestic wars' yourself! xxx
How lovely that you have this letter, albeit that it's very sad. I discovered that my great great grandmother gave birth to fifteen children, yet only four survived infancy. Yes, it can get very emotional. Hope your hand isn't too sore, that made me go 'ouch' too.
ReplyDeleteWow how absolutely fascinating, emotional obviously, but what an amazing piece of history to have at your hands.
ReplyDeleteLove those multicoloured boxes by the way - did you get them cheap? I hear Habitat is the latest casualty of the recession!
What a sad letter, that's the thing with research there's always going to be sad times especially when you go back to the two world wars.
ReplyDeleteHope your head and hand are ok!
Four yogurts? That's ok, yogurts are good for you! ;)
Vivienne x
Don't get me started, I've uncovered some pretty weird stuff in my family history! Really hard work though, and there's so much research involved, but when you find something, it's pretty damn amazing - good luck with it!
ReplyDeleteSorry - Ive been having problems leaving comments again! Love your weekend post!Hope this works!!!! xxxxx
ReplyDeleteHurray!!!
ReplyDelete