Wednesday 31 December 2008
New year's Eve.
Took Gran back to Wisbech today. Stopped off for coffee (and for Gran to stretch her legs -at 100 she gets stiff sitting in one postion for too long) at the Brandon House Hotel, a slightly down at heels county type hotel. Had a pot of (good)coffee for two and hot water for one in the lounge. Young staff very welcoming and obliging. When I went to pay the reckoning receptionist charged me £2 !!! - made that £3 of course. Good stopping off place - will use it again (D.V.) . Had lunch in Gran's flat, Ann had brought it with us -lasagne. Then popped round to see Accountant, Elizabeth, and collected the books. On to see old friends, Roy and Janet Beeston, had tea and very good mince pies. Spent two hours swapping memories - Roy and I were at school together. Then on to Mick and Erica's - more tea and a biscuit. Got home at about 8.20 pm. Well filled day. Nearly forgot what I started this blog to say :- Which was to wish all our readers a happy and prosperous New Year. Warm regards, Mike and Ann.
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7 comments:
And a very Happy New Year to you all.
Give Roy my best wishes next time you see him with thanks for the rides on the 'Dobbin' and the sacking & binder-twine parachute - without which I would doubtless not have jumped off the hatstack!
Less thanks however for telling me the little black spherules were goat-currants - with a fuller explanation I might not have been tempted to sample this unusually fibrous fruit! Is Geoff still muck-spreading for him, Ive always regretted not having followed this career opportunity as Geoff's apprentice.
Was "Geoff" the name of the goat?
Happy New Year to you all.
Hi Nea. No, it couldn't have been. The goat was a female, owned by a couple called Speechley. Sorry, don't remember it's name, perhaps it didn't have one, although I think it did, as the Speechley's, unlike most fenland farming types, were a bit soppy about their animals, and I'm sure would have given her one. I think it might have been Nanny. Geoff was, and I think still is, Roy Beeston's cousin, Geoffrey Beeston. I think he and his wife, Mary, still live in Manea. She is musical.
I remember Anne Speechley, all soppy pigtails, crisps and fizzy pop, such luxuries for those days. Did the Overlinds live next to her, who did the elevating seance? Then old Mrs Pearce who wore eye-shields for her failing sight and knee-pads (presumably for failing knees?) which Roy would hide under the raised wooden floor. Her glass wasp-trap was most intriguing. Oh the apples we scrumped sitting on her lean-to roof! And then came great-Uncle Walter and great-aunt Daisy with second cousins Maisie & Nora? I can't recall anyone else from Horse-Head Drove but I think there was a large house up near the main A1101 - was that one of the Hartley family houses? - I think it has been replaced with a bungalow now - or did Mervyn? live up that way - him as broke his neck diving off the high bank at Three-Holes? It can't be 60 years ago but the memories have that faded dusty aura of boyhood summers about them.
Hi Carl. Mervyn Clingo. Odd name, I think possibly Dutch origin (Vermuyden's mob ???). I came across a family of Pingoes in North Suffolk many moons ago. Talking of many moons ago, yes, it is sixty years ago this May that we returned to the fens. I think we had better get together in May if we may, as we did ten years ago? Doesn't seem possible that anotherj ten years has gone by since then,does it? Love to you and Jude, and all yours, Mike and Ann.
Good Lord! Sixty years it is then, I believe I had my 4th birthday in Hurst's Row and Sylvie (if you will forgive my using Nana Trower's familiar pet name for her) Passed away the following month - mid June 1949 I think it was.
I had always assumed the Clingos (Karen & parents)next door to the Rowlatts spelled their name Klingo, I expect they were related to Mervyn somehow, although anybody in Lakesend could find a common blood-line or intermarraige with anybody else there, even without a shared surname?
I think the two Clingo blokes were cousins. The couple you mention still live in Lake Avenue. I met them at Ada Thorpe's funeral last year. They told me that their daughter Karen is now a great grandmother, so they are rather proud of being great-great-grandparents ! Healthy attitude, what?
Cheers, Mike.
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