Friends

25 February 2010

Old communications

Sifting through the old photographs for my Sepia Saturday blog I discovered these old greeting cards, along with various notes and scribbles done by me when I was young. Parents do love to save everything made by their offspring but I never magined they'd still be around so many years later.

First are three glossy postcard style greeting cards which were sent just as they are, without an envelope, a bit like the postcards sent from holiday resorts

Written by me, and including Gordon, the son of people I stayed with in WW2.
I always counted the amount of 'kisses' ... probably needing to prove I could count


and on the back

Next is a card that had to be coloured.
I thought my crayoning skills were pretty good for a youngster.

and inside

According to a note on the back, this is the first Christmas card I ever made
at the age of seven.
I've improved since then!

and inside ... Wot! No kisses?

Now for a couple of notes from me to Dad


A message sent to parents from my wartime evacuation address

For the whole of the war years I was billeted with Mom and Dad's friends, pseudo Aunt Carrie and Uncle Fred ... Dad's best man at his wedding. At the time Dad's woodwork skills were put to good use inside airplanes. With so many men occupied with war, women had to take their place on the work front. Mom was taken on as a bus conductress and I still have the piece of shrapnel that one day fell at her feet as she walked to work.

For the youngsters wartime was more of an adventure than something to fear. Blackouts didn't worry us and the sweeping searchlights seemed spectacular to young kids. Parties in the air raid shelters were fun and defying air raid wardens even more so. Gordon's sister, Diane, was born while I lived there ... a real war baby.

Maybe one day I'll write more about the half-remembered experience of wartime from a child's point of view.

8 comments:

  1. As you might expect, I loved this post. You were lucky your parents kept so much. Perhaps my parents did and my brothers and sister may have it, who knows? I have a very few bits my Gran kept, but not much. This is why it is important for us to record our memories for our yet unborn family members to know something of our family history.
    Enjoyed this post immensely.
    Thank you.....Bernard.

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  2. fascinating val..love all the little notes along the way...have quite a few of those i have saved from my boys...would be definitely interested in hearing about war time from a childs perspective...

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  3. You have, in your possession, the real treasures of life. Guard them carefully and pass them on. A truly fascinating post.

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  4. What wonderful keepsakes Valerie, you're lucky they've survived.

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  5. Great post Valerie! I like the idea of those postal birthday cards; never seen any like this 'til now...

    Would like to hear your POV of WWII, as I can only imagine it...

    Hugs from Subby :)

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  6. Val I would love to hear everything about your life during war time....
    loved the messages to your parents Val, I only wish I had more of the treasures from when I was a young girl.
    ........:-) Hugs

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  7. Hi Valerie, I enjoyed reading this and looking at the old postcards. You were quite accomplished in your colouring and writing, and diligent too about sending cards.
    I'd love if you wrote more about those times, it's a fascinating "other side" to the war that we don't find in history books.
    Thanks for droppping by and commenting on my Sylvester!

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  8. I loved seeing these, Val!!! So beautiful...and such a personal touch with your memories of the wartime!!! I do so hope you write that memoir piece!! I would love to read it! Love you! Janine XO

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