Life has a habit of side swiping you when you are least expecting it.
I thought this when two large envelopes were delivered to the cottage by post yesterday.
They contained a hundred or so photographs
Photographs from my twenties.
The photographs had been found a while ago by the owner of my old home in Sheffield, which was a large warm natured Victorian terrace on Wynyard Road in Hillsborough.
They had been tucked under a built in seat, probably in the mid 90s, and then presumed lost in the subsequent move.
Recently I had wondered if my ex husband had taken them by accident when we separated but zi had been wrong. The photographs were handed over to my former neighbour who is luckily still one of my best friends.
Yesterday he had posted them back to me.
Images of nursing friends and bank clerk mates, of family parties and CB “ eyeballs”
Proof of the parachute jump I did in my brother’s rally suit at the age of 22. Old girlfriends toasting happy days with Pernod , years before I even thought I was gay.
Amid the snapshots there were around 20 professional looking black and white prints 10 x 6 inches in size and all showboating family and fiends . These were all taken before 1989 by Ian Parry
Ian was a dear friend and a talented newspaper photographer who was killed smuggling his wartime photos out of Ceausescu’s Romania on a Russian Cargo plane
I sorted through the photographs and picked several out which I decided I will frame and give out as Christmas gifts. A lovely portrait of my brother in law and his mother in Evening wear. A family drinks party with my brother laughing.
Photographs that need to be seen and not hidden away under a seat in an old Victorian house
My thoughts are with Pat, The Weaver Of Grass who is in hospital at the moment.
Wishing her a speedy recovery
I’m back on night shifts ....
I lovely surprise and a great idea for xmas gifts. Stay well John.
ReplyDeleteI hope your friend Pat will feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to find all of those old photos. It's like finding a time capsule. All sorts of black and white pictures that my parents had have gone missing during the two moves they have made and, although I can still see the pictures in my mind, I wish I had them in hand to show my grown children. I think it is important to show the younger generation that we were all young once.
How lovely, how lucky!
ReplyDeleteOh what a wonderful thing that you were able to have them returned!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful "blast from the past," although old photos can sometimes be rather bittersweet, I find.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice surprise. We should see you dressed for a parachute jump.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry for Weave. If you have a way ever to speak with her, pass along warm thoughts from Tennessee. xo
ReplyDeleteSo sad to hear about Pat, if you can communicate give her my best wishes
ReplyDeleteI was enjoying reading all that, then you hit me over the head with the news about poor Weave. I've been 'worrying' recently about her lack of mobility etc, I do hope she's OK.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have these photos back in your life!
ReplyDeleteYes, best wishes to Pat. I was very sorry to hear about her accident. And her birthday is just a week away too.
Old photos can resurface such strong memories, can't they. I'm glad you are going to give copies to those involved, they're such an important link. I'm sorry to hear about Weaver - can you let us know how she's doing, please. I'll send off a card tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI love that you got your old photos but am worried about Weave. I hope she is OK.
ReplyDeleteGET WELL SOON, PAT! we miss you!
ReplyDeletewhat a surprize find for you!
Oh what fun to receive these photos in the mail a time capsule to look back on. I was sorry to read the link about your friend Ian Parry he had such a bright future ahead of him also hope you friend Pat will have a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteWell wishes to Weaver
ReplyDeleteHow fortunate that you are still friends with your ex- neighbours, and what a lovely surprise to receive the photos.... many new owners would have just thrown them away. I do hope Weave feels better soon x
ReplyDeleteHow great to get those photos back x
ReplyDeleteWhat a surprise to receive your old photos through the post, happy memories. Best wishes to Pat via your blog, hope she is ok.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to get the photos back. Hope Pat is okay and will be home soon x
ReplyDeleteWhat has happened to Weaver? Veronica
ReplyDeleteShe fell and broke a hip ...
DeleteYou are totally right.
ReplyDeleteThey deserve to be seen. What a cool idea to give them as Xmas gifts.
XoXo
How good that someone knew where you were to return those photos, and the gift idea is a good one.
ReplyDelete(Poor Pat, she will be so cross with herself for having a fall. Hope she heals quickly)
I'm so familiar with all my old photos that it's a real joy when I see ones I didn't know existed. I love the evening dress photo. x
ReplyDeleteSays a lot about the community in solid old northern cities that you got your photos back. Would it have happened if they'd been in London? xxxx to weaver.
ReplyDeleteMemories captured in photographs are precious.
ReplyDeleteWow just wow. I’m all agog I love old photos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a find. I hope you'll share more of these and tell some stories. Wishing Pat well.
ReplyDeleteThank you John for the news about Pat. I worry when there is no blog post from her.
ReplyDeleteSome treasures and beautiful memories here. You are very lucky as I have just loat a load of photographs due to a leak. Hope Pat is comfortable and makes a good recovery. PP x
ReplyDeleteA wonderful surprise.
ReplyDeleteMay I add my thanks for the news about Weave.
Marvellous! What a treasure trove! I am so glad that you got those photos back. They could so easily have been cast out. The fur around your girlfriend's shoulders looks so nineteen fifties!
ReplyDeleteThere's something lovely about 'proper' photographs, ones you can handle, and go through physically as opposed to virtually, and a it's good to know that there are people who cared enough to get them back to you. They will make really good presents.
ReplyDeleteHope Pat feels better soon. So lovely to have these photos returned to you, you look back and see how life has changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteWishing Pat a speedy recovery. There is poetry about photographs and memories, images connect us with the past, glad these found their way home. In almost 30 years the only thing I mailed my ex, was a collection of family photos that belonged there.
ReplyDeletePlease add best wishes from "across the pond" to Pat the Weaver of Grass, should you speak with her. Hearing she had a fall is very concerning. Carol in Philadelphia
ReplyDeletethe second wave is starting and in a pandemic it is usually the 2nd wave that kills the majority of people. You baby boomers are all going to die of corona-virus and finally the world will be able to make progress when you boomers are all dead
ReplyDeleteWell, anonymous, let's hope you stay well away from 'baby boomers' then. Am guessing you are American, over here we do not call people that name, how quaint you sound. And your language skills are piss poor too. Go away with a wet leg.
DeleteHelena
I do hope Pat is feeling a bit better today-she is a lovely Lady xx
ReplyDeleteBrought tears to my eyes and they’re not even my photos!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes for your friend x
Sally
What a wonderful surprise gift!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the memories!
Old photos are such a treasure! How nice that you got them back. Thinking of Pat and hoping for the best.
ReplyDeletei have a terrible photo phobia. i can't look at old photos and i NEVER allow anyone to photograph me. photos make me too sad. i had a horrible life and they bring up too many bad memories. glad you got yours back though.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Always scared about what grief they will bring up
DeleteWhat lovely photos, you look so young and innocent, always the life of the party :)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to read that Pat is in hospital, I'm sending her best wishes for a speedy recovery.
~Jo
Those retrieved photos are a real treasure and how fortunate that your friend is still next door to your former home! Who is the darling little girl?
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry Weave is in hospital and wish her a quick recovery. She is an inspiration to me.
Hugs!
Wow, what a treasure trove! It's amazing that they made their way back to you. I would be devastated to lose old photos like that.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Pat's blog but here's good wishes for her recovery.
So sorry to hear about Weave. Please send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery. Pat
ReplyDeletePoor Pat, I do hope she gets better soon.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing thing to get back after all these years and a wonderful idea to use them as Christmas presents for this year. See how many frames you can pick up from the Hospice charity shop and it's even better :-)
Get well soon Weave!
ReplyDeleteI love old pictures -when my Mom died recently, we found boxes of old pictures. We laughed, we cried. So many great memories. Where do all those years go? I send Pat my best wishes for a speedy recovery Have read her for years and so enjoy her daily blogs. Send her love from all of us. Mary Ellen from Wisconsin
ReplyDeleteOld photographs are a touchstone for memories. I wonder what served the purpose before photography. Sending my best wishes for Weaver.
ReplyDeleteGreat that your photos found their way back to you. Photos have a way of bringing good memories of times past. Remembering special events and sharing good times. I hope Weave is resting comfortably.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing all that you do.
ReplyDeleteTake care of yourself, dear. Nights... their hard. So happy that you got your photos back. See? Good things happen to good people! Have a lovely...
ReplyDeleteVery upsetting to hear about Pat "Weaver" being in the hospital. But it's wonderful that you could be reunited with those old photographs, and to remember Ian Parry.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to Pat x
ReplyDeleteWhat are the chances of seeing a photo of you in your 20's? It is always a lovely surprise finding something you thought you lost for ever! And hope all goes well for Pat.
ReplyDeleteLook above that’s mean the dinner jacket
DeleteVery handsome! I'm a few entries behind, enjoy your sleep after nights!
DeleteThanks for the news about Pat, John - and wishing her a speedy recovery through your blog. Is there any way to contact her directly to send a card? I’m not sure I like old photos. I would rather look forward than back,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the news about Weave,,,Please pass on my best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.You looked very dishy in your 20s... not that you don't look dishy now...there is a certain attractiveness about maturity...yes we must keep telling ourselves over and oer again :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a topic that is near to my heart... Best wishes! Exactly where are your contact details though?
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