Having spent a quite busy morning in the museum, managing to work the till with no mistakes today, I was aware of an increase of traffic caused by the 'Christmas shop.' People sauntered around checking prices, sifting through the sale items, and sometimes buying things. A good morning, in spite of staff shortages, a day when all the right people wandered in.
Some even came to visit the museum or the old photo exhibition. Looking at old pictures of your home town is a strangely interesting occupation. To remember how it was twenty, fifty or even a hundred years ago, though few remember that far back, is a pleasure to many. Several have noted their own house under long gone previous ownership, their church or school, and certainly the shops that once filled their homes with furniture, foodstuffs or toys. The long gone staff are remembered, sometimes relatives are observed and memories flow. It has been a happy exhibition so far.
One man however had a different object in view. He was looking for info regarding his ancestor who died in 1918 somewhere in Belgium. Alas I had little on him and have spent a while searching for more info. Not counting the time I fell asleep I have been thus occupied for hours. At least I have more idea of the canal the poor fellow may well have been wounded fighting over. It is possible he was wounded and died a few days later but of course unless we find actual details, which is unlikely, we may never know.
The picture was taken a few days ago, I placed it there to remind me what the sky looked like before the clouds arriving then blocked out the sun and turned all around a gray colour. The cloud cover increases the temperature but a smiling weather man cheerfully told me tonight it will freeze on Friday. I switched him off! Bah!
Some Christmas Shopping Cheer!
5 comments:
It's sobering to think how peoples lives were squandered in that war. I l really like looking at the way things were in the past. To them, it was just the normal world, the real world. I sometimes look around our place which was built in 1888 and imagine people in top hats and bustles striding around in them. Or 1920s clothes. They'll have recognised the sound the front door makes when it closes....so strange.
I love to see old photographs of places I knew - but not so keen on seeing modern ones showing the changes since my time.
Jenny, Just imagine the sound differences. No cars, just horse, carts, people, vendors shouting perhaps, no radios or planes passing. The smells were different, horses and their leavings, flowers and vegetation, the smoke from chimneys, possibly a factory in the distance letting you know it exists. A major difference in a hundred and twenty years.
Fly, Old pics are amazing. Memories flood back, not always good of course.
It's bittersweet, really...sad and yet heartening that someone shows keen interest in a long-lost relative...from years ago...gone, but not forgotten; and obviously never met by the one doing the present day search.
My Christmas shopping is all done. I only buy gifts for my nephew and his wife's two little kiddies. I always give them a pile of presents at Christmas...I think I get more joy out of it than they do!
The gifts have been wrapped; posted and received.
That's my limit...no more!
I intend having a very quiet Christmas...just how I like it to be. Gone are the years when I used to cater for the hordes...never again! Enough is enough, I say!
I made two Christmas cakes earlier this week; and I'm comatose from the rum fumes Also I've made some sausage rolls, mini-quiches and some palmiers that I intend taking along to a pre-Christmas party at the home of friends next week. I've still a few more bits and pieces to make...all are in the freezer until needed! Then that is it!!
Lee, I can imagine what your Xmas puddings will be like! Mine will be shop bought!
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