Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Trove Tuesday - British Library

When I studied librarianship in the dark ages (1960s) The British Library as we now know it did not exist. Britain we studied the library of the British Museum.

In 1972 when The British Library Act was passed by Parliament, the collection of  the British Museum. formed part of the collection of the new library.

As I have forgotten what I learnt about the British Museum collection I turned to Trove.

1924 'THE BRITISH MUSEUM LIBRARY.',The Tumut and Adelong Times (NSW : 1864 - 1867; 1899 - 1950), 8 February, p. 4. , viewed 31 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139386405
Argus and Riverina Advertiser (NSW : 1893 - 1953), 20 August, p. 4. , viewed 31 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article101616182
You can read this rather long article in its entirety by following the link in the citation.

1930 'Books and Writers.', The Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), 20 March, p. 64. , viewed 31 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22926993


Friday, May 27, 2016

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 27 May 2016

I wonder what I have saved in my Evernote GAGs Folder this week - let's take a look.


1. Not sure when I'll get back to Paris but I'm sure to include some of these.

2.Is there a match?

3. I love Jeanie Baker's work. 


5. Shelley is making use of this resource.

6. Moya shares a tale of survival.

7. A love story from Jenny.

8. A wake up call for Jackie's Mum.

9. A reminder of a baby's passing.

10. Thanks for alerting me to this Irish resource Victoria.


12. Thanks James for this reminder of one of Sydney's icons.

New to Me Blogs
Wagga Wgga and District Historical Society.

My Gene-Adventures

I have an adventure planned that will keep me busy for the next seven weeks so I may not be sharing any GeniAus'Gems during that period... but never fear.... I will return.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

From now on they'll have to ask

Am I being Bah Humbug?

A while ago I found an unsourced tree that had quite a number of my ancestors listed online at a fellow genealogist's website. I immediately thought how mean-spirited or lazy this chap was for not sharing sources. It didn't bother me personally as I was using his site for clues from which I went off to seek sources.

I've been mulling over his practice for some time and think I may follow his lead. I like to share and collaborate with fellow genies, that's why I have my tree on the web in a public space. What I expect is that if anyone republishes what they find at the GeniAus Family site they will acknowledge their source.

I regularly see on Ancestry and now on MyHeritage  bits and pieces from the notes I share copied into online trees without acknowledgement. What makes me giggle is that I am a poor typiste and make quite a few keyboarding errors, these are replicated in those trees. Copy and Paste has a lot to answer for.

I stopped putting photos on my GeniAus Family site  when I saw so many of them subsequently appear on Ancestry, I have yet to see one sourced as coming from me. Could so many distant cousins really have copies of those photos in their collections? The photo with the most shares, an image of my Kealy ancestors' home in Ballyfoyle, was taken on my last trip to Ireland. As I have another trip to Ireland planned I'm going to try for a sharper image which I may just keep for myself.

The original photo of the Ballyfoyle home from which the shared one was cropped
The cropped and enhanced (by me)  photo I find all over the place
I am about to upload an update to my site that includes names, dates and places but no sources or notes. I know that some folk will still copy my stuff but if they want more information they will have to ask.

Am I being mean-spirited?

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Ironing - a Geneactivity

I usually watch TV while I iron but, as the TV in my geneacave is on the blink, I decided to listen to the latest Genies Down Under podcast from Maria Northcote while I got rid of all those creases.

I selected the latest Episode 55: Some messages for genies in May  which turned out to be rather short as Maria has been recently snowed under at her day job. I got a huge surprise when I heard Maria mention my name and a blog post of mine, A Flea in my Ear, which I wrote in response to  a post from fellow geneablogger, Jennifer Jones. I was delighted to hear Maria expand on something I referred to in my post. Thanks, Maria.

As I had only ironed a few handkerchiefs and a shirt by the time episode 55 finished I fired up another session I had missed, EPISODE 50: Genie Fiction stuff for genies: Family history themed books and stories from December 2015. This was right up my alley as it satisfied two of my interests, genealogy and reading.Maria made some excellent choices of books to share, most of which I had read, but it was interesting to revisit those works through the eyes of a family historian. 

Maria mentioned Catherine Bishop's book, Minding Her Own Business: Colonial Businesswomen in Sydney, that I was tempted to buy when I heard the author speak at Hawkesbury FHG recently. If the book is half as good as the author talk it will be a ripper. Unfortunately the $40 price tag put me off. I must reserve it at my local library. 

Also on the list was The Timeless Land by Eleanor Dark, a book I read fifty years ago. Perhaps it's time to read it again. I think I can afford $2.50 for the eBook version.

Ironing tonight was a painless activity thanks to the two podcasts I heard. As I usually catch up on Maria's podcasts when I travel, I must download those I haven't heard to my phone before I next take off. 

Maria has been delivering her podcasts for over four years. If you aren't a regular listener May I suggest that you check out Genies Down Under.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Many Happy Returns

This is not a birthday post.  Last week I wrote about how I had pulled all of the BDM and other interesting certificates out of my files and was doing some nitpicking. Just this morning I read a post from Canadian genealogist, Lorine, who also extolled the virtues of returning to old records.

It feels like my birthday because I uncovered some clues that lead me to find some facts on direct ancestors  that I had previously missed. I also found a few silly things I had done. In my earlier post I shared some of the things I had found....but wait - there's more.




I found a Marriage Date and Place in Sydney for Patrick Curry and Ellen Moore. This pair claimed to have been married in Limerick, Ireland prior to their transportation to Australia. A visit to the Limerick Church they named and a helpful priest who let me look at the registers did not find such a record. I'm pleased they got Churched in New South Wales.

For nearly 30 years I had thought that my 2x Great-grandmother, Bridget Ryan, was a good swimmer. I can now report that the good swimmer genes don't come from Bridget. She enjoyed the journey to Australia in 1849 with her sister, Ann, on the good ship, British Empire. I had missed the clue on her death certificate that she first went to Victoria and I had believed a newspaper article that said she arrived ea few years earlier.

I killed off Mr GeniAus' 2x great-grandmother, Jane May. Mr GeniAus wasn't half as excited as I was. We have previously visited the cemetery where she is buried, perhaps we need to visit again and diligently check all the headstones.

When I visit some repositories I go crazy taking photos of documents and sometimes, when I get home, I forget to go nitpicking and record all details. I found a couple of Death Certificates whose details I hadn't recorded  lurking in Probate Packets. Perhaps I should fetch less and spend quality time on what I manage to collect.

I got a couple of surprise when I found some certificates misfiled in the wrong folders. That's probably why I found that I had purchased duplicate certificates for some ancestors.

I am sorry to report that I had to do some pruning and lop a branch off my tree. We all make mistakes, I had given some poor woman a couple of extra children.

It wasn't really of any consequence but it was interesting to see that one of Mr GeniAus' ancestors who worked for an undertaker was a witness at the burial of one of my ancestors.

Of course I found the small pile of certificates I had bought in error.  I must hnd these on to a society or site that will make them available to others.

I was wearing my halo after completing this task until this morning when I was on my feet dealing with piles of paper. I found a plastic sleeve that contained 72 more BDMs!

No prizes for guessing that more Nitpicking is on my agenda.


Saturday, May 21, 2016

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 21 May 2016

A big day out combined with a little bug saw me take to my bed instead of posting my gems yesterday. Now that today's domestic chores have been seen to I'm posting my weekly selections before the baby sittees arrive.


1. Vicki's latest geneabook review.
http://vickisc.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/genealogy.html

2. Pauleen's response to her meme. I was disappointed that more folk didn't take up this challenge.
https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/my-own-merry-month-of-may-movies/

3. Jenny's mystery

4. Memory Lane is one of my favourite destinations.
http://gsqld.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/a-trip-down-memory-lane.html


6. Yvonne describes how she enjoys reading.
https://stumblingpast.com/2016/05/15/reading-purrfection/

7. Putting this on my Birthday list, thanks Linda.
https://wangiwriter.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/bananagrams/    

8. How did your country get its name?



11. A Rebel Hand celebrates some Gentenaries.
http://worldwidegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/genealogy-centenaries.html



Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Spitfest

The postman has delivered a package in plain wrapping to my house and I feel a Spitfest coming on.

I have two victims lined up and am seeking another volunteer.

If you are a genie and don't know what I'm talking about it's time to join the 21st century.

Addendum: Oops - It's actually a Scrapefest we'll be having as the kits are from Family Tree DNA.


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Trove Tuesday - Warm Feet

When sitting still and pecking away at the keyboard I suffer from cold feet...even when the outside temperature is in the twenties (Celsius). A pair of socks and closed in shoes will usually warm my toes but when the weather starts to cool I need to wear my lambswool lined slippers.

Warm toes
For further tips I sought advice via Trove and I was not disappointed..

1905 'WARM FEET.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 1 July, p. 16. , viewed 16 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article138381513
The above article appeared in many newspapers between 1905 and 1912.

1870 'WARM FEET.', Sydney Mail (NSW : 1860 - 1871), 27 August, p. 12. , viewed 16 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166810093
1912 'KEEP YOUR FEET WARM.',Singleton Argus (NSW : 1880 - 1954) , 13 April, p. 7. , viewed 16 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article80060348
What tips do you have for keeping one's toes warm?

Monday, May 16, 2016

Nitpicking

I had previously talked about my intention of going through all the BDMs (vital records) in my possession and going over them with a fine tooth comb. It's proving to be an illuminating exercise.

I had pulled all of the copies I have out of their plastic sleeves with the intention of scanning them and then placing the copies (which have cost me several $$$) into acid-free sleeves and folders. Last week as I was researching the Irish ancestors I thought I'd see what I could dig up on them but then I decided to have a rest from the Irish and go through all my certs.


What have I discovered?

* Certificates that I didn't even know I had and from which I had entered no information into my database. I am carefully examining them and adding info to my Family Historian database. I am also noting in the notes field for the source if I actually hold a copy of the record in question.

* I realised that one of the certificates I had wasn't for the right person so had to lop another branch off my tree. Since I purchased that certificate I had found other evidence that refuted what was in the certificate. It pays to revisit.

* I found several factual errors on certificates. Further evidence gathered since I procured the certificates shows them to be wrong. It pays to use multiple sources.

* I am finding familiar names as witnesses to BDM events now that I revisit the certificates. The knowledge of families I have gathered over the years has made it easy for me to recognise these names. Knowledge gained over years of research helps one make valuable connections.

* I've been doing some fact checking on other sites as I go along and it's interesting to see how many folk have copied my stuff (including typos) into their online trees.

* By using the clues contained in online trees as I go through my certificates I have made some valuable discoveries. I managed to finally kill off Mr GeniAus' 2x great-grandmother the other night because someone had provided a source in their online tree.

* I have found something new on just about each certificate I have put under the virtual microscope.

* As a result of this activity many of the previously unsourced events in my database now have sources.

We are often reminded of the value of doing such an exercise. I can thoroughly recommend putting your research on hold  while you go nitpicking through the  records you have to hand.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

The Magic of Movies

My Genimate, Pauleen, has put out a challenge....and I can't resist. Here is what she says :


Things have quietened down since the A to Z challenge so it’s time for a bit of fun with a May Meme. A few years ago I did a May Music Meme so I thought this year we’d go to the movies. Put your movie hats on, look into the past and dredge up your memories…LET’S HAVE FUN!
film-596519_1280 movies
The way it works is this:
  • Copy the questions I’ve listed here and add your responses – short or long as you please.
  • The image is from Pixabayand free to use so share away.
  • Link back to your post in the comments.
  • During the next week I’ll put my own response up.
  • Around 22 May I’ll put up a summary of the posts.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Pauleen for issuing this challenge which required a Blockbuster effort on my part. I did, however, enjoy the trip down Memory Lane. Thanks for the nudge.

What’s the earliest movie you can remember?
The Red Shoes starring Sir Robert Helpmann which I saw with Mum at a theatre in Kings Cross. 
Where did you go to the movies (place or type of venue)?
When I was a youngster we lived in Kings Cross and we had within walking distance the choice of three movie theatres, the Kings Cross Theatre, the Minerva/Metro  and a small newsreel theatre. A short tram ride down William Street took us to the city theatres. I remember the St James, The Prince Edward and the State that is set up for live theatre today. I remember Sydney identity, Bea Miles, who used to frighten the life out of me when she stood up the back of the Kings Cross Theatre eating grapes and spitting the seeds at the audience of moviegoers.

Source: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/35318/photos/112816 by John Gleeson
As a family we went to the Star Drive-in at Matraville a few times and I when I was a teen I went in to the city to meet my schoolfriends. On odd occasions I went locally to the Randwick Ritz or Odeon or to one of the theatres at Bondi Junction.

The nuns at school marched us up to the Minerva/Metro to see epics like Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments and a couple of Shakespeare ones. I seem to remember  seeing Richard Burton.

Settled in for a Movie Marathon 
The first movie I saw with Mr GeniAus was the Mercenary at the St James Theatre. It was so scary I just had to hang onto him. Once we were married and had children there was little time and less money for movie going.

These days I see many movies on the small screen on aeroplanes. On a  trip to London I will watch about six movies. I've already looked up the programs for my next European jaunt.

Did you buy movie programs?
What movie programs?

Did you take in food and drink (and what did you like)?We went to see the movies, not for a picnic. This habit has continued to the present day. I always have a bottle of water and a tin of mints in case of emergency. I won't say no to a choc top on a special occasion. 

Movies of your teenage years?
Gidget, The Graduate, Guess who's coming to dinner?, Irma la Douce, Muscle Beach Party, The Parent Trap, The Sound of Music, Summer Holiday, To Sir with Love, Tom Jones, I wasn't an Elvis fan. It was a time when I saw lots of movies.

Do you remember how old you were when you went unsupervised?

Very young, about 9. I was in fourth class in primary school and my mother who was working at Farmer's Department Store in the city put my friend Cheryl Firbanks and I into the movies (and collected us later in the foyer) at The Palace Theatre to see a Shirley Temple movie.

Mischief you got up to in the movies?
Me, mischief, NEVER.

Did you watch movies at home?
Sometimes we watched the Sunday Night movies on TV. I remember when Mr GeniAus bought a video player when they were just new, I didn't understand what is was for.  We still have some tapes of movies we recorded off air. When they became available we would borrow movies from the video shop - it was a lot cheaper then taking the family to the movies. We sometimes watch movies on DVD now but we like to go out to the theatre. It's quite a reasonable price for Senior Citizens.

What was your favourite movie to watch at home?
I tend not to rewatch movies or reread books. There just isn't enough time to experience all the movies and books I want to see/read.

Do you prefer to watch movies at home or at the cinema?
Cinema. The big screen and surround sound add something extra.

Does your family have a special movie memory?
My younger daughter knew the dialogue for The Sound of Music, off by heart.

Movies you fell in love to/with?
Tearjerkers and those that play on the emotions. 12 Years a slave, Beaches,  Good-bye Mr Chips, The HelpLove Story, The Railway Man.

Favourite romantic movie theme music?
Can't think of any. I prefer Strauss or Tchaikovsky. 

Favourite musical movie?
The Sound of Music, I had a soft spot for my Dad's favourite The Jolson Story which I probably saw a dozen times..

Which movies made you want to dance/sing?
The Sound of Music, and most musicals - old and new.

Do you watch re-runs or DVDs of old movies?
No, too many new ones to watch.

Do your children/family enjoy the same movies?

Well, I don't like Star Wars or Science Fiction like the boys but I seem to like anything else that the kids recommend.

What’s your favourite movie genre now?
Biographical/life story movies, Drama and Rom-Coms.

Did you read the book before or after the movie?
Usually before but sometimes afterwards to get the full story. I like to read first so the characters and settings I imagine are not influenced by the movie makers' perceptions. Seeing the movies first hinders my engagement with the characters in the book.

Which did you enjoy more, the book or the movie?
Except on rare occasions the book wins.

What’s the silliest movie you’ve seen (silly funny or silly annoying)?
I don't want to give either positive or negative reinforcement to the rubbish that I've endured.

Pet hate in movies?
Tall people who sit in front of me.

A movie that captures family history for you? The Descendants

If you could only play 5 movies for the rest of your life, what would they be?

I would turn to books I haven't read.

Favourite movie stars (go ahead and list as many as you like)?
I don't remember the names of most of the actors I see. As movies are a visual medium I have to nominate George Clooney and Hugh Grant. I love the work of Maggie Smith, Helen Mirren, Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett.

EXTRA, EXTRA
Since Librarything added the facility to record movies in its database I have been recording the names of the movies I see. I am also trying to retrospectively add those I have seen in my lifetime. This activity has helped me remember a few more. So far I have listed these Movies I've seen

I thought I hadn't seen many movies  but, on reflection, I realise that I love the Magic of Movies.

Friday, May 13, 2016

GAGs - GeniAus' Gems - 13 May 2016

With my morning cup of coffee under my belt and the first load of washing in the machine I can turn to my pleasant weekly task of sharing some Gems with you.

Now that April is just a memory  those who took part in the A-Z Blogging challenge are writing their reflections posts. This is what I had to say about my experience, https://curryaus.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/a-to-z-reflections/.

I have heard on the grapevine that the organisers are considering adding in 2017 a genealogy category as many of us has suggested. Now is theme to start thinking about your theme for 2017. I have hit on a theme for my personal blog jillballau, set up a planning sheet on Google Drive and have added six draft posts. Will you be joining me?


1. Thanks to Pauleen for developing this dalliance for us. I'm in. Are you?
https://cassmob.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/merry-month-of-may-movie-meme/

2. A pertinent post as Nurses Day was celebrated this week.
http://northqueenslandhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/nq-midwives-invisible-heroines.html

3. It sometimes takes Glyn a while to solve a mystery.
http://lostmedalsaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/ran-wwii-and-long-service-group.html

4. Hoping that Michelle's ankle mends quickly ... but we are benefitting a as she has been on blogging binge while laid up.
http://hawkesburyheritage.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/windsor-boxing-match-1836-trove-tuesday.html
http://michellefnichols.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/trove-tuesday-doris-mary-belshaw-1907.html

5. I did nothing because I was in the dark. and now I know more about Gottland which I visited a few years ago.
https://anmm.wordpress.com/2016/05/12/what-did-you-do-for-international-viking-day/

6. Wise words from Lorine.
http://olivetreegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/04/take-it-with-genealogy-grain-of-salt.html

7. Kintalk have published a list of the Tran-Tasman ANZAC posts.
http://kintalkfamilyhistory.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/military-monday-wrap-up-of-2016-trans.html

8. Thanks to Victoria for sharing this free resource from Canada.
http://campaspegenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/the-british-colonist-newspaper.html

9. If you're ready to write then you need to read Martys Tips.
https://mplayne.wordpress.com/2016/05/10/the-ins-and-outs-of-self-publishing/'

10. There are lots of farmers in Lois's family.
http://loiswillis.com/2016/05/11/the-farmer-family/

11. Bob sheds some light on Gertrude.
https://bobscotney.wordpress.com/2016/05/11/al-kathun/

12. Jonas discovers some deserters.
http://earlylithuaniansinaustralia.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/ship-deserters.html

Congratulations to Bankstown FHG on their blog facelift.
http://bankstownfamilyhistorygroup.org.au/

Welcome back to blogging Lee-Ann  http://xmastree2.blogspot.com.au/2016/05/a-small-work-through-years.html

New to Me
Quinn  http://jacki-quinn.blogspot.com.au/

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Trove Tuesday - Dolphin Street.

My parents lived in two residences in Dolphin Street Randwick over a period of 43 years. Yesterday I blogged about their time at 28 Dolphin Street. For my Trove Tuesday post this week I decided to find  who else had lived in Dolphin Street. I found a mixed bunch.

A Cricketer

1913 'Anniversary Day Cricket', Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative (NSW : 1890 - 1954), 2 January, p. 3. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157716896
An Unlucky Little Girl
1924 'INJURED CHILD.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 28 October, p. 10. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16163270


A Police Traffic Superintendent
1930 'EX-SUPERINTENDENT TURBET.',Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954) , 27 March, p. 9. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133400168
An Accident Victim

1931 'MOTOR FATALITY AT RANDWICK.',The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 13 November, p. 10. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16801956

A Catholic Lady

1937 'MRS. VIOLET M. HARTMAN.', The Catholic Press (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1942), 27 May, p. 27. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104393853
A Bar Mitzvah Boy

1943 'Barmitzvah', The Hebrew Standard of Australasia (Sydney, NSW : 1895 - 1953), 3 June, p. 6. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article121210007
A Joy Rider
1950 'TOOK LAUNCH TO GET HOME',The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 14 November, p. 9. , viewed 09 May 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18186232

Monday, May 9, 2016

Sold

Way back in 1979 my parents moved from a home unit (flat, apartment) in Randwick into a small cottage further along the street where they lived. There were several reasons for this move but one of them revolved around my family.

At the time I had three young children and a fourth on the way. It was difficult climbing up three flights to visit Mum and Dad and there was no outdoor area for the children to play. With impending retirement Mum and Dad also realised that a garden would give them space to get away from each other, a place for Dad to amuse himself plus it would be more convenient for grandchildren visits.We spent several months looking for suitable properties, none of which were quite right.

When Mum was chatting with a lady she knew in a local organisation, this woman indicated that she was selling her home at 28 Dolphin Street. Mum and Dad took a look, they agreed on a price and Mum and Dad moved down the hill on 15 June 1979. Mum moved on to a retirement village several years ago after Dad passed away and finally on the weekend, on her behalf, I auctioned Number 28 Dolphin Street.
Auction Day - 28 Dolphin Street 

I thought I did not have a great emotional attachment to the house but, as the auction approached, my children recalled the many happy times they had spent with their grandparents at number 28. I realised that the cottage was important to my family history. When they were university students and young marrieds each of my children had a period living in a neighbouring property so they also were neighbours of Grandma and Grandpa for a time and they all kept an eye on each other. With the sale of Mum's house the Dolphin Street era has come to a close.

I am recording this event on my blog and taking a trip down memory lane via some photos in my collection so that future generations will have a window into the times we shared at that little cottage.


Dad loved taking photos. This is the earliest we have of Dolphin Street and shows Mum and my younger son sitting on the front fence We have quite a few photos of family members sitting on that fence which is seen in the auction Day shot.

Fence lineup
Fast forward to 1985 and there's another family group on the fence, my four children, my cousin and her firstborn.

My birthday - 1980
My parents' dining table features in many photos as Mum and Dad loved hosting us and the extended family for various celebrations. Above is a photo from my birthday in 1980. Dad was a big kid who also enjoyed his birthdays (below).

Grandpa cuts his cake
1990 - Son's birthday
My birthday - 1991
We usually had Christmas lunch at our home but on a couple of occasions we went to Mum's.  Our celebrations were often accompanied by that classic wine, Sparkling Bodega.


One of Grandma's' specialties was crumbed cutlets which the kids devoured.

Crumbed cutlets
While Mum loved cooking she was happy to sit back after she had served a meal. Dad would don an apron and wash the dishes, he used make such a splash that the floor got a wash at the same time. Sometimes one of my children would help him.


When they were home alone Mum and Dad had their meals and coffee breaks  at their small kitchen table.




Dad nurtured the old Magnolia tree in the garden. As they grew my children spent a lot of time in that tree.


The kids had the run of the house. Grandma always had activity and painting books to amuse them.




One error of judgment on my part occurred when I gave my parents a pound puppy, Susie. I thought they needed canine company but they didn't. Thankfully Susie found a happy long term home with my cousin.
Susie didn't stay long at Dolphin Street
My maternal grandmother was always included in celebrations. 1988 was the last time we celebrated Mother's Day with her, in the photo below are four generations of females in my family. 


Dad's last visit home from his nursing home to Dolphin Street was in 2000.


And in 2001 a new generation came to Dolphin Street when Mum's first Great-grandchild visited. 

Until she moved to a retirement apartment Mum was quite houseproud. 

Mum supervising my husband in the yard.
Mum loved her new kitchen
Although Mum was quite keen on decorating she saw no reason to replace the bathroom which the real estate agent described described as "classic and spacious". When my grand-daughter visited on auction day she was quite taken with the pinkness of it.

Spacious, classic bathroom




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