In August 2007, we spent some time exchanging houses with some people living in Morpeth, and I knew that the house where Grandma's family lived, in Longhorsley, wasn't very far, so we set out one day to find it:

We reached this place:

we parked the car, and set out on foot, asking people about the house where the Wood family had lived. Somebody directed us here:

The post-office, but the person there didn't know. On the other hand, he directed us to the house of a man who'd been a postman, and we walked to his house. A lady opened, listened to our query, went to fetch her husband, who finally did tell us where the house had stood. But, he said, it was gone now, replaced by a car-park. We went there, saw the flat spot where had once stood the house where the young Veronica Wood had grown up:

I have a letter from Monsieur Père who wrote to me while staying there:

(here's the other side!!!)

I suppose the seaside where Monsieur Père meant to go was Druridge bay:

I spent a rather windy hour there with Jo:

Hi, here are some artifacts referring to a mission which Grandma had entrusted both Helene and myself with back in 1981: to take care of her friend priest Father Romuald as he went through Paris on his way to Rome:

Here's the photo I was sent in order to identify the gentleman:

And this is Grandma's letter of thanks:

I have to say I don't recall receiving any books from Kathleen O'Rawe - I wonder Grandma refers to?!

 And here's my letter referring to the event!

On this side she mentions her sister's place in the North: this gives me an idea for another post.

Referring to Father Romuald, I had forgotten that on the occasion of our wedding party in November 1985, he had sent us a limerick, which I am reproducing below. First the card itself:

(it is a detail of the mozaic of the apse in Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome)

then the limerick itself, written at the back of the card:

In fact, Frédérique and I had had a try at a first limerick, inviting our guests at the party - I have forgotten it (it started in the same way, I think, "there was a young couple from France"), but Father Romuald answered us in his own way, indicating that he couldn't come.

1936 in the pram

1937 with Mary (but not at 9 Derwent yet)

same year, same company

1940 on the door-step (ready and eager to go to school for the first time!)

1943 First communion

1945 Victory dance

1946 With her Daddy (not sure he's being completely serious)

1946 with Anne Thomas

1947 with school friends

1947 same place

1948 dressing up for fun

1948 in disguise with Veronica

1950 with her sisters (check "the four sisters")

A fun ID series

1953: she's 17

At St Angela's Convent (1954)

With Mary and friends

St Angela's production of The merchant of Venice (with Jo)

 

1956 University years

3 years later: I think she was posing...

(this picture was probably NOT taken under Daddy's roof!)

1958: You will meet a tall dark stranger

...seems like he enjoyed the meeting

And the family as well

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ready to let her go...

She's gone...

...To cut the cake

Beginning of a new story! (see next section)

A series of pictures of people standing on the threshold of 9 Derwent:

1940 (perhaps) Cath: she said the photos was taken just before going to school for the first time: the grin on her face said it all!

1958 Mary and Nick. You can see that there is only one door-step behind Mary: now Mum, upon looking at these photos, told me that another step had been added by Monsieur Père in 1961 in order to enable Paco's pram to stand there, the other one being too narrow. Scroll further to see this second step!

1961 Grandma and Cath's three eldest

Here's the pram, and its important resident!!

1968 (?) Grandma and Mark, Carol & Janet

1969 Father Crook and Chris. And here you can see the second step quite well, and the difference it made with next door's still existing one step! So Paco's pram (see above) stood on that mottled step built by Grandpa in 1961.

This time with his grand-parents

Cath and Daddy, perhaps 1972

1981 Cath

1982 François and Chris

And finally, a mystery person, on a photo sent by Mark, which you can enlarge (thanks to Mark's scanner - click on the photo) to help us guess who it is, and when it was!!

12 July: I showed this photo to Mum: she thinks it could be AB... Any other suggestions?

Hello, do any of you remember this object?

Jean sent me this photo with the comment that he used to love it when at 9 Derwent (and used to drink his orange juice from it)and Grandma had noticed it, so when Mum went back for the sale of the house, she found it and brought it back for him. It's his memory of Grandma: she seems to be winking at him!