Australian Connections

If you read my post on Fremantle & Perth you may remember I wrote about an exhibition we saw in the museum in Perth.   It got me thinking about my connection to Australia. Not only the fact that my son and his family live there, but that my father was born there. It has set me off on some interesting research.

I'm not interested in family trees but did get a bit involved in some ancestry sites just to find out about my grandparents.  I was wondering why and how they got to Australia and why they settled in Bulimba, a suburb of Brisbane.  It turned out to be fascinating.

It turns out that my grandfather joined the King's Rifles Corp in 1907 possibly as a groom.  He served in Malta and was invalided out in 1909.  I haven't been able to find out why.  In the meantime my grandmother is described as a chocolate packer - presumably at Cadbury's.  I don't know how they met as I know my grandmother was Catholic and the military papers describe my grandfather as Wesleyan.

I knew that they had been given free passage to Australia but didn't know how.  The £10 Poms were after World War 2.  It turns out that after the First World War, there was an Act of Parliament which gave free passage to ex-Servicemen.

I found the passenger lists with my grandparents and my aunt's names.  They sailed on the SS Sophocles to Brisbane in 1923.  It took over 7 weeks.  The papers I was sent from the Queensland State Archives said that my grandmother's brother already lived in Bulimba and had agreed to nominate my grandfather and help him find a job.  So that's why they went to Bulimba.

My father was born in 1924 and his brother a couple of years later.

 

 

I also found out that my great-uncle died in 1926 which might have been an extra reason why the family came back to England in 1931.  I always knoew that my grandmother hadn't liked the heat and was homesick.

They came back on the SS Hobson Bay, landing in Hull.  This photo shows the ship in dock in Adelaide.  I think the little boy hanging over the rail in the middle is my Dad, although it could be his brother!

Currently I am putting together a sketchbook - although it might be better called a scrapbook at this point in time.

I bought some mylar and some SVG stencil files of Australian plants, which my friend Joane kindly cut for me.

I am rather hoping that at some point all this will lead to a textile piece.  However I haven't really found my way into that yet.  I'm going to finish putting all the information I've found together in the book.  Then start on a page about my son.

After that, I shall wait and see.  Hopefully inspiration will strike.  And if it doesn't I'll have a family scrapbook.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Celebrating 70

It's not often that I share photos of me so the last post was a bit of an aberration.  And now there's another post!  What has the world come to!  Mind you only one of me this time.

But I am so very blessed.

A very dear friend, Vicky, said she and her husband Steve, wanted to host a birthday lunch for me on the day after my birthday.   And what a lunch party it was!

I am blessed to have such friends.

Vicky arrange all the invitations, the food and drink.

She roped in other people to help with the catering.  I don't know who did what, but thank you.  I know that Ange went to great lengths to make me a cake with my favourite colour - turquoise - and my favourite chocolate - Cadbury's.

My friends came and blessed me with cards, presents and conversation.  The weather was kind too.

Lots of questions had been asked about my favourite foods and I mention Vicky's chocolate bread & butter pudding. And here it is.  It was totally yummy.

Rosie and Ditch came from London especially to celebrate with me AND made a Florida Salad.  Thank you both.

After a sumptuous lunch, I cut the cake.  It was superb.

And if that wasn't enough blessings, Vicky had arranged for these two to Facetime.

They had stayed up until way past midnight to make the call.  Above and beyond, wouldn't you say!

What a fabulous afternoon to be blessed in such a way by friends and family.  Thank you all.

And you know I can't resist a bit of rust!!!  There was a fire bowl on the patio and there was rust!

How could I resist?

I nearly forgot!  Another blessing!  Several of my friends donated to a Birthday Fundraiser I put on Facebook to raise money for Once, We Were Soldiers.  Thank you to all who donated.

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice

This is my life

Some of you might remember the programme 'This Is Your Life' with Eamonn Andrews and his big red book.  To celebrate my 70th birthday today, here is a photographic version of my big red book.  Key moments rather than a photo a year!

1949

1950s

1960s

21st birthday(1970)   By now I was wearing contact lenses!

I don't seem to have any photos for the next 13 years!

 May 1983

Andy 1986

 August 1999 - 50th birthday champagne breakfast

 25th Wedding Anniversary 2008

 Andy & Naomi's wedding 2009

60th birthday 2009

I have done such a lot in the last 10 years.  Retired, travelled, art journaled, run online challenges, taken numerous workshops etc, most of which has appeared on this blog.  I've done so many things it's been difficult to choose one photo.  So representing the last 10 years here's Roger & I trying to take a selfie using my camera rather than my phone. It was supposed to be of us eating ice cream in Manly.

More importantly 3 grandchildren (2 boys and a girl) have been born in 2015, 2017 and 2019.  In the Hopper family line there has only been one child in each generation since at least 1850. Each time just one boy. Andy broke the mould by having two boys. In June 2019 Hopper history was made. Our granddaughter was born.

Crystal Rose Photography  @crystalrose.photo

And so to today.

Thanks for joining me to celebrate my special day.
Bernice

December Daily

December Daily is intended to last from December 1st to December 25th and to chronicle a story each day.  However my book is more of a diary and less about the story.

I am really pleased to say that I have finished the book to December 25th.  Here are my pages from December 18th.

I chose a photo a day from the last week to put in the pockets on the left.

December 18th

December 19th

December 20th

December 21st

December 22nd

December 23rd

December 24th

December 25th

I am going to include photos from December 26th to 31st.  I have put two page protectors in the binder ready and will put all of those in tomorrow.

Thank you so much for following along with my December Daily and with my blog over this year.  I have enjoyed your company and your comments.

Here's to 2017.

Bernice