VISITING MY HOMELAND IN 1970

Continuing My Story

It was 1970 and we were living in Switzerland but we went to England to visit my old home, where I was born, my relatives and my parent's friends.

We put our car in for a service and then we did a lot of sight seeing in London by bus and tube. It was fun finding our way around. We went to Madam Tussaud's Waxworks, the National Museum and Earls Court. 

We found our way to Forest Gate by train to visit my only remaining grandparent. When I left England 21 years before, I said goodbye to my four grandparents when I was six, and never saw them again. Now that I'm a grand parent, I realise how hard that must have been, especially for my Dad's parents because he was an only child. 

Well here we were at my Dad's Mum's house. She opened the door and said," I don't know who you are but come in anyway." I started to explain who I was but soon became aware that she had dementia and was very confused about who I was. The closest she got was that she thought I was her son's wife. It was so sad. In 1965 when my parents returned home for the first time in 15 years my dad had tried to get his mum to come to Australia but she refused and just wanted to stay in her own home. So he organised social workers to take care of her. She also had church members check on her. However, she would open the door for anyone and some people had stolen many of her belongings. There were still photos of me in frames but she still didn't know who I was. We sadly said goodbye and caught a bus to South Woodford to where I used to live.

My Granny's house was the next one along past the lamp post. Its fun to look up Google Map's Street View  now and see how it looks today.

This is Eagle House where I lived in the top floor flat. Just recently my blog friend Marie visited the house as part of her "Above the Underground" challenge. You can see her post here: South Woodford

When we got our car back we drove to Ascot to meet a friend of Bill's mother. Marianne was a Swiss Au Pair for the Pulimbo family who lived in this mansion. The owners were not home so Marianne took us for a tour through this magnificent house. We were blown away by the gold taps, the opulent furniture and the art works. She showed us where the queen had been entertained.

We motored on to Windsor Castle and did a tour of the State Apartments. Once again we were impressed with the paintings.We went on to visit Stratford on Avon and then back to the hotel. Where we rang my mother's best friend in Burnley. We left the next morning to travel to the north country and stay with Mum's friends, May and Charles.

After staying in Burnley for a few days we went on to the Lake district which is such a beautiful area. I loved the houses made from stones.

 In Yorkshire I contacted my Uncle Gil. He apologised for not being able to put us up as they were renovating so he took us to a posh hotel in Doncaster instead. We had a lovely dinner and a long chat.

The next day I was excited to visit Newmiller Dam, where my mother grew up and Wakefield, where I was born. So we had a look around Wakefield  and then went to the dam. My mother used to swim in summer  and skate in winter here.

I couldn't remember where my granny's house had been. My parents told me it had been knocked down to build an estate.

We drove back to London, stopping at Woburn House for a tour. It was the home of the 13th Duke of Bedford. The grounds were beautiful.

Back in London we continued exploring. We visited Hyde Park  and got a shock when we were asked to pay to sit in a deck chair.

In the afternoon we went to Greenwich and  visited the Cutty Sark and Gypsie Moth yachts. We walked through the park to the observatory and stood on the Meridian 0°Longitude.

I contacted more friends of my mother's, Edie and Percy who took us to Chartwell House. The house where Winston Churchill lived, which is a museum now.

They also took us to see Penshurst House in Kent . I loved the architecture of the old houses.

I was very happy to have been able to visit my homeland but I was also happy to be returning to live in Australia. I didn't feel English, I felt Australian.

OFF TO SEE LONDON IN 1970

Continuing My Story

We had been living in Switzerland for three months when Bill decided that he wanted to return to Australia to live. I didn't need any convincing as I realised it would be much easier for me to work in Australia and also much easier to buy our own home. It would cost millions to buy a house in Switzerland. Bill also found the lay back, fun loving, friendly Australians were easier to work with than his Swiss counterparts. We wanted to take back our new car so we made a booking on the Italian ship the Marconi for the 24th November. That was another three months away. 

In the meantime we had promised Bill's mother to take her to England with us. (His Dad didn't want to come). She had never been there. I was keen to return to my homeland and see the places where I was born and where I had lived. It was 21 years since I had migrated to Australia as a seven year old.

We bundled Mutti into the car with a few suitcases and off we drove through Switzerland, Germany, and Belgium. We stayed in Brussels for the night.

Cologne, Germany

The Atomium, Brussels (built for the World Expo,
 there was a restaurant at the top).

 In the morning we drove to Oostend to catch the ferry across the Channel to Dover. We had to wait a while and I was hungry. The only thing on offer at the dock was fast food. I bought a greasy sausage. (Bad decision) The crossing was very rough. The ferry was slamming down and soaring up over the choppy waves. It wasn't long before I felt ill and the sausage and I parted company. I was so embarrassed, I had never been sea sick before. We drove from Dover into London. Mutti was excited, Bill was hungry and I was seedy. It took us a while to find St James Hotel no GPS then.

We took a tour bus to show Mutti the sights of London. We saw Piccadilly Circus,

 and Trafalgar Square.

 Back then, it was the thing to do, to feed the pigeons. 

 The queen's guards at Whitehall.

 We saw the jewels in the Tower of London and watched the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

We visited 10 Downing St and the houses of parliament.

Bill's mum had to return to work in Switzerland and we arranged for her to fly back. We took her to Heathrow Airport where we discovered there was a security alert because it was when planes had been hijacked. So we were not able to see her board the plane. We were worried because she hadn't flown before and she didn't speak English. Later that day we rang Bill's Dad, who said she hadn't arrived. Panic. We learnt that the plane had been delayed two hours.That night we rang again and we were relieved to hear that she was home. 

Now we had a lot of England to see and many friends and relatives to meet in the next two weeks.

MOOCHING AROUND MAROOCHYDORE

We visited our friends new home at Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane. They have moved into an over 50's Gateway Lifestyle community and we went to see what it was like. We were pleasantly surprised. They have a nice three bedroom house with ensuite and everything they need. Their deck looks over parkland and a lagoon.

We walked across the road to the river.

It was a dull day and looked like rain any minute.

We stayed overnight and played cards. In the morning we couldn't go walking and exploring because it was raining heavily. So we sat on the deck and played more cards and looked at the pretty back yard.

The rain was dancing on the lagoon.

Soon we had to make our way home. It poured heavy rain all the way. It was an awful drive home. 

AN OLD PHOTO

This is Bill's Uncle Walter, Aunty Hedi and little cousin Walter outside their butcher shop in Switzerland around 1931.
Joining in with Sepia Saturday

CHRISTMAS WITH CHILDREN IN AUSTRALIA

This is the first year that we have celebrated Christmas with the grandchildren in our home. Once before we had Christmas with them in Victoria, two years ago. They arrived five days before Christmas and they were leaving on Christmas Day to celebrate in Melbourne with their other family. Their Aunty Carol and Uncle David arrived a day later. It was fun having the house full with family. So many times we spent Christmas alone when the young ones were living in England and America.

Since they would have lots of gifts at Christmas, I thought they could have our gifts early to keep them entertained while they excitedly waited for the big day. In fact they have two big days because we have always celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve like they do in Switzerland and then they go to their other family on Christmas Day.

Granddaddy chose a remote control crane for Fox. The three boys all had fun with it.

Banjo loads the crane and gives the okay to the driver. Banjo also got a monster truck set.

 At last Santa arrived and there were two happy little boys with their toys.

 Fox wrote to Santa asking for a Star Wars Light Sabre. 

 Banjo got a fleet of monster trucks

Soon it was time for Christmas lunch of seafood and salads.

One huge Snapper, Moreton Bay Bugs and prawns.

Both son in laws are great cooks so they took over the kitchen.

 Then they put the fish into the barbecue and waited.

 We decided to eat inside in the cool air-conditioning and avoid flies.

After lunch it was time to give out the family presents. Fox chose Uncle David to be Santa and Fox was Santa's helper in giving out the presents.

A mini Kylo Ren from Star Wars dropped in to join the celebrations.

Soon it was time for them all to leave to join their other families. Then it was nice to enjoy the peace and quiet and the slower pace of us oldies.

BIRTHDAY BEAR'S CHRISTMAS PARTY

Birthday Bear invited her wrinkly friends to a Christmas lunch at Sunnybank Hotel, a local pub. Birthday Bear was helped to get dressed in her Christmas Dress by Ann, who found the outfit in the dog clothes department???

 The wrinkles waiting for lunch. Nearly all were present except Chris's husband , Bob, who was in hospital having more back surgery to correct a complication.

Birthday Bear had brought lots of presents for the friends.

THE FRIENDS

Ann and George

 Chris and Mary

 Helen and Paul

 Bill and Diane

After a delicious lunch it was open the presents time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

FUHLEHUNG! FUHLEHUNG! HUNG, HUNG! (Lazy Dog)

(Continuing My Story)

When I was living in Thun (pronounced Toon), Switzerland in 1970, I was woken one morning at 4:30 by hundreds of children in the street below our windows chanting, "Fuhlehung! Fuhlehung! hung, hung!" Bill explained that the children were seeking out an unknown person dressed as a court jester wearing a devil's mask. The children chase him through the town calling him Fuhlehung! (Lazy Dog!). This practice can be traced back to the 15th century.  The children of Thun are told this story:

In early days when the Duke of Zaringen lived in the castle and ruled the land, he ordered the court jester to wake him and his men early to go to a battle. Alas, the court jester slept in and made the Duke late setting off. The Duke was so angry that he chased the court jester out of the castle calling him a 'lazy dog-fuhlehung'.' 

                           

 Now and then the Fuhlehung appears hanging out of office windows and throws the children sweets.

 Then he suddenly appears again on the street and the children chase him again and again. He carries with him a baton and a bunch of inflated pigs bladders to whop those who catch him or pull on his mask.

It is part of the annual "Ausschiesset" (Shoot-out)  Festival held every year in September. The shoot-out festival is where the town cadets have a crossbow competition. The festival stops the town for three days. There are processions, dinners and much partying but for the children the appearance of Fuhlehung is one of the highlights. In the above photo it is his job to keep the crowd quiet while the cadets are shooting. They shoot a target which is a picture of the mean ruler Gessler, who William Tell shot. The arrow nearest the heart wins.

The town cadets march through the streets to and from the shooting competition. In the 70's it was boys only. Today girls are included and often win the competition.
It was fun experiencing this custom of Bill's town.