I have decided, with the help of many of you, not to make any changes to my blog. I will keep this domain. At least for the foreseeable future and will continue posting in the hopes that those that use Google Reader will eventually get all of my updates.

As I will be posting a lot of memories from my childhood and stories from my life, I think an insight into our family life may be a good idea. This is a 3 part story that will do just that.

Going back in time – part 1

It all started many years ago, in 1915, when two little children met for the first time.

The children were just 5 years old.  They played together under a kitchen table, while the grownups did what grownups do, chatted and drank tea.  Sidney, the little boy, was in awe of his new found friend.  He had never seen such a pretty little girl and he made a promise that day.  He promised himself that he would marry the girl that they called Jeanette.  Unfortunately life has a way of spoiling the plans of little children.  Jeanette was whisked away, by her parents, to live in America, where she became a child actress in the movies.  Sidney had lost his new found sweetheart and with her, his chances of fulfilling his promise.

Many years later, in fact about fourteen years later, Sidney, now a young man, was out with his father and they were rather surprised to bump into Jeanette’s father.  They were back from America.  He suggested that Sidney might like to meet Jeanette again, and gave him their address.  Sidney tucked the piece of paper into his pocket and after a short exchange of pleasantries, they went on their respective ways.  A short time passed and Sidney thought about that little girl he had met, all those years ago.  His curiosity got the better of him and he decided to visit.  He wanted to meet his childhood sweetheart again and see how she’d grown up.  See if she was still as pretty.

He arrived at the address, knocked nervously on the door and waited.  The door opened and the tiny frame of Jeanette’s mother stood in the doorway. Sidney could see that she was distraught.  “I’ve come to see Mr Fordham”  Sidney said. Mrs Fordham was crying as she led him into the house.  There was Jeanette! He recognized her immediately, though her face was pale and drawn and her eyes red from crying.  The sparkle had gone from those beautiful eyes. They led Sidney into the front room, to a scene that shocked him.  Jeanette’s father had just died quite suddenly, and was laid out in the front room. Things often don’t go as you expect them to, but this was not the time for Sidney to be thinking of himself.

Jeanette’s mother was French and couldn’t speak any English, and Jeanette’s sister, at 16, was the younger of the two girls.  It was obvious that they would find this a very difficult thing to deal with.  Although Sidney didn’t really know them, he decided that he couldn’t possibly leave them to see to all the necessary legalities alone, so he dealt with everything for them.  In fact he moved in, as a lodger, and looked after the three women, helping out wherever needed.  It was probably the best timed visit possible, in order for Sidney to be there when he was most needed.

In August 1930 it was a time for celebrations. Sidney fulfilled the promise he made himself under that kitchen table, when he was just five years old.  Fifteen years on, he watched eagerly as Jeanette, his childhood sweetheart, walked down the aisle of the church to become his wife.

This was the beginning.