My Nana Jess, born of a Scottish mum and American Dad. I do not remember her mother's maiden name, but her dad was John Levi Brown, I think. Oh yes, that's right, her mother was a Nicholson, as Nan's name was Jessie Nicholson Brown.
When I was very young Nan lived with family in Essendon, Primrose Street. Occasionally, on a Saturday, my dad would "dink" my sister and I on his bike, my sister on a 'cushion' on the cross bar, and me perched up, very uncomfortably on the handlebars, (no cushion that I can remember-- but surely, I must have had a cushion--whatever, it was very uncomfortable). He would dink us from Pascoe Vale South, across to Essendon, (I remember he got off the bike and walked us up the hill), to see Nan and my Eily, dad's sister, and other family. I guess we were left with Nan and Eileen, while mum and dad went out!
Most nights when we were there, before the others had supper (they were most probably playing cards, or singing around the piano), Nan would take Linda and I out to the kitchen to make a "special supper", just for the three of us. Up on a high shelf was the 'special' tea set, floral design, so pretty I thought. I loved it. I remember asking "Can we use the special tea set Nan?" and she would get it down off the shelf and make us some supper.
Of course, when Nan died that tea set remained with Eily. By then they were so busy running a cafe at Half Moon Bay, the tea set did not get used, just protected in a cupboard somewhere. After shifting house a few times, the tea set surfaced in the new place Eily had built in Sandringham. Maybe Nan did not own the tea set, maybe Eily or someone else officially owned it, but I always admired it for the memory of those lovely suppers.
Eily, when living in her 'Sandy' home, used to say to me when she was faltering with health and age, "Take it home now", but for the life of me I could not do that. Maybe if she had picked it up and placed it in my hands, I could have received it, but for me to go and help myself to her treasures, knowing she did not have much time left, clearing out her home, no I couldn't do that. After she passed away, others in the family did not realise that it had been promised to me; but the old, cracked, tea pot was there in the house, so I got that.
Then one day whilst visiting Eily's friend and neighbour, lovely Betty, there on her display unit was the rest of the tea set, and I just said, "oh that's where the rest of the tea set is". She immediately wanted me to take it home, but again, the same thoughts applied. I couldn't take the remaining pieces.
When Betty died, her family sold her place up. I said to my son, who had bought Eily's' place next door, would he enquire of Betty's family if I could buy the tea set back. They said they thought it had been thrown out. Some time later, my Jason rang and said "I have some good news Mum!" Someone had found the rest of the tea set and they gave it back to me. I must admit I had a tear about that.
The whole story brings back wonderful memories of a loving extended family that stuck together always. Nan and Eily were the glue. I love the thoughts of my Nan's and Eily's hands holding that tea set and all the lovely "special suppers" we had, back in the good old days!
When I was very young Nan lived with family in Essendon, Primrose Street. Occasionally, on a Saturday, my dad would "dink" my sister and I on his bike, my sister on a 'cushion' on the cross bar, and me perched up, very uncomfortably on the handlebars, (no cushion that I can remember-- but surely, I must have had a cushion--whatever, it was very uncomfortable). He would dink us from Pascoe Vale South, across to Essendon, (I remember he got off the bike and walked us up the hill), to see Nan and my Eily, dad's sister, and other family. I guess we were left with Nan and Eileen, while mum and dad went out!
Most nights when we were there, before the others had supper (they were most probably playing cards, or singing around the piano), Nan would take Linda and I out to the kitchen to make a "special supper", just for the three of us. Up on a high shelf was the 'special' tea set, floral design, so pretty I thought. I loved it. I remember asking "Can we use the special tea set Nan?" and she would get it down off the shelf and make us some supper.
Of course, when Nan died that tea set remained with Eily. By then they were so busy running a cafe at Half Moon Bay, the tea set did not get used, just protected in a cupboard somewhere. After shifting house a few times, the tea set surfaced in the new place Eily had built in Sandringham. Maybe Nan did not own the tea set, maybe Eily or someone else officially owned it, but I always admired it for the memory of those lovely suppers.
Eily, when living in her 'Sandy' home, used to say to me when she was faltering with health and age, "Take it home now", but for the life of me I could not do that. Maybe if she had picked it up and placed it in my hands, I could have received it, but for me to go and help myself to her treasures, knowing she did not have much time left, clearing out her home, no I couldn't do that. After she passed away, others in the family did not realise that it had been promised to me; but the old, cracked, tea pot was there in the house, so I got that.
Then one day whilst visiting Eily's friend and neighbour, lovely Betty, there on her display unit was the rest of the tea set, and I just said, "oh that's where the rest of the tea set is". She immediately wanted me to take it home, but again, the same thoughts applied. I couldn't take the remaining pieces.
When Betty died, her family sold her place up. I said to my son, who had bought Eily's' place next door, would he enquire of Betty's family if I could buy the tea set back. They said they thought it had been thrown out. Some time later, my Jason rang and said "I have some good news Mum!" Someone had found the rest of the tea set and they gave it back to me. I must admit I had a tear about that.
The whole story brings back wonderful memories of a loving extended family that stuck together always. Nan and Eily were the glue. I love the thoughts of my Nan's and Eily's hands holding that tea set and all the lovely "special suppers" we had, back in the good old days!