And also quite pleased to have found this piece on the BBC website about the house I grew up in and in which my mum lived until her death 10 years ago. I had no idea the houses were only meant to last twenty years. The houses were a gift from Norway after the 1953 floods.
The one I lived in was one of the white ones facing the sea, not one of the ones in the BBC picture.
It did make me laugh that they described our house as having "new" white plastic cladding. I remember that being done - in the 1970s and before that, they were painted white anyway!
This photo was taken in the 1960s - my family outside our wooden house on the seafront with my dog Nikki - I'm the small one at the front! My grandad (Pop) lived with us and my aunt, uncle and cousin also in the photo lived in one of the other set of Norwegian houses. Happy days!
Lovely photo of a time when we had real summers.
ReplyDeleteOoh summers were lovely back then - I'm sure I lived in a swimsuit :-) x
DeleteA lovely photo with lots of memories for you. I hadn't heard about these houses, but my husband grew up in what they called the steel houses, built after the war, a bit like two-story prefabs. They have now been refitted with new bathrooms and kitchens and re-clad outside, so will probably last another 100 years.
ReplyDeleteInterested to read on Maria's book blog that you can't plot, but let the characters lead the story. I work like this too, and sometimes it's a lovely surprise to see what happens.
It's amazing isn't it, Maggie - back then even things that weren't "built to last" still did!
DeleteIt's a nice way to work isn't it? Finding things out along with your characters - and I love surprises (well nice ones) :-) x
Just been over to Maria's blog - what an interesting interview. It's fascinating to read about the houses and how lovely to have grown up with so many of your family nearby.
ReplyDeleteIt was lovely - I was very lucky. My dad's family all lived in Kent so we didn't get to see them so often, but it was nice to have my mum's family around :-) x
DeleteWhat a gorgeous picture, Teresa, full of that old-fashioned family happiness. The houses are fascinating. I am always intrigued by the ones that are only meant to last a certain number of years. My friend still lives in a kind of pre-fab that was supposed to have come down about forty years ago. She has fought hard to keep it and I think it will carry on forever now. x
ReplyDeleteThere is a bigger story behind that picture, Joanna. It was taken by my cousin Patsy, who had just hitch-hiked her way from Australia with her friend (they were in their 20s). That huge pack on the ground beside my dad's bike is hers. She was the most beautiful person and when I was older she became one of my closest friends.
DeleteI had a friend at school who lived in one of the old wartime pre-fabs, but sadly they were pulled down a few years ago now. I hope your friend gets to keep hers as long as she wants it :-) x
Great interview on Maria's blog Teresa.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely post and fabulous photo. Fascinating:O) xx
Thank you, Sue x
DeleteWhat a great photo, Teresa! I'm off to have a look at your interview.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosemary :-) That picture holds everyone I loved most when I was growing up - including our gorgeous dog x
DeleteWhat an unusual story - a gift of houses from Norway! I love it :o)
ReplyDeleteWe've just found out I have Norwegian ancestors, Karen - I am beyond pleased :-) x
DeleteA lovely heart-warming photo, Teresa.
ReplyDeletexx
One of my favourites, Pat. It brings back so many memories. Funny how I've only just discovered the houses were temporary! :-) x
DeleteIs that a knitted swimsuit you're wearing, Teresa? I had one of those and it was fine until it came into contact with water or sand.
ReplyDeleteNo, Patsy. It was just fabric with rings of elastic to give that bobbly effect. I had several and my mum called them sunsuits. I did get her to knit me a bikini when I was a teenager though - oh dear :-) x
DeleteWhat a lovely spot you lived in, and with so many members of your family close by. I bet you had fun.
ReplyDeleteOh I did, Joanne. And my little cousin (in her dad's arms with the sun in her eyes) and I used to have sleepovers at each other's houses. Lovely :-) x
DeleteAh, such memories! Your photograph is full of them. It must have been quite a day! I had a swimsuit with the bobbly effect.It had pictures on it that you couldn't see until you stretched it out. Like you, I had several suits like that. My primary school was a pre-fab building put up as a temporary measure after the 2nd world war but was only finally pulled down a couple of years ago. I was so sad to hear it had finally gone. Well, enough reminiscing, now to find your interview :-)
ReplyDeleteMy old primary school has been pulled down recently too, Deborah - after it had been more or less destroyed in an arson attack. It's still there in my memory though :-) x
DeleteI had a costume exactly like that Teresa. I wore it in the garden all Summer long. Weren't those times happy when all the adults did everything for us and we just played and skipped around. Mind you, I haven't changed that much to be honest. Skipping around is still quite fun.
DeleteAnd we had not a care in the world :-) Keep skipping :-) x
DeleteThat's such a lovely photograph, Teresa, what interesting history of your family home!
ReplyDeletex
Thank you :-) I grew up listening to stories about the flood and what my family went through - and how they considered themselves lucky only to have lost possessions x
Delete"A Likely Story" has been included in the Sites To See for this week. Be assured that I hope this helps to point many new visitors in your direction.
ReplyDeletehttp://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2013/02/sites-to-see_22.html
That's great, thank you :-) x
DeleteI totally enjoyed your interview over at MBB's blog!! All the best with your new novel!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd what an amazing history of where you lived!! Take care
x
Thank you, Kitty :-) x
DeleteI love the photo, Teresa. So 1960's! Pop reminds me of my father with his braces and shirt sleeves. And that swimsuit - I had one just like it. Ah - happy days!
ReplyDeleteGail
He always wore a belt and braces, Gail :-) Unless he was dressed up. Those little swimsuits were cute weren't they x
DeleteHi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, such memories and that photo with cute little you. Happy days and reflective memories. I shall go and visit your friend's site.
I'm very sorry it took this long to get to your post. Been a rather hectic two weeks and I'm commenting at gone three in the morning. Yikes!
Thank you for your kind support, Teresa.
Gary :) x
Thanks for stopping by, Gary - I know how difficult the last couple of weeks have been for you x
DeleteHi Teresa, it was great having you over on the blog. Hope you'll come again when the next book comes out
ReplyDeleteThank you for having me, Maria. It was lovely, I really enjoyed it :-) x
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