Yet another very overcast day
and Lyn did the washing which dried unexpectedly well.
After ringing all the
relatives to try and organize meetings, Mick gave up for today because too many
of them appeared to have end on end medical appointments.
We decided to go to check out
Mick’s old house and grocery shop and visit the remembrance garden at St John’s
Church, Nottingham where Mick’s Mother’s and Father’s ashes are scattered. Mick
had lived there until the age of 18 when he then emigrated to Australia under
the assisted passage scheme.
When we got to the shop/house
where Mick lived with his sister and parents, he found an old mate, Roger, who
he grew up with. Roger had gone to have a haircut at the shop as it was now a hairdresser.
Lyn said she was going to go
in and ask the hairdresser if she could have a look around so went to ask. The
lady was very accommodating and gave us free rein to take photos and look around
whilst she was cutting Roger’s hair. The lady had remembered that my sister, Joyce,
had been there many years ago to do the same thing.
Lyn said that she got goosebumps
when she went into our old living room.
Lyn decided to have a haircut
as well since the lady seemed to do a good job and the cost was very reasonable
at £10.80 (about $17). The equivalent cut in Australia which had to include a wash
and blow dry cost $48.
We then went on to the Church
and spent time in the quiet surrounds of the remembrance garden pulling up a few weeds and taking photographs
before we headed back to Radcliffe on Trent, at times weaving our way through dozens
of cars picking up children from school. As usual Lyn was freaking out at the
narrow roads and congestion. She just “can’t cope with it…..”. 
Mick's old lounge room with a bay window. In the corner there used to be a door leading to the stairs up to the first floor where the bedrooms and bathroom was. The upstairs area has now been converted to 2 bedsits with access from the front door.
View of Mick's old house from the back yard
Gate to The Garden of Rest at St John's Church Nottingham
Memorial Stone to Michael Angelo West and Hilda May West, Mick's parents
It is always a bit weird to revisit where one lived as a youngster. Twice I have done this where I lived in Gelsenkirchen in Germany. Once with Julie in 1972 and then with my bro in 2011. The last time I was surprised how narrow the main street is now, I would have bet my life that it was at least 2x as wide back in 1958. Must be due to Global Warming...
ReplyDeleteI thought your father died in Australia???
ReplyDelete