Sunday 13 January 2013

What I did on my holidays – then and now.


Then;

As a child I loathed going back to school after the summer holidays, mostly because of the dreaded school essay. Every year was the same – write 500 words entitled what I did on my holidays. In those days, I wanted to write just one-word – “nothing!” My dad was a farm worker and as anyone connected with farming knows August and September are some of the busiest times. Dad would be out at first light and still working long after it got dark. Mum didn't drive and so leaving the farm was out of the question. Looking back I realise what a privileged time it was. I climbed trees, rode on tractors and combined harvesters, played in the hay barns, fed the calves, collected the eggs, built dens, lit camp fires and all the other things a child living on a farm in the 1950s, and 60s did. 

A good book and a shady spot!

I was eleven when this photograph was taken. I can't remember what the book was, but it was probably something by Enid Blyton.

Now;

This year’s summer holiday came in December – and what a summer holiday! I don’t know where to begin!   Christmas in the sunshine, fireworks and live music at New Year, Zoe and Lilly’s christening, days spent at the beach, a trip into the hills, a trip to the Zoo, swimming, playing – we did it all! But best of all we did it with our son, his wife and their two amazing children, and we did it in AustraliaI don’t want to bore you with family snaps – but honestly – how can I resist?

Have you every seen two such beautiful little girls? Lilly Grace and Zoe Rose all dressed up for the christening

What a lovely start to Christmas – a banner just for us!

Nanny and Zoe decorating the tree

Christmas Morning

Celebrating New Year's Eve with fireworks and a concert in Elder Park

Fun in the sun

The outside of this building may not look very exciting, but once inside you find it filled with everything from books, toys, antiques and jewellery to lighting and dolls. I was lucky enough to visit and discover one or two interesting books, including a lovely copy of to find a golden pony by Amanda Gavin (very scarce and the first copy I've seen in more than 20 years) a nice Famous Five by Enid Blyton, a Pookie book by Ivy Wallace and a dust jacketed copy of Party frock by Noel Streatfeild. No trip is complete without buying at least a few books!

So that's what I did on my holiday - what about you?


34 comments:

  1. Hi and welcome back. It looks like you really did have a grand holiday in Australia. It must have been just wonderful and what lovely grandchildren.

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  2. Dear Barbara

    Nice to have you back, I've missed your posts.

    You have a lovely family! the pictures of your grandchildren are gorgeous.

    Sorry the heat was out of control this year, I think everyone over here has had enough of it already, right now I'd like to move to Alaska.

    It looks like you had a good time and plenty to do and yes a holiday is not complete without buying a book or two.

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  3. Oh Barbara! - what a wonderful post and what a lovely time you had. The photo of you at 11 is beautiful - and as for Zoe Rose and Lilly Grace (fabulous names!) - those christening photos are too special for words. I've missed your posts and I'm so glad I was able to see this one. I'm sorry I will be gone for a while but hopefully I'll be able to catch up again in a few month's time.

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  4. The Desert Rocks13 January 2013 at 19:16

    Wowie Barbara. You had a grand time and it shows in this post. I agree those are two of the cutest girls but our Chloe might nuzzle into the cutest girls group too. That market looks like a blast and kangaroos and then you--how adorable? That smile. OMG. I think you really had a blessed holiday!

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  5. barbaraannefisher13 January 2013 at 21:06

    Thanks Alex, we did and they are! It was great to hear from you, thank you for calling in and leaving a comment.

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  6. Goodness, you have been having the most wonderful time! Love the precious photos! Glad to have you back and looking forward to more fun posts!

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  7. barbaraannefisher13 January 2013 at 21:30

    Dear Michelle,
    We don’t envy you those high temperatures, but it was lovely to see the sun. The UK is drowning, and your part of the world is boiling – it’s madness! Our latest forecasts are for snow – at least it will make a change from rain.
    Thank you for your kind comment about our grandchildren, we think they are gorgeous, but it’s nice when someone else agrees.
    I've read a few of your Christmas/New Year posts and will be back to read the rest in a day or two.

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  8. Welcome back! I'm glad you had a safe trip. But most importantly, I'm glad you had a grand time with your lovely family. What adorable grandchildren you have! Australia is one of the places in the world (outside my country) that I wanted to visit. Such a beautiful place! Happy 2013!

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  9. barbaraannefisher13 January 2013 at 21:37

    Dear Sharon,
    I hate to think of you being away for so long! I'm going to miss you.
    Thank you for your lovely comment and for taking the time to leave it. Hope to ‘talk’ with you again soon.

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  10. Whether it was in childhood or this past December, your vacations sounds beautiful. Beautiful grand daughters, beautiful sunshine, and you're right, no trip is complete without a few book purchase! So glad you had such a wonderful time with your family. I was smiling while imagining you as a girl climbing trees and reading an Enid Blyton book. That would be what I would've done, too! My holiday this time was blessed with lots of book-shopping. :)

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  11. Oh my, Barbara, what a magnificent time. I love all the pictures. What beautiful granddaughters. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I bet it was so hard to leave.

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  12. Adorable grandkids - what a cute little pink kitchen! Love the childhood pic of you as well. Our Christmas here was very wintery and everyone took turns being sick over the holidays.

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  13. What a great and sunny holiday ! Good for you and family ! Both your grand-daughters are so lovely and adorable.

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  14. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 07:34

    Hello Eve, a blessed holiday indeed! I’m sure Chloe would be right up there with Zoe and Lilly – as would everyone’s grandkids. I can’t wait to catch up with all your posts and will be over for a visit soon.

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  15. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 07:50

    Thanks Diane, we are missing the family very much so your lovely comment is appreciated more than you know.

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  16. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 08:01

    NANCY
    Welcome back! I'm glad you had a safe trip. But most importantly, I'm glad you had a grand time with your lovely family. What adorable grandchildren you have! Australia is one of the places in the world (outside my country) that I wanted to visit. Such a beautiful place! Happy 2013!

    Hi Nancy, blogger refused to post your comment (I don’t know why) so I decided to post it myself! Australia was also on our ‘must visit one day’ list, but we had no real intention of going and then our son moved there! Six years ago, he was living and working in the UK but everything changed when he was offered a job in Adelaide. Thank you for all your good wishes. Happy New Year.

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  17. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 08:14

    Hello Claudine, thanks for your lovely comment.
    I loved climbing trees – I just didn’t appreciate it at the time. I wish I could go back and have another stab at those school essays!
    I’m so glad you managed lots of book-shopping on your holiday, what would life be like without books?

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  18. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 08:35

    Thanks Donna, I’m glad you enjoyed the photos. Leaving was incredibly hard especially as it is so far away. We are hoping the family will visit us in a couple of years, or maybe we will win the lottery and be able to go back again soon!

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  19. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 08:38

    I’m so sorry you were sick over the holidays – what a shame. I hope you still managed to enjoy some of it.
    I would have loved that pink kitchen when I was a girl. I quite enjoyed playing with it even though I’m not (a girl that is!)

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  20. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 08:45

    Dear Carolyn, thanks so much for calling in and leaving a comment. Happy New Year. Barbara.

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  21. Hi Sister

    Enjoyed your blog and loved seeing the Christmas photo's. Have just realised how like Zoe and Lilly you were as a youngster.

    Nice to have you both back safe and start saving for that next trip.

    lots of love

    Sue xxxx

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  22. barbaraannefisher14 January 2013 at 21:14

    Hello Sister,
    Glad you enjoyed the post.
    I think Zoe and Lilly are beautiful, so I will take that as a compliment, thank you. xxx

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  23. What a Christmas and New Year! You certainly made the best of it and got some wonderful memories along the way :)

    I had a quiet and restful Christmas, only really emerging to go and see Gary Barlow in concert!

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  24. Looks like a fantastic Christmas! :D

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  25. barbaraannefisher16 January 2013 at 09:29

    Hi Joleene, it certainly was!
    Glad to be back in touch via Ink-slingers.

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  26. barbaraannefisher16 January 2013 at 09:33

    Oh, you luck thing! I would love to see Gary in concert – he, and Robbie are my favourites!

    We store away those kinds of memories as they have to last us a long time. Then each time we get together we reminisce about all the lovely times we've. Being so far apart we tend to make the very best of everything when we are together.

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  27. I know you might have thought your summers were boring when you were growing up- but all that time to relax, read, and explore is so wonderful. Of course- looking back it is easy to say that. :)

    Thanks so much for sharing pictures of your holiday! It looks delightful and your grandchildren are too cute. The holiday sounds so special and I think it is cool that you got to spend time in a summer environment for Christmas! What an awesome banner!

    Missed you while you were away- but I am so glad you took the break and had a blast. :)

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  28. Welcome back! What delightful pictures and what adorable children!! Sounds like you had a grand tiem and even found some great books to bring back. I alos grew up on a farm and considered it boring at the time. But what wonderful memories and time to wander the fields and make up stories in my head.Thanks for that reminder. Happy New Year!!

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  29. barbaraannefisher17 January 2013 at 09:24

    Hi Steph, thanks for calling in. I’m missing my family but my lovely blog friends (like you) help to make up for it!
    Growing up on a farm was wonderful – I was just too young to appreciate it, looking back now I realise how very lucky I was.
    I’m glad you enjoyed the pictures – it was fun to share them.

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  30. barbaraannefisher17 January 2013 at 09:28

    Hello Darlene, I can imagine you wandering in the fields making up stories in your head – I wonder if you have published any of them yet? Maybe that’s when you first thought of the Amanda stories?

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  31. I envy you; not only for having your latest summer holiday in December, but having it in Australia no less! It sounds like you had a wonderful time.

    Anywho, welcome back Barbara!

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  32. barbaraannefisher19 January 2013 at 09:07

    Hi Sophie, It was wonderful, but it was hard to say goodbye. We hope to go again in a year or two and have already started saving! Thanks for the welcome home.

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  33. happy days, lovely pics, and yes we are missing you. :O) xxx

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  34. barbaraannefisher9 February 2013 at 08:21

    Hello Karen, fancy seeing you here! It was a wonderful holiday, thanks to you, Steve and the girls. We miss all of you every single day. xxx

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I really appreciate your comment. Thank you!
Barbara xx