Last night I dreamt I went to ‘Fullerton’ again. Truly I did.
This Post may not be up to Daphne De Maurier’s ‘Rebecca’ standard but the emotions are real and heartfelt.
My hometown of Stewarton, in Ayrshire has a very popular historical Facebook activity . A good friend got in touch last night, shared a very old photo, asked if this house was ‘Fullerton’ and was my Great Aunt Liza in the photo.
I felt drawn to write this personal homage to family no longer with us in body, however certainly in spirit.
As a result of my enquiries, cousins have told me this photo is circa 1907.
Fashion experts please advise.
The story told to me by my father years ago was that Aunt Liza had a beau who was sadly killed during the very final days of WW1. She never married.
The Sunday Remembrance Celebration is on in the background as I first write.The photo shows ‘Fullerton’ and my Aunt Liza, but it also is a family photograph I have not seen before. And the taller lady in the foreground is my grandmother.
Aunt Liza next to her and Aunt Jeannie is the child.
My grandmother, Currie Barclay, died a couple of months before I was born so I did not know her. A gentle, kind lady by all accounts.
Graeme and Rachel; your Great GrandMother.
My Aunt Liza’s house, the Barclay family house, was where I would visit all the time as a small child until I found out about boys and other such fun things to share my spare moments.
Pancakes were always being made and taken back up the road to my home, a mere 3 minutes away.
I stayed there overnight on occasions as a very small child and remember the big stone hot water bottle.
Kinder more innocent days when it wasn’t incorrect or uncomfortable to say you that you had slept beside your auntie.
Another memory when aged 15 and my parents were away on their 25th Wedding Anniversary holiday to Malta, (my father served there during the WW2 Siege of Malta. I wrote his memoires of his time in Malta.( Malta Siege War Years 1940-1942 by Robert Templeton RAMC )
Again I stayed at Fullerton. (I had my own room; I feel I need to add that now. Pity)
Anyway one night I read the whole of what was then called, “10 Little Niggers” by Agatha Christie. I was knackered and told Liza I was ill, something was wrong with me. So I sneaked a day off school.
But then had to catch up with lessons which was a bit of a bummer!
Such powerful memories and I am working through a sad phase with regards to my family.
I am the oldest living member of my Barclay, Templeton line. Phew. I am working on embracing that. But it takes the legs from under me at times.
I suppose I liked the sense of knowing I was looked after by other older family members. Nurtured, loved, and kept in my place on occasion. I was a spirited child. I work to keep that spirited child strong and anchored within.
There are moments when reflection is good. Remembering what is important to you, whatever it is. This is most probably an age thing for me. In hindsight I scooted through life with its ups and downs. I do have my emotional scars and life lessons. All part of life’s rich tapestry.
But this photo really hit me at deep core level. It is important to me.
Question:
What values are important to you?
Values change over the course of one’s life.
This can be an enlightening exercise! I practice this with clients in my therapy work. Many of us are unaware of what is really important to us until we drill it right down That is when we can unravel emotional blocks, and negative beliefs. The stuff which can make our road in life that bit more bumpy.
Susan is the author of Survive and Thrive after Trauma .
Website: Hampshire-EFT
Mobile: 07917 680967