Packing away my grandmother’s spectacles I came across this piece of embroidery. My father had obviously packed away her things when she died and gave them to me many years later. But I never really looked closely until now. I remember this cushion and I always knew she had embroidered it. There were some others […]Read Post ›
I was looking through my grandmother’s box of treasures today and found these spectacles. You can’t tell from the photo of course but they are tiny. I thought I would wash them and try them on. I had no idea she had such a tiny face. I’ve been thinking a lot about eyewear etc recently […]Read Post ›
One of my favourite pictures of all time. This is because it is full of memories. Our first flat in South Ealing Road. Kasia is sitting in a basket which belonged to my grandmother who kept all her pots and pans and cutlery in it when I was small. Somehow I inherited it well before […]Read Post ›
Looking back and looking forward. I could not stop thnking about this lion last night. We saw him inthe Serengeti in 2013. This wonderful photo taken by my husband. The following taken by me at the same time. Just to give a sense of perspective. And this year has been a good one for perspective. […]Read Post ›
for AAK I love the labyrinths designed by Mark Wallinger on the Tube. There is one for every station and this one is from South Kensington, the centre of my universe for many years. Many people search them out specially; I am just happy to see them when I come across them. Very occasionally I […]Read Post ›
For the Mhinisteir’s wife Today is the sixth of December. For me the real beginning of the Christmas season. This was the day when good children were given a little present and naughty children a birch rod. One year my mother gave me a rod. It was very small and gilded. Very pretty. But a […]Read Post ›
For M Today is St Barbara’s Day. My namesday, as we post-war Poles say, or nameday as it apparently should be said. I only found that out yesterday whilst out celebrating this chance occasion. In Poland the custom of celebrating your name on the day of the Saint in the catholic calendar is actually much […]Read Post ›
We walked from the bus station to our apartment up the hill. We had been warned by the tourist information lady that a taxi would take a very long route because of the one way system, so up the hill we trudged. We found the street. But not the house. I’d chosen to stay here […]Read Post ›
A date to remember, especially today. Actually I had to look it up because I have spent a number of years trying to forget it as it was one of the worst days of my life. Unusual perhaps but I really was not interested in 22 men chasing after a ball for a couple of […]Read Post ›
The above photo is all the women in the family in about 1999. the end of the last century. It is one of my favourite photos taken in my mother’s flat. My mother’s little sister was 63 then – today Auntie Alice would have been 85. 85!!! I find it really hard to imagine. Here […]Read Post ›
Life Through Basia's Eyes 