Well here we are at my first “blogalong” post. The blogalong, is an idea pioneered by members of the
bloggers' paradise forum. The idea being that once a month we all blog with a pre-determined title. The title can obviously be interpreted in any way to suit the blogger. January’s title is Treasure (as suggested by
Knitbert!)
Well now, as it happens I have a real live treasure chest in my spare room. . . . . see. . . .
The chest itself is quite a treasure. I “inherited” it from a Great Auntie. It was in a dreadful state, and I spent weeks cleaning the years of grime off it, sanding it down, and polishing it to within an inch of its life!! It still smells of mothballs (about 10 years later!) and I don’t think I will ever change that, but I have grown to like the smell now!
Inside my treasure chest are all my treasures!!!!! It is a memory box, and within it’s mothbally interior are all manner of things that I have collected that represent stages in my life – or indeed the life of others. . . . . .
For example, this, is the most amazing treasure, and was instrumental in the existence of my own memory box. This is a photocopy of a notebook which was written by my great-great grandfather on a Voyage to India on board the Golden Fleece, in 1865 where he served with the 16th Queen’s Lancers. There had been an onboard publication, but it seems not enough paper was supplied and so he diligently copied each issue into his notebook. I am slowly trying to transcribe the notebook into a computer friendly document for other members of the family, and in order that in years to come when paper is no longer an available medium, it is still available to future generations. Not an easy task as the handwriting is old-fashioned, in ink and the pages were somewhat faded after all these years – and it’s a photocopy. (I should add that my dear Dad has the original, which is a brown paper wrapped notebook) 
A couple of final little treasures . . . . . . both by my Dear Uncle Jon, who passed away in 1996. The book was written for my cousins in Australia, but all of us nieces and nephews were given a copy when it was found in his “special box” after he died. It’s really special! 
The rattle was also made by Uncle Jon when I was born, and I have kept it ever since!!! There are loads of other little bits and pieces that are in my chest and each and every one of them is a treasure. There was one little one that I wanted to photograph but can’t find – I’m sure it’s in there somewhere, but it was a birthday card made by another Uncle, who lives in Australia. It had a self-drawn cartoon on the front of a man juggling a number 9, but has dropped it and caught it on his foot through the hoop of the 9. Inside is a poem, and to this day I can remember it:-
One is the beginning,
Two to show the way
Three the do’s and don’ts of life
Four a summer’s day
Five you play at learning
Six you learn our sums
Seven is skating on the ice
And Eight a new school comes
And Now you’ve reached the age of 9
And many more will rise
So don’t change the way you are
Nor the sparkle in your eyes
What more treasure can there be in life????
