On Friday ,December 16,1983 Harold and I left Sydney, at 4pm , on BA12 for London. We flew first to Adelaide, Singapore, Muscat and then on to London .
Upon arrival, at 8am on Saturday December 17, 1983, we collected our luggage and caught the tube to the President Hotel, Russell Square. Vincent Bunce,a friend, called to meet with me at 2.45pm at the hotel .
On Sunday, December 18,1983 I visited Westminster Abbey and the Exhibition on Venice at the Royal Academy.
I needed to do all my confirmations of flights and rail bookings on December 19,1983. I took Harold to Kings Cross Station, in London to catch the train to Wakefield, as he was to visit his mother and brother. Then, I had lunch in Simpsons, went to Dunhill, Fortrum and Mason, Austin Reed and finally ,Scotch House .
The major festival of the year in Scandinavia is Christmas. It culminates on Christmas Eve rather than on Christmas Day, as in Australia.
My friends, Ismo and Tarja had invited me to spend Christmas 1983 with them in Lohja, Finland. Ismo was my penfriend with whom I had started corresponding in 1974.
Harold and I, left Sydney on a British Airways flight to London on December 16, 1983 and we arrived in London on December 17, 1983. December 17, 1983 was the day on which many people were killed in the Harrod’s bombing.
On Sunday, December 18 1983, I was able to attend the 10.30am service at Westminister Abbey and to visit in the afternoon, the Royal Academy Exhibition on Venice. On December 19, I confirmed European train bookings and to do all the things we visit London for and that is to shop….. to Dunhills, Scotch House , Austin Reed , Simpsons…..
I had put Harold on the train at Kings Cross Station for Wakefield, Yorkshire where he was to be met by family members. We reconnected again in London in late December for our visit to Paris to spend New Year Eve. Then we travelled north to Lille and Ypres for a few days. My father’s cousin had been killed in October 1917 at Passchendaele,Battle of the Somme and I wanted to locate his name on Menin Gate, Ypres and to visit the area. We achieved this on New Years Day 1984.
On Tuesday December 20 1983, at 9.30am I was on a British Airways flight BA 634 from London to Copenhagen . Upon my arrival at mid –day, I was able to take the SAS bus to my hotel, the Palace Hotel located in central Copenhagen. The city was decorated with coloured lights over the world’s longest shopping street, Strotget. I visited my favourite jeweller Georg Jensen, and bought a trendy pair of purple pants by Ivan Grundahl. Xmas trees were available for sale in the street, and the shops had a variety of decorations in their windows (the Scandinavian Santa Claus and a red heart appeared in all the shop windows).
On Wednesday December 21 1983, I took a 2.5 hour guided bus tour of Copenhagen visiting the Little Mermaid, the Carlsberg Brewery, Amelienborg Palace (to view the Changing of the Guard) and Grundtvig Church on the outskirts of Copenhagen. I visited Magasin, the largest Department store in Copenhagen to do some shopping.
Thursday,December 22 1983 I took a walk to the Nyhavyn area –a favourite haunt of tourists, and an area where Hans Christian Andersen lived as a young man . I saw the ferry to Malmo in Sweden . I had lunch in Illums,a major department store, and then visited the National Museum to see a Viking Exhibition . The Vikings were a wild lot!
Friday, December 23 1983 was to be my last day in Copenhagen. I took the opportunity to take the train to Hamlet’s Castle – Kronberg Castle at Elsinore ( Helingsfors in Danish ) . In the summer time, Shakespeares’ plays are held in the Castle courtyard. I visited the Karmelite Monastery with an American girl; then we had lunch and shopped where I bought a pair of boots.
Saturday December 24 1983 Christmas Eve,I left Copenhagen on board Finnair AY 862 at 12.40pm ; I was due to arrive in Helsinki , Finland at local time 3.30pm.Finnair planes are white with a sky blue cross on their tail –the blue represents the vast number of Finnish lakes, and the white represents the snow, which covers the countryside from November to March each year.
My friends were eagerly awaiting my arrival. I had last been in Finland on January 22 1975 for 7 days, and I too was excited about my return to Finland. We drove to Vahto from Helsinki, a 2 hour drive to Tarja’s parents home for a special dinner. Santa Claus was to arrive late that night, but before then, the festivities of Christmas Eve.
The Xmas season is very much a season for children. The “nisse” for instance, as he is called in Denmark is old and agile, not big but strong; a gruff grey beard, not without humour, of simple ways, unassuming and helpful where respected. Formerly he was a farm dweller, and a figure rarely seen in a person’s household-he became to belong especially to mid –winter. (yule in Danish, Jul means wheel-the solstice on a seasonal cycle).
There was Yule before there was Christmas or Christianity. At Christmas,the dead held their meetings, at Christmastide they are commemorated and receive an offering on their grave.
In Vahto, Finland we were able to eat our Christmas dinner, and then at midnight to visit the local cemetery to place candles on the graves of family members. The scene was eerie but beautiful; the air was strong with paraffin and it was -10degrees C.
The Christmas dinner included a wide variety of foods-baked ham , smoked ham , carrot casserole, potatoes- sweetened ,mashed and baked potato , beetroot, liver and rice which had been baked in the oven , country sausage, frankfurts, salted herring, potato and onion salad, meat balls , fish roe, salmon followed by cheese and biscuits, gingerbread , cookies, dark custard cake and a cream cake. A traditional dish which we did not have was rice porridge with fruit soup and a dried white fish with white sauce. On this occasion we did not drink glogg-a hot punch with red wine, spices and almonds. We drank home -made beer and Finnish whisky.
Santa Claus knocked on the door at 8.30pm and came inside with his sack of gifts. We all had on our red hats,wth a bell at the end of them, a customary thing. Santa left me a lovely coffee table cover, some Finnish sweets, 2 candle holders from Nuutajarri , a Finnish glass company . Tommi, aged 3.5 years of age ,enjoyed receiving his gifts . One was a pine rocking chair, and a jumper with a koala on it from Australia (this was made by my mother) amongst many others.
We could have sung Christmas carols to Santa and offered him food, and danced around the Christmas tree. Instead, he chose to leave with his empty sack and walking stick after we thanked him. I kissed this northern Santa”goodbye.” (Santa is called Jultomten in Sweden and is Joulupukki in Finland. Finland is a dual language country, so many things are written in the 2 languages.)
After the visit to the cemetery at midnight, we returned to Raisio to Ismo’s parents home,where we were to spend the next 4 nights. On Christmas Day, it was an early departure at 6.30am to the local village church for a 7am service. The wooden Lutheran Church was quickly filled with people. It did snow later on Christmas Day – a true white Christmas.
The Finns take advantage of Christmas Day to visit their relatives and friends. We were able to visit Ismo’s brother, Ingmar, his wife Pirjo and children Antero and Assis. Ingmar had extensively used natural pine timber in his home.Finland is the land of pine trees, and is noted for its high standard in both building and furniture.
On December 26 1983, I was driven to Rauma,one hour from Raisio , to visit Ismos’s sister Jakko and her family – her husband Inja and children Sami and Kimmo. We drove nearby to Kivirartu,to go ice fishing on the frozen lake. The family had a holiday house on the edge of the lake and it is well used by family members. Some brave family members take a traditional sauna and then dive into the cold lake . Not me for,I would rather have a sauna in Ismo and Tarja’s home!
The next day, December 27 1983 I was driven to Turku –Abo, a large Finnish city located 15minutes from Riasio. I was able to visit a Marimekko dress shop to buy some dresses, to buy an oversized coffee mug from Lapland, coffee table runners, and a Pentik stress ball. This is made of hard, Finnish birch which you can use to relax muscles.
My hair was cut in Riasio by a hairdresser, who spoke no English . By the end of the appointment I had a Scandinavian style haircut…..
Finnish life is dictated by the weather. It may snow from November until early April / May and in some cases maybe to June. Finns must by law have special studded tyres attached to their cars for the winter months. They must also by law drive with their headlights in during the day. The cars have to be well maintained mechanically to ensure that they start in such poor weather conditions. Adults and children wear a plastic reflector on their clothes so that they can be seen if walking on the roadside or are cycling.
December 29 1983 sadly was my last day in Finland. I was driven from Lohja to Lahyent-Helsinki Lento Airport ,for my Scandinavian Airways flight SAS 713 at 4.20pm for Copenhagen,which then connected with my British Airways Flight BA639 to London. At the Airport I said my farewells to Tarja and Tommi ; I had said goodbye to Ismo in the morning before he left for work . I promised Ismo and Tarja that I would return,but next time in the summer months.
Thursday, December 29,1983 I flew into London from Copenhagen on BA 639M arriving at 7.15pm . I went straight to the Penta Hotel at Heathrow Airport to await Harold’s arrival from Wakefield.
Friday, December 30,1983 Harold and I shopped in the City ;had morning tea in Austin Reed and lunch in Dickens and Jones. I mailed home two jumpers, which I had purchased in Scotch House.
Saturday, December 31, 1983 Harold and I were on board BA304 ,a Trident jet, to Paris . We arrived at the Meridian Hotel in Paris at 10.30am.I went shopping in the afternoon at Galleries Lafayette, where my former Bexley neighbour had worked, prior to marrying her husband at the end of World War One.
Our New Year’s Eve dinner was spent at Maison Prunier Traktir, 16 Avenue Victor Hugo 75116 Paris –an interesting experience .Just before midnight , we walked to the Arc De Triomphe ,where cars were going around it loudly tooting their horns .
At 8am on New Years Day, January 1, 1984 Harold and I departed Gard du Nord Station ,for the two and a quarter hour train trip to Lille, in Northern France . The train was almost empty – the French were sleeping off the effects of New Year! We stayed at the Mapotel Carlton Hotel , an older style hotel in Lille . We enjoyed walking around Lille that evening to take in the ambience of a fair in the City Square.
On Monday , January 2,1984 Harold and I caught the 7.45am train to Contrai in Belgium . Then, we caught the train to Ypres, arriving at 9.30am. On the way in to Ypres, we noticed a number of small cemeteries.
We walked to Menin Gate, where I located my Dad’s first cousin , Claude Field’s name,amongst the thousands of names on the memorial . It was low enough for me to photograph. I had had contact with the War Museum in Canberra, during 1983, to obtain the location of Claude’s name. This memorial brought home to us the enormity of the cost of war. We visited Churches, and saw many items inside the Churches, which commemorated a soldier’s life .
There was a parade being held in the town. Villagers were dressed in national costume and there was also a band. It was a very cold day, so we welcomed lunch inside in a restaurant. We caught the train back to Lille, arriving about 6pm.
On Tuesday night January 3, 1984 Harold and I caught the 6pm TEE Express from Lille to Paris. Before getting on the train, we had coffee in a café, where we admired the skills of one of the French waiters!.
On the TEE train I managed successfully to hit my head on the glass door, as I could not work out how to open the glass door into our carriage. Everyone in the carriage looked at me. I gained a sizeable bump on my forehead for my efforts.
Harold was at the bar on the train when the ticket collector came through to check tickets . He came quickly back to the compartment to get his ticket, mindful that he may have been put off the train. He panicked. I was able to adequately communicate in French with the ticket collector; and the situation was resolved. We arrived safely in Paris at 8.05pm and caught the metro to the Meridien Hotel, arriving at 8.30pm . An eventful day ……….
The best sexual firmness How is the Volume Pill compared with viagra in usa? The Volume pill is a grassy pill which is in a condition to improve your sperm and sperm volume, to strengthen your PC Muslces and Parasympathetic nerves. When this occurs, it is often on account of generic india viagra prevention of circulation to the penis. Another celeb Jackson worked closely with was Paul McCartney and collectively, the duo had two hit singles “The Girl Is Mine” and “Say generic cialis in australia look at more info Say Say”. This plentiful amount of blood when collected near that area, the organ becomes blood-filled and hard enough for sildenafil viagra generico penetration. On Wednesday , January 4,1984 Harold and I walked to the Arc De Triomphe, Eiffel Tower ,then took to the metro to visit the wonderful Georges Pompidou Centre . Then , we took the metro to Pigalle, to Concorde , and walked to the Champs des Elysees .
At 10pm, Harold and I met with my friend , Charlotte ,who had taught in the French Department for twelve months at St George Girls High School , Kogarah ,Sydney in the early 1980’s. We met at The College Neerlandais at 61 Boulevarde Jourdan as Charlotte worked here. Charlotte drove us back to the Meridien Hotel in her car at 12.30am .
On Thursday, January 5,1984 we were on board BA 307 departing Paris at 13.30pm for London. I started my Britrail Pass. Harold and I caught the 4pm train from Kings Cross Station ,London to Wakefield, arriving at 6.30pm to stay with Harold’s mother . We were very tired, and I still had a sore head from “my incident” on the Lille to Paris train .A welcome dinner that evening was most appreciated.
The next morning Friday , January 6,1984 I visited the Records Office in Wakefield to obtain some certificates for Field family history research. Shopping in Castleford followed.
Saturday , January 7, 1984 I met with friends , Richard and Rhoda Field from Huddersfield . We dined at The Spread Eagle Pub in Darrington .
Sunday, January 8, 1984 I attended St Johns Church, Wakefield’s service at 10am . My great grandfather, William Field was christened here in 1831 , so I was walking “ in the footsteps of Field family history” .
I caught the 4pm train to Glasgow on Monday, January 9, 1984 to stay with Mary in Rutherglen for a short visit. On Tuesday , January 9,1984 I called in to the Walrus and The Carpenter, a toy shop in Sauchiehall Street , Glasgow in relation to my order of Paddington Bear . I later had to call to tell them that I had purchased my bears in Taunton, England.
On Wednesday, January 11, 1984 I caught the 1pm train to Leeds to briefly catch up with Harold. Then, I caught the train to London, arriving at 7.45pm. I returned to the President Hotel,London .
I had been invited to Taunton by Kathlyn Theobold, whom I knew through BPW, Business and Professional Womens Club. I caught the 12.45pm train from Paddington Station on Thursday, January 12,1984 to Taunton . We dined out that evening at the Country Hotel .
I purchased Paddington Bear and Aunt Lucy, at a sale, whilst I was in Taunton. Paddington and Aunt Lucy became very well -travelled bears .
On Friday, January 13, 1984 we visited Wells Cathedral, then returned to Kathlyn’s place . Fellow BPW members called in to say hello in the afternoon.
Saturday, January 14,1984 I was to fly to Dublin . My flight BA 820 departed Heathrow Airport at 18.30pm, arriving in Dublin at 19.40pm. I stayed at Kilronan House, Adelaide Road, Dublin. One of the hotel staff had been taught by Sean Brehon , an English teacher, whom I worked with at St George Girls High School , Kogarah , Sydney .
I walked around the Dublin on Sunday , January 15 ,1984 visiting a number of tourist sites . It was a cold day.
I caught up with Professor Father Martin at University College,Dublin . A relative of mine, Dr Noel Mc Lachlan had been the inaugural professor of Australian History, at University College ,Dublin in the late 1970’s . I recall that when I said goodbye to Professor Martin I kissed him on the cheek. I left some lipstick on his cheek- he said “my dear, my dear, that is fine, “as he wiped it off with a white handkerchief.
January 16 ,1984 Harold returned to Sydney . I however visited the National Library in Dublin, as well as the shops. Tuesday, January 17, 1984 I returned to the National Library for the day, ate out at Caspers and visited a nightclub , Jules.
On Wednesday, January 18,1984 I caught a bus from Dublin to a village outside of Dublin , Enniskerry ,County Wicklow. My Irish great grandmother, Roseanna Byrne, had been born in County Wicklow in 1838, and emigrated to Melbourne in the 1850’s . She married William Field on August 1, 1859 in the Golden Age Hotel , Maryborough , Victoria and died November 12, 1889 in Melbourne . In the afternoon, I visited Dublin’s National Museum and Royal Academy. I dined at the Shelbourne Hotel that night, my final night in Dublin .
A long day awaited me on Thursday , January 19,1984. I flew from Dublin to London on BA 815 ,departing Dublin at 1500 and arriving in London at 16.05 . I then caught the overnight train from Euston to Glasgow .
Friday, January 20, 1984 I went to Edinburgh for the day .Saturday January 21, 1984 I stayed in Glasgow as I did on Sunday, January 22,1984. Mary and I went to Church.
Monday , January 23, 1984 James , Mary and I set off from Glasgow for Kilmaurs , ancestral home of the Gibsons, for what we thought was a day trip . I was meant to have my farewell dinner that evening, but the weather had other ideas for us ….
We visited the church in Kilmaurs where my Scottish great grandfather, Robert Gibson, was likely to have been christened in 1837. His father, Robert Gibson , my great great grandfather , had married Margaret Stevenson in Kilmaurs in 1823.
The weather got considerably worse during the day, and we were stranded in Kilmaurs . The road to Glasgow was closed . Fortunately, James knew someone in the town and we were put up for the night . Cathie was not impressed at the waste of her baked dinner.
The next morning we took advantage of the recent heavy snow falls to take plenty of photos . I had one of my photos painted onto a china plate.
Tuesday, January 24, 1984 I needed to be back in London. James and Mary took me to Glasgow Central to I catch a delayed afternoon train from Glasgow to London. I recall leaving Mary’s place with all my luggage, and with Paddington and Aunt Lucy tied together, for safety on their long journey to Australia.
I sat in an empty First Class train carriage.The train driver did a wonderful commentary on the journey south to London. I finally arrived in London late at night, and rang my parents from Euston Station to let them know that I was fine. They were aware from news reports of the bad weather in the United Kingdom. I then caught a taxi to the President Hotel, where the night porter had to let me in.
On Wednesday ,January 25, 1984 I visited Mr and Mrs A.D. Field in Tisbury near Salisbury . Douglas had a long and interesting Field family history, along with a Field crest of arms. He gave me a copy of this crest.
Thursday , January 26 ,1984 I was invited by Vincent Bunce , a Geography teacher to his school in Bexleyheath . I had the opportunity to speak with his students on a number of topics. They were certainly aware of the Australian soap operas on British TV.
On Friday, January 27 1984, I went to Windsor for the day. When I returned to my hotel room I noticed that an internal door was ajar. I had Opium perfume stolen, along with some other items. I called the Police at Holbourn Police Station to report the theft, and obtain the necessary report number for insurance purposes. I can only suspect that someone knew I was leaving the hotel the next day. I attended the theatre that night, but felt uncomfortable about going and left my hand luggage at reception .
Saturday, January 28, 1984 I was to fly out of London . I recall taking my luggage to Heathrow Airport to put into a locker . My BA 11 flight departed London at 21.30pm, and I arrived in Sydney at 10.35am on Monday, January 30 ,1984.
SUMMARY
A challenging overseas trip had been completed.
I had seen my Scottish relatives and friends in England , Charlotte in Paris, as well as my friends, Ismo and Tarja in Finland. I had experienced a Scandinavian Xmas – a wonderful experience.
I had visited Yorkshire with Harold, and met his mother and family members. This was Harold’s only visit back to Yorkshire, after he had emigrated as a ten pound Pom to Australia in 1970.
New Years Eve in Paris was unforgettable.
Visiting Ypres was memorable. To this day, I remember the memorials and cemeteries to those people, who tragically lost their lives.
I had the opportunity to visit Field family history contacts in England, and in Dublin , Eire. In Kilmaurs , Scotland I visited the maternal ancestral home of the Gibson family.
The heavy snow, which forced us to be stranded in Kilmaurs overnight . The train journey from Glasgow to London was picturesque, with the snow -covered countryside.
I visited Vincent Bunce and his students at his school in Bexleyheath , London .
I purchased Paddington and Aunt Lucy in Taunton .
The interesting experiences along the way….
