Jemima's Place
MY FAMILY

This is my Mum with her great grandson Jared.
Although she drives me nuts at times....
I love her very much.

She has always "been there for me"
no matter what the situation.

Our lives changed dramatically since 1996 and even though we have disagreements, she's always supported me in her own way. She would give the shirt off her back... or her last penny, to help her family... all of us.

My wonderful Father who gave me nothing but love and support all my life.

Genuine adoration from
A super, great grandson and his wonderful 'Papa'

Since I created this page, my Dad, my 'shoulder to cry on' has 'passed on'.
He left us on 31 May 1999 and I think about him every single day.
He is missed by us all, but never forgotten.

I was born just after WWII and was supposed to be a boy *S*
My mother had a difficult birth with me and as a result the doctors recommended
she have no more children. So I was an 'only' child.

They still named me, after my dear Grandfather,
Who, though he is gone many years now, I will never forget.
His kindness and caring shared with his grandchildren
Without effort I can picture his face yet.

A wiser man one could not find, he blessed his grandchildren with love
Sadly, he was taken too early in life, he had so much yet to give,
He bides in Heaven with the Lord, now watching from above
But in our hearts and memories forever he will live.

My kind, wonderful Grandfather who died in 1957.. aged 57

My Parents,
Very condensed version.......

My parents had a unique life as do we all. Mum was born in Fauldhouse, a little mining village in Scotland, between Edinburgh and Glasgow. She had an elder sister and a younger sister and brother. Like all siblings, they argued, but stuck together when any outsider poked in their nose or meant harm to any of them. She had a few boyfriends, then met my father when her family was living in Kelso.

My Dad was born in Lancuchow, Poland. Along with two brothers and two sisters, his family emigrated to Brazil before the communists took over Poland. As a schoolteacher in Brazil, he taught one class, consisting of different ages and grades. Not too many teachers could handle that today. When war broke out he enlisted in the Polish army in Brazil and was (luckily, for me) assigned a post in Kelso, Scotland. He never made it to the front even though he was in the tank corps and a radio operator.

He met Mum, while stationed in Kelso. They married and lived in a village called Lauder, close to Kelso for a while. He had to go home to Brazil to be demobbed from the army, he then returned to Scotland and my mother. He did not return to teaching because it would have meant having to get his degree all over again as his accomplishments were not recognised in Scotland. He opted for the printing industry instead and became a compositor, a trade in which he worked for the rest of his working life.

When I was about 18 months old we spent about 6 months in Sao Paulo, Brazil with my father's family and after returning home, spent the next 7 years in Scotland, with holidays all taken in the British Isles. It was 1956 when we all emigrated to Australia, which I have already covered in my pages.

I had the best parents. They were strict, without being ridiculous. I love them and have always respected them. They were fair (most of the time :-) ) and I never went without. I was not spoilt, and I have had an honest and loving upbringing. All three of us, after coming to what used to be the "Land of Opportunity", during holidays, explored the east coast of Australia.

It was then that we discovered this sleepy little fishing village, Hervey Bay. We fell in love with the place and when we weren't overseas on holidays, they were spent in Hervey Bay. Actually, a couple of times we came back from overseas trips and came up here to rest and recuperate directly after arriving home in Sydney.
We never imagined we'd ever be living here permanently.

My Dad worked for many years with the Sydney Morning Herald. Mum worked too, as supervisor in a department store warehouse. During this time I was at school and I cannot remember anything but a great childhood. I'd be lying if I said things were perfect all the time, but I was a typical child, I knew how far I could go.

I remember wonderful Christmases, both in Scotland and here in Australia. Sunday outings and holidays we spent together when I was young. In fact we still go away on holidays together, moreso Mum and I because Dad finds it a bit hard to get around now, having only peripheral vision and is somewhat deaf.

My Mum is my best friend.

These last two years they have both given me inner strength to fight on. They have been enormous support during times when I thought all was lost. One thing about us, we are a family, and we support each other through good and lean times, just like marriage vows, 'for better or worse'.

If I had the opportunity to change anything in my life, I could think of many things I would do differently but, one thing I would never want to change, my parents.

Their honesty, love and guidance have been the mainstay of my life. We can choose our friends, but we can't choose our family, I have been fortunate.

We almost lost Dad last year (August 1988), which reminded me that we are all only temporary. Wishing you had told 'someone' how much you loved them once they are gone, counts for nothing. Do it every day while you still have that 'someone' with you, whether it be your family or friends. Don't leave it until it's too late.

We have been blessed with a wonderful child, Jared, who never let's a day go by without telling each of us he loves us, even when he's been naughty (rarely) and is in trouble. He is six, and so very, very wise.

FOOTNOTE:
Since writing this my Dad has passed away. There's not a day in my life when I don't think about him and wish he was still here. So many times I find myself 'talking' to him, asking for guidance with the many problems we've had in our lives since he left us.

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DEDICATION TO MY BEST FRIENDS

Nothing I could say or do, would ever be enough,
To thank you for your love, your patience, my life and who I am.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing, some of the times were rough,
We've survived by always doing the best we possibly can.

I have been given love and kindness, which was never taken for granted,
Along with respect, caring, and forgiveness to name a few.
You've always been there for me, I've never wanted
for special help when I didn't know what to do.

You taught me to feel special, when it seemed that no-one cared.
How to 'float back to the surface' when I felt my life fall apart.
How often your shoulders must have felt heavy with the load you had to bear
Not just for me, but for everyone held within your hearts.

I treasure every moment, that I have left with both of you,
I wish you'd never have to 'go away'.
To live my life without you is an emptiness I'll surely get to know,
Until the time we will be together once again.

Mum and Dad, I love you!

(This poem was passed on to me by a friend on the Net, the words were so appropriate,
I had to include it on my page. If anyone knows where this poem originated,
I would love to know so that I can credit that person with it's creation.)