Following my previous posts this week about my great-uncles Jim Wootton and Keith Sillars this last ANZAC commemoration post is regarding my Grandfather Stuart Leslie Sillars. Stuart was born in 1915 to Matthew and Mary Sillars in the small port town of Lyttelton, near Christchurch, … Continue reading ANZAC – Stuart Leslie Sillars
Following on my from post the other day about Jim Wootton, I wanted to share some more photos of Matthew Keith Sillars (known as Keith). Keith was my paternal Grandfather’s brother and unfortunately didn’t survive the war. He was killed … Continue reading ANZAC – Matthew Keith Sillars
Sitting at home with some extra time on my hands, one of the tasks I have been working on is digitising old photos. One of the bundles I worked on this week contains old family photos, including a number of … Continue reading ANZAC – James Henry Wootton
Two years ago we were chosen by a lovely family to take in their precious pup when their lifestyle and her were no longer compatible. Within a few weeks we had broken her of the “no dogs on the furniture” … Continue reading My snuggly-buggly
Click here for entry for Tuesday 20th July – Sunday 25th June 1943 Monday July 26 Day 841 Made more enquiries concerning Canal, learnt guarded for six months. Due early in Aug. Played cards in afternoon. Word through that Musso* … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Monday 26th July – Saturday 31st July 1943
Click here for entry for Wednesday 14th July (cont.) – Monday 19th July 1943 Tuesday July 20 Day 835 Got parcels ready in case I see Meaty*. Swimming in afternoon returning early then acting as Pall-Bearer for Maori Boy. Small … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Tuesday 20th July – Sunday 25th June 1943
Click here for entry for Saturday 10th July – Wednesday 14th July 1943 Wednesday July 14 Day 829 … from Sicily. Wrote in evening. Thursday July 15 Day 830 Received Marg’s tabacco parcel today, no swimming today but slept instead. Fit … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Wednesday 14th July (cont.) – Monday 19th July 1943
Click here for entry for Monday 5th July – Friday 9th July 1943 Saturday July 10 Day 825 News through today of invasion of Sicily. This where the huge convoys which passed through canal have gone. In evening walked to … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Saturday 10th July – Wednesday 14th July 1943
Click here for entry for Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 30th June – Sunday 4th July 1943 Monday July 5 Day 820 Had leave to Ismailia – left Hospital at 7.30 by ration truck. Could not not see hand-bag suitable for … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Monday 5th July – Friday 9th July 1943
Click here for entry for Friday 25th June – Tuesday 29th June 1943 Wednesday June 30 Day 815 Usual swimming etc during day – received Patriotic parcel & cigarettes – large convoy of troop ships passing on way to Port … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 30th June – Sunday 4th July 1943
I’m not sure anyone has missed the fact I haven’t done a blog post since the middle of February. I have a good excuse … my dog ate it. Ok that is a lie, but I do have a good excuse, which I will relate to you, dear readers (or reader – Hi Mum!). About this time last year, in the middle of a cold Christchurch winter, I jokingly said “If we can work from home, why can’t we work from Fiji or the Gold Coast?”. This simple statement set the wheels in motion and the cogs of the mind into … Continue reading A whole lot of happenings since my last post
I have mentioned a number of times my Dad’s hoarding. His latest fixation is movies – VHS movies… Some may consider these towers the 8th wonder of world. I see it as half a skip full of stuff I will … Continue reading A hoarder’s guide to movies
One of the gems I was given a few years back from my Grandparent’s estate was this little treasure chest… locked and without a key. I tried to find someone who might have one online on various antique forums and … Continue reading Unlocking the treasure chest
Click here for entry for Saturday 19th June – Thursday 24th June 1943 Friday June 25 Day 810 This morning went for breakfast – immediately afterwards four of us walked along canal until 9.30AM. In afternoon usual swim. Much traffic … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 25th June – Tuesday 29th June 1943
