Postcards from Aunty Cranky.: Queensland

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Australia - Brisbane, Queensland - 13.7.1961

Dear Pen,

     We have about 5 hours here, tried to get in touch with Tony (my uncle) but couldn't. How did the Spook raising* go?

     Love Nan

* I was 16 years old now and getting into Seance's, I loved them as did my friends. There are two I remember best, one was in 1961 when one of my friends asked who would win the Melbourne Cup. I wasn't into Horse racing then or now really but I do remember Lord Fury was spelled out... how could we forget that Seance! Lord Fury did win but none of us were old enough or trusting enough to put money on him.
The second was a couple of years later and I asked who I would marry, I was going out with a David Furley at the time... David was spelled out, then the glass went to the F but then went to the G, then the F and then the G and it seemed to be angry so I don't know if I was pushing it towards the F or not!

I hadn't met David Griffiths then... Spooky eh!   I haven't done a Seance since...... I wonder why LOL

Dear Tim,

Hope you know a guinea pig when you see one. Had a good trip up. Brisbane is Cold!!

Love Nan

14.7.1961

To. Penelope Rodd.

Lots of love, Nan

Australia - Southport, Queensland - 6.11.1960

6.11.1961 To. Penelope Rodd

6.11.1961 To. Timothy Rodd

6.11.1961 To. Meredith Rodd

Australia - Surfers Paradise, Queensland - 24.10.1960

24.10.1960

Dear Pen,

     Ink marks indicate our rooms. We have a beaut view of the Ocean. More rain than sun so far but today seems as though it'll stay sunny.

    Love Nan and Sue

24.10.60

Dear Timmy,

We landed at Coolangatta, but came straight here so haven't yet had a chance to see the Aquarium. Poor Susie hasn't been swimming yet the pool is being painted but should be ready soon I hope.

Lots of love, Nan

24.10.1960

Dear Mer,

Don't think we will see any platypus here, but thought you'd like the picture anyway. Lots of sparrows come on to our balcony for toast and bread we save for them. One has extremely greedy children so we save lots of crumbs for her.

Love Nan & Sue

Australia - Queensland - 7.1960

Penelope Rodd.

With love, Nan

Marsupial Cat.

Nicholas Fish Rodd.

With love, Nan

About these Postcards.

Meredith, Penelope and Timothy.

My Great Aunt Nancy enjoyed travelling the World during the years from 1957 to 1962. Nancy was my Grandmothers younger sister, she was a Nurse before she met John Watson who was a patient of hers, he thought she was a very cranky Nurse so from then on, into their marriage, he and those living at the 'Homestead' called her 'Cranky' so 'Cranky' she remained at 'Wollogorang', the Sheep Station they lived on.

My family called 'Cranky' by her given name of Nancy, Nan for short but I lived at 'Wollogorang' on and off during my late teens even working there for long periods so she became 'Aunty Cranky' to me.

Cranky and John had one daughter, Susan, my first cousin-once-removed who spent some time traveling with Cranky and some time, at what was called back then, 'Finishing' Schools.

I loved my Aunty Cranky very much, I could spend hours and hours just sitting and listening to her long stories of her travels, she also bought me most of my childhood books which along with these postcards introduced me to the Big Wide World which I have now seen much of myself, but never with her style.

These Postcards were sent to me, my brother Timothy, my sister Meredith and when he was born to my youngest brother Nicholas. When Mum and Dad moved to a smaller home, Mum was going to throw these Postcards out but I, being somewhat of a hoarder, couldn't bear to see that happen so I saved them.

My brothers and sisters can follow this Blog and remember along with me those wonderful postcards that arrived at regular intervals from places some of which we had never heard... Wonderful Memories!

There are 320 Postcards on this Blog, many are obviously missing and who knows how many never arrived, what a prolific Postcard sender our Great Aunt was.

Someone in our family decided that they were a Stamp Collector so almost none of the cards still have stamps on them which is a big pity... I wonder where those stamps are now! In some bin I suspect.

BTW Cranky was far from cranky to me, she was loving if a little strict on how I should behave, she had a desire to turn me into a 'Lady'... which she failed at I'm afraid although I remember a few do's and do nots.

Enjoy, along with me, this view of a world in the late 1950's

P.S. 2015.

I put all these postcards into a large folder, then when my sister Meredith lost everything and her home to savage bush fires in Perth I sent her the Postcards to keep.