From My Creative Journal.
This is my quiet space to share the projects and thoughts from my creative journal pages.
A Maiden on a Voyage
In 1955 I was 15, and I sailed with my family on the maiden voyage of the USS United States.The idea of the ship as I remember it, was that it was supposed to be a transport ship for the troops. But as there was no war at the moment, it was dressed up to be a passenger ship to be used back and forth from US to Europe.
The original idea from my journal pages was to show my collection of vintage cameras in the first of my posts. But, as is often the case... my story took an unexpected twist.
So firstly who can guess what lies within? And who had one as their first camera?
Yes, this is my little Kodak Brownie and it was, and still is, very precious to me. I don't know where it came from but I owned it from the age of about 7 or 8. I took it on all our family holidays. The photos are stashed away in my mum's loft.
My grandad and dad were keen photographers and both had darkrooms. Together with my own Brownie camera, this bakelite Olbia camera is another firm favourite and belonged to my grandad.
My grandad, grandma and dad used to cycle the length and breadth of England on holiday and along the way take photos. I can't imagine how they found the energy to cycle so far... but somehow they did! They were robust people. I love browsing through the many hundreds of their photographs which are now in my possession. I think it's such a shame that they didn't document their journeys in writing for future generations to read. A little settings guide and hand-written chart is tucked in the old leather case.
Not so long ago I spotted a photo of the SS United States in the photo box - I thought it could've been taken either in the port of Liverpool here in the Northwest of England or more likely down on the south coast in Southampton where they used to go on holiday. The dockland areas in those times were a hive of activity. I had relatives who sailed over to the States in the 1920s to start new lives - adventurous times for them. There are plenty of scanned passenger lists available to view online and they make interesting reading.
When I posted this on various social media sites, my friend and one of my very favourite bloggers Sally (aka Radish) mentioned that she recalled sailing across the ocean from the US to England during the 1950s. Well I truly couldn't let this opportunity slip away .... I had to find out more about her journey! It was such an honour for me when Sally agreed to share her memories.
And so over to Sally:
Thank you so much to Sally for sharing your precious memories!
I'm sure you'll agree with me this that is a fascinating account and it has left me wanting more!!
Edit: I miss dearest Sally. Sadly she passed away in January 2017. Across the ocean she encouraged me and many of my creative friends during my early days of blogging and digital photography. I do remember revealing the first version of my website to her and she strongly disliked it and told me so in not so many words! I valued her honest opinion. Of course she was right and within 24 hours I changed it!