While I was in Italy one of my favourite people had health issues. My lovely Aunty Shirley has been in hospital for seven weeks. She is my father’s sister and has known me longer than just about anyone on the planet.
When I was born I lived a few houses away from my aunt. I was an early walker and talker and each morning I would leave home and walk to her house where I would spend the day with her and my grandfather who lived there too. I loved standing at the huge window in the living room from where I thought I could see the whole world. My earliest memories are from that house. My grandfather, father and uncle built the house and the one we lived in as well.
Aunty Shirley likes a chat and I have been delighted to hear about her early life. I didn’t know my grandmother, Dorothy known as Dolly. She died before I was born. By all accounts she was a gentle, kind soul loved by everyone who knew her. She came from England with her family as a young girl and she met my grandfather who arrived in Australia from Finland in 1912. According to my aunt there was never a cross word between them. I wish I had known her.
Grandfather built a house for his family on 5 acres of land in Manly, Brisbane. He planted fruit trees and vegetables and they had a road side stall. He also worked in the area as a builder, a job both of his sons would take on, and later my brother.
During WWII he should have been interned as an enemy alien, but his boss spoke up for him and as building was considered an essential industry he was allowed to stay at home. However, someone came to his house and took away his atlas and a lantern.
The farm was sold and my grandparents bought a cafe on the waterfront in Manly where they served fish and chips, steak and chips and milkshakes to the sailing enthusiasts. After the war when petrol rationing finished people started going to the Gold Coast.(before it was called that) The sailing crowds diminished and they sold the cafe. It is still there and is now a great seafood restaurant.
My mother worked there sometimes when she was a young teenager and that is how she met my father. I particularly love to hear tales of my father’s youth. He excelled at sport, especially running and could sing and play the piano by ear. (Traits I did not inherit) Aunty Shirley remembers him being sent off for lessons, but he soon continued by himself after just a few. Today is his birthday. He would have been 92.
I am happy to say that my aunt is on the mend and will soon be going home to join her husband.
It has been a delight and a privilege to spend this time with Aunty Shirley. The hospital is not far from my home and I have spent most afternoons with her. I will continue with visits to her home, but this time has been special.
Good photos
By: simonjkyte on November 28, 2018
at 9:26 am
Thank you. They are very old.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 10:14 am
yes i have some from same period
By: simonjkyte on November 28, 2018
at 12:12 pm
This is great family story dear Debra, I can almost imagine the days.. What an amazing connection Finland, Australia and Italy, this is another great story. I loved to learn more about you and your family. Seems that I would love your aunt too, I wish her to get well soon and have a nice days with her. Don’t forget to tell my greetings and my best wishes, Thank you, Love, nia
By: niasunset on November 28, 2018
at 9:37 am
Everyone loves Aunty Shirley, just like her Mum.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 9:56 am
to be loved by everyone is so beautiful. There is a great soul behind this. Blessing and Happiness, Thank you for sharing with us dear Debra, Love, nia
By: niasunset on November 28, 2018
at 11:25 am
Thank you for sharing some of your family history and the happy ending love Rob
By: Roz MacAllan on November 28, 2018
at 9:37 am
Aunty Shirley will be 86 in a couple of weeks. I hope she has many more birthdays.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 9:57 am
Lots of people seem to have been able to play piano by ear. My grandmother could too – she just memorised it
By: simonjkyte on November 28, 2018
at 9:37 am
I had another aunt who played piano beautifully. I loved to listen to her.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 9:57 am
Debra
What a delightful story. How lovely to have a much loved Aunt in your life.
Thank you for your story.
Christine
PS It was great to meet you last week at the art event in Bulimba after following your blog for many years.
By: Christine Crawfotd on November 28, 2018
at 9:44 am
It was great to meet you too. I don’t often write personal things but Aunty Shirley is special.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 9:58 am
What a beautiful story and you’ve told it well Deb –
By: Elizabeth Litzow on November 28, 2018
at 9:49 am
Thank you. I am happy to be home at this time.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 9:58 am
I love reading your story about the Kolkka Family! What a lovely wedding photo. Would you know any of the other people in the wedding party, Debra? I bet they have their individual life stories worth telling, too. I remember well your Aunty Shirley. She is a special lady with a beautiful face.
Am intrigued to read that Grandfather Kolkka had a farm before owning a fish and chip ship in Manly. Such a hard-working family making good of their life in a new country.
Also great to read about your Dad learning music. I used to watch him play the organ always with a smile on his face, and wondered how he learnt music. Your story today helped fill in the missing gaps in family history. Will look forward to reading more family stories from you, Deb. xx
By: Sandra Hoopmann on November 28, 2018
at 11:44 am
I don’t know who the others are in the photo, but I can no doubt find out.
Dad loved to play the organ almost as much as he loved to play golf.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 12:20 pm
I know your Aunty Shirley was very important in your life and i think you are very fortunate to have had that close time with her and she is also lucky to be so loved and remembered. I too had precious, kind and loving Aunts but i moved to Australia on the cusp of becoming adult and didn’t ever get close time with them again. I also love the image of you sturdily trotting off each day to the home where Aunty Shirley gave you love.
By: Jan on November 28, 2018
at 11:58 am
Apparently I was quite knock kneed and I was so accustomed to walking down the steep driveway of our house and up the steep driveway of Aunty Shirley’s house that I wasn’t all that great on flat ground.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 12:19 pm
A simple story from the heart about your family. Cheers to Aunt Shirley’s recovery and to you for being there for her.
By: aFrankAngle on November 28, 2018
at 12:06 pm
It is lucky for me that I am home from Italy for a while.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 8:49 pm
I love the story about your Aunty Shirley. Wonderful photos to go with the memories… I’m happy she’s on the mend…
By: Margie Miklas on November 28, 2018
at 12:25 pm
We are all delighted she is getting much better.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 8:50 pm
That’s very sweet!!!
By: George Miori on November 28, 2018
at 1:02 pm
She is a lovely aunt.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 8:50 pm
A delightful story. Thank you for sharing, Deb. And I wish your aunt a speedy recovery.
By: Mulino Dominillo on November 28, 2018
at 1:27 pm
She should be home in time for her 86th birthday.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 8:51 pm
Good to hear that auntie Shirley is slowly recovering. Wonderful that you have had those special hours with her.
By: Kirsi Säde on November 28, 2018
at 8:26 pm
I have enjoyed my afternoons with her immensely.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 28, 2018
at 8:51 pm
This post made cry – tears of joy. We all miss Dad so much. It is wonderful to to hear about his life. Aunty Shirley is a delight. Thank you for being with her.
By: nifta on November 28, 2018
at 10:08 pm
Aunty Shirley is special and hearing about Dad, Grandfather and the Grandmother we never knew has been great.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2018
at 3:46 am
Wishing your aunt good health as she recovers. I also had a favourite aunt and miss her very much. Treasure every moment with yours. 😘
By: anotherday2paradise on November 29, 2018
at 1:55 am
I do treasure her. She has a lovely family to go home to. She is much loved.
By: Debra Kolkka on November 29, 2018
at 3:47 am
What a special person to have in your life! Hope she is well on the road to recovery.
By: Kerry & Jim on November 30, 2018
at 12:21 am
She should be going home soon.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2018
at 4:42 am
Hi Deb….Fabulous story….All this time I didn’t know you had a bit of Brit in you!!! All that teasing I endured when we were young uns!! Which cafe at Manly was theirs? Jxx
By: Jan Williams on December 1, 2018
at 4:14 am
They owned what is now the fish cafe on the corner of the esplanade and the main street of Manly.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 1, 2018
at 4:45 am
Ah yes!! I know it well… what an interesting family and so good to have such a great relationship with Auntie Shirley…. So glad to hear she has recovered well and you have had this precious time together …. so important as they and we age!!! Jxx
By: Jan Williams on December 1, 2018
at 10:24 pm
[…] via Sitting with my aunt — Bagni di Lucca and Beyond […]
By: Sitting with my aunt — Bagni di Lucca and Beyond – 2retouch on December 3, 2018
at 6:47 am
I so enjoyed reading this story and am very happy to hear that your aunt is doing so much better. I loved the old photo of the fruit and vegetable stand. It looks like everyone is dressed for church instead of for selling produce.
By: Karen on December 5, 2018
at 9:00 pm
Yes, my grandfather has a tie on and my grandmother a pretty hat. My aunt has told me since I posted this that it was not their regular stall. My grandfather built a lovely white pergola style building to sell their produce. When she gets home she will look for it.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 6, 2018
at 12:37 am
I thought it was so special. 🙂
By: Karen on December 6, 2018
at 2:15 pm
What amazing memories and I love the faded photos too. Life really was so different back then. I loved that they were never cross with one another.
By: Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella on December 6, 2018
at 6:45 am
I recall my grandfather as a quiet, dignified, gentle man and I loved being with him when I was little.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 6, 2018
at 8:45 pm
Thank you, Debra, for sharing that with us. – Arja and Heli
By: Heli on December 9, 2018
at 6:26 am
Aunty Shirley is home now and feeling much better.
By: Debra Kolkka on December 26, 2018
at 9:27 pm