My son chose it and it was wrapped carefully, he then showed it to Roy and me. We were standing in Waterford. We both looked and knew what each other were thinking. Roy then finished a story I knew only part of. I will let his words take over:
When I first met your Mum and returned to England for the break I worked on Eastbourne Pierre serving teas to the tourists. Now and then I got some tips when the girls didn’t get them all. With these tips I bought Mum a glass swan.
My voice: When Roy gave it to me I was thrilled and staggered that it hadn’t gotten broken. It was not solid but had a small round mouth to place flowers. The swan was almost never without flowers for the next four years. The simplest, thin stemmed daisies of different varieties and small wild flowers from the mountains. These needed to be placed in such a way that they balanced well. If it ever got unbalanced it would fall over and break the thin glass. It never did!
It did break but that was on its journey back to England when all we owned was in two containers.
Birds have always been part of our family’s life. My sister, her husband and two sons are fanatical birders and photographers. I enjoyed looking after baby birds with my mum as a child and only now spend time looking and learning.
Here are two photographs taken at Sneem of a little black and white bird that turned its back on me as I got close and a swan stretching for food.
The feathers on its back meticulously placed to make a black and white striped ‘V’ a head pulled into its shoulders as one eye knows I an close. A delight!
So adventurous and determined to have a look in the pan.
My memory of the glass swan given to me in 1974 and brought to mind in Waterford 2026.
I thank God when I remember our past love and present remembering of it.
Thank you for letting me share this with those who will read it.
Take care,
Sandy 🙂
That’s a lovely memory. Thank you for sharing your story. I love swans too, I think because my father, coming from Scotland, drew swans a lot in South Africa. I bought my mother and my aunt a porcelain swan vars each. Also a happy memory… seeing little flowers in it …
We love birds too. Derek bought me a crystal wedding anniversary gift which was 4 crystal love birds sitting on a crystal branch. When we moved to Scotland they travelled in the container mostly unharmed. We did have to glue one of the birds back on.
Thank you for your shares. Nature is a ‘memory keeper. ‘
You are welcome, ❤️
How wonderful that we can store precious memories and recall them with the smallest reminders 🙏
Yes, it was good to hear Roy’s side of the story. A few extra facts. I guess we were both too busy when he gave it to me.