End of an era
Today I went to visit my aunt (mum's third sister in law) and her second son. They were moving out of their home in London for over 31 years, that home has been my cousins home since his birth. Although their family would have more memories of the place than I, I still remember times in that house long ago as a youth. In my childhood, my parents had a troubled relationship which lead to many months where my mother, my sister and I stayed with my aunt, uncle and that time their two sons.
I remember one time where my aunt had taken to me a school where her eldest son was studying saying I would come here to go to school, I remember vividly how much I dreaded that. There was one time I remember my uncle had drive me and his two sons somewhere and both his sons were arguing over who should sit behind their father. Another time my mum and I saw a green snake in the garden, we told the youngest son at the time not to go outside into the garden because there was a snake; He wouldn't have any of it and still went outside regardless. There was one time he hit me over the head with a wooden ten pin pin when we were arguing over something. Forgotten what it was. I also remember how strict aunt was with her sons when they misbehaved. I even remember the time both my cousins were arguing over how fast their father's car was. There was one time both cousins were sparring with their father's wooden Tai Chi practice swords under the apple tree.
Perhaps the scariest moment I had in the house, was when their neighbour came over rather frightened, I didn't understand what was said at the time, and probably not even very certain what happened even today. I knew there was a mention of a spoon and tongue. Looking back I can only assume the neighbour's husband had an epileptic fit. I should ask about that cause the memory is a bit vague.
Although the house isn't my home, it was for a short time a big part of my childhood. I remember today look at the place, knowing it will be the last time I will see this house. Though I won't have as many memories as my uncle and his family, they are ones I won't forget easily.
There were more recent memories of when my cousin had his girlfriend over, along with his brothers they were debating how to pronounce certain English words of foreign origin. But perhaps the funnniest for me anyway was when I took Annie down to London as I agreed to fix my youngest cousin's computer there. Not sure what to do with Annie, I couldn't leave her in the car and she didn't seem want to be left alone, I left her in the company of my uncle and aunt as I went upstairs to deal with the computer. My cousin asked me who Annie was, I told him she's a friend. He replied "you know what my parents are gonna think". When I went back downstairs my aunt asked me if I and my girlfriend would accompany them to dinner. I quickly corrected my aunt telling her she was my friend and she already has a boy friend in Hong Kong. That really tickled my funny bone.
Well in a few months when the second son leaves London, he'll be the last relative and possibily the last time I will visit London for family purposes.
I remember one time where my aunt had taken to me a school where her eldest son was studying saying I would come here to go to school, I remember vividly how much I dreaded that. There was one time I remember my uncle had drive me and his two sons somewhere and both his sons were arguing over who should sit behind their father. Another time my mum and I saw a green snake in the garden, we told the youngest son at the time not to go outside into the garden because there was a snake; He wouldn't have any of it and still went outside regardless. There was one time he hit me over the head with a wooden ten pin pin when we were arguing over something. Forgotten what it was. I also remember how strict aunt was with her sons when they misbehaved. I even remember the time both my cousins were arguing over how fast their father's car was. There was one time both cousins were sparring with their father's wooden Tai Chi practice swords under the apple tree.
Perhaps the scariest moment I had in the house, was when their neighbour came over rather frightened, I didn't understand what was said at the time, and probably not even very certain what happened even today. I knew there was a mention of a spoon and tongue. Looking back I can only assume the neighbour's husband had an epileptic fit. I should ask about that cause the memory is a bit vague.
Although the house isn't my home, it was for a short time a big part of my childhood. I remember today look at the place, knowing it will be the last time I will see this house. Though I won't have as many memories as my uncle and his family, they are ones I won't forget easily.
There were more recent memories of when my cousin had his girlfriend over, along with his brothers they were debating how to pronounce certain English words of foreign origin. But perhaps the funnniest for me anyway was when I took Annie down to London as I agreed to fix my youngest cousin's computer there. Not sure what to do with Annie, I couldn't leave her in the car and she didn't seem want to be left alone, I left her in the company of my uncle and aunt as I went upstairs to deal with the computer. My cousin asked me who Annie was, I told him she's a friend. He replied "you know what my parents are gonna think". When I went back downstairs my aunt asked me if I and my girlfriend would accompany them to dinner. I quickly corrected my aunt telling her she was my friend and she already has a boy friend in Hong Kong. That really tickled my funny bone.
Well in a few months when the second son leaves London, he'll be the last relative and possibily the last time I will visit London for family purposes.