My Daddy's history...so cute!

This is where my Daddy was born, Essex, greys England. This was the location of his pre-fab. Built by German prisoners. Grandma thought it was the most beautiful home ever. This is where my Dad cried and cried for the first 2 years of his life, (he had an undiagnosed digestion issue) and one time grandma shut the door so he couldn't follow him out, and he screamed and screamed but grandma thought nothing of it because he always cried. So when she came back in, his finger waas nearly chopped off in the door and she had to race him to the hospital, (I think a friend drove her in his city bus). And Grandma sadly told me of a time she smacked him super hard it left a mark because he cried so much. Grandpa got mad and told her never to hit him again. She still feels guilt. Dad lived here until he was 5.

This is where Dad lived until he moved to America. Grandma still lives here! 60 years! It is 1100 sq feet. This is where Dallan and I stayed on our visit. In twin beds, so romantic!



Here is where my Daddy went to elementary school Culford Rd. Primary School. Dene Holm school..This is not where he and his classmates swam naked, that was for the older boys when they went to Palmers Endowed school for boys ...pervs I know, but that is what truly happened! I think that this is where they placed kids in the desks by their scores, so the smartes students were in the front of the class in desk 1, 2 and 3 etc. And Dad wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer at 51 of 53. But the girl he liked was Penny #7. So during that first term in school year he improved his grades enough to number 19, then next term to 11, then when the boy in #8 acted up one day, the teacher told him to switch places with my Dad, so my Dad made it to #8 in a year just so he could be close to her. Penny was his first girlfriend, and everytime the teacher turned to write something on the board, Penny would turn around and kiss my Dad...ahhhh!

This is where my Dad went to his first church meeting. In a little room above a Pub. He joined the church when he was 15 years old. A funny story was his first testimony meeting while he was still an investigator. He saw people randomly getting up and giving their testimonies. He thought everyone was going to have to get up, so he thought he would get his over with. He listened to a couple of people's testimonies, and basically picked a few things from each to use in his own. They were all so impressed with the new investigator!

And this is where my Daddy played cricket matches. He played for school and with his dad and brother. One day during a school match (not this location)his little brother Andy paid for a city bus to come watch my Dad play, got off the bus and proudly sad down to watch his superstar brother. My dad looked up and saw Andy, and in the middle of the match my dad ran over to the game and told Andy to leave right now. He didn't want anyone to know it was his brother! So sad! (and funny). Andy is still hurt!