Although it's been cold all week in my neck of the woods (average temp.12°C/52°F), the sun is brightly shining and the grass is still green. There's no better time to think about doffing winter's threads in favour of getting into the swim of things. For my contribution to Sepia Saturday 159, here are some old images of family members and friends enjoying a day at the beach. To view all of the Sepia Saturday posts visit Kat and Alan's blog at
http://sepiasaturday.blogspot.ca
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Ball family members and friends on the strand at Sandymount, Dublin, Ireland. (1950s) |
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Family friend Paddy Daly (he of Aston Villa fame)
with wife Margaret on an unidentified beach in Ireland.
It seems my dad, who took the photo, may have been distracted by the appearance of the Volkswagon Bug. (1950s) |
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The Balls and the Barnwells 'rockin it' on a very rocky and crowded beach in Kent, England. (1940s) |
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Mom and me in the Muskokas, Canada. From the looks on our faces my guess is
my big brother just pulled something disgusting out of the lake. (1960s)
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Copyright©irisheyesjg2013.
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There is something about pictures taken on the beach.... they always seem to reflect a happy time.
ReplyDeleteThose pictures that your Dad took ... they remind me of my Mom and Dad's pictures, same era. All your beach pics are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteKathy M.
I love 50's era pics --- especially beach pics.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathy, and Kathy M., and Joan,
ReplyDeleteThanks to each one of you for your comments. They are much appreciated. I do love a little levity. I particularly like the 1940s image of my dad's friends Paddy Daly and his girlfriend (sadly, I have no idea of her name). Paddy's swim trunks look as though they could hold a party of at least two :-) :-)
Cheers,
Jennifer
Lovely photos. I especially like the big family "huddle" at Sandymount. I don't think I'd ever get used to rocky beaches.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pauleen,
ReplyDeleteI love the family huddle too, and the rocky beach photo is one of my favourite because my mom was only 16 years old when it was taken.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Great photos. I don't know how the people at the rocky beach could sit there comfortably. Thanks for sharing these with us!
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful to see those Dublin beaches so crowded with people. I have only seen them in the last couple of decades by which time they, like many in England, Wales and Scotland, look a little sad and lonely. Old pictures tell such wonderful stories, don't they?
ReplyDeleteThanks Jana and Alan for your comments,
ReplyDeleteI agree Jana, I don't know how they sat there, looking pretty happy nonetheless. Alan, it is lovely to see them so crowded. I can't imagine anyone piling together like that these days. I love to see the old images which include my parents when they were young, along with their families and friends. It's lovely to see a glimpse of life in days when they seemed not to have a care in the world.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Beaches are such a fun place to go. Your pictures are wonderful. County Dublin beach looks as busy as the beach in Scheveningen. I suppose the rocks are polished in the sea.
ReplyDeleteHello Prenter,
DeleteIt's lovely to hear from you. Thanks very much for your comments. It's nice that the images remind you of the beach in Scheveningen. I love to see all of the smooth rocks left behind as the tide goes out. When I was a child I used to think they were jewels and liked to bring some of them home.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Boys will be boys won't they! It does make us wonder, what could he have found, or perhaps he was about to spray water all about! Great family photos, of fun on the beach for sure. I really like seeing he old VW Bug car, and wonder if the other vehicle in that photo was also a Volkswagon!
ReplyDeleteNot sure if my comment went through. Blogger or the internet, or both have been acting up all morning! I had said that boys will be boys, and it makes me wonder what he may have found, or perhaps he wanted to spray water all about! Great family photos and I especially like the VW Bug and is that other vehicle in that photo a VolksWagon too?
ReplyDeleteHi Karen,
DeleteThanks so much for your comments; they are much appreciated. Sorry Blogger was acting up. This is actually the second time I have tried to reply to your comments, so I appreciate you reposting. You hit the nail on the head since my brother was a fan of digging up kelp or seaweed and 'showing me' (I was less of a fan). Thinking about it all brings back great memories of fun times at the beach with our little family.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Also, I'm not sure about the other car.
DeleteGreat pictures. Everyone looks genuinely happy to be on the beach. No distractions of iPods, phones, etc. Happy times :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Dakota,
DeleteI really appreciate your comments. Oh for the days when we just spoke to one another. :-)
Cheers,
Jennifer
If I hear anyone complain about the crowds at Virginia Beach, I'm sending them to this post. That beach in Dublin - now THAT's one crowded beach!
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy,
DeleteI really appreciate your comments. I'd never before seen such a crowded beach too, and have been trying to figure out if perhaps there was a special event going on, or if it was just a rare Dublin heat wave.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Jennifer, the sun is still shining beautifully here, too, and everything is still (relatively) green with about those same temps...nevertheless, thinking about swim togs is about the last thing on my mind right now! Brrr! It's always fun to take in your pics, though, and your fascinating--and often touching--narrative.
ReplyDeleteI don't know whether you accept "awards" here on your blog, but I wanted to extend the "Blog of the Year 2012" designation to your blog. Reading your blog throughout the past year has been such an enriching experience. You have such a way with words, and know how to accentuate those words with your talented photography skills. I know some of your posts must have been painful for you to write, but your transparency has been inspiring to others going through the same experiences.
I've explained more about the "Blog of the Year 2012" award here.
Thanks again for sharing your many fascinating stories here on your blog as you continue your family history research quest.
Hi Jacqi,
DeleteThank you so very much for your lovely comments and for the nomination. I really appreciate the acknowledgement. I hope life is getting better for you and that soon all will come to rights.
Cheers,
Jennifer
Are you an Ontarian? I am, and my Parents-in-law live in Muskoka.
ReplyDeleteThat rocky beach doesn't look very comfortable at all. There may even have been a few residual bruises, I think.
I also think you may be right about the distraction of the "Bug". I guess they would have been rare over there.
Kat
That was a very crowded beach! Living in South Florida somehow I never thought about there being beaches in Ireland but of course there are!
ReplyDeleteHi Teresa,
DeleteThanks for your comments; they are much appreciated. Indeed there are many beaches all around the island of Ireland. My most favourite are those along the Dingle Peninsula, where the sand is incredibly soft and white. Just beautiful on a sunny day.
Cheers,
Jennifer