Vintage Family Photos

"My mum and me (4 years old) on a visit to my grandparents. Had a bit of trouble finding this one. That has been always special for me. I am 4 years old and went with mother to visit father's parents in their little village where geese chased me, fetching milk from a farmer. I remember it well, their house, garden and eating apricots off the tree by the back door. It was a really nice place."

Last Christmas with Granma, 1931 in Bockswiese. I am sitting with my mom's sister Ilse.

From left, Gisela, Mother and Dieter at home in Markkleeberg, 1941.

The photo of Tante Lieschen and Onkel Erwin, myself, mother and Dieter are very special to me, because Tante Lieschen and Onkel Erwin came by rowing boat from Berlin, along the river Havel, and then along the Elbe to us in Dueneberg. Vater knew where to meet them. The both looked as red as Lobsters. After a week they rowed back. They must have been strong. Onkel Erwin was my fathers brother. He had another one called Willy. It must have been 1932 when the photos were taken. Dieter was about a year old, and I was 9 years old.

In Dueneberg, breakfast underneath the large pine tree with my parents and Dieter. My dad looks always worried, because he had a camera with timer, so he always had to make a dash to sit with us.

Dieter was 9 to 11 months old and I was almost 9 years old, 1931-32.

Dieter was 9 years old just before we moved to Leipzig in 1939. The little Birch Tree is the one I wrote my poem about. I felt so sad to have to leave our beautiful and modern home, as father had been offered a better paid job.

1960, Helga in pram and little Phil and father with me, when my parents visited me in UK, in 1960 coming from East-Germany.