Yesterday afternoon I dashed upstairs from a long and (to me) confusing meeting, ready to head out the door and get my long weekend started. The message light on my phone was flashing away and I felt duty bound to check it. It was a work call but the woman who left the message said calling her back next week would be fine.
I returned her call anyway, and I'm so glad I did.
Intrigued by my unusual surname she asked if I was related to The Fuehrer. Why, yes, I was - he was my grandfather. Turns out that when she was a first year teacher in 1965, The Fuehrer was her principal at a tiny country school. She sang his praises for quite some time and then we chatted away about this and that - and we got round to talking about the work thing she'd rung up for. Then there was bit more very gratifying lauding of the old F and we finished our call.
How wonderful to love and admire someone so much and have your esteem confirmed by others.
Showing posts with label The Fuehrer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Fuehrer. Show all posts
28 February 2009
25 April 2007
Remembrance
The Fuehrer was lucky. He escaped the war relatively physically and mentally unscarred. Best of all, he got to hold onto his life.Today is the day to think about people who didn't get away with any of those things.
And to make Anzac biscuits.
18 November 2005
Travelling to Padua (III)
I forgot I was supposed to be continuing on with that list.
(11) Ever since we've been married Grumpy and I have been on the lookout for a cat to adopt. And yet after nearly twelve years together we're still a little shy about making that final commitment. We like bad tempered cats and, as it happens, The Burp and The Rooster have a delightfully cranky cat called Gypsy. Neither of them seem particularly enamoured of her. She bites! One evening we were round at their place and The Burp offered to let us have Gypsy. After we'd gone, Gypsy-less as it happens, The Rooster turned to The Burp and said, "You can't give away Gypsy! We've got history with that cat!"
(12) Don Mary's parents owned a faithful old farm dog. One day they got a new dog, a spritely little fizzy thing that would leap in the air and turn somersaults and all that. How the hell would I know? This all took place, like, 200 years ago. Anyway, the old faithful farm dog didn't like the new fizzy dog and would snarl and snap at him. Fizzy never gave up trying to make friends with Old Faithful, constantly snuffling around and panting with delight in OF's presence.
Oh I hope you can see where this heartwarming tale is going.
One day Old Faithful had a change of heart and started to play with Fizzy. Can you imagine Fizzy's joy? I'm sure his bouncy little heart nearly flew right out of his chest with delight when OF then suggested they go looking for some adventure together. Don Mary's father watched them toddle off into the forest behind the farm. Forests can be big and dark and lonely. When OF returned that evening, alone - as he would be for the rest of his years, he was never again anything but the mild and placid dog he'd always been.
(13) When he was a boy Grumpy called his three pet fish Burke, Wills and Camel. He always wanted a fourth that he could call Initials in the Tree.
(14) QEII who won't eat pig. However, she would like to have a pet pig. She sees no irony in the name she's already picked out for him: "Mr Crackles".
(15) My uncle, Raffles, had a cat called Ginge. Ginge only had one testicle. My grandparents eventually took custody of Ginge as Raffles proved to be an affectionate but somewhat careless owner. The Fuehrer and Ginge never really got along. The Fuehrer was always kicking at him (with his good leg) if Ginge came within range. One day Grumpy and I were visiting and we looked outside to see The Fuehrer sitting in the sun and Ginge reclining next to him; not touching, but the distance between them was companionable. To this day we like to think that after years of unspoken animosity, these two battle-scarred veterans had developed a mutual respect. Also, maybe they liked to compare war stories.
(11) Ever since we've been married Grumpy and I have been on the lookout for a cat to adopt. And yet after nearly twelve years together we're still a little shy about making that final commitment. We like bad tempered cats and, as it happens, The Burp and The Rooster have a delightfully cranky cat called Gypsy. Neither of them seem particularly enamoured of her. She bites! One evening we were round at their place and The Burp offered to let us have Gypsy. After we'd gone, Gypsy-less as it happens, The Rooster turned to The Burp and said, "You can't give away Gypsy! We've got history with that cat!"
(12) Don Mary's parents owned a faithful old farm dog. One day they got a new dog, a spritely little fizzy thing that would leap in the air and turn somersaults and all that. How the hell would I know? This all took place, like, 200 years ago. Anyway, the old faithful farm dog didn't like the new fizzy dog and would snarl and snap at him. Fizzy never gave up trying to make friends with Old Faithful, constantly snuffling around and panting with delight in OF's presence.
Oh I hope you can see where this heartwarming tale is going.
One day Old Faithful had a change of heart and started to play with Fizzy. Can you imagine Fizzy's joy? I'm sure his bouncy little heart nearly flew right out of his chest with delight when OF then suggested they go looking for some adventure together. Don Mary's father watched them toddle off into the forest behind the farm. Forests can be big and dark and lonely. When OF returned that evening, alone - as he would be for the rest of his years, he was never again anything but the mild and placid dog he'd always been.
(13) When he was a boy Grumpy called his three pet fish Burke, Wills and Camel. He always wanted a fourth that he could call Initials in the Tree.
(14) QEII who won't eat pig. However, she would like to have a pet pig. She sees no irony in the name she's already picked out for him: "Mr Crackles".
(15) My uncle, Raffles, had a cat called Ginge. Ginge only had one testicle. My grandparents eventually took custody of Ginge as Raffles proved to be an affectionate but somewhat careless owner. The Fuehrer and Ginge never really got along. The Fuehrer was always kicking at him (with his good leg) if Ginge came within range. One day Grumpy and I were visiting and we looked outside to see The Fuehrer sitting in the sun and Ginge reclining next to him; not touching, but the distance between them was companionable. To this day we like to think that after years of unspoken animosity, these two battle-scarred veterans had developed a mutual respect. Also, maybe they liked to compare war stories.
10 November 2005
Ugly Kid Joe (I)
Quirkie tagged me. I'm supposed to tell you 20 items of trivia about myself but since there's so much of me on this blog, I think I'd rather tell you some things about people I know. I'll do it in stages. Here's the first five:
(1) My grandfather, The Fuehrer, served in the army during WWII in Borneo. A family legend has persisted that underneath the moustache he wore all his adult life lay a map to hidden treasure, lost somewhere deep in the Borneo forests. When he died, I was standing at his coffin at the viewing and I had a small chuckle to myself at the thought that we should all swoop - now! - and settle the matter once and for all, before the secret was lost forever to the flames, the flames.
(2) My other grandfather, Old School, made himself an accordian and a violin and taught himself to play. He also built his own lathe and arc welder - he was quite the craftsman, but his shed was an occupational health and safety nightmare. Some of his handiwork is in the State Library of Tasmania's collection.
(3) Don Mary once sat in the middle of a road and nursed a bull to its death. But that's a story for another place, another time.
(4) Grumpy's marvellous Nan ran a shop in Sydney for many years. She sold meat rolls and cool drinks and had a large and loyal clientele. A few years ago someone, a former customer, wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald reminiscing about the wonderful rolls and the old bird who had made them. Was she still alive? Did anyone have the recipe? Grumpy's cousin showed Nan the letter, thinking she'd be thrilled. Nan just snorted (there may also have been pawing at the ground) and made it clear she would take that recipe to the grave. Whenever that might be; she just turned 91, you know.
(5) Everyone needs a kind-hearted Nanna. Don Mary has her moments, but my other Nanna, Blue Rinse, was my sweetheart Nanna. She always had a bag of peppermints in the house and when I visited I'd get raspberries with cream and icing sugar for dessert. She and Old School would sit in their armchairs and hold hands while they watched TV. I miss them.
(1) My grandfather, The Fuehrer, served in the army during WWII in Borneo. A family legend has persisted that underneath the moustache he wore all his adult life lay a map to hidden treasure, lost somewhere deep in the Borneo forests. When he died, I was standing at his coffin at the viewing and I had a small chuckle to myself at the thought that we should all swoop - now! - and settle the matter once and for all, before the secret was lost forever to the flames, the flames.
(2) My other grandfather, Old School, made himself an accordian and a violin and taught himself to play. He also built his own lathe and arc welder - he was quite the craftsman, but his shed was an occupational health and safety nightmare. Some of his handiwork is in the State Library of Tasmania's collection.
(3) Don Mary once sat in the middle of a road and nursed a bull to its death. But that's a story for another place, another time.
(4) Grumpy's marvellous Nan ran a shop in Sydney for many years. She sold meat rolls and cool drinks and had a large and loyal clientele. A few years ago someone, a former customer, wrote to the Sydney Morning Herald reminiscing about the wonderful rolls and the old bird who had made them. Was she still alive? Did anyone have the recipe? Grumpy's cousin showed Nan the letter, thinking she'd be thrilled. Nan just snorted (there may also have been pawing at the ground) and made it clear she would take that recipe to the grave. Whenever that might be; she just turned 91, you know.
(5) Everyone needs a kind-hearted Nanna. Don Mary has her moments, but my other Nanna, Blue Rinse, was my sweetheart Nanna. She always had a bag of peppermints in the house and when I visited I'd get raspberries with cream and icing sugar for dessert. She and Old School would sit in their armchairs and hold hands while they watched TV. I miss them.
11 August 2005
Down by Law
Grumpy and I have been dealing with some Rather Annoying People lately. Last night when I got home from work we went for a walk and did a lot of whinging and complaining to each other and by the time we got home we felt a lot better and these Annoying People didn't come up again for the whole evening.
At one point Grumpy said, "What we need in situations like this is a Grampa."
He was referring to my beloved grandfather, The Fuehrer, who was filled with many admirable qualities but was also known for his impatience with fools and his speed to show it. Grumpy's favourite story occurred many years ago, when your humble narrator was but a wee lass, on one of the many family car-trips we took over east to visit The Fuehrer's rellies. The Fuehrer was burning across the Nullarbor, making good time, violating the various traffic laws that keep the drivers and passengers of this nation safe and obedient, when a cop pulled him over.
He was in no mood for this kind of interruption to his itinerary and when the cop leaned in the window and began proceedings with a "G'day, mate", the F. fixed him with a bloodshot, baleful eye and with a curl of his lip said, "Let's get one thing clear. I'm not your mate."
No one was too surprised when the cop whipped out his pad and started writing out a fine.
At one point Grumpy said, "What we need in situations like this is a Grampa."
He was referring to my beloved grandfather, The Fuehrer, who was filled with many admirable qualities but was also known for his impatience with fools and his speed to show it. Grumpy's favourite story occurred many years ago, when your humble narrator was but a wee lass, on one of the many family car-trips we took over east to visit The Fuehrer's rellies. The Fuehrer was burning across the Nullarbor, making good time, violating the various traffic laws that keep the drivers and passengers of this nation safe and obedient, when a cop pulled him over.
He was in no mood for this kind of interruption to his itinerary and when the cop leaned in the window and began proceedings with a "G'day, mate", the F. fixed him with a bloodshot, baleful eye and with a curl of his lip said, "Let's get one thing clear. I'm not your mate."
No one was too surprised when the cop whipped out his pad and started writing out a fine.
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