message in a bottle

Today I want to share with you something that is a little special to me. It is a collection of found bottles (and a few other bits and bobs) that belonged to my Pa.

I don't have any actual memories of my Pa, he passed away when I was only 18 months old. I do have photo memories and I have been very lucky to read some letters he wrote to my parents when they were new to parenting with my older brother and me (we are 18 months apart). These letters contain some of the last memories and conversations my parents had with him – very special.

Sounding very lovable and extremely thoughtful Pa is someone I wish I could have gotten to know so much more! I think we would have been good pals. However. He did leave behind these bottles. A collection I've been told that started when he worked on the railway lines in Northern Victoria.

It needs a good dusting though so do excuses the cobwebs please and there has been a few new bottles added from his four sons and grandchildren since he passed.

I love these bottles.

I wonder what was special about each one and what made him pick it up and bring it home.

I wonder which was the first one to start it all.

I wonder what will happen to them all as the years pass. It will be 30 years this year since Pa passed.


I do know the one on the top shelf in the photo above - fifth in from the right was one of his favourites. Found exactly as is and probably melted in the heat of a hot summer day.

This collection is still with us for now, in one piece. But with Pa's wife, my Nana now in care there is a bit of questions as to what will be the future for all of these bottles.

13 comments:

M* (Melanie) said...

Wow! They are so amazing. What a lovely thing to have kept all this time. It's kind of like a shrine in a way? What lovely post Evie!

one yellow jumpsuit. said...

That is such a special thing to have and a very sweet thing to share with us. It's must be so wonderful to be able to enjoy and touch the same things that he loved. Thank you for sharing this. xxx

teddybearswednesday said...

What s beautiful collection, and so special that they are all still together and a part of your Pa you still have with you . I love the image of him finding each one, and wonder what was the story behind each one.
Such a special post too Evie

Noelia said...

Thats amazing to be honest, is history. I wonder about the stories behind each bottles, what made them so specials for ut Pa to keep them then ...

So nice.

Mecino said...

Thanks for sharing this story with us :) This is truly amazing, and each bottle must have an amazing story behind it. It's so good that you have these after all of these years, a little piece of history :)

Anonymous said...

That is such an interesting and beautiful collection. A cool project might be to write a biographical sketch on his life from the lens of what he drank. Your Pa sounds like he was a really fascinating man.

Top Bird @ Wee Birdy said...

Oh, what a truly wonderful collection. I love old glass bottles! Are they currently stored in a shed? You must salvage some and line them up in your kitchen window, or something like that. xx

Christina Lowry said...

Such a lovely story but so sad too. I have a collection of bottles too that my father has dug up out bush. He also has a militaria collection, as one member of each generation of his family went to war, and that is another collection that I would like to keep together or donate to a war museum. I hope you find a good home for all those bottles. They really do tell a story about the past and the development in glass before the move to plastic. :)

Loré Loré said...

Such a beautiful collection!!! inspirational story behind each bottle.

lokman said...

really wonderful, I love the story of my grandparents or parents too. Really wanan go back to the 20s to 80s~ lol. You should keep them if you can. Thanks for your sharing. Cheers.

Kickcan & Conkers said...

Such an amazing collection !

CHECKS AND SPOTS said...

What a beautiful post Evie...thank you so much for sharing it. It must be so special to have something so tangible of your grandfather's...
x

Kylie said...

LOVE this post. Thank you :) K