"The view from the top was marvellous. I took some photos, I hope they turn out."
Austria. Of course.
After my dad died in 2010, my sister was clearing out his house ā the house we grew up in ā and found a small suitcase in the loft.
The case was full of stuff that Mum, who died in 1999, had saved, but had never mentioned. Letters, cards, postcards, photos, programmes from shows, even things like dry cleaning receipts from when she lived in America in the early sixties.
Iām going to write about it all.
Switzerland Austria
I said last week that Iād try to find more about Mumās Switzerland trip - see photos here, if you missed it.
This morning, I opened the suitcase and found this:
Googled Mayrhofen. Itās in Austria. And then I thought of course it is! Mum talked about Austria a lot. I canāt believe I forgot.1 (She was 21.)
Mon 8.15am: This is our hotel, the address is on the front of the card. Everything is perfect, the weather is lovely, the food is great (and there is plenty of it) and Mayrhofen itself is beautiful. Kay and I are just waiting to have breakfast (in bed) then have a bath and then we going for a look around.
Wednesday: Postcards donāt do justice to the scenery here. Itās a very beautiful place, and thereās always something to do. We have been to two clubs and tonight weāre going to a dance in the hotel. There are over 100 Italian and French students staying at our hotel2 and luckily most of them speak a little English.
The postcard I sent on Monday of a hotel, isnāt really the hotel we are staying at, itās only the annex. The hotel itself is very much bigger and we have all our meals there except breakfast. So far we have taken a packed lunch out every day so that we could stay out for the full day, and then we have dinner about 7.30pm. The meals are a lot better than I expected and everything is beautifully clean. The weather is really perfect, in fact today it was a bit to [sic] hot.
Monday: The musical boxes and all that type of thing are pretty expensive here, in fact all souvenirs are, but my money seems to be lasting out quite well so Iāll see what I cant get on Thursday, which will be our last full day here. The cigarettes on the plane are 2/- for 20 Senior Service so I want to keep Ā£1 if I can to get 200. Thatās all you are allowed. Iāve just come back from the baths, it was great, the weather is still perfect.
24 August 1959: Thanks for your letter. The hotel on the right of this picture is where we have lunch and dinner. They have a dance there every night which is rather good.
Saturday we went up in the cable car, the view from the top was marvellous, I took some photos, so I hope they turn out. Yesterday was a sort of Sports day here. We watched canoe racing on the river then there was a football match in the afternoon. They are nearly as good as the Rakers.
This is our last day here! Tomorrow night weāll be in Luxembourg + Sat night Liverpool. I've just been doing some packing, + now we are going to go down to the shops to have a last look around. Then after lunch weāll probably go to the baths. This photo was taken in the village square + the band, dressed the same as they are, play there two or three evenings a week. Thanks for your letter which came yesterday.
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Mumās 1962 Diary
15 January 1962
Capitol with Harry to see Petticoat Pirates (a bore).
16 January 1962
Hospital. Mum was very bad, apparently she hasnāt been drinking since Sunday and itās caused her face to swell up.
17 January 1962
Broke down almost as soon as I got in work, the boss took me down to Sick Bay and stayed with me for a couple of hours. I stayed there most of the day.
The Boat House with Harry and then back to our place.
18 January 1962
Lunchtime. Had coffee at the Mersey Mission with Mo.
Wrote to Katie. Iām afraid it was a very depressing sort of letter. I hope sheāll understand and forgive me.
Sent Alan a birthday card one day late.
Hospital with Harry. Mum wasnāt too good at all.
Harry wanted to have a bath and an early night, so he went straight home.
19 January 1962
Dad didnāt call me, consequently I was half an hour late for work.
Had coffee at Grayās with Mo.
Hospital with Harry. Mum was quite lively and seemed a little better. I wanted to stay quite a while, but the Sister told me to go after about 20 mins. Harry and I went to the Pensby Hotel3 and had a couple of drinks and then came home.
Told the family I am thinking of asking for a transfer to London.
20 January 1962
Royal with Mo to see Mission to the Moon4 and The Ghost of Dragstrip Hollow. Both of them were stupid to say the least.
Called in at Phylās, stayed till about 2am.
21 January 1962
1pm. Hospital to see Mum with Mrs Skeggs. Mum was just about the same.
Couldnāt be bothered going out. Mo called in for half hour or so.
22 January 1962
Mo, Phyl and Dot all rang, but no one had anything interesting to report.
Lunchtime. Went up to town with Mo, had coffee at the KD.
7.15. Capitol with Harry to see Homicidal (Fab) and The Terror of the Tongs. Rather moody and depressed when we got home.
23 January 1962
Very depressed all day. Rang Al to see if he could cheer me up and he did at least until I put the phone down the depression settled in once more.
Lunchtime. Had coffee with Mo at the MM.
27 January 1962
Katieās birthday on the 31st. Mustnāt forget to send a card.
Itās quite startling to read these updates. She told the family she was thinking of transferring to London. I moved to London at 18. And so many cinema visits! I went to the cinema over a hundred times last year (mostly with my eldest). We were there last night! (Although it was a mystery screening and we didnāt stay because weād seen the trailer and it looked horrible and I am a wuss.)
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#tinypoem
That explains all the beautiful people in the photos!
ā(Do not use) Demolished)ā
I think it must be this one Missile to the Moon - Wikipedia
what a treasure trove! and your mum has such neat handwriting. xxx