Tu te reconnais ? Pourrais-je lui dire dans de quelques années… Hé oui, hier c’était la 1° écho… Je ne m’attendais pas vraiment à qu’un ce petit crapaud aie déjà 2 jambes, 2 bras… et gigotte comme cela. Quelle émotion, quelle excitation. Ca bout dans ma tête, j’ai beaucoup de choses qui se bousculent. Déjà, je me dis qu’il va falloir que je change de voiture, ma Suzuki Swift ne pourra jamais faire l’affaire, son coffre est bien trop petit, et elle n’a que 3 portes… Il va falloir sérieusement penser à passer à une Suzuki SX4, donc prendre rendez-vous à la banque.

Hier midi, ma collègue Sophie pouvait bien rire de nous. Vincent, Patrick et moi, tous trois futurs papa passions notre temps de midi sur le web à consulter un site de poussette tout à fait allèchante : La Bugaboo Cameleon !

Et puis, je suis vraiment impatient de savoir si fille ou garçon il va devenir… C’est une étape importante pour moi, car cela me permettra encore plus de me rapprocher de mon rôle, de m’y préparer.

J’ai tenté de commencer un bouquin que madame m’a ramené : Au secours, Elle veut des fraises… Mais il est plutôt pitoyable.

Ne vous ruez pas sur ce bouquin, j’ai un peu de mal vraiment à comprendre à qui il s’adresse, pas un futur papa qui veut s’impliquer… On dirait un bouquin qui se croient cibler le père de cromagnon, complètement abruti… et même, en sachant qu’il ne lirait pas le bouquin… En gros, on a droit à une diahrée de métaphore toute plus inutiles les unes que les autres, pour remplir les pages et au fond ne pas en savoir plus, si bien que je finis par me demander si ce livre n’a pas été écrit pour les femmes enceintes frustrée de la non implication de leur conjoint, histoire de savoir, ce qu’il aurait au moins du savoir et faire… Bref, on est loin d’un ouvrage psycho – pédagogique avec un soupson de Biologie… En attendant, c’est ce qui est sur ma table de nuit, jusqu’à mieux !

When they left Birkenhead in 1922 they went to a place called ‘Canterbury’ in New Brunswick. The population of Canterbury was 400. In 1929 they moved to  St Mary’s Church in St John, when Charlie became the Rector there. A farewell party was held and an address was read. Vincent quotes the address and this is what was said about May

“…Mrs Martin has also captured the hearts of us all; more than a friend has she been to all who needed one; no case of sickness or sorrow came under her notice without relief; none were neglected that were within reach. Her interest and work in the Church, The W A and the community have always been quietly and persistently pursued; without thought of self, or thought of reward; not letting her right hand know what her left hand was doing, she has unfolded the sweetness of her character in our midst.

These things we have seen and these things we have appreciated and we realise that they were in no sense to be regarded as the duty of a rector’s wife; and these things will long be held up before us as an example and an inspiration. A good neighbour and citizen, a splendid housekeeper and cook, a good mother and indulgent wife – she has the love of all and her leaving will long be felt…”

I was thinking how Edith would have loved to have heard this, as it confirms what she had written about May in her letter to David. It also seems that Edith was quite right when she said she felt proud to have May as a member of the family.

The following is the text of a post card sent from Mountain Hill, Quebec, Canada to Mr and Mrs R P Farlow while they were living at Aston House, Tidworth Road, Ludgershall. It was postmarked 6th August 1935. The picture side of the card is a sketch of Mountain Hill.

Spending a week in Quebec, we are at the beach for the afternoon. Vincent is swimming by the Quebec bridge. We are staying with some B’head people a Geo. Osborne, he went to the Woodland school and was in Bert’s class. He is one of the heads of the C P R Boats. We had our dinner last Sat on the Empress of Britain and went all over her.

Love from May, Charles and Vincent

See copy of card: Front/Back

First, I have a little family tree news for you. Through someone’s family
history site (not related at all) I found two mentions of Vincent Martin ,
he had baptised two of their godchildren in the town of Woodstock, News
Brunswick. I wrote to the person who had created the website and they
replied with the information that Vincent’s widow, Audrey is still alive and
lives in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and that I might be able to contact her
through the cathedral there. So I have sent an email to the admin office of
the cathedral – no reply as yet. I also searched the Canadian phone books
and discovered 5 listings for ‘A Martin’ – but haven’t had the chance to
call any of them yet. If I can make contact I feel sure she might have some
information worth having. I have no idea how old she might be – Vincent was
born in the same year as my mum – 1917, so I figure she is probably a bit
younger. I’ll keep you posted on any developments.

I also found a reference to Louisa Farlow in the 1881 census, she was a
servant for a merchant in Birkenhead. I feel pretty certain it’s her, as the
year of birth/age matches.