One of the first memories that I have is of living at 47 Southern Drive, in Loughton (see picture). I was about 3 or 4 years old. Outside of my mum's bedroom window (on the pavement, near the kerb) there was a tree, and a bird had made its nest in there. There was a storm, and one of the baby birds fell out. I can remember my mum going outside and picking it up out of the puddle and bringing it into the house, carefully drying it off, and then carrying it against her chest for warmth and so that it could sense a heartbeat.
Me, about 2 or 3.
I was about 3 years old when this was taken.
I was about 6 years old when this was taken.
47 Southern Drive
I don't think it survived very long, but I have that memory indelibly etched in my mind. The house still looks very much the same as it did all those years ago. I think the tree was to the right of the upstairs window, so the shadow on the left of this picture would be from the same tree. This was kindly sent to me from the current owner of the house, in 1996. She remembered me as being "a bright little girl" and my sister being a baby in the pram.
My second memory was in the maisonette. I was staying with my nan and granpop while my mum was in hospital having my sister, Stephanie. I was four and a half years old. I remember I was lying in the (hearth) tiled bit of the fireplace (it was my favourite spot and my nan used to put me a pillow down there and a blanket to lie on). We were watching "Wagon Train" - one of my granpop's favourite shows at the time (thus by extension, my favourite show too!) when my dad arrived to tell us Stephanie had been born. Now I admit to being quite pleased to have a little sister - BUT THEY TURNED OFF "WAGON TRAIN". Surely nothing could merit such a thing! I remember being totally upset because of it.
Me and my granpop, I must have been about 9 or 10 at the time.