Heirlooms

[Tristan.]

A few months ago my gran passed away, and last week I was in her house for the first time since. Everyone else had taken whatever was meaningful so I had free reign to nab whatever as a little keepsake, since then I've had on my mind, how hard that was. Not upsetting, just really hard to find something that to me, meant something.

It was sort of depressing how the vast majority of stuff was just that, stuff. Nothing personal, just the essentials that everyone has to have. There was no item that when I looked at it would remind me of her except her chair, (but that would be sort of depressing, as it's where she was sat after a stroke for 3 days straight) Anyway, it got me thinking, is this common, what would you have if a particular relative passed away, or what have you had in the past, that reminds you of them.

I did eventually find something, which I like for a few reasons, but it's odd, cos I never actually saw it when she was alive.

I found a box in the garage with 2 lighters a cigar cutter and an ashtray. I didn't even know she smoked, but apparently she did like a chimney up till around 30 years ago. So I had a 'king electric' lighter with a camel tobacco design. It reminds me of the way that although I knew her all my life, that it was only the last third of her life, which makes me happy for some reason, also nobody else in my family smokes, so it's a slight connection between us.

[GhostRider]

When my grandad passed away, I claimed his old mouth organ, Which he was brilliant at playing (my uncle had already claimed his ukulele which he was also shit hot at). It looks pretty old, it's a german made M.Hohner super chromonica in the key of C. Not sure if it's worth much money wise but it was the perfect sentiment to remember him by. Had a crack at learning a few tunes on it but dont think it's my calling lol.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Stelmer]

I've got my grandparent's old shelliac 78rpm records. Put some of them on the PC....

Even went out and brought a new turntable and some special stylus' for playing the things on. Was like listening to history after so many decades sitting in the spare room forgotten about....

[MarJay]

[Suitor_Stu]

My Grandpa died when I was about 16 - he, my Dad and I are all very alike and I feel that he significantly contributed to my love of music (Irish family, every time I went over there he'd have everyone in the front room and there'd be a singsong - him usually on Mandolin or giving us a 'skrake o the fiddle') amongst other things (as an aside he was actually the one who introduced me to 'White Russians' at the age of 13 but he preferred to call them 'Brown Cows'). He never threw anything out and was pretty sentimental...

When he died, there were a wealth of instruments to claim (tin whistles, harmonicas, fiddles, banjo, banjo-mandolin, a small organ), most of them almost worthless but I managed to get this mandolin - there was a little ditty which he used to play (have no idea of the name of it) but every time I play it I am reminded of him. It was made even more poignant (in my mind anyway) because the case contained a single shotgun shell - I didn't know the significance of this until my dad told me a year or two later. He was a soft sod and wouldn't harm anything, but shot a fox tresspassing on his garden and worrying his chickens. It was shortly after this that he was told that the cancer in his bowels had spread and apparently in the back of his mind he couldn't get away from thinking this was a little bit of bad karma from shooting said fox...

https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4074/4921177759_8a709fe030.jpg

Also, I was picking through a box of his old work stuff I came across this keyring - was his locker keys from where he used to work as an engineer in Belfast for 30yrs. Everyone called him Archie but his first name was actually Samual so his initials were SAF (which is the same as mine Stuart Alexander) so it has special significance, and has remained on my keyring ever since.

https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4116/4921178217_6425730a5b.jpg

Stu - another sentimental sod

[amnesia]

When my dad's dad passed on I was apparently promised a watch. However, an aunt who lived 100 miles away turned up and took a ton of stuff like the washing machine - including the watch that was promised to me and gave it to her very young son.

I helped myself to something that has actually turned out to be far more useful and everyday - a nice pen and a pair of British Rail teaspoons!

From my mums side - I bought my grandparents house, so there is quite a lot of stuff there from them.
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[MarkJ]

My granfather built his house which he and my grandmother lived in for the last 50 years. When he died in 2008 me and the missus bought it off the other people in the will, did it up, and moved in

[mistergixer]

My Grandad was an engineer, worked on Lancasters during WW2, and subsequently worked for various other engineering companies like Rolls Royce.
When he died i inherited a load of hand tools (vernier callipers, socket sets etc), and loads of his old engineering manuals - what i loved best is that there were a load of WW2 aircraft manuals for certifying the airworthiness of Lancs after repair etc.
My Dad and I offered these to the RAF museum at Hendon, we got a nice letter back from them saying thanks very much for the offer, but they already had existing copies of the manuals.

My Grandad was a top bloke, i miss him dearly, and i've named one of my sons after him. My only regret is that both he and my Grandma died before the kids were born, and never got to see them.
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[GhostRider]

I just remembered I also sourced a Bayonet with "1918" stamped into the shaft, I like to think it spilled the guts of many a Krout in the ghastly trenches, not sure why my grandad had it though, as far as I'm aware he never saw the frontline, though he worked at the Austin plant when it was making munitions for the airforce, and thus was a red hot target for being bombed, hence the various underground tunnels that still link up the old Rover Plant, Cofton Park, and even the Longbridge Social Club some 2 miles away. They are all sealed up now, but I bet there's some interesting shit down there, christ knows why they don't open it up to the public, but then again god forbid they should have something educational and interesting that might detract people from X-factor and Big Brother 9654. This fucking country.

GhostRider
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I have all the characteristics of a human being: blood, flesh, skin, hair; but not a single, clear, identifiable emotion, except for greed and disgust. Something horrible is happening inside of me and I don't know why. My nightly bloodlust has overflown into my days. I feel lethal, on the verge of frenzy. I think my mask of sanity is about to slip.

[Bubbs]

[mistergixer]

[Dragonfly]

I have a really old Russian tea urn my grandmother smuggled from Russia when she was young, it is from 1800s but I cant read the Russian on it as theres engravings. I also have a set of silver wear from Russia and coins. Lots of other antiques parents bought and just left me as they wanted new things, they still dont realise that tea pot in my hall is real wedgewood and some very old carvings of knights from medevil time.
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[Tristan.]

Some really interesting stuff, interesting how sometimes the object itself reminds you of the person, and sometimes it represents something that reminds you.

https://i38.tinypic.com/262mvxd.jpg
https://i36.tinypic.com/mb2zv8.jpg

There was also some cool stuff, she was a typist for the armed forces, and I found a torch with a stick attached to it with a mirror on the end, issued to everyone around when NI was going on. As well as a 16mm film camera, probably cutting edge back then.

Kind of wierd being there, me and my girlfriend made a weekend of it, spending the day in York the first day, then sorting out the garden the second. We found a game of yahtzee on the evening, (no tv) and the first roll I did was all 6s

[SlimRick]

[Jayy]

Makes you think, if they had underground facilities like that 60-70 years ago, I bet there's some amazing military places built not long ago, under ground that we will probably never see but one day, someone will be taking pictures like them above in that link showing what it used to be "back in 2010".

[tatters]

Only two l have to hand are my great granfathers late first world war Baynet with two scores on the handel which are ment to be kills which is strange as he served the whole of the 1st world war in india (lucky bugger!).

And the American civil war le mat revolver thats been past down the family line.


There a early pin fire revolver somewere which was given to my great great great granfather for actions during the indian mutiny though that was last seen back in the 1960,s when my grandfather was trying to fire off the last few round that were left in the prestantion box in the back garden.


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[m3-paul]

I was 18 when my dear old nan (my dads mum) died (20 years ago now). I never got anything personal to remind me of her then around 6 years ago I was given a few bits that were incredibly meaningful to me. Her watch, ring and a bangle. She always wore them and I remember them on her perfectly.

I was really close to my nan, absolutely adored her so to have these things means the world to me, no value in them at all but pricess to me. Twenty years on and i still miss her like crazy .
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[waffles]

I was pretty young when my grandparents died so I didnt do the whole claiming something sentimental thing. I do have two silver dollar coins that came to me from my granddad though. A lot of the family heirlooms have gone to both of my parents who will hand them down to me and my brother eventually. Things like war medals and jewellery. But the silver dollars are special to me.
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