Just an Ordinary Girl

27 - Uncle Victor

When I was a child, many of the menfolk seemed to spend a great deal of time in sheds and garages. My father certainly did and I never could work out what he actually did there. I guess he just liked to potter about and for me to bring him down a cup of tea. So much so, he was going to install a phone to the house so he could order his tea to be delivered! Don't panic, he never got to do that, because I ensured that the equipment got lost and he wasn't able to install it ever. I knew what my father was like, the power would have gone to his head and then it would have been sandwiches and tea on tap.

At the end of our back gardens, we all had garages and there was an alley way with drive ways that linked the access to them. Our garage was diagonal to Uncle Victor's place. His had a large workshop attached to the length of it and the doors at either end always seemed to be open. Uncle Victor and his wife were retired and I would often find him in his habitat, and I would sit on his little stall whilst he worked at his table fixing and making things. Exactly what he was making, I couldn't tell you but he certainly seemed to spend a lot of time in there listening to his radio. His wife use to pop down with cake and a drink periodically and bring left over bread so I could feed the colourful fish in their pond.

On a summer's afternoon, you might find me sitting on the wall of their raised pond, my feet in the water, as the fish swam around. I'd place my hand cupped just under the surface and the fish would eat out of my hands. It felt magical. As I looked at Uncle Victor and his wife and caught their smiles, it made the day perfect knowing they enjoyed the moment with me. Special times are always better shared.

Their garden and workshop felt an oasis of calm. Their voices were low and they were always pleased to see me. They treated me like the grandchild they never had. One winter, they bought me a cloak which I really loved. The seventies were financially difficult times for most people, so this was incredibly kind of them as back then coats were a much bigger expensive than now. I remember it made me feel special and I really liked the colour, which made me resemble red riding hood and got me noticed. The coat was a beautiful burgundy red and it's been my favourite colour ever since.

I grew attached to them both and even now all these years later Uncle Victor has a special place in my heart, as his smile welcomed me into his work shop world where being me and laughing and chatting about nothing in particular was perfectly okay. It was a place I always felt safe and happy to visit. It was a mutual exchange. He had time to spare and I had time to give.

The simple act of sharing a slice of cake and chatting to him on those summer afternoons in the work shop are some of the happiest of my childhood and they warm my heart to this day. Even though I can't remember what we talked about, the memories of our laughter live on in the postcards in my mind.

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Many thanks, Kimberley S B Lieb