Migration Prose final Exeter Remains

Engraved into the smooth blue porcelain of the Devon blue ware, is the saying “Like the blue of Devon I’m from heaven” the jug sits comfortably on the shelf as the heirloom gathers dust. The blue of Devon jugs that have been collected and compiled together and have a range of different sayings on some of them and others none. But the one stating “like the blue of Devon I’m from heaven” stands out the most as it is unique and unlike any of the other sayings that crowd around it. The tactile object holds its place as a nostalgic object of my families past. As I sit and imagine how it would have been like back in England actually using these items like the milk jug that is so precious to us now as it is no longer filled with milk but rather the memories and the significance that it is filled to the brim with. The contrast between both the blue and the crème colour that makes the writing stand out on the porcelain and the numerous jugs become an icon that sits in my mother’s glass cabinet that is accompanied by many other things that are priceless possessions that commerates and exhibits  our migration from Exeter all the way to New Zealand.

Slumped beside one of the jugs is a tattered and dust gathering sailor doll once presented to my mother  as she made her voyage from England to New Zealand by boat. The colours faded it has obviously had better days, yet it still has the same smiling face that gleams at you and captures your heart in a glance.  Easily held by a little child’s hand the much loved doll dressed up in the sailor costume threadbare and fraying at some parts has gotten the worst being dragged around and tossed into copious amounts of scenarios that are soon to be forgotten. That only the 50’s style doll could handle, because the things that were made and created in that decade, were meant to last another few decades.

Bright and shiny placed in protective frames are the war medals achieved by both my grandfather and great grandfather in world wars the medals signify their hard work to defend our country and  

The bright colouring of the ribbons has a rough yet silky feel and haptic look to it. The gold and other metal medals hang perfectly on the strong ribbons, imprinted into the medals wordings and images embossed and engraved into the medals. Symbolic to my grandfathers the war memorabilia creates a nostalgic feel that projects these remembrances of what we learnt about war in history class at school. Although very different the knowledge that we educate ourselves with compares nothing to the honest experience that my grandparents experienced whilst in the midst of the combat of world wars.

Despite this shelf the only other place the holds the nostalgic heirlooms is tucked away deep in my mother’s jewellery box for safe keepings. Are the rings of my grandparents and further down the line. Engagement rings and more the stunningly beautiful jewellery waits patiently for it to be one day treasured. Just like the other heirlooms that are placed in my surroundings of my own home.