Thursday, 1 November 2018

Scribble Picnic - Double

Hi fellow scribblers!

We had a choice of prompts this week with either JOLT or DOUBLE.

I chose double but it took me a while to decide what I actually wanted to do hence just a scribble for you this week.

We came to Australia when I was only four but, at fourteen years old, my Mum and we five kids went back to England for a three month holiday to see family. Dad remained behind as there was another motive for the trip — to decide if we would move back to England permanently. If we chose 'yes', Dad would sell up and follow us over.

While in England, I remember how entranced we kids were by the double decker buses there. We had never seen them here in Australia and it was such a huge treat when our Uncle took us on one for the very first time. Of course, we just had to ride on the top deck, didn't we?!  Needless to say, my 'Londoner' Uncle was more than a little embarrassed when we 'Aussie kids' kept screaming with delight while the other passengers behaved like they were in a library. My Uncle even apologised to the driver and nearby passengers as we exited the bus adding, "They're from Australia.". haha I'm sure the passengers were all greatly relieved to see the back side of those noisy Aussies. However, it still remains a very happy memory for me.

So here is my very loose graphite sketch and that's as far as I've managed so far...

To see what everyone else did for the prompt this week, click HERE.
To find out how to join us each fortnight, click HERE.

The next prompt is FOREST and due on the 14th. Hope to see you at there!
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27 comments:

  1. Rain 1 November 2018 at 10:53

    LOL..."they're from Australia"...why did that make me laugh so much??? I think it's because I was in a similar situation when I visited my aunt in Nova Scotia, she said to someone "they're from Quebec" and the knowing nods started....HAPPY HALLOWEEN Serena!!! I loved the double deckers when I visited England. Nice scribble!!! :)

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    1. Serena Lewis2 November 2018 at 05:49

      Thanks, Rain! I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. Ah yes...those 'knowing nods'. haha

      I hope you had a lovely Halloween!

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  2. Michael1 November 2018 at 11:10

    that made me chuckle too actually. Ha. I woudl have foudn that quite sweet if I had seen that.

    Aw, I remember those older style busses..back when we had conductors coming around collecting our cash for tickets and trying to remain standing as it whisked around corners.

    Great story with this charming lil sketch. Thank you. Perfect interpretation too. Don't know why that didn't occur to me.

    So, after your visit back to England, did your teenage self wish you had moved there? What was your fam's reason to stay there in Aus? Probably better cost of living, for one!

    Thank you so much, Serena. Lovely having you back. Speaking of which, how is yours and the other ailments?

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    1. Serena Lewis2 November 2018 at 06:06

      I still chuckle to myself over that memory and I still have a thing for double-decker buses. We never see them here.

      At the time, my teen self wasn't keen on England at all. It was so different to Australia. My Dad rang one night and asked if we wanted to settle there. My response was, "I want to come home, Dad." Dad said that my statement cinched it for them. They realised that we kids would always view Australia as our home. Now, roll on to my current age, and parts of me wish we had resettled back in England, particularly the English countryside. I do not like the humid heat here at all and it seems to get worse as the years roll on so England definitely has some appeal.

      On another note, some of my Mum's family followed us back to Australia within eighteen months of our return — my Grandmother, three Uncles, and two Aunties. One Aunty had a husband and young family of her own and her husband transferred with the air-force They all settled here. Years later, my Aunt said that Australia was the best thing that ever happened to them. Australia was a more laid-back and relaxed lifestyle which was quite appealing to migrants. And yes, definitely better opportunities work-wise and buying homes too.

      As for me, I'm still battling chronic pain with my torn hip tendon and bad back but it's become the norm for me. All going well otherwise. :)

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    2. Serena Lewis2 November 2018 at 06:10

      P.S. - I did participate in the 'bottle' prompt. Not sure if you saw it.

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  3. Christine1 November 2018 at 22:58

    A double ddouble Cher bus, great idea for the theme, I enjoyed your memories.

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  4. sandy2 November 2018 at 09:29

    that was fun to read - I can just hear you all! great sketch for the double....

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  5. Cathy Kennedy2 November 2018 at 09:41

    Serena,

    First off, I wanted to let you know that your gravatar profile does not have your blog listed. You may wish to update it so it'll be easy for folks to find you. Next off, I love double decker buses. This isn't something very common in the US. I think they use them in Los Angelos for tours but you won't find them in East Tennessee. There was a restaurant in town many years back called Darrells and it had They used a lot of memborilla for their decor and they even incorporated part of an English double decker bus in their restuarant. It was really cool! Your sketch is furtastic. You're a wonderful artist. I have much to learn and love the inspiration that you give through your work. Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for visiting. ;)

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    1. Serena Lewis2 November 2018 at 09:52

      Thanks so much for alerting me to that, Cathy — I have now linked this blog address to my Gravatar profile.

      I'm glad you love double decker buses too. What a cool idea to incorporate part of one in that restaurant...I'm sure it would have been a great feature. Thanks for your kind words too...so happy you liked the sketch I did...I plan to get around to finishing it soon.

      I hope you have a lovely weekend too. :)

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  6. Jennifer Rose2 November 2018 at 10:06

    "They're from Australia." LOL :)

    I like the views you can get from the upper floor but cant walk up the steps any more to get there :/
    great sketch of the bus :)

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    1. Serena Lewis2 November 2018 at 13:42

      Haha...yep. I would have trouble getting up those steps now also...too much pain.

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  7. Rita2 November 2018 at 14:51

    Fun memories! Those double decker buses have always fascinated me, too. I'd love to see this when it's done. They're red aren't they? Don't they have some without a roof on the upper level, too? I've seen those in movies but I wondered why they would have them when they talk about all the rain in England?

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    1. Serena Lewis5 November 2018 at 05:27

      Yes, they are generally red. They use some of the roofless ones in summer or for tour buses. Apparently, London having constant rain is a bit of a myth. In the three months (summer) we were in England, I don't remember it raining once. I do know that Scotland gets A LOT of rain — areas of Scotland can average 250 days of rain per year. My Mum's childhood friend who still lives in Scotland goes on about how it's nice to see the occasional sunny day. :)

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  8. R's Rue2 November 2018 at 21:25

    Love.

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  9. lissa3 November 2018 at 00:46

    this looks like a a good start. and what a good memory to this drawing. I think I would react the same way and they would say, "they're from new york," I honestly never seen a double decker bus before.

    have a lovely day.

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    1. Serena Lewis5 November 2018 at 05:39

      Thanks, Lissa. I'd never seen one either until that trip to England. :)

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  10. Mary3 November 2018 at 01:18

    I didn't know you were originally from England - like me - great story. Grew up riding double deckers of course. Later when I visited with young kids, my brother was working as a bus conductor for a summertime job when in high school. We have the open top ones in Summer and the views along the coast and beaches is great on a warm day. One year when there he took my young son with him for the day on the bus - what a fun time he had, and he came home with a roll of bus tickets as a memento.

    Feel better soon dear.
    Mary -

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    1. Serena Lewis5 November 2018 at 05:42

      Yes, I am, Mary. My Dad is Irish and my Mum is Scottish but I was born in Thornton-Cleveleys, England. Quite a mix, eh? haha The double-deckers were a huge attraction for us kids so I can imagine your son's enjoyment too. Cool that he got a roll of tickets as a memento!

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  11. Andrea @ From The Sol3 November 2018 at 02:47

    Oh my goodness, I always thought it was the American kids who created scenes in foreign places LOL ... we must share more with the Aussies than we realized. I love your story and I guess I have to ask ... did you move back or are you still an Aussie? Double decker busses are a hoot. We now can find them here on occasion, but they are definitely a draw on British culture. Loved your story and you sketch ...

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. Serena Lewis5 November 2018 at 05:44

      Thanks, Andrea. Haha...apparently Aussie kids can get carried away too. lol No, we stayed settled in Australia. :)

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  12. Lorraine 3 November 2018 at 03:20

    I can honestly say that I've never been on a double-decker bus but I have seen them when in NYC. Your experience made me chuckle. I love your drawing.

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    1. Serena Lewis5 November 2018 at 05:44

      Thanks, Lorraine. Glad you got a chuckle out of it. hehe

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  13. Shashi Nayagam6 November 2018 at 08:37

    When I was very young I had a story book in which there was a story about a Double decker bus and a cat which I loved and would it over and over again.. Never thought that one day I wouldbe hoping in and out of them on my way to work. It was easy to do that in those days as there were no doors in the older buses. Now adays one cannot do that because of doors which only the driver can open or close.

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    1. Serena Lewis13 November 2018 at 08:46

      What a sweet memory, Shashi! Yes, our buses here have doors controlled by the driver. I think double decker buses still hold an appeal for me as we don't have them here in Queensland. :)

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