Recent Comments From Liz Blades and Neil Black

Peter, you have done a marvellous job and some of the research was most impressive. I wouldn't chide yourself for what might have been. As my daughter Victoria would say 'it was what it was'. It will also likely stand for some time, perhaps to be discovered latterly by other former residents. It was hard to advertise I expect, except by word of mouth so perhaps there were many who did not even know of its existence. But I think you might also find that, for many former residents, it was not such a happy place. You seem to have been more fortunate in some respects. For example the fact that Ken Hoffman was away for long periods allowed your household some respite which ours did not enjoy. The other was your extended family, grandparents etc., who all had a supporting and nurturing role. It seems to me that some former residents were just not interested in going back there. There was nothing that you could do about that. Yes of course it was a PH-centric blog, but that was also part on of its charm. I learned things about Oxgangs, you and others, that I did not know. 

I think its interesting too that some of us could not wait to distance ourselves from the stair. Ruth and I did that geographically which I think is quite telling. Others have distanced themselves in other ways and perhaps had little interest in revisiting. I know that some members of my family do not remember the stair with the fondness that you clearly do. It was likely those different experiences more than any other that created a distance and that lack of engagement with the blog.

There is also the aspect of time. It may take some time for word to reach all former residents, the forty-one. You might find it springs to life again at some point!

Happy New Year and all the best with whatever ventures await you in 2013.

Monday, December 31, 2012

 Help-The Forty One! Liz Blades

Peter. So gutted that The Stair is coming to an end it seems. I have been following and reading avidly since spotting the blog in the summer. Being slightly younger than yourself and staying just outside Oxgangs - in Swan Spring Avenue - I can relate to a lot of your tales, and those I can't serve to educate and enlighten me to how things were only a few years before me. I've loved the nostalgia as well as the education that your blog has given. Maybe you'd consider keeping it going? Maybe a weekly rather than daily entry? Failing that I hope that you would consider having it published as it is? You have a great way with words and a vast memory too. I know it would be a success! If this is truely the final entry to your journal then may I take this oppertunity to thank you for your efforts and entertaining read these past few months. Best wishes, Neil Black on Recent Comments