Political Ablutions

It was back here that I first mentioned our unusual poster of Lenin, and where it now finds itself. Since then, Amanda has added a few more bits and pieces, by way of a cheeky 'taunting' of the once great Soviet leader. A crystal wine decanter and a metallic Butlins advertising plaque being just a couple. Our loo has somehow become a room of objects making a political statement, in the case of Lenin quite obviously, but in another picture, far less so.

It was also here that I talked a little about who my father was, and how he came to be in this country, and part of his story brings me to the picture that I had thought that I had lost for the last twenty years, but has thankfully come back into my possession once more.

A small and unassuming tapestry of one of the gates of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a town that I have been fortunate enough to visit on a couple of occasions. Once with dad, and the last time being a very fun time indeed with my stepmum and Amanda shortly after his death.

But the story behind the tapestry is the thing that makes it so special.

After the war things settled a little for dad in this country, but it was becoming plainly obvious that without all of his necessary paperwork and proof of identity, then a life in England wasn't going to happen. He made the decision to make his own way back to his home, which at that point was unfortunately in East Germany, and the wall had already started to be put in place. It wasn't too difficult getting himself from the western side to the east, but on his return things were considerably more difficult. He had made it home, and carried back with him a small suitcase, of the type so often seen being clutched by those trying to climb the fences and wall in news clips and photographs.

He also became one of those who had to risk his life to get back into west Germany, and as he climbed over fences, barbed wire and the wall was shot at repeatedly, but thankfully not hit. He only talked of it once to me, and I never asked him again.

The tapestry picture was in the suitcase, along with a few other items.