I was given the volumes of correspondence way back in the 1980’s!
I have to admit, I feel a bit ashamed about how long it has taken me.
I knew immediately I had to do something to preserve the letters, being the only Spanish speaker in the family, so I began right then, transcribing by hand and translating, before the days of computers.
I only stuck to the job in fits and starts over all the following years, in spite of eventually acquiring a computer.
There were a lot of other things I had to do, like :
- raise my children (3)
- earn a living
- study (I can never stop studying! I’ve gained a few different degrees, diplomas, and qualifications during the time I could have been working on the project)
- other writing
All this time, the project was always on my mind, and I managed to work on it when I had no other excuses.
Mostly, this was only at times when I was:
- injured ( I’ve had a few broken bones)
- had no work ( the casualisation of work in the Australia’s universities is a cruel thing when student numbers drop)
- depressed – having a project like this to focus on really helps when that old ‘black dog’ turns up.
- encouraged by someone (thanks!)
- discovering the work of a Bremner 2nd cousin – Frances Walsh in UK, and a Reid 1st cousin 1x removed – Eileen Marcil in Quebec – who each wrote books about their respective sides of my family, putting many of the puzzle pieces together
- motivated by impending deaths of Bremner relatives
- helped by input from my cousin Judy and her husband Howard, my cousin Felicity, my cousins Molly and Elizabeth, my Uncle Jack, my Uncle Bob, my Dad , and a faraway 2nd cousin Kenny Reid (photos, stories, and genealogical data)
- when something exciting was happening in GWB’s correspondence
Even then, I was often sidetracked by exploring many of the characters, and digressing to research some of the subplots, events that kept showing up in the letters, and researching genealogy. There was certainly plenty of inspiring material for creative storytelling which often felt more compelling.
SB 2005
And maybe I didn’t want it to end.
Those were my excuses – but not any more. The end is in sight and it’s becoming real.
The Bremners of Peru 