Prompt and Circumstance

Out of Time and Place

'décor' (Sept. 23-24, 2016)

"What do I want?" she said out loud. Are they kidding? she thought as she tilted her head to one side, eyes pensive now as a strange longing filled them. I'd give anything to have a look. Can't do that... not from the other side of the world. She sighed. The so-called 'generosity' of their family in Denmark was because those Danes wanted nothing, and all was to be sold. It was presenting quite a predicament to other family living so far away.

Nothing? No, that doesn't feel right. A whole chunk of our Danish history to be sold... gone forever from the family. That's tragic. Suddenly her eyes lit up. "I know! The photo... where's that photo?"

"Huh?" he said. "WHAT photo, for heaven's sake?"

Her fingers were twitching, eyes shining brightly as stars now. "The one of your grandmother - Farmor, wasn't she? When she was 80, remember? I'm sure there was an old Grandfather clock on the wall behind her... "

And so it happened that a hand-made and carved Grandfather clock made a slow, laborious sea voyage from the Northern Hemisphere to country South Australia. When ALL the careful packaging was finally removed, the wondrous old clock was revealed - in far more glory than any could have anticipated. Its beauty was breathtaking. Intricate carving of the Oak timber used had mellowed over the years to a glowing golden brown; the curved glass over the clock face with its ancient Algerian-style hands and numbers spoke clearly of its marking of the progression of Time; and behind the glass 'window/door' the old-gold pendulum was revealed, waiting to swing its mesmerising rhythm once again.

"Look! There's a tiny brass plaque down here," she said, and then in sudden excitement, added, "... there's engraving too... ohh, but it's all in Danish. Quickly, what does it say?"

Still young enough not to need specs perched on his nose to see the finer details, he translated - 'From the townspeople of Nr. Broby 23/5/1909'. "That's my grandparents' wedding anniversary," he said, eyes rounded in wonderment.

His parents' memories of old stories were ignited and they told of the talented local clockmaker being commissioned by the townspeople to design and create this magnificent timepiece as a wedding present, to celebrate and commemorate the high esteem they felt for their Postmaster and Bank Manager (simultaneously) and General Keeper of the Peace in marital disputes, thanks to these important positions.

Well over 100 years since its birth, that Grandfather clock still chimes out its deep, mellow register of the passing of the hours, days and decades, and although you don't think of a clock having memories of its own... this one has.

It refused to keep correct time 'Downunder' in every modern home it shared unless it was decidedly 'off centre'... seemingly never totally comfortable as part of modern decor.

But since it found its forever home in an 1878 farmhouse, it has kept perfect time in an almost perfectly balanced position.