Stunned ! sister out of the blue

[pennine]

Hi there all, I am reviving this thread as I have now met the relatives from Australia!
And, get this, I have met my step mother who I haven't seen for 47 years! She is now 94 and I didn't even know she was still alive!
The meetings x2 seem to have gone very well. The family obviously adored my dad and loved him very much. Due to family circumstances at the time I remained living with my Grandparents but I did see my dad three or four times a week.
My stepmother gave me some of my dad's possessions which she kept after his death, photos etc and she says she has always wondered where I was and what I was doing.
A very strange thing happened. At the second meeting, she gave me my dad's passport. army service record and his wallet. His army service documents and an I.D. card were in the wallet along with a photo of me and a  postage stamp! Along with the photos etc this was a lot for me to take in at the time.
Later when I was at home alone, I went through the things again slowly.
The wallet was Morocan Leather and in pristine condition. I thought the lining was silk. Whilst exploring it I put my hand behind the lining to the bottom of the wallet and touched something. There. nestling down the lining were four crisp green £! notes in consecutive numerical order!
I was so shocked that I telephoned step sister to tell her. She said she had held and looked at the wallet many many times over the years and had never noticed the notes. Step mother went through very hard times after dad's death what would she have given to find four quid? It was a week's wages in 1960! Things do move in mysterious ways!
Pennine

[Taidquest]

hi pennine,how lovely to read the outcome of your meetings
 with your long lost rellies.you do sound very pleased with yourself.
I followed this thread when you were uncertain what to do about
the contact you received ,your dads passport wallet etc is a nice bonus too.
                                                                                         regards.anne

[loo]

What a lovely ending to your story!

[MarieC]

Brought a tear to my eye, it did! 

What a lovely ending to the story!  I'm so happy for you, pennine!

MarieC

[DJFRENCH]

Hello Pennine,
How lovely for you , i was very touched by your story and i hope it has healed some past pain for you.

All the very best for your future moments with new family.
DJ

[Nadine Moore]

Pennine

What good news for you. Hopefully you can now have a good relationship with your new family and move forward.

Best wishes

dinie

[KathMc]

I am so glad it has turned out so well. And I hope it isn't an ending, but a wonderful new chapter.

Kath

[devongirl]

Glad your meetings went wel. How kind of your stepmother to give you those mementoes of your Father.

Devongirl

[pennine]

Thank you all for your good wishes. Of course I have still to meet two step brothers and then there is the issue of the half sister, .
However I am lots more positive about it all now, having gleaned lots more information about dad and his 'other family'. A big plus for me was the things I have been given, just to know that dad touched these things himself is a lovely feeling.
Thanks again.

Pennine