I love history. It’s one of the things that made me fall utterly and instantly in love with London the moment I arrived for a two-year working holiday; so much so I’m still here 16 years later and show no signs of moving.
I marvel at the fact that, around the same time my homeland of New Zealand was discovered by European explorers, people were drinking in the pub just up the road from us. And that, in the same year the first European settler EVER stepped foot on Kiwi soil, Exeter had already opened its first hotel, and Gordon’s was producing its first batch of gin.
But I think what fascinates me the most is the way you can compare places over the years and marvel at what’s changed, and what’s stayed the same.
Like the two photos above; the top one was taken 20 years ago when my cousin and I were on our first trip to Rome. After MANY rum and cokes and sambucca shots we convinced these passing carabineri to pose for a pic with us. I don’t know what disturbs me more – the high-waisted baggy Levis 501 jeans I’m wearing, or the fact my arm is looped just inches from a M12 submachine gun.
The second photo was taken 10 years later; my cousin and I had returned to Rome and thought it would be funny to retrace our youthful steps. Once again we cajoled some passing carabinieri to join in with our photo fun – this time minus hardware and the baggy jeans.
Anyway, the long-winded point of all of this is that sometimes you don’t realise how far you’ve come until you look back to where you’ve been. Which is why the Sunlife THEN AND NOW tool is so interesting – the slider allows you to view famous UK locations both as they appeared historically, and how they now look in modern life.
It’s fascinating to see the changes that have occurred over a century, and how dramatically the world has changed – the architecture, transport and technology.
It also makes you realise how time moves on – often more quickly than you realise – and how important it is to ensure you have an up-to-date will, and life and critical illness insurance.
The OH and I got all ours sorted when we first bought a house together. We wrote our will to include provisions for future children, but it’s been over 10 years now, so this also comes as timely reminder to go through all our policies, and update them where necessary.
It’s always a good time to protect your future, and your family.
Wow! Loved browsing the old/new photos, so cool! BTW I had no idea you are originally a brunette?