It was the way my mother would tell the stories about our family that captured my imagination as a young girl growing up in Australia. In my mind, their lives were a fantasy tale of grand history, epic achievemens and war-torn destinies. They lived the paradoxes of the human experience and survived inimitably.
From designing and building historical landmarks in Sofia (Lions Bridge and Eagles Bridge), to establishing the first printing house and modern brewery in 1884 (Proshek Brothers), their legacy is remarkable. But it was the times spent at the seaside in Varna and the family gatherings for Sunday lunch at "Agricola" that my mother spoke of with endearment. When the generations came together to share a meal and good conversation around the lunch table, it was a happy time.
After the second world war, democracy and freedom in Bulgaria disappeared. My family remained and endured their greatest challenges together in the years ahead. In an unexpected turn of events, my mother and grandmother arrived in Australia in 1967 to be reunited with my grandfather and they began a new life making Australia their home. Some photographs were packed in my grandmother's suitcase as memories of the life she had, and now, they are an irreplaceable source of inspiration to me.
Milada could see beauty in everything and approached life with an optimism that seemed endless. My mother's creativity, brilliant ideas and tremendous spirit were the inspiration for creating Elena and Milada. She is my muse and guide in so many ways and her stories have become the link to my past. The images of my family that remain have left an indelible mark in my memory and opened a window into another time, their time, when they lived and loved.