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| My Grandma at Disneyland in 1981 |
On August 24th my Grandmother (on my Mom’s side) would have been 110 Years Young!
Grandma is the one who taught me to sew, cook and keep house and looked after me whilst my Mom went to work. My Mom went back to work when I started school at the age of five and every holiday I spent with my Grandma and Grandpa at their house, near where we lived, or at their holiday home in Skegness!
When I was five my Great Grandmother also lived with my Grandparents and I got to spend some time with her too.
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| My Grandma in 1926 |
My Grandma was born in Wales in 1902 and her sister was born two years later. Her father was a Blacksmith and mother stayed at home looking after the girls. Her Dad moved around the country with his Blacksmith job and eventually settled in Nottingham where they put down roots. When the Girls were grown up and married her mother bought a shop, selling sweets, newspapers and general groceries, she ran this until she retired at the age of 68!
Grandma also had her own shop, but only selling sweets! Grandpa was born in Lancashire in 1897 and was the eldest of three, he had two sisters. His family moved to Nottingham in the early 1920’s when he met Grandma and as they say, the rest is history. They married in May 1929 and my Mom arrived in October 1929!!!!!!
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| My Grandparents on holiday in 1954 |
Grandpa was a civil engineer and worked in and around Nottingham all his life but Grandma gave up her shop when she was 50 and became a Housewife. She was 62 when I arrived on the scene and was a real Grandma. We had so much fun during the holidays with me helping out cleaning the silver and brass items, helping clean the house.
She taught me how to bake and did a very good job as everyone likes the cakes I make. She always said you could either bake or make bread but not both and in our home it was true. Grandma could bake but not make bread, my Mom could make bread but not bake and I can bake but not make bread (I have a breadmaker now, so cheat!!!!).
Grandma also taught me to sew, embroider, crochet and knit. I am much better at sewing and embroidery than I am at crochet and knitting (too many holes in them!!!!).
We also used to spend weekends together as a family. The summer would be spent in the garden or going out for walks with the dogs and in the winter months after dinner on a Saturday we would spend the afternoon playing board games. One day stands out in particular, I must have been about 7 or 8 and they got Monopoly out. My Grandma had a sitting room off the kitchen and it was always warm and cosy and this particular Saturday was cold and rainy. We set the board up and played all afternoon and it was great fun. We then sat around the fire in the evening having supper.
I also used to help Grandpa in the garden, which was his pride and joy. When I learnt how to do cartwheels I was not allowed to do them on his grass as I made a mess!!!! At the bottom of his garden he had his vegetable patch, which fascinated me as it had no paths. One side there were three apple trees, and a greenhouse and the rest was a vast area of soil for the veg. During the War he had built an Anderson Shelter there for the family. He taught me how to plant and look after the veg and the garden. He also taught me how to look after the car, checking the air in the tyres and washing it and checking the oil!
My Grandpa died at the age of 80 and I was 13. My Grandma carried on and in fact outlived my Mom and died at the age of 86 when I was 24. She was the last of my family and I miss her and them all the time.
When I think of all the history she saw during her lifetime and the advances of mankind, it was an amazing journey and I hope that they know how much I miss them and are proud of what I have done with my life and my family.
I hope you all have a Terrific Tuesday and happy Quilting.
Susie x
