G is for... Grandparents

I haven't done one of my A to Z posts for a while.  This one has been sat, unfinished for ages now - I've been waiting on us all being well enough to go up in the loft and dig out some old photos. With it being an A to Z I couldn't exactly skip to H and I knew what I wanted to do for G.  

Grandparents.

My daughter happens to be my parents only Grandchild.  It's the same for my husbands parents too.  I know they all desperately longed for a Grandchild (some more openly than others).  In some ways I feel sorry that I left it later in my life to have a family as I realise that my mum and dad, in particular, are getting a lot older now - both 66 this year.

I was lucky enough to have my Grandparents in my life until I was into my 20's and 30's and it's something I'll always be thankful for.  I hope that Mini Cheddar gets to experience that too.

Photo credit: I.ona

My Dads parents lived near us most of my life.  They moved up from Luton where we had moved from when my Mum was pregnant with me and so they lived right around the corner from us for many years. When my Mum went back to work (when I was about 6 years old I think) my Sister and I would go to their house every day after school. My Grandma would always be making homemade soup and I can still almost taste it through my memories alone.  I vividly remember the brown 70's style crockery sets that we used to eat soup and sandwiches from. Grandad would be watching Crossroads on the TV and Snowy the budgie would be chirping away.  Such fond memories.

They were called Grandma and Grandad Fishes by us as they had a pond in their garden which was filled with fish (and frogs).  I still refer to them like that now. Grandad Fishes developed Alzheimer's and passed away when I was about 24. Grandma followed 6 months later. They were in their 70's when they died. I still have a big heavy necklace with a watch in it that used to be my Grandmas. I miss them both.

My Mums parents were very active and went ballroom dancing and on holidays abroad until they were well past their 70's.  They were my Nan (Nan didn't ever want to be called Grandma) and Grandad Balloons because he always had balloons for us to play with when we were little.  They lived in Luton and stayed in Luton so we didn't get to see them as much. The times we did share with them were always so fun-filled though.  When we had stayed with them and were coming to say goodbye, Nan used to secretly stuff £5 or £10 notes into our hands (which was a lot of money back then).  She always used to be so generous as she said she used to take our cousins - who lived in Luton - out quite a lot but we missed out. 

I think because they were so active they lived long and healthly lives. They even made it to their 60th Wedding Anniversary and received a telegram from The Queen. Sadly Nan developed pancreatic cancer when she was 86 and passed away in October 2007.  Grandad followed less than 2 months later at the ripe old age of 91.  He died doing what he loved - going for his daily walk.  I'll never forget getting that phone call in work from my Dad to tell me the news.  I was devastated as I'd only driven all the way down to Luton (from North Wales) a couple of days beforehand to spend the day with Grandad and he was so spritely. Again, I miss them both.

I have to stop and think sometimes and be more accepting of our parents wanting to spend time with our daughter.  Time is so precious and my daughter gets so much happiness from spending time with them. I'm thankful that they want to be there for our daughter as I have some friends who don't have that in their life. I can't imagine what that must be like.

There is no denying - Grandparents are precious. My daughter is lucky enough to have 4 loving and doting Grandparents in her life. I was so lucky to have 4 wonderful Grandparents in my life for so long and I miss them all dearly.

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation" 

~Lois Wyse

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Linked up 1st May 2011 for

 

F is for...Friends

It's quite apt that I'm posting this on International Women's Day 2011!  My friends are all amazing women.

I've mentioned my friends in quite a few of my blog posts before.  That's because friends are so important in my life.  Friends are the people you choose to share your life with you - whereas you're kind of stuck with your family. Thankfully though, I'm blessed with a great family.

Friends are the people in life who should always be there for you, when you're happy, when you're sad, when you're excited and when you're angry.  They will be the first people to congratulate you on good news and the first person to offer you their shoulder when you're upset. They'll also be the first person to hold your hair back when you throw up after too much vodka...but that's another story!

I've known friends who drop off the face of the earth when a new man comes along in their life and I've always tried not to be one of those people.  My husband doesn't really 'do' friends.  He's a bit of a loner in that sense.  He has is best friend who lives over 100 miles away but other than that all his friends are partners of my friends and he very rarely sees them.  It's the only bone on contention I have with him really as I just don't understand it.

My friends are all fantastic and I love each and every one of them dearly.  I'm not mentioning any names as only one of them reads this blog occasionally.  I've kept my blog quiet from my closest friends and family...for now anyway.

My best friend and I have been friends for 30 years this year.  It's hard to believe really, especially as our lives have taken us on totally different paths. She had her Son at the age of 19 whereas I was out every night pubbing and clubbing.  Now her Son turns 18 this year and she is the one out most nights whereas I'm in most nights with my (almost) 2 year old.  In our adult years we've only ever had 2 disagreements.  One of which, was last year.  But you know what? They've just made our friendship even stronger and I'm so grateful for that.  I'd be lost without her.

Then I have my close set of 3 girls.  We used to be really close but we don't see eachother as often anymore but when we do get together it's like we've never been apart. I love them all so much and couldn't imagine my life without them. I've known them 20 years, 18 years and 13 years.   We are all so different but the greatest of friends.   One of them has emigrated to Australia and I miss her but we keep in touch via the occasional email, text and Skype.  Hurrah for modern technology!

Last, but by no means least, have my 'ho's'.  My fabulous ho's.   I used to work with the 3 of them and we've have known eachother over 8 years (I think?) but I feel like I've known them longer.  We all started calling eachother 'ho' as a term of endearment (honest!) and it just stuck.  We try and get away together each year, just overnight somewhere - we've done London a few times, Buxton and other places. We also meet regularly for coffee catch-ups and always have a massive blow out night out at Christmas. We just all click together so well despite our age differences....the oldest is 43, then we have 38, I'm 36 and the youngest is 26 (but to be honest she acts the oldest!).

All these girls mentioned in this post are my nearest and dearest.  The girls I turn to when I need a laugh or I need a hug.  I'd be devastated if any one of them was no longer part of my life.  They are my rocks and they have my heart completely.

I really want my daughter to understand the importance of friendship which I touched on in this post. Friends are such an amazing part of life and I want her to have the same love and support in life from her friends as I do in mine.


Photo credit top right: vichie81

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