Reminiscing.................

[Mamyalynne]

I appreciate that some younger Abers may still have Grandparents in their lives, but like some of the more long(ish) in the tooth brigade - I haven't. Last night determined to start to get a handle on Christmas, I began to go through boxes of delights to see what I had stored throughout the year as gifts for my 4 Grandchildren.

That set my mind wandering back and I marvelled at the striking differences between the two sets of Grandparents - on my fathers side, they were very Victorian in their ways, the house was like a time capsule, chenille table cover, salt in a wee crystal bowl (sugar too with a beaded lace cover), the kitchen had a shallow slop stone unlike any ordinary sink I had seen out side a museum. We visited lots, which entailed sitting quietly and not interrupting - we only slept over rarely but the magic of toasty pyjamas from the warming cupboard in the blackleaded range is a fond memory, as is having to climb on a stool to get into the bed that was SO high you felt you were mountain climbing.
Grandma was very much a typical (in a nursery rhyme way) Granny, steel grey hair up in a bun, Grandad always wore a jacket and spoke little, kindness exuded but in an unspoken way.

My maternal Gran (Grandad died before I knew him) was the polar opposite- a bundle of fun and keen to play and make merry, time with her was a hoot and as soon as anything new came out she was keen to save and get it, she dressed in bright colours had her hair permed and ears pierced LOL Her tiny mill workers cottage in a row of ten (with 5 outdoor loos between them - story for later maybe) was never empty and she threw great parties , one game involved all the invited bringing bags of old clothes , the lights would be put out and all the ensemble had to grab and dress in what they could until the music stopped and lights came back on -the sight of an elderly uncle dressed in a grass skirt and a Playtex corset would send us kids into fits of laughter, we were never sent to bed - a party was for all- drink was of course consumed and the room so packed that one night Aunty Dolly was so queasy and could not make her way through the throngs to offload the upright piano got it !! Never sounded quite the same again.

I suppose what I mean is that as different as these lovely people were I have such fond memories of all , so as Friday is good for a chat maybe you would like to share some fun stories too?

I am in Grandma mode today as my youngest is coming to visit - 11 months old and a very busy boy, better get my gran hat on!!

[daffy654]

I never met either set of grandparents. My mum's parents both died long before I was born and my mum and dad divorced when I was very young so I never met my dad's parents because of that, they wanted nothing to do with any of the seven children from his first marriage to my mum, they saw my half brothers (dad's second wife) all the time though.

[Mamyalynne]

daffy that is very sad to read and of course not everyone is blessed with fond memories and I think it steels us to make our own lives stronger and more memorable for the next generations, when we have been let down.

[maggiebee]

Always envied friends who had grandparents - my dad was an orphan and my maternal grandfather died 10 years before I was born and my grandmother when mum was pregnant with me. However, now a gran of 4 whom I spoil outrageously and I know they love coming to say with me. Pity they all live some distance away, but it makes their visits all the more precious. With me they are allowed to ride their bikes outside til it's dark, dig the garden, cut the lawn, feed the birds, bake and always get 50p for the "Icie" (ice cream van) which they don't have at home.

[askyourgran]

I didn't know my paternal grandparents. My mother came from a mining village in near Sunderland so we would travel to see my maternal grandparents either at Christmas or Easter, also to see my aunts uncles and cousins. In the school hols we'd go to Whitley Bay. Grandad was a miner as was my three uncles, I remember my Aunt saying that Uncle T got danger money because he mined the coal miles out under the sea. I loved my Grandparents house and garden. It was magical at Christmas going all the way from Yorkshire on a bus (freezing cold) then all children piled in the big comfy bed waiting for Santa. I hope young ones nowadays will keep happy memories of their childhood.

[Mamyalynne]

Yes I hope mine will have a few nice and funny anecdotes to pass on too.

[erin-x]

Both my paternal Grandparents had passed away before I was born so I have only ever known my Mum's Mum and Dad. My Grandad died when I was 9 but I have fond memories of him :)

The two sides of my family are complete opposites like yours Mamya! My Mum's side are quite snobbish and not very exciting. They were the ones that took me to all the museums and things like that. Their idea of a party is sitting with cups of tea, reciting poems and listening to my Uncle play his saxophone! My Mum was the rebel of the family and more like my Dad's side.

My Aunties and cousins from my Dad's side are the ones that would take me out to the pubs and buy me drinks when I wasn't old enough! They are the fun bunch who like to party! :D Parties with this side are more often than not, fancy dress.. and everyone takes it seriously! My Dad always wins the prizes though... he's the maddest out of all of them!! :D haha!