My Granny

My Granny

Graham was at home with the baby sitter while the rest of the family

were at the carol service. Graham was deaf and the baby sitter could

not sign and was rather hard of hearing, consequently communication

between the pair was difficult. It was nearly time for Graham to go to

bed and the baby sitter had gone to make him supper. She returned

quickly only to find the Christmas tree being dragged across the

floor. The baby sitter could not get Graham to stop, she could not

hear him and he could not understand her. The baby sitter that night

was my granny.

Granny was a small widow she was a wiry person. She was also quite

frail and in her latter days rather accident prone. Granny's common

dress was a long skirt that she wore high on her waist. With that she

would wear a t-shirt or a shirt and if it was cool a cardigan she also

bearded. Her leather watch never seemed to leave her tiny wrist. On

her left hand her wedding ring reminded her of her happy times with

her husband Billy

Granny was born in May 1912 and grew up in the country. She and 4

sisters and 3 brothers. 2 of her sisters died young. Granny and her

family then moved to get work in the city. Granny took up stitching

and married Billy in 1940. Billy was both a bookkeeper in the rope

works and the shipyard. When he was laid off he turned his sights to

delivering. He delivered bread around the area early in the morning.

Billy and Edith had 3 children, Eleanor in 1942, Barbara in 1948 and

Billy, my dad, in 1954.

My granny was a very resourceful lady. She loved both her garden and

her flowers; I remember she would reuse the custard pots as flower

pots. They also made useful holders for pens and pencils. She was very

creative and would decorate these homemade sculptures. These talents

have run off on me as I am also quite creative.