National Grandparent’s Day

When I was a child, I saw a lot of my grandparents. My grandpa, on my Dad’s side, passed away when I was just seven. For the rest of my childhood and teenage years I had my Grandma, and my Nana and Papa. The latter lived in Oswestry, a small market town on the edge of Wales. My Grandma lived in Chester, a city built inside a Roman fort.

We went to see them regularly. Oswestry being the farthest, a couple of hour’s drive, in which we passed through Chester, so we stopped before or after.

My grandparents were very different. Nana and Papa lived in a small town with easy access to beautiful countryside. They would take us out exploring the areas around where they lived. They also belonged to a church where there were regular events. They moved several times, living in some wonderful houses.

By contrast, my grandma lived in a ninth-floor block of flats, which we accessed via a lift. As children, it was much more fun to take the stairs, and even more fun to get to the floors before my parents did and hitting the button on everyone, much to our parent’s chagrin!

Grandma loved films and loved reading, and I got my love of both through her. In fact, my auntie, one of her daughters, had a bookcase full of all the books I enjoyed and read. I also went to see my Dad’s uncle when I was rehearsing our family history. I sat in his flat and he gave me tea as we chatted. I happened to turn and look at his bookcase, and it was a replica of Dad’s.

When the last of my grandparents passed away, I was at an air show with my husband and as we were leaving; I watched a family get into a car. There was a young couple and in the back seat, an elderly man and woman got in. They were all chatting and smiling and I watched fascinated for a few minutes, remembering a time when that had been me. I wanted to tell them to value their grandparents because they would not be around forever.

The 13^th September is National Grandparent’s day, and those who still have them should use this day to visit, take them out, get them to talk about their families, their parents, and grandparents because that is your only chance to find out about your ancestors, and the stories will never find elsewhere.

This is a rather humorous and informative fiction book about Grandparents.

Every time a baby arrives, parents and grandparents are born. As their new lives begin, adventures and stories abound.

Written by a mother of three and grandmother of nine, is a collection of true life stories guaranteed to bring smiles, laughs and heart tugging tears.

This book is a celebration of all the experiences we share whether this is your first baby or your first baby’s baby.

When the stork arrives, she brings not just a new life but the continuation of another generation for all of us to love and enjoy. Let the fun begin!

Link to Book

or if you prefer fiction, Remember by Marnie Cate  is a story where her characters are raised by Gram… she’s a wonderfully loving character based on her real grandma.

 

The memories were restored.

Mara Stone always felt incomplete, as though something inside her was missing. Raised by a loving and doting grandmother, and in love with the blue-eyed boy of her dreams, Mara couldn’t pinpoint what was lacking.

Hiding the truth from you is no longer protecting you. Sit and I will tell you what you need to know.

With these words, the secrets of her great-grandmother, Genevieve Silver, were unburied, and her role as a Protector of the Elemental Magic was revealed. Unseen worlds exposed and memories restored, Mara sheds her ignorance to face things both fantastical and frightening.

Little did Mara realize the secrets would transform her life and the world she lived in forever!