A few weeks ago my entire family spent two days sorting and clearing my granny’s house. It was absolutely rammed full of almost everything my granny had ever owned. That is not even an exaggeration.
It was quite a strange weekend. We had a lot of fun (we always do when we get together), and we found some absolutely amazing things. My granny was (and probably still is if she thought about it) a bit of a glamour puss. She had some truly amazing dresses, and some of them will be worn again by myself and my cousin.
If we stopped to think about it, the reality of what we were doing and why made us sad. But then we’d find a book about sex from the 1950s and we’d fall about laughing. True story.
What we were doing, of course, was emptying a home of its memories, its personality, my granny. She had lived there for 39 years, 19 of them on her own since my grandpa died. I have never (until now) known her to live anywhere else.
So many of my childhood memories were made there. We used to go every Sunday for a roast dinner. We’d arrive and she’d be in the kitchen (no one was ever allowed in to help) wearing her apron. My grandpa would be on sherry duty before carving the meat. My granny’s yorkshire pudding was to die for, and because she was a proper yorkshire lass we always had it before the main meal.
After lunch we’d play out on the street on our bikes, or we’d go for a walk down to the park. Then it was back to granny’s and grandpa’s house for tea – sandwiches, cakes and the muppet show. We’d leave to go home to bed armed with a bag of crisps and a tube of smarties each. They did not last the half hour journey home.
Happy days.
Those memories don’t go just because the house is empty.
My granny’s apron now hangs in my kitchen, just waiting for the M’s and me to do some cooking.
The tray my granny used to carry tea on now takes my breakfast to the dining room.
Somehow having a little piece of my granny’s home in mine makes it feel a bit more homely. If you know what I mean.
Have a nose at more homes over at sticky fingers
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12 Comments
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:46 pm by helloitsgemma
really lovely, just lovely. Please can we have a fashion parade in the dresses?
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Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:49 pm by @LakesSingleMum
I have bits from my granny's home in my house too. We lost her this year but the memories of her house in Sale will live with me for ever. Her specials were steak and kidney pie followed by pavlova. She also did a wicked coffee cake!
My recent post #TheGallery: Home
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:54 pm by tiddlyompompom
ooh, that could be fun…
Posted on September 28, 2011 at 9:55 pm by tiddlyompompom
Sorry about your granny. It's nice to have some things that remind you of them isn't it? And now my kids will remember them too.
Posted on September 29, 2011 at 10:34 am by Tara
That is just gorgeous T. However sad it is losing someone you love so dearly, being happy at their memory is, I am sure, what they would love to think you're doing.
Amazing how so mundane an item as an apron can hold so so many memories!
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Posted on September 29, 2011 at 3:56 pm by TheMadHouse
You are so lucky to have your memories and that of your gran. I hope she is happy in her new home. I have bits of my mum around me and they make me smile, but also make me a little sad
Posted on September 29, 2011 at 4:01 pm by knackeredmother
Really lovely post…mum has still got Grandpa's ashes in the urn on the shelf. Bit weird, I know.
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 2:03 pm by tiddlyompompom
Thank you. Somehow I think it has been harder to do because she is still alive, just unable to be there anymore. I think she's happy we have her stuff, but would rather be using it herself if you know what I mean.
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 2:04 pm by tiddlyompompom
Thank you. I don't think she'll ever be happy there but at least she's safe. It's nice to have things of hers in my home though, and the M's will have memories of them too now which they wouldn't have had.
Posted on October 1, 2011 at 2:05 pm by tiddlyompompom
*whispers* it's not that weird – my grandpa's ashes are still at my mum's house…
Posted on October 9, 2011 at 7:05 pm by tgroom57
Gosh, your post takes me back ! So many memories in my nan's house: it was my home for a few precious years. I have some china and a few bits. Tea with fruit jelly and scones, and watch Star Trek was my weekly treat. My most heart-wrenching decision was when I could have pushed to buy their house, and didn't, and I still don't know if I made the right decision. I'd love to peak into an alternative universe to see how that other timeline turned out.
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:11 pm by tiddlyompompom
oh that's sad
it would be interesting to peak into an alternative time line though…