Grandparents

It struck me yesterday while writing the last blog on my family, that I have never really expressed my feelings towards my grandparents, and I believe it is an appropriate time and stage in my appreciation alphabet!

"What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies." ~Rudolph Giuliani

Having grown up with my Nan and Grandad on my Dad's side, I knew of Sunday afternoon's playing Yahtzee, mornings with my Nan and her friends playing a board game my Grandad had put together, watching Bob Ross with my Nan as she had canvas after canvas of the same mountain setting, one with a sunset another with a sunny day and so on. For many years I have compared my grandparents with some of my friends grandparents, and thought why can't my grandparents do that or be like that? Always wanting more. Childish and selfish. However, looking back, I couldn't ask for better. They were unique and lovely as they were. However many cigarettes my Nan smoked a day or however funny it was to hear my Grandad passing wind in the kitchen when making the cups of tea, I loved them exactly the way they were.

To hear of the stories from their childhoods, was like stepping into the depths of a novel, entwined with memories of war, of evacuation, of love and most importantly of life as they knew it. Unfortunatly my Nan passed away before I got to the age that I could really appreciate these stories. However, when my Nan passed, my Grandad had the spotlight, he spoke about being part of the liberation at Belsen concentration camp, about driving tanks and about meeting my Nan. Later I was to find out that one of my Grandad's best friends was killed within metres of him while at war. A life so different to that of the present day.

Everyday, I think of my Mums parents. Grandparents that unfortunatly I never knew of. To this day, I am jealous that my brother and sister have some memories of my Mums parents. Yet, even though I never got to know them, my Mum tells me stories of how wonderful they were. One that stays fresh in my mind is when my Mum was pregnant with me, my Nana was slowly dieing from cancer. My Mum used to pamper her and keep her looking beautiful, one day my Mum was plucking her eyebrows (as you do!) and apparently I kicked her in the head. My Nana immediately said, that definately a Katy! Well I am proof that she was right!

I was fortunate to have the grandparents that I did, and I learnt from the grandparents that have passed. That even though they may not physically be there, I know they are always around me in one way or another.



My blogs have become more involved around my life... and not things in general! I guess these are just things that I felt like writing about... and that is what a blog is for! :)

Mi Familia

It has taken me the last month to gather inspiration for this blog. I knew it was there I just did not know how to write it down. My next letter relates to people that are the closest to me. Thick as thieves, as my sister would say.

My family, it's no normal family! Apart from being spread around the world, we contain a few different cultures. My aunty is a fine French woman, my brother-in-law a proud Welsh man. I have family in Canada, Australia, Europe. Yes they are all English speaking countries, but we are so far away from each other! The thing is, however many miles apart we are, they still remain close to your heart.

I have very vague memories of my sister living under the same roof as me. With quite a big age gap between us we were not particularly close when I was a child and she was a teenager! Years have gone by, after going back to England over Christmas 2009, I found a whole new relationship with my sister, one on a completely different level. Of two adults, able to talk on the same level about similar things, to enjoy time doing sister stuff that we have never been able to do!



My brother and I have a great relationship, and however much we miss each other, we still give each other an ear full over the phone. Having travelled around Australia for a year on his own, I guess my brother can relate very well to being half way around the world to family and friends.

My parents and I have been on a whirlwind adventure the last four years. Egging each other on, trying to be strong through tough situations and generally keeping each other amused! I have personally put my parents through some tough situations over the last four years, and I give my utter most respect for how my parents handled me! I sometimes wonder what the relationship with them would be like if we hadn't moved to NZ. I am glad we stepped out of our comfort zones to experience the unknown.



Families are priceless, the experiences and the love that I have for my family cannot be described. I think of my brother, sister and their families everyday. I miss them everyday. But if I hadn't been here the last 4 years, I don't think I would have the same appreciation that I do now.

Recently my co-teacher had a member of her family pass away. I try to offer hugs and support in anyway possible, but I find that it involves listening, not advising because I have no idea how it would feel in her position, I simply listen and enjoy her stories and memories of her family. I appreciate that she is happy to share and appreciate these memories with me. Thank you Tez.

My Grandad... actually... I will save that for my next blog!