Time to return to the grandmother's. Christmas 82

 My chances of being a grandmother diminish every day, but luckily I am an aunt to several children, here and in Kenya. 

I was turned off writing this up by the comments but after the sudden and unexpected death of my late father's wife, I have acquired letters from my father's mother to him during the war and they have opened up his early life. I need to record them before they fade away and I also have the first world war letters - somewhere of my mother's father, and they too need recording so time to return to the grandmothers and grandfathers.  

So let's see what my Grandma Helen talks about re Christmas 82. 

Christmas Day Sat 25th.  dull but warmer, after tea and biscuits about 6 am back to bed and eventurally slept till 10 am. So late all day but checked was bought cooked. Helen rang after she is alone in flat Rosy having gone to India for a month. Helen is having the "Groombridges" Sunday, turkey etc - she will be busy - going to join Jeff and Jennie in Cambridge Monday.  I had 24 or 25 cards cannot count. 

I remember that Christmas so well, it was the first and only time I spent Christmas Day alone and it was the worst Christmas of my life despite having arranged to see people the following two days, in fact without this diary entrance I would have thought I had spent the whole period on my own and that is my recollection but I obviously didn't, which is nice to know. 

It has been very windy and very wet this winter, seems it was the same New Year 83.  

Thursday 6th.  Up fairly early, had decided to visit Mrs Hill (the land festing road" - very windy, had forgotten my usual way there and it is farther than I managed for ages.  arrived ok and surprised to find her daughter there - I thought school (she is a school mistress) had started!! not till next Monday. "refused tea - I could see they had had theirs - took talc and sweets - she, Florence is cooking very frail doing knitting - but still complaining that Doreen will not let her do anything - wish I had someone around like her 2 daughters but I do understand how bored she gets. 

I still feel guilty for not helping my grandma more when I used to see her, especially in her last year of life, but usually she refused the help offered.  However, she is in my mind when I try and help my step dad to the commode or help him eat.    I cannot help her, but try to help another. 

Christmas cards 2023