OOPS Sometimes Irish Gran misheard words much to our amusement. Watching Olympic gymnastics once on the tv, she said in her lilting accent, “wud ya look at dat! How do dey do all dat on te #pummel horse?” “It’s pommel, Gran” “Well, it shud be called pummel,” she laughed #vss365

COMFORT During our teenage years, we always had some crisis, whether it was boyfriends, friends or homework. Irish Gran made us sit down and tell her all about it before making cheese on toast and tea. In the end she’d usually make us #laugh and see things differently #vss365

GUIDE When we were young, every Wednesday after school, Irish Gran walked us to #Brownies at the local church hall. We loved all the activities and the chance to collect loads of badges. Gran sewed each badge to our uniform, until we had earned our own sewing badge. #vss365

STRICT We loved visiting Irish Gran, but we knew from a young age Gran had house #rules. In the house we were allowed to do anything we liked except keep our shoes on, run around each room or shout loudly at each other. All of that we could do in the garden with Grandpa #vss365

MEMORY When we were young Mum told us why Irish Gran always wore a silver necklace with a tiny #angel #charm. She told us that she had been adopted as a baby because Gran and Grandpa’s own daughter was in heaven. Mum then said, with a tear in her eye, how lucky she was. #vss365

DISCIPLINE We loved staying with Irish Gran but we knew that we had to behave ourselves and not cause any #mischief. We didn’t dare jump on the sofa, put our feet up on the coffee table or put our elbows on the dinner table. Gran always seemed to know what we were up to #vss365

BLISS Irish Gran and Grandpa often took us on picnics by the river when we were young. We sat in the wild flower grass watching the butterflies and listening to the #hum of the bees. Such sunny days, especially when Gran unpacked our favourite sandwiches: banana #vss365

FRIEND After Irish Gran died, Grandpa grew fond of Poppet, the dog we got for him. It was so good to see the smile return to his face. But, he would laugh out loud when a squirrel appeared on the large #elm tree. Not even a favourite treat could distract Poppet away #vss365

LEGEND He sat pint in hand watching the dancing. She arrived with 3 sisters, the image of Rita Hayworth with her red hair and #crimson lipstick. He was besotted. Thinking he wouldn’t stand a chance, she said “yes” to a waltz. So began 61 years of Irish Gran and Grandpa #vss365

DEVOTION When Irish Gran and Grandpa got married, they took their vows seriously....except one. When they married in the 1940s, women would #promise to ‘love, honour and obey.’ It was no doubt Gran loved and honoured Grandpa, but it was Grandpa who was the one to obey. #vss365

REGAIN When Irish Gran died from Alzheimer’s, Grandpa was so distraught. He missed her laughter, her kindness and her caring. The house was far too quiet. He loved visits from the family but it was only when we gave him Poppet, that his #purpose and smiles were reborn. #vss365

TOGETHER Irish Gran and Grandpa were very alike. They loved routine and the comforts of home. Where they differed never became a problem. Gran was fascinated by the #spiritual side of life while Grandpa had more interest in the physical world. They say opposites attract #vss365

DAZED Grandpa told us about how he asked Irish Gran to marry him. It was at a Sunday lunch with her family when, just before they served the sherry trifle, he got down on one knee. He chuckled when he told us how in all #innocence she was shocked but whispered “yes.” #vss365

FATE When Irish Gran and Grandpa met at the tea dance in the 1940s, it was love at first sight. In his smart suit and tie, standing by the dance floor, Gran thought he was quite a dish. With her red hair and #taffeta frock, Grandpa thought exactly the same about Gran. #vss365

MARVEL We loved staying with Irish Gran and Grandpa. Gran always cooked us our favourite food and Grandpa often showed us something scientific. He once made a rainbow with a torch and #prism, and then Gran let us have her glass jewellery to make our own little rainbows #vss365

RELIEF Before Irish Gran married Grandpa in mid 1940s, she worked as a legal secretary in London. When she married Grandpa she stopped working to start life as a housewife. She never complained about her job, but when she left she did admit her boss was a bit of a #heel #vss365

I love the rain it’s petrichor fills my senses of #nostalgia from times long gone but still dear to me buttercups & ladybirds lollipops and ice creams wellies and puddles skipping ropes & hopscotch & playing knock knock ginger even in the rain #vss365 #📷 Pinterest

#NOSTALGIA Irish Gran and Grandpa never had a computer or used mobile phones. Their old tv set and books filled their quiet evenings. Looking back, we now appreciate they were the generation bridging the gap of a simpler life with that of ours so dependent on technology #vss365

HEAVEN Grandpa and Irish Gran met at a dance and danced throughout their lives together. Once they entered a ballroom dancing competition. Gran made her dress, sewing every bead, feather and sequin herself. They didn’t win but they loved every Fred and Ginger #moment. #vss365

LOVE Irish Gran and Grandpa always went to the same seaside town. They’d walk the beach, eat fish and chips and play bingo. On a clear night they would stare up at the #starscape together. Gran would smile as she declined Grandpa’s offer of naming the stars #vss365

#PROGENITOR We loved listening to Irish Gran telling us about her farm worker family from County Longford. We were fascinated by her hardworking gt gt gt grandmother, Brigid Reilly, who was left with 6 children and had to take in laundry when her husband died #vss365 #true(ish)

DEVOTED Grandpa didn’t grow up with a sibling so as an only child it was a bit of a shock to join Irish Gran’s family of sisters. They met up regularly and chatted for hours. When it got a bit much for Grandpa, he knew he could always escape to the quiet of his #shed. #vss365

PRIDE Grandpa told us how Irish Gran always looked after herself. She never ate too much, always dressed smartly and was very careful about looking after her #skin. He chuckled when he told us how he couldn’t help laugh when she slathered on a face mask once a week. #vss365

HEARTY One of Irish Gran’s favourite hymns was ‘Jesus wants me for a #sunbeam’. She loved its cheeriness. She often hummed the tune while cooking, but sang it out loud when sweeping the carpet. Grandpa knew it was time to work in the garden or disappear into the shed #vss365

CLOSING When Irish Gran was at the end of her illness, she was bed-ridden and unable to speak. Grandpa was always by her side and talked to her about their life together. He knew he was watching her life ebb away but the love in her eyes twinkled to that #final moment. #vss365

CONCERN For a long time after WW2, Irish Gran refused to use plastic for keeping food fresh. Bread was kept in the wooden bread bin, jam, honey or pickles were in glass jars, and meat or fish were wrapped in newspaper. For many years Gran worried plastic was #toxic #vss365

WHAT? We loved playing the alphabet game whenever we visited Irish Gran and Grandpa. Once when the subject was animals, we got stuck on ‘N’. We couldn’t think of anything. Suddenly Gran shouted #narwhal! Grandpa nodded knowingly and took out the encyclopaedia to show us #vss365

WINNER Grandpa was a longtime member of the local garden club. The only rivalry he and Irish Gran ever saw was during the annual vegetable competition. When Grandpa once grew the biggest #marrow, he had polite handshakes from other members and the biggest kiss from Gran. #vss365

WONDER Grandpa always made sure we knew about astronomy, and we’d often watch comets and observe the planets with him from the garden. But he always got over excited telling us about the near total #eclipse of the Sun in 1961. Irish Gran just carried on drinking her tea. #vss365

CAREFREE Irish Gran was meticulous about cleaning the house. There was never a speck of dust. Grandpa always took his garden boots off. There was never a #trace of mud. But, it was always a surprise the morning after a dinner party, dirty plates etc. remained unwashed #vss365

SLÁN When Irish Gran died, the funeral was a huge occasion. The church was packed, the flowers were beautiful and each #elegy really showed how much people loved her. Grandpa wept silently listening to every word with pride before quietly laying a red rose on her coffin #vss365

CONTENT Each Friday Irish Gran went to the local library. She loved a natter with others while she checked out the recipe books. Grandpa went too and loved the #vellichor as he sniffed the old astronomy books. Each Friday evening they read quietly while supping a cocoa #vss365

MOD CONS In the 1970’s Irish Gran was excited to get #brand new things for the house. Having a fridge, freezer, washing machine and telephone made life so much easier. But, the old-fashioned coffee grinder Grandpa bought for her in Delft was still her favourite. #vss365

SICKLY Irish Gran once told us how two of her sisters worked in a local sweet factory. She said it was wonderful to have lots of #free chocolate, but then told us why her sisters really hated it. She laughed when she said they had stuffed their faces a little too often. #vss365

ORGANISED Irish Gran and Grandpa liked to #plan things meticulously. Grandpa kept a garden diary so he knew exactly what was growing, Gran would make a menu each Sunday for the rest of the week’s dinners. It was only when we were much older did we appreciate their care #vss365

EAGER Each Easter, Irish Gran made up a treasure hunt. She wrote sets of clues leading from #place to place around the house and garden. The final clue led us to our chocolate eggs. Gran let us start eating them but watched to make sure we didn’t eat them all in one go. #vss365

RESPECT In the #end it took a few weeks for Mrs Joyless to accept afternoon tea with Irish Gran. Grandpa kept busy in his shed while Gran had a good chat. They shared life’s tragedies, and Gran later told Grandpa that she really wasn’t joyless just a very private person #vss365

ALMOST A few weeks later Irish Gran decided to invite Mrs Joyless over for afternoon tea; a quiet cuppa and homemade cake without her noisy sisters. This time Joy said she’d like to but not that day. Gran hoped this could be the #beginning of a neighbourly friendship #vss365

CLOSER? Irish Gran didn’t want the whole thing with Mrs Joyless to become a #nightmare. Grandpa cut back the apple tree and Gran made a pie with the apples. She popped round, this time Mrs Joyless just said “no thank you’. Gran thought that at least she’d made a start #vss365

HOPE Even though Mrs Joyless was very rude shutting the front door without saying a word, Irish Gran wouldn’t #dream of being so rude back. She told Grandpa that she was going to try again and was intrigued about why she was so grumpy. Grandpa just gave a knowing smile #vss365

TRYING Irish Gran was told by a neighbour that Mrs Joyless had complained about the #noise Gran’s sisters made when they visited. Gran waited awhile then went to see Mrs Joyless to invite her the next time the sisters arrived. Mrs Joyless declined as she shut the door #vss365

MEANY Irish Gran told us about a neighbour called #Joy. Grandpa said she was exactly the opposite: complaining about our ball in her garden, the apple tree bending over her fence, and Gran’s sisters making too much noise. Their secret name for her was ‘Mrs Joyless’ #vss365

SASSY Grandpa told us Irish Gran didn’t suffer fools gladly and saw through every charlatan like the great leading ladies of the old movies. He said how she had the looks of Rita Hayworth with the gumption of Barbara Stanwyck. He loved her no nonsense approach to #life.#vss365

My nostalgic stories about Irish Gran and Grandpa are based on real people and events, but something I will now never experience. They have been a way of tackling my #grief. Grandpa is based on my late husband who loved science, and, who loved his study as an escape from dinner parties 🤣 #vss365

BABBLE Grandpa told us how he was amazed when Irish Gran got together with her sisters. He said they laughed, talked and listened to each other all at the same #time. He couldn’t understand a word. He said it was like a private sisterly code and the noise was deafening. #vss365

WARMTH Grandpa loved telling us about Irish Gran’s kindness and how she wanted to look after everyone. He said they once had a local #ragpicker and Gran felt so angry when the neighbours kept their #distance. He told us, proudly, that she always gave him some breakfast. #vss365

FINALITY Whenever Irish Gran was ill, she would improve quickly and get on with her chores of looking after the house, Grandpa and us. She always seemed to have so much energy. But, when she had dementia, we knew she wasn’t going to #bounce back. Such a cruel disease #vss365

STITCH Irish Gran was keen on ‘make, do and mend’ as she couldn’t waste anything. If we had a torn shirt or a hole in a sock, out would come Gran’s needlework box with all its coloured #thread. She was able to mend anything, but we never let her touch our ripped jeans #vss365

HOLIDAY Whenever Irish Gran packed to go to their favourite spot by the sea each year, she always took too much, saying “just in case.” Grandpa, with a knowing smile, would put his small suitcase on the back seat of the car, before squeezing Gran’s #luggage into the boot #vss365