Grandpa looking quite dapper
I was reading Miffy (she is very much in favour at the moment) to the babe who is getting pretty useful at ‘helping’ to turn the pages – not necessarily at the right time and in the right order, but enthusiastically. Anyway, it reminded me of happy times and I thought I would join Ella and others in the Friday Club at Notes from Home. This week’s theme is a favourite childhood memory.
Our Grandpa, my mother’s father, used to live with us when we were very little. He had a sitting room next door to my bedroom which was a great comfort to me as a little one after lights out. I was pretty much afraid of everything: monsters, burglers, vampires, Frankenstein’s monster, Jaws from Moonraker (remember him?) – anything that was likely to creep up the stairs or out of the wardrobe to get me in the night. I felt much safer in my bed on nights when Grandpa was in and watching his telly (black and white with a dial to change the channel and a very poor picture) in the room next door to mine. When he wasn’t home he was out at his book binding class (he was very handy my Grandpa) or visiting his sisters.
A very tidy little mouse
Before bed Grandpa would read us a story. Me on one knee and my big sister on the other. We would choose from Miss Moppet, Tom Kitten, The Flopsy Bunnies, Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Squirrel Nutkin and my favourite, Mrs Tittlemouse. We were Beatrix Potter fans. At the end of every page he would say P.T.O. and my sister and I would take it in turns to turn the page.
Now I think about it I can remember his hands and that he smelt of tobacco, in a good way. He always wore a tie and used to hum a little tune as he pottered around the garden and in his potting shed. My little brother would follow him around like a shadow asking him endless questions, as he fixed the mower or mended the bird table.
Mrs Tittlemouse has recently found her way back to me via my nephew. He returned the book to me because it has my name in in the front and because I am a mummy now.
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Follow the links below to read the other entries in this week’s Friday Club carnival:
My Friend Next Door from QWERTY Mum.
My Mum was the best storyteller from Baby Budgeting.
A Favourite Childhood Memory from Patch of Puddles.
Domino Trails from Mummy From The Heart.
Freedom from Live Otherwise.
A Favourite Childhood Memory from The Gingerbread House.
Birthday Memories from The Diary of a Frugal Family.
Not Tonight Josephine from Cheeky Wipes.
Freedom from Little Legends.
A Favourite Childhood Memory from Who Teaches Whom.
Holidays from Seasider In The City.
Making Paper Boats from Red Ted Art.
Remembering a Fishpond from Mymumdom.
Canada from South of the River Mum.
Goodbyes from Notes From Home.
