Memories of Grandma Queenie

from Hettie

I remember sitting in the garden at 43 Leasway on hot sunny August afternoons shelling peas, trying to sit on Grandma's sun loungers without toppling off or being distracted into making daisy chains. To me Grandma has been a very special, unique person. She is connected with many pleasures in my life, being taught to crochet, knit and make Demerara sugar sandwiches. She tried in vain to teach me about growing vegetables and learning the names of flowers in the garden, (I do know how to prune roses though). I used to love playing with her button collection and I would often wander round to her for some peace and attention away from our noisy home. I stayed over many times and used to love looking at the old school photos of Ted and Peter lining the walls of their bedrooms and joining in Grandma's interesting rituals. I enjoyed listening to Grandma's stories about her millinery days in gay Paris and later on I found her thirst for learning and teaching (at the University of the Third Age) inspirational. I have always admired her dignity and her wish to always be happy and content with whatever life throws at her. I finish with a fond memory, many of us have, of when (my cousin Pamela) lost her wig on Grandma's washing line).