Grandma is the same to all of us

Grandma

Grandma is a presence, an example, and an inspiration.

A sound, a smell. She fussed over, and cared and always showed interest.

Always asking questions and giving considered answers

Her house a sense of safety, a cluttered sanctuary, where one would always find or learn something new, that one could never have predicted.

Cooking smells coming from the kitchen. Lemon curd and Salmon, Quince and Bramleys, D'arcy spice and Peasgood non such.

Of green china and hooker design, clock chiming in the hall, the sound of feet walking on parquet flooring.

Of hand made clothes and silk stockings (usually around her ankles.) Of not being allowed to walk around bare foot on the carpets for fear of putting moths into them.

She wrote lists so that her mind did not have to be full of things that don't matter. There were no barriers in her life physically or mentally, everything was possible

She had an extraordinary hunger for knowledge, the ability to be discerning in all things. Equally she knew the time to make comment, and when to not. She had knowing eyes and a jaunty smile.

She added delicacy and refinement to life.

She oozed avant guard female independence. Was always ahead of her time. Held a job of great note in the twenties, working between Paris and Bond Street.

During the war she walked through a police barricade to rescue papers from Charles and Co, when buildings near by were burning.

She sowed in us an appreciation of art, and design, in structure and form and personal style. Taking us to the National portrait gallery, the Courtauld institute, the National gallery, to Carnaby Street and Cranks. And to Knightsbridge.

I used to worry that she in later years she would become confused, as I felt sure she would then speak constant French to all English carers. And we would have to transfer her to France!

She is in us all, we are all a product of her, because she is everything a grandmother should be. She is our institution. A privilege to know, an even greater privilege to have as a grandmother. Our own queen mother, our own Queenie.

Bon nuit Grand mere, J'espere tu dors bien

Linda Charles