Ask yer Granny!

mardatha

O don't, that makes me so sad. Happened to my mum, she had 2 sisters emigrate to Canada when she was still at school and never saw them again.

RAS

I discovered a lost second cousin in Australia, they went out in 47. It was only in response to my letters that he tracked down his first cousins (two lots) who have gone down under in the 20's. His dad kinda knew they were there somewhere, but had no idea where! Mind you it was the brothers who went; some of the sisiter knew where they all were and there children who told me.

VJsmum

In the late 1950's my MIL got a £10 ticket to Australia. She was due to go on the Saturday and said to her then boyfriend that if he didn't marry her by Friday she was going on Saturday, and if that was the case would he take her to Southampton to get the boat!:rotfl:

She and FIL married on that Friday.

WeegieWumman

mardatha wrote: »

O don't, that makes me so sad. Happened to my mum, she had 2 sisters emigrate to Canada when she was still at school and never saw them again.

I never saw my sibling again either.
I have a relative whose coffin was being carried out her front door when the postman arrived to deliver the first letter in many years from her son in Australia.

meritaten wrote: »

Very True WW! and the excitement when a letter from America/Canada/Australia arrived! every member of the family would call round to read it and it was much read and exclaimed over!

I have loads of relatives whom I've never met. I too remember the great excitement when we saw the airmail envelopes. These letters were read more than once by everyone and were much discussed.

WeegieWumman

Emigration: On a lighter note. My friend answered the door and standing there, was her daughter, son-in-law and 4 year old grandson whom shed never met. They'd arrived for a surprise holiday from Australia.
The little grandson said, "Missus, when you stop hugging me, go and make me a big feed because I'm hungry."

meritaten

my mums best friend emigrated to Canada in the 1950s. Nancy's letters are read by all the family (and I believe she shares 'mums' letters with her children and grandkids). Nancy had married my dads best friend - so two reasons to keep in touch.
I feel like Nancy is one of the family, she has been such a faithful correspondent - with her husband who sadly died quite a few years ago. mum and Nancy write about every three months and if a letter doesnt arrive - we worry! they exchange Calendars every November! always views of where Nancy is living (she moved around Canada a lot - mum used to try to send different Calendars of views of Wales).
I would know Nancy's sons if I bumped into them! we have had so many photos of them! I bet they would know us too!
We have close relatives living in USA - but they dont get in touch so much - one of them is really keen on his Welsh roots and came to visit. it was great, dont get me wrong, but we didnt feel 'close' to him. Not like we do mums best friend - both her and Nancy wish they could afford a nice long visit. but both are getting on in years and seem almost afraid to travel and meet up!but both of them want to do it with extended family in tow!
I would love to win the lottery and arrange a reunion for all of us!

meritaten

I was thinking about my grancher today. lovely man - unlike everyone else in the family he wasnt a miner - but drove a wagon for the local abbatoir. he delivered to the butchers in the area. He took me with him a few times - and I found out where the sausages and chops we had for supper came from! discreetly handed to him after he had carried in a few - er corpses? I loved going with him - but hated the smell in his 'wagon'! Lmao - he was the slowest driver on the planet - Took him over an hour to drive to Cardiff (about 25 minutes normal drive, at the speed limit).
Granch was on a strict ciggy ration - 10 a day.........once I was old enough, he got me to go to the local sweet shop (directly opposite us) and coached me to say '5 Woodbines for Grancher and dont tell mam or nan please!). Before that he probably got his illicit fags by going over for 'treats' for me!
He must have been an unusual man - he deferred to nan in everything - he even used to turn round to her and say 'so, what do I think about that Phyl?' LMAO - he made fun out of everything! But at the same time my nan would say 'I'll have to ask Dave about that'! I think that they just used to discuss things out of earshot - probably when they went to bed - as nan once told me they talked about things for ten minutes or so before 'cwtching up' (cuddling) and going to sleep. and that was their way of putting off making decisions before deciding together!
Ive been thinking a lot about Nan and Grancher since this thread started - I feel them close to me, I never doubted their love for me, THEY were the ones who made me feel safe and secure and happy and loved. much more than my mum and dad did! I felt ....LOVED by them.

mardatha

All these memories make us better grandparents don't they?

meritaten

mardatha wrote: »

All these memories make us better grandparents don't they?

Yes, you are quite right Mardatha - I try to treat my own grandkids the way my grandparents loved me!
I do seem to mind my grandkids far more than my grandparents minded me..........even though we lived in the same house, my parents didnt seem to expect Nan and Granch to mind me as much as my kids expect me to mind their kids!
I have come to the conclusion there is a 'special' kind of love for grandkids and grandparents - and feel so sorry for those who didnt know that love.

candygirl

meritaten wrote: »

Yes, you are quite right Mardatha - I try to treat my own grandkids the way my grandparents loved me!
I do seem to mind my grandkids far more than my grandparents minded me..........even though we lived in the same house, my parents didnt seem to expect Nan and Granch to mind me as much as my kids expect me to mind their kids!

Tell me about it hun;)