Friday 9 August 2013

Feature Friday: My Gran is a Hell of a Woman

Welcome to my third Feature Friday.

Charlotte, who blogs at the Distressed Housewife, has written today's guest post and I'm really pleased she agreed to do so. I first got to know her through twitter, as she had a knack for appearing with words of wisdom and comfort whenever I was in a bad place, and from there, I discovered her blog and realised she has a way of writing, full of honesty and humour, that I can really connect with.

I think Charlotte's post, like Jodie's (Happy Birthday Mum), reinforces that being an inspiration isn't reserved for those who have big dreams, grand adventures and lots of money. You can inspire someone simply by spending time together, doing "simple" "everyday" things and building memories. I really think that's an important message for us all to remember.

Now over to Charlotte ...


My Gran Is a Hell of a Woman   

My ninety-one year old Gran is a hell of a woman and I love her to bits. When I was
Younger, she taught me how to bake and delicious smells always wafted from her kitchen.  
Gran's was the place to go for amazing home-cooked food, the spinning armchair and a  
Roaring fire...whatever the time of year. When we stayed overnight, my brother, cousin and I  
All slept in the same room as my Gran and Grandad, my cousin and I top-to-toeing in our cosy camp-bed.
Never one to complain, my Gran would work tirelessly, cooking and cleaning the house until  
It was spotless. She saved me word searches from the newspaper and came to every 
Sports Day, cheering us on from the side-lines. I could chat to Gran about anything and she was,  
And still is, brutally honest but very fair. I used to go down town with her every week and  
Help her with her shopping; she introduced me to all her friends as her 'little helper' and  
Everyone knew and liked her. We would walk round shops and markets, my Gran willing her arthritic  
Legs to go faster but always staying cheerful and positive. They took the three of us on holiday to  
Little family-run B&Bs in Blackpool and Morecambe and we'd walk along the promenade or take a ride  
On a tram, always with a tasty treat in our hands. My Gran and Grandad took us on picnics,  
For paddles in the river, for country walks. We've sat playing Dominoes, she taught me how to knit, she was
Always there for me. I've sat crying with laughter with my Gran, like the time she patched my uncle's old jeans...  
With a patch accidentally cut from his new ones. My Gran has a wicked sense of humour and a surprisingly
Open mind for someone of her generation. My Dad tells the tale of when she used to work in a  
Munitions factory and resigned when they started making parts for guns because it went against her principles. She's  
A hell of a woman, my Gran. She's weaker now; she's lost her lust for life and wants to die. When she does, I know I'll  
Never forget her. My husband says I'm like her. I hope so. If I'm even half the woman she is, I'll count myself lucky. 
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It's a cliché but being a mum is the best thing I ever did and my greatest achievement.  My children make me laugh, drive me to distraction and melt my heart into a puddle of goo every day.

Charlotte, aka the Distressed Housewife, is an ex-English teacher, freelance writer, blogger, wife, mum of three boys (8, 4 and 2), lover of exercise, wine, films, reading and music (not necessarily in that order). She has a sarcastic, quite wicked sense of humour which is (hopefully) conveyed through her blog.  She loves to laugh and socialise, walk the dog (preferably on her own) and go out for lovely meals (preferably without the children) ;)

To find out more about Charlotte, you can:

2 comments:

Unknown said...

It's so lovely the way you've done this; it's been an honour to do a guest post on your lovely blog. When I think of a theme I'll be pestering you for a guest post on mine if that's OK? You have been warned ;) Thank you hun xx

Unknown said...

It's so lovely the way you've done this; it's been an honour to do a guest post on your lovely blog. When I think of a theme I'll be pestering you for a guest post on mine if that's OK? You have been warned ;) Thank you hun xx

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