Ask a 97 year old Mumsnet fan

[Pebbles16]

My 97 year old great aunt is a fan of Mumsnet and has asked me to post. Warning: she will likely be in bed by 9.30
Me: should we do this in the am?
GA: No, if people ask ?s overnight, it will give us something to do...

Hey ho
So, some background to my GA: she was born in Shanghai; was interned in WW2; lived in the Far East until 1970 when she was widowed. Moved to the UK and HAS NEVER adjusted to the weather; this summer is the only time she's mentioned "it's a bit warm".
She has learned multiple languages over the years.
Did not have children (likely as a result of the prison camp conditions).
Spent most of her life advocating for children affected by war.
Cheats at most board games.
Mocks my tolerance to chillies.

So, ask us anything!

Such an interesting thread @Pebbles16 thank you to you GA.

@Imdunfer
My new question may have been asked already, is there anything she hasn't done and can't now do that she regrets not having done?

"We have talked about all the obvious answers like bungee jumping and wing walking, you mad girl have done these and I have no desire.
"I would love to have done a back flip though, you know when gymnasts just make it look so easy. Or run fast, really fast. Being athletic wasn't really something we did."

OP: I haven't ever done a bungee jump - i like my retinas intact thank you. I have done a wing walk and a sky dive though. I would also like to do a back flip, sadly I think that may be beyond my aged bones' capability!

This. Great thread op. Loving it.

A wing walk, brilliant! I don't know how you even start to get to do one of those.

This is such an interesting thread. Thank you both of you!

Well when I get past the giddy eyes... I kid you not.
Mentioned upthread how they met.
They married at Chelsea Town Hall. Guests: my Great great grandmother, my grandmother (matron of honour), her husband and two eldest children; Ben's mother, his best friend (best man) and his wife. GA wore GM's suit because she didn't have enough coupons and envied this suit. There were four photos taken (bride and groom, wedding party, cutting of the cake and a confetti shot). The cake was half Victoria Sponge and half cardboard!
OP "What did you love about Ben?"
GA.... several minutes later... several minutes later with a beatific smile. "He was kind, he was brave, he was beautiful"
Now, as OP, I will add that he was very attractive and had the bluest eyes (like Cillian Murphy type blue)
And boiling down how she felt with him: "safe, special and brave".

Safe, special and brave is so lovely.

What is one book GA thinks everyone should read?

@Sharpkat Sorry times are tough for your mum. GA also loves a phrase from "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not yet the end.

Rebecca because it is "delicious"
1984 because it is "becoming our reality"
The Handmaid's Tale because "it is our reality, somewhere"

"Mathematics was never my strong suit"

OP edited for appalling spelling

Thank you GA 😀 I have Rebecca already on my TBR, and finished what I was reading earlier, so will start that when I go to bed in a minute!