There’s nothing quite so lovely as visiting your gran is there ?

[naericht]

I’ve been ‘stuck’ at my gran’s for three days due to ongoing building works at my mum’s (I’m living with my mum just now due to ongoing health issues on both sides) . I’ve never visited my gran much as she only lives half a mile away, we never stayed more than a few hours if that !

My gran is 80ish , her house is like a wee (complete with pine ceilings, anaglypta walls and woodchip everywhere) . She’s got endless piles and piles of photos, letters, cards etc that she’s never chucked out . Lots of boxes and cupboards that are full of interesting wee things... when I was a child I always wanted to ask what was in the boxes but was never allowed . One in particular looked like a treasure chest to us as children (wooden box with boats on it) .

Finally satisfied my curiosity yesterday when my gran let me have a nosy in that box ... it’s her mother in law’s jewellery box ... packed with very old stuff eg cameo jewellery ...

She has about 30 different photo albums and 3 huge cardboard boxes full as well of photos dating back to the late 19th c ... all my great grandparents things that have been hung onto - eg wedding invitations, random bits of clothes, button jars etc . All her dads fishing bits - even all the wee feather flies that they used for fly fishing .

It’s making me miss my other grandparents on my dad’s side ... Papa passed away years ago, grandma took Alzheimer’s about fifteen years ago . Whilst I remember visiting them what I remember is very vague, I’d give anything to be able to sit down with them and have a blether . I don’t know much about them at all sadly . They had a mansion house for some reason (or half of it) and my uncles told me that when they cleared it the attic took longer than the house to pack . What I’d give to have been able to have a nosy in there !

Just feeling very nostalgic all of a sudden and wondering if anyone else has lovely memories of their grandparents ...

All my grandparents died when I was a child, I've never had an adult relationship with any of them. How I wish I had, I'd love to hear their stories. What lovely memories for you to discover

My nanny died in 1989, my grandad in 2000 and his second wife in 2001. I miss them all so much.

However my paternal grandparents are not so nice.

I hated my grandmother and was delighted when she died. Not all grandparents are equal.

Mine are all long gone - my paternal grandparents in my teens, my maternal grandparents in my early 20's. I never knew any of my great grandparents, they were all dead 20 years or more before my birth

Sorry, pressed post too soon! But having been doing family history stuff with ds this week, get your gran to tell you about the photos and who is in them and write in pencil on the back. Its heartbreaking to have boxes and boxes of photos where you can't work out who is in them

I never really had grandparents, they were either dead before I was born or died when I was so young that I don't remember them.

I'm often envious of people who have had grandparents as I think it can be such a positive relationship. My own teenage daughter adores her grannies and as my mum has got 85 years worth of stuff squirreled away in boxes and cupboards, she also views granny's house as a treasure trove.

This is such a lovely thread OP.

It was when they were around.

I loved staying with my grandparents, and they obviously loved having me there. It saved my difficult childhood from being completely miserable.

Mine all died before I was born and I've always said I missed out massively.

I have no idea if this would actually be the case but as my parents are both lovely and both lovely grandparents, I can only assume their parents would have been.

Both my nieces and both my nephews (No kids of my own) absolutely adore staying at Nana and Grandad's house so will hopefully have equally as fond memories as you.

Oh all the old photos and jelly whip and the Agatha Christies

I miss my grandparents. They were such wonderful warm loving people. I would love to go round their house for fish and chips one more time.

I was very close to both sets of my grandparents all my life, paternal nanny used to look after me when I was tiny and parents were at work, many happy memories of baking with her and dressing up in her fancy ballgowns and dancing shoes, or sat looking through her jewellery boxes. Grandad would often put up his old canvas tent in the garden for me to have tea parties in with my stuffed toys! They are both gone now and I miss them very much

I spent much of my childhood wishing my maternal nanny was my mum, she was the only person who seemed to care that my "stepdad" was physically abusing me and told my uncle who punched him. I wasn't allowed to see her for quite a long time after that but mum did eventually make up with her. She is still alive but has sadly just had to go into a nursing home, my Grampa is in bits without her and they live 80 miles away so regular visits are difficult :-(

It’s nearly 30 years since my maternal grandmother died, I still miss her.

Sorry OP meant to say, yes you’re right it is lovely. It’s also why no matter how much either my own mum or my in-laws annoy me I go out of my way to make sure they have a strong relationship with my children.

I was very close to my gran and we visited her most days as she lives so close to our home. So many memories, all of which make me smile
*She had a "magic blanket" and when we were off school and would be shipped there for the day, Gran would make you up a wee bed on the sofa, complete with "magic blanket" and warm Ribena
*"Head up, Chest Out, Lipstick on"
When we had sleepovers when small we would all sleep in grans bed (Gran, sister, myself and her 3 little dogs). At some point my sister & I would nod off and gran would move into the other room to get some bloody sleep. We would wake up at some point in the evening and wander through to the other room and squash in beside her in there. She must have been demented but never once told us to go away
When you left her house you had to wave all the way down the road until you turned the corner and couldn't see her window any more. If you only waved once or twice, you would get a scathing phone call at the other end. Since my grand died and my Dad move into her house, he only waves once and sits back down and it always makes me sad that we no longer do 6 minutes of waving

Despite being so close and spending so much time together I have regrets such as I never got her raspberry jam recipe, I never asked enough questions about her own parents, I didn't appreciate just how wonderful she was. I miss her dearly.

Relatively recent that I lost my grandparents.
They were like a mum and dad to me and I classed their house as my home.
Such fond memories growing up there.
So homely and full of love.
The house was a treasure trove of memories and little trinkets that all had a story behind them.
It was the heart of the family.

You're absolutely right.

I could spend forever on my Nanna's couch being fed tea and biscuits, Pringles and sometimes the fish and chips I can't stop her from going out to get!! (She's a feeder!)

I just love being around her. She's just perfect and nearing 90 I don't think she's going to slow down anytime soon.

I don't have any memories of my grandparents, my paternal gps died before I was born and my maternal gps died when I was a toddler. Also my mum had quite a dysfunctional relationship with her parents so not many pics to remember them by either. Hopefully my kids will have good memories although my DM died when DS was 1.

Dgm died 20 years ago this year.
Spent every Xmas with her from 24th til 2nd Jan!!
Every week end and in the holidays!! My older dc knew her. My younger ones have truly missed out. She adored them.
We even all ate her mince pies even though we hated dried fruit so we didn't hurt her feelings!!
Merry Christmas to all the dgms of Christmas past!!

I am very happy to hear that you are not telling her to "thin her crap out" as I've read on here with regards to elderly peoples grown history reflected in their homes.
Make sure to note down who is on those photos and who are the people in the letters, ask while there is still time.
I was too young - I have a lovely group photograph taken about 1904 and noone left to tell me who is on them.
Enjoy your DGM and her treasures while you still can.

Never knew my maternal grandparents but I am super lucky to have my paternal grandparents still (I’m 30).

I have thousands of memories but I really really love watching them with their great grandchildren!

My grandma is an absolute bitch! My grandad however, is an angel!

One of my nans was scatty as anything, but made the absolutely, hands down, best shepherds pie in the world. She died about 20 years ago.

Her husband died when I was a tot. He was big man who favoured my sister.

My maternal grandad was my hero. He was clever, funny, sang lots, took us on holiday, would give his life for his family. I miss him every day.

My maternal nan was the most gorgeous, sweet, caring, generous woman. She taught me to knit and bake. She cuddled me, stroked my hair. I was safe when I was with her.

She developed dementia and had many years of suffering. I visited her lots, held her hand. But my lasting memories are of her in her lovely prime.

My grandparents are long gone, but I've been adopted by a 90 yo that I used to work with and her house is the best place ever. I love visiting her, she amazing.

Mine are all gone. My mums side I never even met. Sadly my dear old Grandma died last year and even though she lived the other side of the country it still makes me sad that we won't get to turn up and get fussed over anymore. She couldn't eat cakes etc but there were always battenbergs and a hot pot of tea whenever we arrived and I'll always remember in my birthday card on my 16th birthday she wrote "Behave yourself!" I miss her terribly.