Following on - What do / did your childs grandparents do for a living?

[vole3]

My dad was a blacksmith in the RAF, invalided out after losing a leg aged 21 in motorbike accident, bought a chicken farm with his pension which went bust in the 1930's depression, became senior telephonist, was in the Home Guard during WWII. Married and had 5 children but widowed in his 50's. My mum was one of the girls he worked with who helped out with the children and stayed on! They then had my 3 brothers and I came along 10 years after that. Dad would have been 100 this year - 2 months before ds was born. He looked like Arkwright from 'Open All Hours' but had the personality of Compo from 'Last of the Summer Wine'.

My mum was a senior telephonist, great step-mum and now spends her time jam making and crocheting. Used to be a great seamstress and still has the Dior New Look patterns she used to wear before she got married.

FIL was apprenticed as an engineer, had to take time out for National Service in Germany, went back to Hawker Sidley and worked on the Vulcan. Then became marine engineer fixing anything on supply boats for the oil industry from India to Gulf of Mexico, North Sea to Persian Gulf where he got to play with the US Navy Seals during the First Gulf War. Now tinkers and does what MIL says (or she thinks he does). Is the absolutely coolest guy I know and I really hope that ds grows up to be like him.

MIL is QA trained nurse who became senior surgical sister at the local DGH where she would let the surgeons borrow HER patients. Is a cross between Hyacinth Bucket and Hattie Jacques and is a great flyfisher and shot. Met FIL at Macclesfield Baths when he was hanging from the ceiling and she jumped from the diving board to grab on round his waist and missed leaving scratch marks all down his back before ripping off his trunks. Now retired, they do B&B at home. She goes off on holidays frequently - at least once every other month, and as he spent nearly 30 years working away for 2 months out of 3, he stays at home and gets his holiday that way.

What an interesting thread.

My Dad was born in the South Wales valleys and unlike his father and brother didn't wish to go down the coal mines. He did well at schall and at 14 moved to the south of England to take up an apprenticeship with an engineering firm. He did night school to gain further qualifications and apart from taking his two years out for National Service, remained with the same company until his retirement at 65 back in 2003. During this period he travelled extensively around the UK and the world doing seminars on burners and the such like and in the early days, serviced them.
He now spends his retirement pottering around the house, visiting his favourite shop (B&Q on a Wednesday to get his 10% discount) and helping my Mum to look after my 3 year old son when he's not at nursery.

My Mum is 6 years younger than my Dad and actually met him at the engineering firm where she also worked as a secretary. They married and I came along within the year. She went back briefly before she became a SAHM when my brother was born 4 years later. As we were growing up she took on part time work at the local preparatory school, and 'retired' at the end on the school year in 2004 to look after my DS when I went back to work.

I don't know what I would do without my M&D for all the support and assistance they have given me with DS.

My FIL was a radio engineer during WWII and although he met MIL during this time, they didn't get together until after the war. Then he went into merchant shipping, again being a radio engineer and was away from home more than he was there. However they did manage to have three sons, one of which is my DH. When he left P&O he did do some work for the BBC on such shows like the Goons and the Navy Lark. He is now 82 and happily retired.

My MIL was in the WRAF during WWII and after the war worked for Kodak until her marriage. With 18 months she had my BIL closely followed 18 months later by my other BIL despite her husband being away for months on end. My DH appeared 10 1/2 years later when she was 41. As her husband was away for long stretches, DH & MIL were fortunate to join him on board ship when DH was 8 and they travelled down to Australia and New Zealand and coming home via the Panama Canal.

They are both wonderful GP, however, I do draw the line when IMO they step accross the boundaries and try to undermine me with my DS in my own home, but I have stated how it is and we get on brilliantly.

And I am proud to say that on Christmas Day we are going to prudly announce that we are expecting No2 in July and present them with a picture of the scan (hopefully).

It will be my parents 2nd grandshild and PILs 6th! They already have one @ 28, 25, 18, 15 and 3. Roll on the next 8 months.