Actually, has bee a bit of an annus horribilis for us. My auntie died in May (the week before dd's wedding), then my cousin's wife just last month (she was only diagnosed with cancer in July) and now my nanna. She's 88 and it's just old age for her but it's still hard.
She was a really strong character my nanna, can make me giggle at some of the things she's said and done over the years, lol. She had a lot of heartache in her life too though. Her brother was killed on a bike when he was 14, then she lost her first babies, premature twin girls, Elizabeth and Mary. One lived a week and one a fortnight. Then my brother, her grandson, was kille on a bike when he was 10, and not long after that my grandad died too. She's been a widow for nearly 30 years. She was heavily involved in the community during the miners' strike in 1984/85, helping out with food for the families etc. She is well respected in our town and she will be missed.
She loved to come to dancing competitions with us when my girls danced, ad she used to jump on the bus on a Friday night to come and visit us 3 hours away when the girls were small. Ds1, Ross, is named after her (her maiden name). When he was born, my mum phoned to tell her he was named after her, and she said 'What, Elsie??'
A real character my nanna.
Hope you didn't mind my ramblings on here - I know it's a nappy thread, but I feel like I'm with friends here xx