Sunshine and Showers

I’ve had a rotten couple of weeks – bad news at work and the start of a cold was topped by the passing of my nan early last week.

There are, of course, plenty of brilliant memories of times with her to carry with me – and for that I’m forever grateful. As part of a tribute thing for her, I wrote a poem, chronicling some of my favourite thoughts. It was thankfully a lot easier to write it than write down what Luke had to say – he has been very sweet and thoughtful about it. But here are my thoughts.

Thanksgiving
(For nan)

All this time
I have been grateful for these.

The habits that became traditions:
“The Archers” each weekday,
the often-to-hand glass of sherry.
The forced second-helpings
of charlotte russe or sherry trifle,
the wake-up cups of tea
and watching you in horror drench your
krispies with orange juice.
From lifeboat mornings to Christmas drinks
you never sat still, always moving.

Day trips to south coast paradises
with spinning restaurants
and Martello Towers to explore,
that were always defined
by how many polos we could beg
(and who could gather more)
and the novelty of watching you
wading in the ice-cold pebbly sea.

And there was maybe nothing special
in the day you explained
the fineries of bowls in Wadebridge,
while we watched others play.
I didn’t take very much in then,
seeing rolls find the ditch
- you said it was a clever tactic.
But the memories stuck fast in me.

And all this time,
I have been grateful for these.

There’s some exciting and fun news coming in a day or two, so I’ll post again then.

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