When we found out that my Nan’s middle name was Agnes as kids we thought it was soooo funny. We used to call her ‘Ag the bag the silly old Hag’ and she would put her false teeth half out of her mouth and say in a silly voice ‘yeth that’th me!’
My Nan taught us to play cards when we’d stay over at their place. First it was snap, then Old Maid, then ‘Strip Jack Naked’ (which we thought was sooo rude!) and finally poker using one and two cent pieces. I don’t ever remember who won, but I remember the funny old sets of cards she had and how I liked the pictures on the back more than playing the game. That is probably why I can’t remember the rules of anything but Snap these days.
My Nan could cook. My Mum cooked the boring stuff but my Nan really cooked.. and baked. When my Mum started work when I was in about grade one, my Nan started the ‘care packages’ of baked goods. There was no way her grandchildren were going off to school without home cooked biscuits in their lunch box. Or coming home to supermarket food when she could bake us cakes! If my mother wanted to be a ‘modern woman’ and work that was fine but my Nan would make sure us kids still got the proper baked goods!
My Nan made pasties…. No one makes pasties like my Nan. My Mum and my Aunt try but they are not the same. I remember helping Nan and Pa mince the meat in the old hand mincer and I remember eating too much leftover pastry and feeling really unwell (read back a few months and you will learn I still haven’t learnt that lesson about raw pastry!)
I remember eating tinned spaghetti on toast one night while staying over and them spewing it all over my bed. I remember being upset cause my Nan had to change my favorite sheets with a freaky retro zebra and giraffe pattern on them. But then years later when I saw those exact same sheets again I realised they are just lines and geometric patterns and not giraffes and zebras at all… but back then I really thought they were.
I remember sitting in the car parked out front of the shops in Church street, waiting for my Mum to finish the last of the grocery shopping and asking My Nan to ‘tell me about those people’. She would start a running commentary, making up voices for the different people and the conversations they were having. It was always slightly rude or taboo things they were speaking about.. or so I thought way back then.
I remember one afternoon cracking it at my Mum and storming off to my room. She tried to coax me out and I screamed at her ‘I am not coming out, I only love my Nan’ and with that my Nan walked in the back door to rescue me from my mean mother. (and I wonder why Zoe starts with the ‘I want my Daddy’ when I won’t do exactly as she wants!?!)
I remember my nan used to make butter curls for any special occasion meal. I always wanted to poke them with my fingers but I never did.
I remember one night at dinner when I told my brother he was a ‘wanker’ and my Nan asked ‘what’s a wanker?’ looking puzzled. My mum quietly explained… and my Nan looked up and said ‘Oh yeah stop being a wanker!’
My Nan died this afternoon after a long time slowly loosing her mind and her body. Finally my pa came to pick her up and take her home.
Jodie says
{HUG} Aw Kate so sorry for your loss…she sounds like a wonderful lady and you are so lucky to have such treasured memories.
You are both in my thoughts and prayers.
Lee says
I am so very sorry Kate.
What a wonderful person she was and very lucky woman she had a wonderful granddaughter like you to remember her with such love.
Hugs.
fazzbech says
Oh Kate, my heart skipped when I read your last line – I’m so sorry for the loss of your amazing Nan. She sounded like a beautiful and funny lady, and I’m sure she will be missed terribly. I’m so glad she is with your Pa now and may she rest in peace.
You go and be with your family and you know I’m here if you need me.
DebF says
oh Kate, what wonderful rememberings! what a precious lady your Nan was. hugs.
cassi girl says
Oh Kate I am so sorry for your loss.
I know you don’t know me (I think I found your blog through Peta/Possum) but I read your blog all the time and I just had to pass on my condolences on the loss of such an amazing lady.
My thoughts are with you.
Sandi :)
Zebette says
You know Kate there I was giggling away at all the stories of your time with your Nan, DH on his PC thinking I had gone mad and I was reading out the whole wanker incident and we are sitting here peeing our pants laughing and then I read you last sentence and my heart just sank. I am so sorry for the loss of such an amazing woman, but am so happy she has your Pa to take her where she is going. Be proud to be her grand-duaghter and share all the stories with your girls so they will also know what a character she was.
Much love to you all at this difficult time.
Leah says
Really enjoyed reading your tales of your Nan – so sorry she has passed on *hugs* to you all
Lis says
So sorry for your loss. Love and hugs to your family.
Angela says
Oh Kate, I’m so sorry for your loss.. She sounds like such a wonderful lady, and I can now see where you get that fantastic sense of humour. You are a wonderful granddaughter to keep the memory of “Ag” alive in blogland :).
Penelope says
I’m so sorry for your loss Kate, but it’s so nice that you can remember her with such nice memories. What an amazing woman she must have been!
Karen says
Ohhh Kate :(
I was sitting here laughing away and thinking what a neat Nan you have, now I have tears in my eyes, I’m so very very sorry.
Jude says
Oh Kate that is some loss. I laughed and then I cried. What a wonderful Nan. and what an example to you to be the very best Nan too when your time comes because you know how important it is. She has inspired me.
loz says
Oh Kate your Nan sounds like an amazing woman, I am so so sorry for your loss but glad she has been reunited with your Pa.. Hugs hun and please ask if you need anything at all.
shezann says
What a beautiful story about your special Nan, I’m very sorry for your loss, those memories and special times you shared will be with your forever.
You’ve brought tears to my eyes, because I know exactly how you feel as I was lucky enough to have the same relationship with my Nana.
It broke my heart when I lost her, but I will always have the memories and so will you:), take care and thanks for sharing the wonderful life you enjoyed with your Nan, xxx
Sharon says
Kate, I am terrible at knowing the right thing to say in these situations..hugs to you for your loss, but what lovely memories you have of your nan, and what a wonderful lady you wrote so lovely about.
My nan passed away when I was 3 months pregnant with Adam, and I had such a close relationship with her all my life that I am still sad that she never got to meet him, but I know that she was old and frail and ready to go and no longer in pain or dependant on other people because she just hated it.
I am so very sorry for your loss at what must be a heartbreaking time for you. You are in my thoughts.
Sharon
xx
Kristie says
Awwwh Kate. Hugs and Love here. I just imagine your Pa reaching for your nan’s hand and walking off together…
thoughts are with you.
Shae says
How did I miss this!
Hugs Kate-so sorry for your loss. Your Nan sounds like one amazing lady who is much loved.
I’m here if you need anything.
Anonymous says
What a beautiful tribute to your Nan. You are a wonderful writer Kate.
Jill
anastasia_wolf says
Oh Kate what an amazing Nan she was! She lives on in your memories, I bet the girls will love hearing about her as they grow up. *cyber hugs* for you.
Katy says
Sorry for your loss Kate :(
They were such beautiful memories and she sounds like she was such a fabulous Nan to have. (((Huge hugs)))
HipbubbyMama says
(((hugs)))) That was so beautiful to read :)
Trace says
So nice to read your lovely memories of your nan. Your girls will love to read that in years to come. Thinking of you and your family – big hugs,
Trace xxx
Nic and Beren says
Im so sorry for your loss kate ((Hugs))
Kate says
*hugs* Kate what a wonderful lifetime of memories you have, your Nan sounds like a lot of fun!
Got a tear because it is sad for us to lose our loved ones, but happy for them to be free of the body that held them.
Peace to you and your family babe.
Lisarose says
*hugs* sorry for your loss. She sounded like an amazing woman an its great that you have such fond and happy memories :) It was such a beautiful entry to read. *hugs*
PS sorry im so late.. ive been slack with everything this week!
Mel says
Oh Kate, so sorry for the loss of your Nan. It was lovely to read some of your memories of her.
Lottiefla says
So sad. I cried. Silly me… I lost my grandmother last year…
I saw this poem on another blog… made me think of my Grandma too…
Though her smile
is gone forever,
And her hand I
cannot touch,
I still have so
many memories
Of the one I
loved so much.
Her memory I’ll
never part.
God has her in
his keeping,
I have her
in my heart.
You have wonderful, funny, and poignant memories… saved in your heart.
Bin Mitch's Mum says
(((((hugs))))) Kate. So sorry for your loss. She sounds like a wonderful woman. Take care xxx
Kris says
((hugs)) kate, was cracking up laughing until the last line. Its wonderful that you got to share these memories with her and I’m sure he love and attention has made you the great mum you are (and grandma you’ll become)
You are in our thoughts.