Yes its Thanksgiving, the kids are off school, Geraint is home but today I wish I was home. My Auntie Barbara’s funeral was today (its already over as the UK is 8 hours behind us) and I wanted to be there with my sisters, mother, cousin Anthony who has lost his mum and my other cousins. She was 90, lived through the 2nd World War in north London, lost her first husband in the war but remained resilient through all that came her way.
I shared some memories of her with my boys because she was their great aunt – her invitations to join her when she went on holiday to Bournmouth and I lived nearby in the New Forest. We had some delicious meals together in the hotel, she gave me advice about how to order the wine and request the bottle be kept for her the following day! I heard how one had to have a strategy to get the best positioned sun lounger by the pool (getting up at the crack of dawn, “popping” down to the pool and putting your towel on the best lounger before a shower or breakfast)! When I arrived after work it was bliss to go for a swim together, then dry off on a lounger next to her and while someone kindly brought us afternoon tea! She spoke lovingly of my grandmother, her mother, and bits about her father who died long before I was born. As the eldest with three younger brother’s she learnt to hold her own, ruled with a rod of iron and could tell you great little stories about Dad!
For a long time she lived in a flat in central London, in “her village” of Marylebone. The red brick block of flats had a lovely old fashioned lift to each floor (something like the one in The King’s Speech) which was always an adventure to use. She had a cleaner called Mrs. Brown and it was a constant battle between the two of them – there was always a report whenever I visited. Yet when the lady passed away it was a sad day. I remember we went for a walk one day and Barbara showed me where Sherlock Holmes should have lived! The last time I saw her Will was only 18 months. We’d gone to London because I was pregnant and needed a scan to check all was well with the new baby (it was). Geraint, Will and I were staying with my sister Sarah, together we all went to the hospital and then on to meet Barbara for lunch. It was quite an event with two toddlers, but it was a lovely sunny day and she was thrilled to see us all. And that is how I shall remember her, vibrant, full of energy, laughing with her great niece and nephew and enjoying her one luxury – a cigarette, a short one for most of the time but a long one for after meals! Bless her.
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