Grandma Ollie Greig, with sons George (left) and Keith (my Dad, right)
Last December we traveled out to Tottenham and Nymagee to spend Christmas with my family. You may remember this post where I told of the rain that flooded the river and we couldn't pass through it to go to my Mum's farm. Instead we drove back to Tottenham and spent a few nights at Grandma Greig's house. (my Dad's Mum)
Grandma Greig was living at Tottenham Hospital as her failing sight meant she was unable to care for herself at home. We spent some time with her over those few days drinking tea, talking about what was happening in our lives and what our kids had been up to. Grandma loved holding hands with Zoë and little Zoë loved it too. Grandma always held our hands, and held on just that bit longer as we were about to leave. We both knew that one day it was going to be the last time.
Last week Grandma Greig passed away peacefully in her sleep. She was 90 years old. I'm going to miss her so much. I traveled out to Tottenham for her funeral last week. My cousin Megan
and I read the Eulogy, which was quite difficult but I'm so glad I did
it.
Grandpop passed away in 2006, and now with Grandma gone too, a chapter has closed. I am so used to bounding into their house and hearing Grandpop's stories and sitting down to morning or afternoon tea with Grandma's home made cakes. I grew up eating Grandma's apple pie and ice cream, her lemon cheesecakes, their homegrown green grapes, and preserved peaches. And Grandma's baked potatoes. Oh, how I wish I could make them like her!
Grandma taught me how to knit and sew. She was a dressmaker and together we made a few of my formal dresses for end of school year fuctions. She also taught my Grandpop how to knit his own vests. I remember seeing them together on the lounge, watching TV, both knitting away. Grandpop would knit the back of the vest, Grandma would knit the front.
Grandma and Grandpop have an organ in their loungeroom and I used to play them lots of tunes. They often requested 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Old Oak Tree'. Apparently they used to dance together to this song when they were younger. I can still play this song, and I had actually been playing it on my piano on the day she died (I didn't know of her passing at this time though.) Just like I had been going through these photos of her and Granpop that day. It was a few hours later when I found out that she had died.
Grandma with my brother Darrell and me playing in the sandpit while Grandpop built their house.
One game Grandma used to play with me was 'Apple Peel Letters'. We'd peel an apple, trying to create a long peeling. Then we'd throw the peel over our heads behind us onto the kitchen floor. Then turn around and see what letter of the alphabet it looks like. Grandma used to say this was the first initial of the man you were going to marry. She'd always manage to make her peeling look like a G (Grandpop's name is Gordon). I have played this game with my own children over the past few years and mine 'always' looks like an S (for Stewart). The kids think it's funny.
Grandma always had a great night time ritual for us. She'd make us hot milk and honey or a hot milo, then draw pictures on our backs and we'd have to guess what the picture was. There are so many other wonderful memories of traveling with them, picnics in the paddocks at the farm, looking through old photos with them and hearing the stories. I'll miss them both, but I am so grateful for being able to share so many years of my life with them. They really were the best Grandparents anyone could wish for.
