It has been a very long time since I last blogged. Deep apologies to those of you who hang on my very words… some of you have been hanging a bit too long. Fond fondnesses to you all.

Anyhoo… here I am, alive and kicking.
Well, certainly alive anyway. Not sure “kicking” is quite the right word for what else I am doing. But you get the general principle.

The main reason for me not writing is the massive change in my life that the recent death of my beloved Grandma has brought about. She left the earth “in great peace” (as the Wesleyan Methodists are wont to declare) on Friday 8th February.

A number of days later I am realising again what she meant to me and wondering how, at the age of 40 I have become the oldest female in my family.

I have taken this very much to heart and started being rude to strangers, wearing greatly clashing colours and keeping a large tupperware recepticle of sweets about my person at all times.

But, not wanting to be TOO old before my time, I haven’t yet taken to recording Songs of Praise, eating prunes or anything too frightening.

My dear Gran! There is so much I can pay tribute to about her. She was such a huge part of my faith story and my character building. I look at myself and see so many similarities. We both called a spade a spade. Well, why would you not? It’s not a fork is it now?

We both have a great love of what we like to call “Hoards of people in the house.” By hordes we mean more than 10… probably.

We both have a huge passion for the Bible. Gran was a staunch member of the Gideons and spent many years going to meetings and collecting endless tubes of money to buy Bibles. She, and others like her are the reason that as well as a hairdryer and a handy button and thread set in your hotel drawer, you are likely to find a Bible too.

Gran and I both enjoyed mirth. She loved laughter. She was hilariously funny. So much so that her friends, at times, begged her to stop talking to let them get a breath. I aspire to that kind of fun-making too.

Gran loved to bake, but she was never incredibly careful. Her creations were tasty, if sometimes haphazard and defiant in their general gradient. My confections too have a slight tendency to lean a little lopsidedly in a gentle sloping manner.

Grandma loved going to church and was a big pray-er and prayer meeting attendee. Snap there too. I love a good prayer meeting. Its better in my mind than The WEST WING. (And those of you who know me, know how much that means.)

Gran loved tidiness and cleanliness. Now we have had words on this score before and you know I try hard in both areas. There were times when both Gran and Mum despaired of me and my “slovenly ways.” They would now be proud that at least some parts of my house are swept and clean, thought still not all. Give me time my friends. That, and less children under 8.

Gran was a great talker. One of the guys who did a tribute at her funeral described her as the only woman he had ever met who when he rang her was already having a conversation! She answered already chatting. She was a constant noise maker. Of course I am very far from this. Ahem. But I do love to chat. As you know.

Gran loved good furniture and good jewellery but she was quite content to wear second hand clothes, shoddy shoes and tired looking gentlemen’s macs. SNAPEROONY. She always looked great though… if slightly dressed by committee. Again….
Her house brimmed with antiques and fabulous china and silver… but she would insist of the wearing of dreadful boating shoes that acted as slippers and outdoor shoes in one.

Gran took us on Christian holidays every year of our lives where we were surrounded by those who loved Jesus and were pretty amazing too. These people formed the soundtrack and wallpaper of our lives and became adopted family. Indeed they are all we now have of that generation.

One particular summer when I was 15 or 16 Gran took me to Keswick. I went because there was a very attractive man in the brochure. But I came home knowing afresh that God had a plan for my life and that I wanted me to serve Him for ever.

I am SO grateful that Gran was that sort of person. She spent her hard-earned money NOT on dragging me to Disneyland (DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED) and filling my head with pink princess nonsense but on taking me to pretty places where precious people spoke credence, deliverance and destiny over me.

I have never been more thankful for that legacy.

I praise God for the wonderful family He has made me part of and for the hope He has called me to.

Thank You God for my Grandma who went before me. And thank you that however hard life got, she always had a stash of chocolate somewhere handy. Amen