My Granny was a remarkable woman, happily married for 50 years to an equally remarkable man, my Grandpa.

When I was pregnant, her name Isabel was top of the names list for a baby girl and as we have been blessed with two sons we proudly gave our small boy Grandpa’s name as his middle name.

My Granny lived without her soulmate for 12 years and lived to a grand old age of 87. The month before she died all of my family went to her beautiful bungalow, Avalon and the men of the family dressed up in Grandpa’s old hats and we made her laugh and smile, she even had the westies on her hospital bed so she could stroke them.

She truly was the matriarch of our family and her traditions, her sayings and her famous Christmas party piece lives on.

My grandparents were devoted to each other and epitomised the solemn vow til death do us part.

They were and still are an inspiration to me.

I was lucky enough to be given quite a collection of their possessions which I want to share with the world. Some may mean nothing at all but each one means everything to me. So I will post some lovely photographs of her beautiful things. She kept every card, every letter and that is where my sentimental hoarding comes from!

My strongest memory is whenever we left Avalon with its narrow path down to the front door past the garage Granny would walk out onto the driveway and curtsey to us as our car drove away.

Really, it should have been us curtseying to her.

Dear Granny – Fancy a Pussyfoot?!

Dear Granny – Your dansette

Dear Granny – Your Father’s suitcase

Dear Granny – Your Birthday Book

Dear Granny – Your Recipe Books

Dear Granny – My good luck pin

Dear Granny – Safari Christmas with your mismatched glasses and silverware and a toast to absent friends.