Safety Lights Are For Dudes

Today would have been my nan's 98th birthday. I was reminded of this by Google calendar - I am RUBBISH at remembering birthdays and anniversaries and things, so all the important ones have been saved in some sort of calendar software since the nineties; somehow, although it's several years since Nan died, I can never bear to take her birthday off.

My nan shares her name with a world champion hang glider pilot, apparently. I expect shed find that highly amusing. She was a pretty amazing lady herself, mind, and had a lot of influence on me. She was a formidable intelligence, always reading and debating and learning; she was a pretty talented painter, and I have a couple of her oils (one is a fabulous portrait of my dad); she was also also an awesome cook and keen gardener.

She was a pretty major influence on my politics - although she never told me who she voted for she gave me lots of political books and ideas through the years - including the idea that no book in her house was off-limits (an idea my mum and dad carried forward too - although I suspect some books were placed on very high shelves for a reason ;)).

I guess this blog post is just to say: I miss you. And I wish Holly could have known you better, because you and she would have caused SO MUCH mischief together. And I hope you'd be proud of me, as I am proud to be descended from you.

My brother, who is definitely not fifty today because that's a frankly terrifying prospect, is doing a marathon to raise money for SSAFA. SSAFA are a charity you may not have heard of, but they are a cause that's very close to my brother's heart. They helped him out a LOT at a time when he really needed it, and now he's in a position to help them, so he is doing.

If you've got a bit of spare brass, and fancy chucking it his way, his just giving page is here. Think of it as a birthday present to him for having to put up with an annoying little sister like me, if you like ;)

Today would have been my nan's birthday, had she not passed away last year. My nan was an awesome woman, a brilliant intellect, a fabulous mother and grandmother, an amazing cook, and an inspiration to the entire family.

She would have been so proud of how Holly is turning out.

Miss you nan.

♥

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My March sponsor is Mark Reckons.