- Grandad’s Christmas Cake Board
My Grandad is the best. Always handy with a bag of sweets, the first to spot the ice-cream stall, a sucker for bright red icing at Christmas, especially if it came with a singing cake board! A competition with Grandma on every visit to see how much sugar each could get into us. But then, isn’t that what Grandparents are for?
Mummy frowns a lot at people who stuff us full of sugar, and you were no exception Grandad. I remember the day I first understood about Heaven; it was sad and Mummy cried – I was sad for her. I came to your leaving party, but you weren’t there. Me and the Bug picked flowers from your garden and carried them in the church; it felt special. That garden isn’t so colourful now, and it’s not just the flowers that are missing.
But you know what Grandad? You shouldn’t be sad. We know where you are, and we know you’re having a fine time there growing flowers and eating too much chocolate. And you needn’t be worried about us ‘cos you know Granny? Well she’s taken over the sweet mission now. And when she slips the packets into our pockets we always say how she is on secret orders from you to spoil us behind Mummy’s back.
We still have that cake board by the way; it comes out every Christmas, but it is missing the lurid Father Christmas cake. The board still wishes us a Merry Christmas, but it is not so jolly now. Mummy rolls her eyes at the memory of scarlet E-numbers, the attitude she gave you about it. And I pretend not to notice her welling up, because I know she is wishing the same as me: how much junk she would happily allow us to consume in return for the chance of receiving another such ill-advised gift.
What a lovely post! I haven’t had to go to any leaving parties without the protagonist yet, but I love your outlook, Actually Mummy. I’m sure your Grandad would be very proud.
Sorry CB I only just found you. You were in my spam.
Beautiful post, made me cry…. Nat
Wow….. You’ve made me cry. Beautifully written. x
Brought a lump to my throat. Beautifully written.
Poignant and very meaningful for all who have lost a parent
What a lovely post, brought a tear to the eye….
Beautiful post, the flower garden not being the same any more particularly stuck with me
And it really isn’t – my mum is not a gardener so it just looks very bare – I never realised how much he did, it was his passion.
What a beautiful post. So well written. x
Thanks Katie, I had no idea it was going to appeal to so many people. Might have to re-read it!
Thank you ladies. I had no idea I would make such a statement. So many of the gallery posts are poignant and elegant this week. 🙂
Actually crying my eyes out. A really beautiful post, stunningly simple yet not sad at all.
Thank you so much, loved yours too. The kids were very matter of fact about it at the time, and we talk about him up there partying without any sadness. I think kids’ attitudes to death are really interesting.