Writing the books

My fingers had become busy at the keyboard, writing down my memory of the lovely day at New Brighton.I just wrote freely, as it came into my head. Then I let it stand for several days before reviewing it and editing to reduce word content to about 650 words. Sometimes this entailed reducing most of a sentence to just one word. I 'saved' each version in case I wanted to return to it, or in case I lost some meaning by such severe editing.

Going for Tea with Sophie was a natural follow on, also memories of crab fishing in New Brighton with Grandad and grandchildren.  My 80th birthday involved my entire family, so it would be fun to include that. It had been 60 years since I had last ridden a horse. Of course, once I started writing about ponies and horses, it brought back lovely memories of my own pony Robin and Joan's strawberry roan, Billy.  'Nanna Strawberry remembers..'. became the next focus of pony stories. I had next remembered our shetland pony Pip, bought for my children under quite embarrassing circumstances, but great fun, and ridden by all three children in turn. Come February 2016, I was vividly recalling the day HM The Queen had first become Queen, which I had recorded in my 1952 diary, so my own schooldays were added to the growing list of stories.

Into the New Year

After New Year's Eve, life went rather quiet while the midwinter of January 2016 took over. My mind was far from quiet.  I had been thinking for some weeks now that the title of 'Nanna Strawberry' positively called out for some stories about the children in my life at its various stages. Starting of course with the bestowing of my new name by Sophie. Something simple, not too long, anecdotal but well illustrated to appeal to youngsters.  Probably gifted by grandmothers who might like to add their own anecdotes into the reading of the tale.

Christmas

The next family occasion was Christmas 2015. I had seen my entire family on Christmas Day, starting with my son and family for breakfast, then driving to my elder daughter's home for Christmas Dinner with all her family and her sister and family too, so I was very happy to have met up with all my entire family on that lovely day.  Sophie had greeted me in her Christmas Fairy dress with wand,  and announced 'Nanna Strawberry' to everyone in ear shot.

Horses for courses

In 2015 family members began to ask me 'What are you doing for your birthday this year?'
My prepared response was 'I want to organise a horse mounted photo shoot.'   'Go for it Nan' was the supportive response for some grandchildren.  Until I told them I wanted it to include them! .'No way' was the universal reply until my youngest grandson, Will, said 'Count me in Nan' and after that others also decided to take part, though some still refrained for generally sensible reasons. In the end, my younger daughter, six grand-daughters and two grandsons agreed to participate in a horsemounted ride and group photo.. I reserved their steeds at Bold Riding School and added two spare for the non-riders  to stand by, holding reins. We first had a family roast dinner at The Unicorn. Several people wore teeshirts with great slogans. Emma's bore the happy statement 'In foal' which was the first indication she had given that Sophie was to have a new baby brother or sister. So she lead Sophie on her little pony. They made a cute pair. When Sophie saw me on my high horse she shouted 'Nanna Strawberry', remembering her special name for me.

Trip to the restaurant

Sophie's Daddy drove us to a nearby restaurant, but it was full. When he carried on to another one,
Sophie had mournfully waved to the first restaurant and said 'Goodbye Tea'. Poor little waif.
The next was a Chinese buffet, a novel experience for me. We settled at a table, then took turns to go for food at the buffet table.  When I was filling my plate with prawn crackers to eat with my chicken and sweetcorn soup, the sound of 'Nanna Strawberry' wafted across the restaurant from a giggling Sophie.

This occurred every time I returned to the buffet table which was laden with containers of hot tasty Chinesefood. Sophie was so proud she could say my name properly, instead of struggling to say Audrey !  We could eat as much as we wanted until full. I finished with icecream. Sophie's Daddy paid the bill and we left for home. Back at their house, he lifted a sleepy Sophie from the car and she said 'Goodbye Nanna Strawberry' in tones which implied 'game over, time to go' . She was ready for her bed !

Over coming months, there were numerous family get-togethers and Sophie always delighted in calling me 'Nanna Strawberry' whenever she saw me.  It sounded as if it was going to be her permanent name for me, which felt great.

The strawberry badge

Following my happy excursion to New Brighton with my first grandchild and my first great grandchild,  I still felt invigorated by the experience.. It occurred to me it would be fun to create a strawberry badge or emblem.  I assembled a piece of card, scissors, red and green felt tipped pens and a length of green embroidery silk.  The strawberry shaped card began to look quite good once I had dabbed red dots all over it, both sides, and coloured its stem and leaves green. The green silk tied around the stem quite easily and I knotted it into a loop to attach to a button. I had been invited to visit Sophie and Emma.  Sophie had shrieked 'NANNA STRAWBERRY' when she saw me standing at their front door and she bobbed up and down from her knees with sheer excitement. She then took my hand and led me into what can only be described as her play room, so full was it of colourful toys. After playing with some of them, I suggested we made a badge like the one looped over my button. Nessie, their golden retriever, came to watch. Sophie dabbed the red tip pen over the white card which soon began to resemble a large strawberry. More on the other side. I filled in the green stem. Then the ribbon was tied to the stem. Sophie proudly carried it to the kitchen to show her Daddy. We tied one to Nessie's collar. Emma then invited me to go out for tea with them.

New Brighton seaside in 2015

NEW BRIGHTON seaside in 2015

We had travelled to New Brighton using the bus which stopped opposite my house. It  took us close to the Town Hall, and we had walked from there to the Mersey Ferry office for tickets. Only Emma had had to pay, Sophie being two and I had a free bus pass. The sail on the brightly coloured ferry named 'Snowdrop' was fun, Sophie often giggling as she called out 'Nanna Strawberry' . The funfilled sound of 'Ferry Across the Mersey' completed our enjoyment.  From Seacombe we took a bus to New Brighton. Fish and chips at an outside table overlooking the lighthouse and fort, then a walk along the promenade to the beach near the fort. The beach was shiny wet and puddled from the seawater which was still ebbing away in the tide. It was wonderful to be there with my greatgrandchild Sophie and her Mummy. My new name  'Nanna Strawberry' still shouted by Sophie at intervals, usually with a chortle, which made Emma and I laugh too.  An hour or so later, we returned to Seacombe by bus and this time sailed back to Liverpool Pier Head aboard the 'Royal Iris'..Sophie was excited to see the Liver Birds on their rooftop. When back at my house, after hugs all round, Emma secured Sophie into her car seat and prepared to drive away. A childish voice called out
'GOODBYE NANNA STRAWBERRY'.   What a lovely name I had been given on that lovely day.