Dear Granny,

IWANT to thank you for being my granny, now that I am a granny myself. I never thought I’d see the day, but it’s just wonderful to get this far. I think of you all the time and wonder how you managed at all as granddad was away a lot of the time as it was the 1914-1918 war.

He lost one eye as a result and when we would visit as children he used to have his glass eye in a glass of water on the mantelpiece. We were a bit scared of it looking at us.

I remember fondly the Sundays that my parents used to bring us to your house on the back of their bicycles. You would have the dinner ready for us. Bacon and cabbage.

We knew if we didn’t eat all our dinner there would be no desert. So we ate all the dinner, fat bits and all.

Then Uncle Tommy would go to the village on his bike for a block of ice cream and a bottle of Corcoran’s orange. The ice cream was divided between everyone and placed in mugs or cups whichever was available, then the orange was poured over it.

The bubbles would rise to the top, they used to tickle my nose but it was just heavenly and I would linger over mine for ages, slurping at it with a spoon. Ah those were the days, so happy. I was only 10 years old when you passed away. I will never forget the wonderful times I had all those years ago. Best for now until I see you again. Your devoted granddaughter, Kathleen

Kathleen Fleming, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow