The Farmer & His Wife
Are grannies very different these days, John Taylor wonders.
ANNE and I have five grandchildren who range in age from sixteen to twenty-six. They all think the world of my dear Anne and telephone her regularly.
This is because they know they can trust their gran to keep their secrets. She doesn’t even tell me what’s been confided since, as she says, “You can’t be trusted to keep your mouth shut, John.”
She’s probably right – Anne knows I can’t resist pulling their legs when it comes to matters of the heart!
Three of them came to her when their love affairs weren’t going smoothly.
“Gran, what should I do?” was the anguished cry each time.
They’re very lucky – my Anne always has a wealth of sound advice to put them right. I’ve sometimes thought she would do well writing an Agony Aunt column in some magazine.
Yes, my grandchildren are lucky. I had a Victorian granny, and I would never have dared discuss the subjects they do with their gran.
I loved my granny, mind. The dear soul, all dressed up in black to no more than one inch off the floor. She was absolutely straight, honest, owed no-one a penny and went to church twice on Sunday. But there was no easy chat between me and her as there is between our five and Anne.
Are grannies made very different these days? Do they all find it easier to discuss life and its problems with the younger generation?
All I know is, I had no-one to discuss girl problems with until I met Anne!
As I write these notes for you, our eldest grandson is taking his girlfriend to Cornwall; number two has caught a train to Prague, while number three is roguing tatties in Perthshire.
Our granddaughter has left for Madrid – she’s taking Spanish and French at St Andrews University this year – and number five is at school.
Anne and I have often wondered what number five is going to do for a living. When he was very young, he informed Anne that he intended to go into antiques.
Anne wasn’t sure of that career choice, but I suspect he’s gone off that idea.
Oh, well, wherever they end up, thanks to the genius who invented the telephone they can always keep in touch with their dear gran.