7 Comments
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Marian Beaman's avatar

Barbara was lovely all through the years. You are fortunate to have so many photos. Those eyes tell a story.

I smiled when I read "Chris said that Alf couldn’t live without Barbara’s lemon cake." If you're in love (or, like. or need), I suppose any excuse will do.

Jennifer Jones's avatar

You’ve put together a lovely story about your grandmother. Well done on getting so much information from the photos. She was very beautiful

Xanthe Hall's avatar

She was lovely-looking. But I fear she was a bit of a dragon. I’m trying to keep an open mind about her because I never met her. But she must have done or said something pretty bad to warrant my father not speaking to her for so many years. And the age difference between her and Alf bothers me a lot. He must have been a real charmer.

Jill Swenson's avatar

The photographs of your paternal grandmother show us the story of her life; including her estrangement from your father until late in life. For having so few memories relayed to you, the piece is a tender portrait.

Jane Chapman's avatar

Despite not knowing much about her, we actually learn quite a lot through the little you do know when combined with the pictures. I am sure there must have been more to Alf's return than the lemon cake but it makes for a good story!

Lisa Maguire's avatar

It’s extraordinary that their split really took 16 years (1960-1976) which really tells us about their ambivalence. And then after all that to get back together! More than lemon cake to that story but I did enjoy that detail.

Xanthe Hall's avatar

Yeah, the lemon cake story was typical Uncle Chris making light of what must have been a difficult relationship. Their acrimony led to the estrangement with my father who couldn't stand it, if my stepmother is to be believed. Everything I know is bits and pieces, second-hand, who knows what really went on.