Things you remember about your own grandparents.

My maternal grandparents died before I was born, so sadly I never knew them. My paternal grandfather was wonderful, he was a railway signalman and I can remember him in his box with all the levers he had to pull, and a little armchair in the corner. He also had to open and close the level crossing gates. On his days off he used to take me for a walk, and we chatted all the way. He had a strong resemblance to Churchill and was born and died in the same years as him. I adored him and memories if him are very vivid. Lovely man, very patient.

I only had contact with one grandparent, my maternal grandmother. Both my grandfathers had walked out on my respective grandmothers and they and my paternal grandmother were all dead before I was more than a toddler.

My Gran was lovely but very strict (having to raise 9 children as a single parent was no easy job!). My Mum was very ill after I was born and again after my younger brother was born and Gran came to stay with us for almost 2 years each time until Mum was well enough to cope.

I most remember things about her such as her never going out without her hat on (she had a hatpin and used to plonk her hat on her head then jab the hatpin through her bun to secure it, we were always fascinated how she managed not to stab herself!) and the way she and our Gt Aunt Bessie used to wait for the evening paper and turn to the Deaths notices first going 'Ooh - so and so is dead then'

One of my grandfathers died when I was two, he was 82. My maternal grandfather never spoke to me, I only know what his voice sounded like by his talking to the budgie. Grandfather taught the budgie to say "B***, B* the plumber man, couldn't mend a frying pan " the B* being my father.

We lived with my Nan until I was six, and I shared a bed with her. I loved it, and felt so safe. I remember her unlacing a pink corset before she got into bed. She was the person I loved the most.
She had 8 children, 2 died in childhood. My Mum was her youngest and Nan was a widow by the time she was born. She worked as a cleaner in the local pub, to bring in some money.

It was my grandmother's sister that I remember fondly. She used to look after me every Monday evening and it was 'craft night'. She taught me how to make baskets, sew etc. and we used to have a lovely time.

My one grandfather could stroke away my headaches.,

I remember my paternal grandfather saving his empty beer bottles so I could take them back to the offey to get the money for them

I have a vivid memory of my grandma lancing a boil on my bottom and plastering it in Lion Ointment - ouch! I must have been about 4.

And my 4 and a half stone grandma was a brilliant cook - I remember delicious roasties in the serving dishes that now adorn my dresser. She was minute but boy could she eat!

One grandfather used to sit mildly and obey his wife - I remember her telling him to get a haircut as it was "all unruly" - he was as near bald as it is possible to be - that went into family parlance as you can imagine!

And my other grandfather (step, but the other one died when I was a baby and I did not know him) used to sit us on his lap and play "Pork and Beans" - he would ask us questions and we had to answer pork and beans without laughing. He committed suicide in the gas oven on Christmas Eve when I was 5 - that is not something I will ever forget. I could not walk into their kitchen after that.

I remember my paternal grandfather wheezing. It fascinated me when I was sitting on his knee. It wasn't until I was older that I knew it was because he had miners' lung, emphysema.

Three of mine died before I was born and the remaining one shortly after so I have no memory of them.