64 Valentine's - My Grandparents Love Story

My best friend calls me ‘a romantic’.
She says my greatest strength and biggest weakness is my heart.

Thanks Carrie , I’ll take it! 😉

I’ll take it and blame my Grandparents.
Since I was old enough to understand what it is to be ‘madly in love’, I have idolised them.

My Grandma will shake her head and blush reading this, but it’s the truth.

I’m not the only one that feels this way either.

I promise you that if you meet these two in real life, you will join the other hundreds of people who are SO PROUD to know them.

As we approach Valentines Day, I thought, who better to blog about than the two people who, for me, symbolise what love and romance is all about..my beloved Grandma and Grandpa.

They’ve been married a whopping 64 YEARS now and are still kinder to each other and more patient with each other than any other couple I know. Maybe that’s their secret?

When I mentioned that I’d like to blog about them for a Valentines Day post, my Grandma was…shall we say…unconvinced?
These two are so humble, modest and just living life. The idea that they could be an ‘inspiration’ to people is beyond them.

I need to thank my lovely Auntie Lynne for pulling all the photographs and answers together for me, couldn’t of done this without you! xx

To set the scene, my Grandpa is tall, and smart, always in a shirt and trousers. He has the whitest hair, the kind that stays in place. One of my favourite past times growing up was styling his hair into a mohican with my fingers.

He still takes the best care of himself, requesting eye cream and moisturiser from me every Birthday/Christmas. He’s got an awesome sense of humour and is genuinely REALLY REALLY funny. He’s outgoing, kind and so openly proud and loving towards his family and friends. A hug from Grandpa is like being swept up by the warmest and softest of teddy bears.

Grandma is incredible. The definition of ‘glamourous’ (stop shaking your head Grandma!), her hair and make up always immaculate. She wears the loveliest clothes and accessorises like a pro. Growing up my cousin and I used to play dress up with her colourful fashion jewellery collection. She’s an AMAZING cook, her roast dinners are second to none, and she bakes the loveliest cakes and deserts. Grandma is ALWAYS so thoughtful, so kind and generous, never forgetting a birthday, or letting us forget either. She’s strong too, super hard working, brave and proud. One in a bajillion!

I’ve asked them a few questions for this post, things I’m actually really surprised I didn’t already know. I’ve added my own things in too. Things that after many years of observation, I have decided might just be some of the secrets to their very special, loving relationship.

Do you believe in Love at first sight? I think I do.
Maybe not love, but that spark, that feeling that ‘this is different’.

Grandma and Grandpa met almost 65 years ago, in 1950.
I asked them how they met…

Grandma: .…”I spotted a smart young man queuing to go into the cinema. I thought to myself “he’s a nice looking boy, pity he’s so thin!”. He didn’t see me”…

They actually met properly a few weeks later at a ‘dance hall’.
(Can we all just take a minute to visualise this 50’s version of a nightclub in the Welsh Valleys. I had to look HERE)

Grandpa fancied Grandma straight away.
He said ...”Until I saw her I always thought I’d end up marrying someone just for the sake of it, or never even getting married. Until I met grandma, I had never really fancied anyone before”…
Grandpa asked her if she’d like to dance and at the end of the evening. Then walked her to the bus stop and asked her when he would see her again.

A few weeks later, they were both at a dance again. Another boy had asked if he could walk Grandma to the bus stop. Like a proper lady, she walked up to Gramps and asked if he would mind…
Obviously, he said ‘NO WAY!’ and insisted that only he would be walking her to the bus stop. They have been together ever since.

In my late teens I had the pleasure of living with Grandma and Grandpa for a year or so before I started university. The thing that struck me most about them is how kind to each other they are. How thoughtful and consistent.
It’s not grand gestures (although Grandma does still get beautiful bouquets of flowers and lovely thoughtful gifts from Grandpa and visa versa), it’s the little things.
Grandma likes an orange when she wakes up each morning. So, each night, without fail, before he goes to bed, Grandpa peels an orange, taking off all the icky white stuff, wraps it in cling film and pops it in the fridge ready for Grandma when she wakes up.

It’s not that Grandma can’t peel her own orange. Grandma is incredible for her age, she is more than capable of cooking a three course meal. This isn’t about whether she can do it or not, it’s just that it’s nice to have it done for you. It’s a small gesture, but it’s kind, and thoughtful and it’s what he’s always done.

When I asked Grandpa what Grandma does for him that’s cute? He answered: …”Honestly, everything. I can’t pick one thing because she does it all. Every thoughtful thing that you can do for someone, grandma has always done”… He’s right, she’s the most thoughtful lady there is.

I asked them what they do that makes each other smile:

Grandma: …”I love it when Grandpa sings. He has such a lovely voice, he always has.” …

Grandpa: …”Everything about Grandma makes me smile”… – Smart Man.

We all know that even the happiest couples annoy each other now and then..

Grandma: …”It drives me potty when he moves items around the house. He moves things that have been in the same place for years, sometimes never to be found.”…

Grandpa: …”She spends so long talking on the phone, it drives me mad. But what’s even more annoying is that she keeps constantly winding back the TV programme just after missing a few words of what someone says!!”…
Grandma and Grandpa love to dance! They are still the first ones on the dance floor and if Grandpa had his own way, he’d be the last one too!

What song reminds you of each other?

Grandma: Ghost Riders In The Sky (I need to add that my grandpa sang this to us over and over when we were little. He has the most beautiful velvety voice that stops adults, children and animals in their tracks. It’s simply magic!)
Grandpa: They Tried to Tell us We’re Too Young (Grandma was only 16 when they met…how sweet is that?!)

So, after 64 years of marriage, 4 Children, 7 Grandchildren and 2 (almost 3..EAK!) Great Grandchildren, what’s been the happiest time of your lives together?

Grandma and Grandpa:
…”It’s so difficult to say a specific time. We really loved the 60’s. We had a large group of friends and loved going out dancing together”…

..."When all our kids were young and growing up it was great, and then again with all of our Grand Children. Now we are able to see our Great Grandchildren grow up too!

We are so proud of all of you.

You are the happiest time of our life"...