Ok - so I don't know if anyone is even reading this blog, but I guess the record is as much for myself as anyone else.
Today I got a card from my Grandma. She lives in England, on the other side of the world. That has been very hard for me and my brothers and sisters growing up. Sure, we got to go on cool holidays in Europe every 5 or so years, and both Grandma and Grandad would come to visit us here, but I really missed not being able to drop round there for tea, or having them babysit.
I really envied my friends who had grandparents here and hardly ever saw them - to me it felt like such a waste. I even adopted other peoples grandparents, calling them Nan or Gran or Granpop too (I adopted GiB's grandparents and Nonna in this fashion too - much to their delight).
I guess I kind of knew that Grandma and Grandad would not be able to come to our wedding. They haven't been able to travel the distance to Australia for several years now, especially since the last time they came out Grandad had a huge heart attack and they ended up being 'stuck' here for 3 months.
But this morning, whilst GiB was driving me to the train station for work, I opened the mail from yesterday (we are a bit lazy like that, but at least it delays the bills!). In the bundle was a card that I knew instantly was from my Grandma. We didn't have specific RSVP cards for the wedding, simply a contact phone number and email. It was hard enough printing and cutting the paper we did include.
Knowing that my grandparents are somewhat traditional, I was not surprised to receive a card from them with an official RSVP to the wedding - neither was I surprised that the card started with their regrets at not being able to attend.
What did surprise me was the rest of the card - some excerpts:
"We will be with you in thought and spririt all that day. You and [GiB] make a special couple and we wish you both much happiness. 'call us old fashioned' if you wish, but we are pleased you are getting married. You have always been a credit to us and we are very proud of you and all you have achieved."
Just those words, written on a card sent halfway around the world had me in tears, GiB holding my hand as I read. It wasn't just the words, it was the feelings and emotions I could feel in them - it was the fact of seeing my Grandma's handwriting, looking so frail yet still so elegant, that really got to me.
I really, really, really, really, wish I could give both my Grandma and Grandad a big big hug right now.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
What a weekend!
Where do I start?
It was a very busy, satisfying, emotionally draining weekend.
My mum and I attended the Hopman Cup Tennis finals on Saturday afternoon - we always try and go to at least a couple of games at the one WA tennis tournament each year and this year we went to the finals! Although Australia didn't make it (C'mon Hewitt!) it was still a very close match between Belgium and USA. USA ultimately won but it came down to the mixed doubles to decide it. It was great to see USA win without the benefit of one of the Williams' sisters too!
Saturday evening I picked GiB up from our local pub, where he had gone with a few mates and was very merry by the time I got there!
Sunday GiB and I went looking at houses, going to several home openings in our area. Although we currently own our own house (or at least the bank does!) we have started to talk about upgrading and are looking around the same area as where we live now. We like the area, the neighbourhood is quite nice, good access to the city for work but still far enough away to avoid the congestion and only a short walk to the beach!
We thought we had found our dream home - and made an appointment for the mortgage broker to come round in the afternoon to discuss things. And that is where the bubble kind of burst. Unfortunately, we don't have enough equity in our current home, and nowhere near enough in savings (which is our wedding savings anyway), to pay the required deposit. GiB was a little disheartened by this, but after some discussion we came up with an alternative plan - to increase our current repayments, which will increase our equity foundation, and then re-assess things towards the end of the year, after the wedding. This sits well with me as it means we are looking to the future but at the same time being realistic with where we currently are. The last thing either of us wants is a huge debt that we can only just service and not be able to still go out for dinner every now and again.
But perhaps the most exciting thing of the weekend - for me anyway - was that on Saturday I decided on, ordered and paid a deposit on my wedding dress!!!!!!
What did you all do over the weekend?
It was a very busy, satisfying, emotionally draining weekend.
My mum and I attended the Hopman Cup Tennis finals on Saturday afternoon - we always try and go to at least a couple of games at the one WA tennis tournament each year and this year we went to the finals! Although Australia didn't make it (C'mon Hewitt!) it was still a very close match between Belgium and USA. USA ultimately won but it came down to the mixed doubles to decide it. It was great to see USA win without the benefit of one of the Williams' sisters too!
Saturday evening I picked GiB up from our local pub, where he had gone with a few mates and was very merry by the time I got there!
Sunday GiB and I went looking at houses, going to several home openings in our area. Although we currently own our own house (or at least the bank does!) we have started to talk about upgrading and are looking around the same area as where we live now. We like the area, the neighbourhood is quite nice, good access to the city for work but still far enough away to avoid the congestion and only a short walk to the beach!
We thought we had found our dream home - and made an appointment for the mortgage broker to come round in the afternoon to discuss things. And that is where the bubble kind of burst. Unfortunately, we don't have enough equity in our current home, and nowhere near enough in savings (which is our wedding savings anyway), to pay the required deposit. GiB was a little disheartened by this, but after some discussion we came up with an alternative plan - to increase our current repayments, which will increase our equity foundation, and then re-assess things towards the end of the year, after the wedding. This sits well with me as it means we are looking to the future but at the same time being realistic with where we currently are. The last thing either of us wants is a huge debt that we can only just service and not be able to still go out for dinner every now and again.
But perhaps the most exciting thing of the weekend - for me anyway - was that on Saturday I decided on, ordered and paid a deposit on my wedding dress!!!!!!
What did you all do over the weekend?
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