Dear Nana P and Nana H,

Dear Nana P and Nana H,

It’s Mother’s Day again. I always think about you today. How could I not, with the beautiful memories of Mother’s Day.

I wonder, if you were here, if you’d talk about the handmade cards I used to give you when I was young. If we’d laugh about how I’d stay with you but get so homesick that you’d have to sleep in the spare room with me?

I can remember big family dinners in the back room at Orroroo. If Mum was cooking, we’d have roast chicken and veggies. She’d put everything into bowls and leave them warming on the hot plate, while we all went to Church.

If we were at Glenroy, we’d have roast mutton. Nana H, I still remember how your homemade bread rolls made my mouth water. I often think about your sponge cake and how beautiful and squishy it was, with cream and strawberries in the middle. your chocolate chip biscuits – there was always some of them in the tin on the small bench. And your lemon drink. That was just yum.

Do you know, Nana H, I make all of those things for my kids now? The favourite is still the sponge, although Hayden LOVES your lemon drink and can make it himself now. Rochelle is pretty keen on the choc chip biscuits, I have to say!

I remember your yellow bike and how it used to lean against the school room, waiting until it was time to ‘go and turn the Mill off,’ and how I’d run along side of you while you pedalled down to the dam.

The walks we used to do along the creek and picking mushrooms out in the paddock.

You didn’t get to know either of my kids, but you did hold Rochelle once. I know you wouldn’t remember. But I do; I’ll never forget the look of love when you looked at her. Little babies don’t “expect” the way adults do and it was almost like you were you again, when you held and looked at her, even though you could never remember I’d had a baby.

Hayden was nine months when we went to your funeral. So he was there and he almost got to know you. I tell them both about you all the time.

Nana P, I’m lucky enough to have your story telling chair. You know, the Smokers Bow that used to sit next to your fire? It’s blue now, not green. I had it re-covered. Ha! Do you remember the time the spark flew out from the fire and burnt a hole right in the front of it?

And what about the Russian Toffee you used to make? I tried that once, for my kids and man did I stuff it up! I never tried to make it again… But, I do make those amazing pancakes you used to. They never last long, when I’ve cooked a batch.

And the walks to reservoir in Orroroo. The stories you used to tell me – they were the most precious gifts Nana. I talked about you in an interview I did recently. About the stories you told – do you remember Spindles, with his red-ginger hair and freckles? About Joe-the-Prentie? I do, I remember them all.

My two Nana’s how important you both were to me in different ways, as I grew up. I still miss you every day.

Love Always,

Fleur xxxx