10 things of thankful - dear Grandad

Dear Grandad,
I probably should have told you all of this while you were alive, but now, as it would have been your 84th birthday this week, I'm going to honor you in my blog and tell everyone 10 things I am so thankful about that we shared, even though you died too young at 66 when I was just 14.

1.  You taught me how to make things.  Mainly kites.  Thanks to you, a few carrier bags and some garden canes become a thing which flies in the air, creating much entertainment.  And that skill from your generation, of entertaining oneself and making everyday things into amazing things is priceless, and we need more of that!

2.  Once we made kites, obviously they needed testing.  And luckily, near your house, there were some open spaces in order to do this.  Once when flying my sister managed to let go of the amazing Casper-kite you had made her, and like a hero off you went and climbed a tree to rescue it, and she was very pleased to get it back.

3.  You were very musical.  Not only did you play the harmonica, and gave a few to me, which I still have (I can't play it as well as you though), you also had a tin whistle, and could even make a duck whistle out of a reed, and even blow grass.  I seem to also recall you enjoying a nice bit of guitar playing, and having a violin or two, which my sister did take up for a time.  I stuck to your piano, which I still have (although it needs some work, still hasn't been tuned, and came out of the flat I rented a bit worse for wear, sorry) and while I haven't played properly in a while, I managed to get to Grade 4 at school.

4.  You wrote songs and poems, and they were very amusing.  The best example of the ones I remember is the following:

Didn't we have a lovely time the day we went to Tescos.

Bargains galore at that wonderful store,

the fags were under a quid you know.

There was sugar and spice,

And bread at half price,

And 10p off the beer.

So hurry along, you can't go wrong, at Tescos store.

Very talented :)

5.  You used to take me to what we lovingly called the frog pond.  Every year there would be tadpoles that would become little frogs.  And on this, and other, ponds you would skim stones, we would sail your boats (another thing you were good at making) and have lovely grandad/granddaughter time.

6.  In your back garden you had a lovely swing seat, and whilst when I was very small I was a bit scared of the procedure of getting up there, and that I might fall off, I grew to love it for the cuddles, nap times and story times that it generated in your lovely garden.

7.  You taught me how to throw a boomerang.  Or rather you tried, I wasn't very successful.  I distinctly remember being the cause of us losing one somewhere in a rather overgrown field near our house in Perham Down!  And I thought they were always meant to come back to you!

8.  In the spare room in your house where I would sleep, there was a little heater.  And before bedtime I would be allowed to go up and turn the heater on to make the room nice and warm.  And then, when it was bedtime, I would get all snug in bed and you would tell me a little story and tuck me in - I cherish those memories.

9.  In Amesbury there was a little cafe called The Friar Tuck.  On several occasions I can remember you treating me to a nice dinner (I think my favourite was sausage, egg and chips).  It's still there, and whenever I go by it I think of you.  Thank you for all the nice food :).

10.  As all good grandads should, you taught me how to make paper planes.  I can still just about remember and do it.  I think yours always got further than mine though!

Well, there you go, the 10 things I remember about you and love you for.  One day hope to see you on the other side xxxx

Thomas Charles Warner,  15/08/1929 - 20/01/1996