The Gallery - Water

I love Water, maybe as my star sign is Cancer and I am naturally supposed to be a water baby. I do however have my fears in the sea, being out too deep, worrying about what lies beneath and what might grab me but I still go in all the same and have braved some situations in the sea. This jellyfish was one of hundreds when snorkelling in the sea in Egypt. I was very brave and calm...

I have a few pictures that sum up what I love about water, that it can be great fun. This was my first holiday with my husband (then boyfriend) and his first meeting with my parents! It turned out to be a fantastic holiday and one where we enjoyed lots of laughs.

Unfortunately I don't have a photo of my Mum enduring her ride in the ring down several slides. We were so amazed that we managed to convince her to have a go 'as it would be fun' that we didn't stop to think that she might end up traumatised by it. She had an awful time, almost falling through the ring several times and randomly grabbing at strangers. It was so funny though, sorry Mum!

The funniest part of the day however was when my Dad suddenly felt he was too old to go round a water park when we were about to pay at the entrance. So after being unable to persuade them, my husband and I went to go and get changed. We were really put out and disappointed in them only to be surprised when they suddenly appeared by our lockers with beaming smiles. They had had a change of heart and the woman behind the kiosk had given them the pensioner rate which was substantially less than we had paid. Never mind the fact they weren't old enough to qualify and had felt too old just moments before, it's amazing what a discount can do!

You can take a look at all the other entries over at Sticky Fingers...

The Gallery: Grandparents

I see this week it is open to choose whichever generation of grandparents you wish. I immediately thought of my own grandparents and knew this post had to be about them. I have posted pictures previously of them and this is a great opportunity to put a few pictures in one place as a memory page for my family and I.

As a few of you may know I lost my last remaining grandparent a few weeks ago and I feel very blessed to have had him around for so long. Somewhat hauntingly I have lost a grandparent every ten years. That's life and I understand that, my Auntie made my Mum laugh by pointing out that they were next in line to fall off the apple tree! Sometimes you have to make light of what is sadly a fact of life.

Here are some pictures that I have in an album. I am regretful that I don't really keep albums these days, especially ones of old photo's. One day I will get round to properly sorting them all out and printing off the vast amounts of photo's stored on the computer.

With my maternal Nan

My paternal Nan

My paternal Nan will forever live on in my memories as being a super cool Nan. She never tired of playing tedious games with me and in her seventies she still loved the white knuckle rides at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I am not sure I will be that cool, she was remarkable.

Both Nans with me

Maternal grandparents

All my grandparents with my very young parents

Unfortunately I never knew my paternal grandfather as I was too young to remember. The picture above is the only picture I have of him. I know as much that he certainly lives on in my Dad!

Finally here is my Grandpa meeting Beastie shortly after he born. He was so very happy to meet him and I will forever be thankful they got the chance to meet.

Maternal Grandpa