Gertrude Mary Soper

It is a time for everything
A time to be born
A time to live, and
A time to die, and
A time to mourn
That is life

Dear Granny, I was thinking yesterday about the times with you. I always loved staying with you. (I know one of the first times I stayed alone I cried home on the phone - but nevermind!)

I remembered how you and Grandpa took me strawberry picking in my summer holidays. Your rice pudding was always a highlight, how I wish I had got the recipe off you. How when I was hop picking, you cared that I had some food ready for me at the end of the day. I remembered when the Edward, David + dictionary tag team beat you at Scrabble how you disliked it and claimed it wasn't a proper game! - We won fair and square!

I remember how when I was younger you thought I wasn't eating properly and started sneaking vitamin pills in to my breakfast orange juice! (..by the taste there was defiantly some more other good for me things inserted too!)

You always cared for us. It really was lovely (a real treat) to have you to go to, to visit and to be around you. I'll miss you very much.

Love David

Granny,

Are you really not here anymore? I find it hard to understand. You fought for all those weeks in hospital – you were so ill yet so strong. We were so amazed! We sat at your bedside and you clung on to us with a strong grip. We were so thrilled the day you sat up in bed and read the paper, as you loved to do. I loved being next to you and there with you, despite you being unwell. It was hard to be anywhere else. You became better, bit by bit, particularly while at Burrswood. The carers loved you there and were so kind to you and you knew that. They all said they wanted to take you home and were sad when you left. I remember the day I came in with Mum and you were up and dressed and in the shop. We were so happy to see you there as we came in and you were so happy because you were up and about and felt you had some independence back. You starting sitting in the drawing room and the conservatory then, reading the paper and having afternoon tea. When we came to visit we sat with you and played Scrabble, which you loved, as you always had done. More recently, at Cornford House, we sat by the window overlooking the garden and played game after game of Scrabble whenever I came to visit – you didn’t get tired. You enjoyed being in the sun there and seeing the cat come by sometimes. You enjoyed watching the Antiques Roadshow and then Lark Rise to Candleford on Sunday evenings, so we sat next to each other and watched it together in the living room.

I loved it when you, Mum and me spent time together – the three generations of females all together. I remember that throughout my life - trips into town, to cafés, to the beach, or just sitting all together, reading or playing Scrabble. We all laughed together – you and Mum always had such a great sense of humour together. I have such clear memories of you sat next to each other laughing – up until just recently.

I loved receiving your letters. I have all of them. You were so kind and thoughtful and generous.

It is hard at the moment to accept you are no longer with us – I will miss you so very much. It is a shock you have gone now because you were so much better. I just wish I’d had more time with you, but it never would’ve been enough.

You will always be in my heart and my soul, and in everything I do.

From your loving granddaughter, Emma xx