I don't have to hold the world up

My maternal grandad was a very important person in my life. When I was a child, he would take my brother and me out for adventures in his Mini car - affectionately known as "The Puddle Jumper", because Minis are so low to the road. We would whizz around country lanes around Winchester, in Hampshire (within speed limits, as Grandad was a policeman) but because the car felt only knee-high to a grasshopper, it felt like joy, two kids and a grandad, laughing and jokily yelling to ourselves "Move over" as we encountered other cars. The photo above is one of my favourites - of my Grandad holding onto me on my Christening Day.

Grandad got me interested in history and nature, and in Autumn is when I feel closest to him because of our childhood walks - he died just before my 2nd marriage 15 years ago, but he met my future husband and approved (unlike the first one, but then if it hadn't been for the first, my life would not have led to my second and most beautiful hubby, and our son, but that's another story :)). I believe my Grandad is my Guardian Angel - a whisperer of truths, a guiding hand in my life and that of my son's too. Grandad saw me as a person, not just as his granddaughter, and I have often sought that acknowledgement elsewhere - holding up the world for others to lighten their load, but taking on too much myself, just to be seen. Again I am enough and I enjoy helping others but not to the deteriment of me.


Credits:
Background (extract from digital mini kit) - Basic Grey, Fusion Starter Kit, Paper - Love me Tender (http://www.basicgrey.com/digital/shop/collections/show/current/fusion)
Picture of Woman with basket, the World and phrases - from Soul Restoration Course supplies

AJC10: These boots...

This morning I heard "These Boots are Made for Walking" on the radio and it made me think of my Grandad. I once told my mum that this was one of my favourite songs and she told me how my Grandad had held me as a baby when they were playing this song. Apparently I had shook my head in time to the music as he held me up to walk. The small picture I've included in this piece is one of my favourites, as it's one of the few ones I have of him and me. It was taken on my Christening day. Sadly Grandad died just before my 2nd marriage. He had been ill for sometime but the Christmas before, he seemingly gave his approval of my choice for 2nd husband, having not really like my 1st (but then 1st one wasn't really that likeable). So with the wonderful memory of my grandad in my mind, the layout put itself together. (The journal behind the feather headdress is the same as that on the first filmstrip). He wasn't perfect - you only had one chance to make a good impression - but Grandad taught me to look for the adventure in everything and encouraged my interests in history and gemstones. I could listen to his voice telling me tales of Iron Age settlements or ring and ditch enclosures... and he loved to tell my brother and me jokes. I wish he had had a chance to meet our son, but I believe my Grandad is my guardian angel, so he probably already knows, keeping us under his protective wing :) He was the only Grandad that I knew - my Dad's dad died when I was 2.


Credits
Background paper - Ruby Rynne, Nat IV backgrounds
Pink flower skirt, legs, black top hat and feather headdress - Tangie Baxter, Ultimate Doll Kit elements
Black and white banner and pink swirl circle - Tangie Baxter, Enchanted Art Box Altered addons Be yourself, Remember and The Best Memories buttons - Baer Garten Designs, Girls will be Girls, Flair kit
Happy Moment button - Baer Garten Designs, Autumn Orchard Flair
Filmstrip and multicoloured baubles border - Glam Fairy Designs, Pimp My Art Elements
Oh Wonderful Day - Tangie Baxter, Wonderful Day elements
Diamond rain - Studio Manu, Listen to Your Heart elements
Red stitching - Tangie Baxter, I am a Fanpire elements
Loving Heart spread and Loved scrap - Baer Garten Designs, Love of my life, Loving kit