Old and New

Almost a week now of complete sunshine and blue skies, for those living in warmer climates perhaps not that great a deal but for us here on the west coast of Scotland- very nice indeed. As l said on my last post- no excuses for being lazy! So this morning I’m going to get caught up with a few inside chores then it’s out to the new play park with wee S. After that it’s back home and paint the front garden wall! I’ve already started a pork casserole in the slow cooker so life feels organised.
As for this play park, well it’s been under refurbishment and today is the date set for completion so it’ll be swamped. See above plans- lovely curves and spacing!
Our town has had very little for the children for years now- the old swing park was in a sad state of disrepair and the even older paddling pool to the side had been half filled in with soil- a far cry from what used to be. I suppose with everything else good old ‘Health and Safety’ have had something to do with the closure of so many of the parks hereabout- the old rolling barrels behind the town hall are a long time gone.
I took wee S a walk along the shore the other night to see how the new design was coming along. This park sits to one side of W*est Bay and is a lovely walk to from our home, along the shoreline, which gives the mind time to wander.
When we got there l stood resting my arms on the railings as wee S played on the beach. As l looked on to what was left of the paddling pool area my mind flew back thirty years to the wee girl l once was. I remembered sitting on the sloping sides with the many other families and children, the laid out towels and laughter, kids with boats and grandparents walking the perimeter with rolled up trousers. There was innocence then and a joy for socialising with your neighbour. It’s something l miss terribly and feel sad that my children won’t know.
I stood there long enough to watch the swans make there way from one end of the bay to the other- occasionally coming in for some bread or titbits thrown and then S and l headed back home.
I came to this town for holidays as a wee girl with my parents, to visit our Granny and Grandpa. l believe it was those holidays and the being with family that prompted my parents to move here. Mum has a picture somewhere of Gran and Grampa sitting against the rounded wall at the turn to this swing park looking very rounded themselves. Granny looked loved sitting there beside Grandpa, lovely with her big fluffy hat and hairpin. Grandpa with his gently crooked smile, which always made me think he knew something l didn’t, his braces holding up his trousers to chest height- l miss them both.
I sound like the wee old lady at the end of the Titanic movie talking about her past with no pictures to show – just the memories stored in her mind. Fortunately though l have just found some other pictures of that time and my Grandparents. I am the wee baby and girl in the pictures- always sitting on my Granny’s knee.
Grandpa and Granny were married for over 65years- married in 1923.
Their birthdays were on the 5th and 8th of April.