Granny Parker 

Granny Parker, as everyone always called her was a forthright, nosey eighty two year old.  Granny Parker lived at the end of the village at the old run down farm. I loved Granny Parker, she had bright blue, laughing eyes that never dimmed with age, her hair was like drifting snow, and never quite in the place it was meant.

Granny Parker kept chickens, not hybrids but rare breeds that laid lots of lovely coloured eggs, hues of blue and green through to rich dark browns of the Welsumer eggs. “That’ll be a shilling love”, she would say as she gave them to my mum at her farm gate. “Those kids of yours will grow up big and strong eating those” and she was right, for in those days I was little and skinny with not much appetite.  “ Come here young Heather, I have got something special for you” Tucked inside her basket would always be two blue hens eggs, a goose egg and some sausage from last year’s pig.  What do I owe you Mrs Parker” Mum would say every week,  “ Nothing for those” Granny Parker would reply as if she was shocked at being asked.  Like most families in our village in those days we didn’t have the spare money that we do now but we all grew up healthy and happy.

I loved my eggs and sausage, funny I was always hungry when we had been to Granny Parker’s.

Granny Parker delivered her eggs to nearby shops on her bike.  The eggs sat in her basket on the bike and were always delivered with pride and care.

One day as I was walking our dog down the lane, I saw Granny Parker with a most unusual package.  Sat on her handlebars was the biggest turkey I had ever seen.  “Now then love isn’t he handsome? “ He was in the sack but he got out, happy though isn’t he?”  I looked up at the turkey, who regarded me with a look of disdain.  I didn’t think he looked handsome but Granny Parker knew best.  “Got to be off now love” she said “I’ve told the girls all about him, they were in quite a flutter when I left” Off she went down the lane with a huge turkey perched on he handlebars.  Cedric the turkey became the toast of Granny Parker’s farm.

I couldn’t wait until Saturday to see Cedric again.  “Granny Parker, can I show Emily, my doll, your turkey please?”" Sure you can dear” she replied.  "You can help my grandson in the vegetable patch if you like love”.  That was the beginning of my weekends spent helping at Granny Parker’s.  I loved being there and I always came home with lots of little extra’s for Mum.  Growing up seemed to mean long sunny days and lots of laughs, even though I never did learn to like Cedric, as he would chase me all over the vegetable patch!

That was a long time ago now and I stood at the gate enjoying the warmth of the winter’s sun, remembering the fun she gave me.  “Can I have a dozen eggs please Granny Parker” the lady at the gate said.  I looked up jolted from my daydreams, “that’ll be a pound love please” I replied.  I turned towards the vegetable patch; the grey haired man with bright blue eyes looked up from his work and blew me a kiss. Granny Parker also had the most handsome grandson, my beloved George.   

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