I was notified recently of the death of an elderly aunt. She was the widow of my late uncle, who was my mother's younger brother. My aunt died aged 97.
My sister reminded me that this is the end of a generation. We no longer have any uncles or aunts; just cousins. We ourselves have now become 'the older generation', and will be the next lot to appear amongst The Obits.
After a traumatic war experience, my uncle settled down to farming; he later went into pharmaceuticals. My aunt had been a nurse. I remember being sent to their lovely old-fashioned stone-built Welsh farm when I was about 5 or 6. For a small boy it was heaven, there was a stream to fish in, barns full of hay to climb on, and plenty of old machinery to clamber over. I had wonderful adventures, all in the company of my favourite Uncle and Aunt.
All this has now gone and I only have a few small box-Brownie photos to remind me of those wonderful times.
My uncle's farm had a delightful name. It was either Pandy at the Candy, or Candy at the Pandy; I can't remember which. Whatever it was, it was perfect; just how an old Welsh farm should be.
So, RIP my Aunty Alice.
31 comments:
It is sad when a generation has gone.
I remember an aunt making a similar comment at my grandmother's funeral. My gran was well into her 90s, and very frail, so it wasn't the shock of her death, but the realisation that that generation had all gone. Now all my aunts and uncles are gone too.
Farewell to Aunty Alice.
(Spellchecker changed my original comment)
Within my family nearly all that generation has gone too, what is frightening is the number of people of our generation that are now passing away. Yorkshire Pudding has lost a brother, I have lost a couple of close friends and a cousin over the past year, although none from COVID.
As we are all a load of old codgers it is not surprising.
Sounds very much the same.
I lost one elderly cousin to Covid, but I believe she'd been 'old and frail'.
Of course you are right.
Tempus fugit.
Bloody Slepchequeker.
It was pandy cro …it’s a common name for mill in welsh
Yes, we are next in line. Not too soon I hope. Mind you if I live till 97 I'd like to be still on my feet and with all my marbles
I've been to several funerals of people in their nineties recently and there was always someone who said we're next in line. That's the truth.
Pandy Farm, Craig Y Pandy
Tregarth, Bangor
Gwynedd, LL57 4RA
It is now home to a social enterprise business..."We are a small, community-focused social enterprise that produces naturally grown fruit and vegetables and provides eco-tourism accommodation and timber products. Our core values include social and environmental sustainability. We are linked with local like-minded organisations and see ourselves as an integral part of our North Wales community, providing healthy, locally grown produce and helping to tackle issues around food poverty in the Bangor area."
Website: https://www.pandyfarm.org/
One Auntie left here - aged 99.
My mum was the last of her generation. I thought it must have been scary for her seeing all her contemporaries die off. I have one cousin who is older than me - otherwise I am the next in line.
Sympathies for your loss
I hope y'all are feeling stronger from yiur irdeal with covid.
Upon reflection, I am now not sure about the location I researched as the church image in your blogpost is from Monmouthshire. Perhaps I got it wrong.
You have wonderful memories of your Aunt and Uncle. The time you spent with them sounds idyllic. RIP Aunt Alice.
Found memories are immortality
It was a very evocative name, and the stream crossed the road just before the farm.
I'd love to go back to see what happened to it. I expect it's an executive home these days with ponies and alpacas in the fields. Sorry, I grabbed the photo from Google Images, I have no idea where it is.
Take good care of her!
Yes, Cro, we entered that stage a while back... my cousins and I ARE now the older generation. And I too have fond memories of spending summers on my Aunt and Uncle's farm in Mississippi as a child (and only a few old b&w photos).
What a nice remembering, of both your aunt and your childhood days.
What wonderful memories.
I feel as if I have some breathing space as my father is 98 and my mother 92! Both compos mentis and on their feet but very frail.
their parents all made their 90s too!
All to soon, they and the aunts and uncles will pass the batton.
I have been the last of my generation for a long time.
Pandy = fulling mill by the way
The old farm sounds wonderful. In my family, I am now "the older generation" along with my sister and brother. my ex-husband's family still has the Matriarch, in a nursing home, but still alive and soon to be 98, we don't keep in touch but I'm sure someone would tell me if she has died.
We all are getting closer to the end. Enjoy life everyone.
Post a Comment