RH

This face may be familiar to many discerning TV viewers. She appeared on a 'wartime related' edition of TV's The Repair Shop a year or so ago, with her treasured doll, called 'Haisi'.

RH (I won't give her actual name) lives locally, and joins Lady M on Wednesday mornings in The Rest Garden (this morning) where they do a spot of 'volunteer gardening' together.

She has a fascinating, if tragic, history. At the age of just 3 years old, in 1939, she was smuggled out of Nazi occupied Vienna. Her only possession being her doll, which had become in a sorry state, and needed the attention of the 'The Teddy Bear Ladies'. The doll was eventually beautifully restored.

We meet quite often, and we wish each other a pleasant day, etc. She's a totally charming lady, and always has a lovely smile on her face. Lady M knows her better than I do, but she knows Billy better than either of us.

I have just discovered that she has the same surname as the English family who bought the Chateau in our village (in France) back in the 1920/30's. It's not a common name so, the next time I see her, I will ask if there's any connection. It would be very amusing if we discovered that she was related to our good friends, who've we've known for over 50 years.

This may sound indiscreet, but RH is the archetypal 'Grandmother' we all dream/dreamed of. I have no idea if she is actually a grandmother, but if she is, her grandchildren are extremely lucky.