debbie barnatt

by deborah barnatt
(derbyshire)

hi. my name is debbie and i am 48 yrs old. my grandad died 4 yrs ago. he was 95. i really cant describe him, but if you asked anyone, he was the nicest person they ever met. when i was born, my mum and dad lived with grandma and grandad because in those days, it was the done thing to live with parents when you had a baby in your teens. they were my dads parents. my nanna and grandpa, as i called them, were there always when my mum and dad were struggling to make ends meet, and get their own home. they would come every weekend with food and coal and toys for me. time went by and mum and dad were getting on fine. they had my younger sister three yrs later. however, i was always grandads baby. he took me to dancing lessons and i danced with him. when i had my first three kids, he used to fetch them round his house and make swing boats and slides, paddling pools, and all the other kids from the street used to come too. i later remarried and had two more children, and he made their life wonderful. he had them everyday, taking them to school, nursery, and always was there when they came home. always icecream and sweeties for all the children who were coming by his home, as well as my children. all the kids were alwyays excited to see mr hill. e was really a real life santa claus. i cant even begin to do this wonderful man justice. i miss him every minute of every day. his house (the one i grew up in) is just around the corner from me, and i sit in my car and just long for him to be there. it rips my heart out. someone else lives there now, and they have made it nice, but it is my grandads. and my home. it always will be. just wanted to say, i miss you grandad. and i am thankful everyday for everything you did for my and my kids...... forever and always .xxxxxxx