[shillelagh]

I only knew my grandma on my mums side. On my dads side his parents died when he was a kid - he was brought up by his older sister and older brothers. My grandad on my mums side died in 1969 - i was born in 1967 so i cant remember him at all. Granny was in northern ireland and so i only saw her for 1 or 2 weeks a year. She died when i was 11 or 12. We used to go and stop with her for our hols. I used to get a double bed to myself when we were there as well. Used to go swimming every morning - walk down to the baths and then into armagh and walk round and then walk back to grandmas - something like from my house to accy now - and downhill going but coming back was the killer!!! She used to have a blackthorn walking stick and sometimes if she was in a bad mood - she'd swipe me on the back of my legs as i was going past or try and trip me up with it. Somehow thinking back couldve been dementia or alzheimers - i was too young to know. Dad saw it once and never said nowt but made sure i was never left on my own with her ...