Time travel with me to my grandmother’s kitchen. We’ll go back 40 years to their solid, two storied, dun coloured house in Richmond. Their house sits on the top of a low hill, at the back of a quiet cul-de-sac where they do, of course, know everyone. 

We’ll sit at the ‘island’ that divides the dining room from the kitchen. It’s warm and steamy. 

I can smell a roast cooking. I can hear something bubbling on the stove.

Above me a display cabinet stores the good crockery. Beside me is a large grey phone, with a curly cord.

My aunty is making my favourite treat in all the world – chocolate eclairs. She is bent over icing them, her long brown plait falling down over her shoulder and getting in the way. Behind her, Gran is washing dishes, wearing her trademark yellow rubber gloves and polka dot apron. She is humming an old tune.

The dining room table is set with gran’s good plates and crystal glasses.

Outside the leaves of the grape vine are orange and yellow. 

I am gazing longingly at those chocolate eclairs, knowing it’s probably going to be hours before I get to taste one.

But today fate is on my side.

“Oh I can’t fix them!” Announces my aunty. “Charlotte, do you want some of these? They all stuck together when I baked them! I can’t serve them like this! They look terrible!”

“They don’t look terrible,” says Gran.

I take a look. To me they just look delicious. 

And they were. 

That was a  peak moment for me, in Gran’s kitchen.

How about you? Got a special moment to share about your grandparents or relatives? Take your people back to those places and people in your story. Tell them the little details – what did you see, hear, feel, touch, taste? 

Keep writing dear one,

Charlotte x

PS if you’d like to learn how to write your memoir, life story or family history, check out my online course Write Your Memoir. If you’d like to have a chat about whether this course will work for you, email me here.

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