Page 40 - recollections of a life in Porthleven

Chapter 9

Comparing Childhoods

Like most grandparents we sit down and watch our grandchildren at play.
Today I have done just that, after I tried to get them out side to play, with
no luck. The two grandsons and the granddaughter play very well together
and they amuse themselves quite well. The boys play electronic games on
their x box, or their phones, or, on their grandmother's computer. And what
strange games they are! At least the granddaughter will sit down with me
and watch something more relaxing such as cartoons or a nature programme.
How different their childhood is compared to the one I had with my brother
and sister when we were living at Trewarvas in Porthleven. Sunday morning,
the only day off work for father, that is if you could say it was a day off for
him. No relaxing for him at all, as looking after the three of us, Margaret,
Stephen and myself must have taken a lot of patience and a great deal of
love.

Just a quick reminder to people who might not know me, or read any of my
stories before, our mother passed away when Margaret was 8, I was 4 and
my brother was a baby of just a few days old. My father had to fight the
authorities to keep us all together, they, at the time, wanted to put us into a
home. Back in those days it was considered a man wasn’t capable of bringing
up three children, how times have changed (for the better). Immediately, you
can tell how much love he had for his children. The outcome of this was we
moved from Gibson Way, to Trewarvas in Cliff Road, Porthleven. To live
with my father's mother (our grandmother), who soon became a mother to
us, and my father's father, was a very caring and loving grandfather.

Well Sunday mornings were very busy. Dad making a fuss with his children
as well as doing the washing.ie the clothes and the bedding. Thank goodness
for the twin tub! Between that he peeled the veg for Sunday lunch. While
Dad was doing his chores Grand-dad would have his hands full looking after
us. Gran would be doing the baking for the week. The thought of Gran's
baking…. I can recall it now, the mixing bowls, the baking trays and the
smell from the yeast for the saffron buns, the fruit for the cakes, and those
heavy cakes. The smell was wonderful, but best of all was having the