Sunday, July 09, 2006

Hooray for New Blogs

My cousin Paula took the bait and started her own blog. She's been one of my favorite commenters - her brief sentences just crackle with personality and colloquialisms.

Paula is 3 years older than me, and we were briefly penpals as young girls (d'you remember that, P?). My favorite memory of her is when I visited her in England once with my dad - I must've been like 11 and she was an ultra-cool 14. She had beautiful dark hair and wore exotic make-up and lived in the same bedroom my dad was born in. She kinda scared me because she listened to really rad music like IRON MAIDEN which she wrote in angular letters with chalk on the stones by the old church at the end of Church Street.

Most of all I thought she was so lucky because she lived less than a block from our sweet Nana. We walked down there together, and 81-year-old Nana made us tea with sugar. Nana sat on her bed and we two sat on the settee (her tiny bedroom and living room were the same). While I sat there wide-eyed, loving their Runcorn accents, teenaged Paula acted bored and rolled her eyes. But even then I could see the subtle way she checked up on Nana, making sure she was all right, that let me know that she really loved her too, and I was so jealous.

9 comments:

paula said...

Jennifer Martin!!!! I cannot believe that you remember all that too, I am seriously flattered. Of course I recall us being penpals for a spell when we were nippers (I seem to remember that I sent you a few tokens of my cousin love, one of which I think was a Snoopy necklace). Fancy me chalking Iron Maiden on the Parish Church stones (should have had better tase and chosen another group), and did I really roll my eyes in a bored fashion at nana? Surely not - I was probably just trying to impress my far more articulate, intelligent, very blonde and pretty american cousin. While we are on the subject do you remember typing your school essay on my old typewriter (from Aunty Sybil's ICI office) and having water pistol fights with Steph and Em? Ahhhhhh the memories XXX

Anonymous said...

ah yes ... I remember the days when Paula was a rock chick too. Imagine my horror to find that her favourite band now is Will Young.

paula said...

This from the girl who used to do her housework to Right Said Fred (imagine a very camp Erasure and you are halfway there Jenn)

Anonymous said...

Erasure, Righty Fred, Iron Maidens??? Whatever happened to Tommy Steele? Doesn't anyone like 'ar tommy anymore?

Wait a minute, hush up a bit, I think the radio is playing a Cliff Richard
song...........

Vetmommy said...

Paula, I remember you rolling your eyes, but as I said it was in a teenage way, I could tell you didn't mean it. But I do remember how everyday visiting Nana was for you - it was a special occasion at my house, because of course it took a plane trip across the ocean! Sadly I don't specifically remember the typewriter (but I do remember we had to write something to make up for the time we missed at school on our trip) or the water gun fights but I do remember always having a good time and really liking you.

"I'm too sexy for my... HOOVER!"

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the new blog, Paula!

XOXOXO!

Anonymous said...

Now we are getting something in a different vein,huh,Jenn.? On your Blog we have : very interesting happenings in your 'Vet.' life and how the kiddies are doing...then we have our Emily who writes an interesting 'makes ya wanna answer' comment....then Stephanie with her Travels here and there and the Twins doings'...now we have the Queen of WIT hahaha this is really entertaining stuff you have here.Love you all.

Anonymous said...

It's the only way to make housework tolerable ... you should try it ;o)

paula said...

Jenn, yes everyday visiting with our lovely nanna was shall we say a bit daunting at times, especially when I had to help pull up her "bum bags". Still really miss her XXX