Yesterday evening our granddaughter Georgia, her partner Andy, and their daughter (our great-granddaughter ) Elsa Elizabeth Gumley, arrived to spend the weekend with us. Actually they arrived rather late, due to delays on the M4, the M25, and the A12 roads. It sounds a nightmarish journey, but it's lovely to have them here. Their daughter Elsa, is an absolute delight to have about the place. She is a happy, contented baby, with a smile like the rising sun. Said smile is easily activated, and she is musically appreciative even of her great Grandfather's singing. After lunch today I was able to sing her to sleep with all the basso profundo songs I was able to dredge up from memory ('rocked in the cradle of the deep', a 17th century German drinking song-'Within the Cellar's cool Domain', 'Forty Years on', etc.)
Photo above taken before breakfast, showing Elsa entertaining (or being entertained by) two gentlemen.
Again above photo shows Elsa playing with her great Grandmother.
Three different generations of young ladies, Ann, Elsa, and Georgia.
This one taken towards the end of a one man smoking concert, minutes after which the audience (Elsa), went to sleep. My Grandfather, Elsa's great-great-great Grandfather was the possessor of a rumbling basso profundo voice that you could feel rather than hear,and he always used to say that most small babies could be easily pacified by a deep male voice, and that he'd yet to meet the tiny baby that he couldn't sing to sleep. I wouldn't go quite as far as that, but (far more often than not) I can usually sing little ones to sleep. That aside, it is being a lovely weekend, although we're all thinking about granddaughter Amelia, who's baby is about to put in an appearance either today, or in the next few days. Look forward to meeting her (and yes, this being a scientific age - we DO know). She'll be a second cousin to Elsa, and I do hope they'll grow up knowing each other. There's a lot to be said for family.
13 comments:
She is absolutely beautiful, what a lovely smile!
Emma's baby is a little boy and due on the 9th March. Emma is blooming and seems to be enjoying the pregnancy. Lawrence also has a very deep voice so hopefully will also have the magic touch when the baby is born. She and Lawrence are getting married on the 22nd December at Bodmin. Emma not one for a big fuss has agreed to 5 guests!
I take it you speak of the voice of Harry Horner 1878-1954; was he a member of St Martin's Cathedral Songmen choir ? I remember them in the bungalow at Braunstone where you head-butted that blue-brick drain surround when Grandma Horner was sweeping the path.
Isn't my great grandniece a little corker? Congratulations and virtual cigars all round what?
Thank you Maggie. Would you please give Emma our love, congratulate Lawrence on their impending marriage, and wish them both joy from us.
Much love to you all, Mike and Ann.
Hello Crowbard. I do indeed speak of the late Harry (or, as his birth certificate had it,rather to my surprise) - Henry Horner. He was very much in demand by various choirs all over Leicester according to Aunt Ivy. Thank you for the offer of a virtual cigar. Not sure if I'd like one of those, but there's no chance of being offered any other sort, so........
Oh, how absolutely lovely.
I don't think I've seen Harry's birth certificate, but I'm sure he was named on Ellen (Giddings as was)'s death certificate as Henry, but that could have just been 'adjusted' by an over zealous clerk hearing Harry said and writing down Henry as the informant's name. Many of the earlier written records have forenames 'corrected' or latinised by clerics & scribes in situations where it was highly unlikely to have been their given or spoken name.
Thank you Z.
Hello Crowbard. No, nor have I, but cousin Betty Williamson had a copy of it and said that the forename was definitely Henry. She also gave me his date of birth, which was April the first, 1878.
I wish I had known my paternal grandparents, I have no idea what they were like as people or even what they looked like. Especially as I was named after grandma and supposedly look like her.
Hadn't realised that grandfather was still alive when I was born, I though he died just before. However I must have been a year old when he passed away.
Isn't it Heaven to have a baby in the house. Lucky, lucky you!
How right you are, Pat. They've given us a lovely weekend. They came to Aldham Church with us yesterday morning, and Elsa was so good during the service that the priest (a lady)said (when the service was ending and just before the final Amen- "And haven't we had a remarkably good baby with us this morning?" At which Elsa awarded her a GLORIOUS smile.
P.s. I know I'm sounding like a doting Great Grandfather, but she really is a good baby, and great fun.
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