This is why I am me

[Bunnylump]

I was just sifting through some things my Mum wrote, and found a few old stories about some of her (and my) relatives. Some of them had me chuckling. Then it hit me that we all hear all these weird and wonderful stories about our relatives, and think how eccentric they are. But MAYBE (just maybe) it's a family trait which shows through in ourselves too? I thought it would be fun to record some of the funnier / weirder ones here so we can see if we think personality follows through generations?

Mum wrote:

Granny B was rather an eccentric old lady. She used to ride a horse to church, and if the weather was wet, she'd tog herself up in sacks (no mackintoshes in those days!) She also objected to the length of the sermon -parsons used to drone on and on - this meant she was late in preparing the Sunday dinner. So she took an alarm clock into church with her, and when the sermon started, she'd set the alarm to go off in 10 minutes. The poor reverend gentleman thereafter restricted his sermons to 6 minutes!

[chazzie]

Oh I would have loved to have been in the church when the alarm went off

[LAT]

That's a great idea! There must be a few vicars and priests round the country that could do with an alarm wielding member of the congregation.

[strep98]

Off to find the alarm clock for this Sundays service, but I think I may kill off most of the congragation as the average age is 110.

More stories please that has made a dull day brighter.

[Bunnylump]

OK, so...

IMHO the first story shows remarkable tactlessness and a propensity for plain speaking to the extreme. Two of my slightly less desirable character traits. So maybe it does run in families?

Anyone else got any worrying traits which appear to run in their family?

[LAT]

Not tactlessness, plain speaking maybe. But a good practical streak - she saw the problem and worked out a very efficient way to resolve it. In fact she was very good at problem solving. Maybe you have inherited that!

[Bunnylump]

I wish!! I think if I claimed that trait Scurra might disagree...

[LAT]

Methinks the lady doth protest too much.

[eirian]

Anyone else got any worrying traits which appear to run in their family?

*** looks at Wulfruna and Scurra and shakes her head in despair ***

[Bunnylump]

Is there absolutely NO hope, Eirian?

[LAT]

Anyone else got any worrying traits which appear to run in their family?

*** looks at Wulfruna and Scurra and shakes her head in despair ***

At least Thomas only shares half his DNA with them!!

Saw some lovely pictures of him at the weekend BTW.

[eirian]

absolutely no hope at all

and yes, Thomas is gorgeous . Oh, and Bunny, I noticed the other day that one of his books has a picture of a purple bunny in it, so he'll recognise his Auntie Bunnylump if we ever manage to meet up!

[Bunnylump]

Ah, now that sounds like a classy book!! And I'd love to meet up!!
I think Thomas needs a squidge from his Auntie Bunnylump!

Now, how do you know that Sigur Ros hasn't got some unorthodox family members? (Bet he has. I reckon everyone does). My Grandad used to squash a whole packet of licorice allsorts into a cake, and then cut them into slices... And just don't get me started on my brother...(did I mention that he's now got a visitors' book in his shed/ weird little cottage thing he built at the end of his garden? )

[LAT]

So are you the "normal" member of the family Bunnylump?

I hope you've signed his visitors book.

[Bunnylump]

Oh, yes, I really am. Normal to the point of boringness.

And no, I haven't signed the visitors' book yet. Nor have I inspected the information point.

[LAT]

Well you won't know what you are missing then will you?

[Bunnylump]

Don't know why I'm posting this on here but I found it amazing. My cousin (who I haven't seen for years and years and years) turned up at my Mum's funeral. And she said that she had photos which belonged to my (our) Nan, and that she'd forward copies to me. I'd never before seen some of these. This is one of my Nan (who worked as a Nanny). Unbelievably, I have a copy of a reference which was written for her from her employers. Now I know that people weren't "PC" in those days, but this just took the biscuit. It read:

"xxxxx is clean about her person and never walks the streets. She is kind to the children, and when she takes them out for day trips, she always brings them back." Anyway, it was nice to finally see her in action (I did wonder if she's contemplating running away with the child after all? )

[giraffe]

That's hillarious, but it makes you wonder what they didn't write. If the best they could say was she doesn't walk the streets. (Sorry bunnylump, not casting aspersions on you Gran's good name, but my weird sense of humour is tickled by it)

[chazzie]

Do you think they were trying to lose the kids

[LAT]

that's hysterical, I agree with giraffe and wonder what they left out of the reference.

Nice to know she was clean, surely!