In Memoriam

Last night I was thinking about my Aunty Rosie.
She was a ‘married in’ Aunt and not ‘the full shilling’ as my Grandfather used to say.
His own daughter is way more mental but as I have mentioned before, as an ’Aunt of the blood’ she was ‘highly strung’.
My Uncle had left her but never divorced her. I think it was useful to him when he wanted to fend off various girlfriends and their thoughts of marriage.
He supported her though. Paid the mortgage, paid for her car (including petrol), paid for his kids. She wanted for nothing like that but she only wanted him and never got anyone else.

Rosie was used as an unpaid babysitter for my sister and I during the summer holidays.
We were close in age to her kids and we all got on well. Paul was the brother I wanted and Anna was the sister mine wanted!
She took us on a day trip to France once and allowed my 12yr old cousin, Paul, to drive us all to the ferry port!
We also drank and smoked ourselves absolutely silly.
We used to convince her to drive us to Rowland’s Castle, where there was a hump back bridge.
Paul would push and hold her leg down on the accelerator and we would hit the top of it doing about 60mph!
One time the car bounced three or four times, we twatted our heads off the roof and totally fucked the axle!
Renault 12’s were not built for such abuse.
But laugh? Fuck me did we laugh!
We would spend our summers on the beach at Hayling Island with her. Drinking pop and eating ’sand’ sandwiches.

I was in Portugal when she died, too soon and too young. I missed her funeral.
She is buried a few rows away from my Grandfather and when I visit him I visit her.
I just wanted her remembered ’in words’- out there for the world to see.

Auntie Rosie, you were top drawer and I will never forget you.