100


On Thursday Auntie Gladys is 100 years old.
Frail, deaf and registered blind, she now has her good days and her bad days, which is to be expected and despite a couple of recent falls she continues to soldier on like the stalwart she has always has been ( there's a message in that me thinks)
Even though we no longer officially exist the Old FLOWER SHOW COMMITTEE has organised a massive bouquet to be sent to her. One with the loudest array of coloured flowers that could be mustered. I am hoping she may be able to see just a glimmer of  the blooms sent.
Members of the village choir will  be singing her happy Birthday and will be taking a cake and her daughter and family. will be there on the day.
She has already told Phil from the choir that she needs to bake her famous scones for the day

In the village there is still a significant number of  people that hold dear memories of the old gal.
Indeed I have shared many here, from her famous last speech at the last flower show, to her hundred or so scone gifts tied surreptitiously on the cottage door knob,

But when pushed I have one very dear memory of auntie Gladys that outranks all of the others  and that was back in 2008 when I held my very first Open Allotment Day for Charity.
I was fairly new in the village back then and had no idea how many people, if any, would support the event so when the deadline of 6pm came and it helpfully started to rain, I found myself standing in the lane willing for just one person to turn up.
I need not have worried...... for when I walked up the lane and looked around the corner leading up to the Church I spied a long row of villagers, walking towards me in Indian file under a collection of umbrellas and rain macs.
Leading them was a valiant Auntie Glad, dwarfed by a massive golfing brolly and as she passed me she nodded her head and gave me a genteel "Hello" in her best telephone voice as if she was walking into church

63 comments:

  1. A very, very special woman. I really hope she can see at least a glimmer of her flowers. She knows she is loved, which is wonderful.

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  2. May she have a very happy birthday!

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  3. She puts news on the back foot, may there always be an Auntie Gladys in the world. Happy Birthday to her.

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  4. Thanks for sharing Aunty Gladys with us all these years. So much joy and inspiration.

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  5. Well done her! Stalwart - you're right there. I had a granny who lived to 93 and a great-aunt who reached 100. Tough as the proverbial old boots. Between them they had lived through both world wars, buried husbands, children and even grandchildren. Life throws it - so duck, curse then carry on.

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  6. What a splendid lady x

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  7. I remember this story. A special lady indeed. My very best wishes to Auntie Glad. X

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  8. I had *two* Auntie Gladyses. Their mothers were born around the 1880s, when, according to Lark Rise to Candleford, the name first became popular.

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  9. A golfing umbrella? I never realised that Auntie Gladys played golf. Having reached a century, I thought she'd be a cricketer.

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  10. Great photo of auntie Glad! Those scones do look tempting! :)

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  11. A wonderful memory of Auntie Glad and I'm sure there are many more. It will be a great day of celebration!

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  12. What a wonderful lady. I hope she thoroughly enjoys her day.

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  13. What a precious lady Aunty Gladys is .
    Wonderful memories came back of Sue's Nanna .
    We arranged an at home all day party for her 90th.
    Thank goodness we did she passed away a year later
    I spent the day crying at all her wonderful friends that came. You Have been a caring friend to her .XXX

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  14. Please pass-on our best wishes from Blog World.

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  15. This kingdom was built by people such as Auntie Gladys. I hope she has a fantastic 100th. xx

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  16. What a beautiful, dear woman. Like Mitchell, I thank you for sharing her with us.

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  17. I love the thought behind the bouquet of flowers. Happy 100th birthday to her from me...…..

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  18. Auntie Glad and those gorgeous scones - I bet you missing having a bag of those yummy looking goodies hanging on the door knob John. She was always such a trooper - amazing lady!
    Happy 100th Birthday Gladys - enjoy each moment.

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  19. wouldn't it be marvelous if we could all send her birthday cards?

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  20. This post feels like a hug. I miss Aunt Gladys and your tales of her in the village. Its nice to read of her today.

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  21. Happy Birthday and many happy memories

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  22. I bet Auntie Gladys has reinforced bra straps that she has hoiked continually through her century.

    Have a wonderful celebration girl x

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  23. I hope the Auntie Gladys has a lovely 100th birthday. I'm also hoping that there are some perfumed blooms in her bouquet.

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  24. Happy Birthday Auntie Gladys!

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  25. Happy 100th Birthday to Auntie Glad! May the Goddess bless her.

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  26. Thank you for sharing Auntie Glad with us. Our lives are richer for that.

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  27. She is an amazing lady!

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  28. Happy 100 Birthday aunt Gladys! Truly they are "The Greatest Generation".
    Thank you John for sharing her with the world.

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  29. What an incredible milestone to reach!
    Happy 100th Birthday aunt Gladys, may your day be filled with much loveliness :)
    Congratulations.
    ~Jo
    xx

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  30. Anonymous2:32 pm

    Well done Auntie Gladys - card on it's way c/o John. Let's all do it.

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  31. I'd love to know how she got her scones to rise like that, mine never do.
    Briony
    x

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  32. A lovely memory to have of her. I hope she has a wonderful day with her family and friends.

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  33. Happy Birthday Auntie Gladys! She is a jewel in the crown of your village.

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  34. Happy birthday to Auntie Glad!

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  35. Barbara Anne3:32 pm

    Wishing Auntie Glad a wonderful birthday! It sounds like the village has good plans afoot to assure that happens.

    Had I known two weeks ago, I'd have sent her a birthday card. :)

    Hugs!

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  36. Happy Birthday to Aunt Gladys!

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  37. I hope the flowers were scented as well as brightly colored. Thank you for sharing Auntie Glad with us all these years, John. Best wishes to that amazing lady!

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  38. What a delightful woman. 100 is a really good stalwart number methinks.

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  39. Happy Birthday Auntie Glad. What a beautiful smile in the photo. To be smiled at by you must have lifted many a spirit.

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  40. Well done Auntie Glad !
    A lady well worth knowing...and having on your side!!

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  41. bless dear auntie glad's sweet gentle heart! 100 is a magnificent accomplishment!

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  42. A true Centenarian! Happy Birthday to her. I bet that bouquet you all send her will be marvelous!

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  43. Happy birthday auntie glad 🌸🌸🌸🌸

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  44. Does she still remember who you are John. If so do wish her a happy birthday from us all.

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    1. The last time she didnt but she did recall the flower show x

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  45. I remember this story. What a Grand Lady.
    Happy Birthday and Let There Be Cake.

    cheers, parsnip

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  46. Oh ... Auntie Glad ... One of a kind and how lucky the people are who actually know her and can visit her .. Happy Birthday and much love from far away, Candice

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  47. Lori Wong8:47 pm

    I hope her 100th year is very special indeed.

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  48. Knowing of people like Auntie Gladys makes life worth living. Happy Birthday Auntie Gladys!!

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  49. That is such a sweet memory, John. It sounds like an ending scene of a lovely movie.

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  50. It does doesnt it? Im at work now after going to choir

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  51. 100 is simply amazing!!

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  52. Anonymous10:51 pm

    It's a nice memory.

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  53. Auntie Gladys sounds awesome!
    Frail, deaf and legally blind, bet she has the best stories. Living to be 100 is no small feat.

    XOXO

    p.s. whatever you didi to the comments, now it seems it likes me! yay!

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  54. Even if I lived to 100, I still wouldn't be able to bake scones like that, what gems.

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  55. How wonderful what a special lady, she has become a big part of your story through the years we all need an auntie Gladys to fill the void of missing grandparents or aunts, as a child I grew up with no relatives but I adopted many aunts along the way, glad that your all going to visit and surprise her on her special day.

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  56. How lovely that she can be remembered so fondly. The world needs more Aunty Gladys’s. I hope today is a Good Day for her.

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  57. I LOVE Auntie Gladys! What an amazing women. Wish her a happy birthday from me. I don't know her, but I recognise an indomitable spirit when I see one.

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  58. A Very Happy Birthday to Auntie Glad. Please give her all my best from across the pond.

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  59. Happy Birthday Auntie Gladys! What a lovely memory, John :)

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  60. Aww Happy Birthday to her, bless her ❤

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  61. Some people are just such good role models for the rest of us. Auntie Gladys is one in a million.

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