Roaming Brit
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets

From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Picture

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions have to be made. Illness, family bonds and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in a life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Picture

R.I.P. Granddad!

28/6/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
On 26 June 2017, at the age 92, my Grandfather passed away, together at last with his wife Poppy, my Grandmother. The loss of a loved one is always difficult; for me, more so, because I hadn't seen either of my Grandparents for many, many years; nearly twenty in total.

We stopped talking  for reason's I can't even recall now; whatever the circumstances, they are unimportant. 

Granddad was the last of my Grandparents to pass away. Only now, through loss, do I appreciate what I once had. Death is the final chapter, but  memories never fade!

In today's entry I just wanted to mention a few recollections, of my Granddad John; I can at least pay that tribute to a man, who was a huge part of my childhood. My fondest memories were going with Granddad, in his Land rover, to our local forest, near the small village of Wickham in Hampshire. As Children, myself, my brother, my adopted Uncle and Aunt, who were the same age as us, used to pile in the back of Granddad's work horse, with the dogs, and spend a fun filled afternoon, trekking through the Forest of Bere. I haven't recalled these particular memories for many years; I remember them just like they were yesterday.

My Nan and Granddads house, was always packed to the rafters on a Saturday, as everyone, from our large family congregated together, talking over tea and coffee; chatter, Big Daddy, wrestling on the TV, following the Saturday afternoon film on ITV, which Granddad always made a point of watching. All the women in the family, including me, as a child, would sit in the breakfast room, all the gentlemen, in the sitting room; a kind of family tradition, long since gone!

Granddad was fond of gardening, always keeping a neat and tidy patch. He was also a carpenter; I remember he made me a fort for Christmas one year. He also made walking sticks, indeed anything he put his mind too.  Granddad also enjoyed country pursuits; walking, shooting and hunting. A well known character in the local area, he was  a kindly soul; traditional tweed cap, walking one of his dogs, who always passed the time of day, with whoever he met!

​Growing up in the 1970s was a fun time. Towards the end of the decade all of our family went on  holiday to Dorset, staying in a large house in the village of Chiddock. Surprisingly for me, it was the only holiday I ever went on as a child. My parents, like my Nan and Granddad, never really left the small town, where they grew up. Granddad was  a village boy at heart, spending life in the place he loved. I did have an idyllic childhood, happy memories and acquired knowledge; thanks in part, to my Grandfather. Granddad is the last of his generation in our family, a link to the past that is no longer there. His presence will live on through his five children, my Mum, Aunts and Uncle and all his Grandchildren, a permanent reminder of John, the man I was lucky enough to call my Granddad!

I am enclosing a copy of a book my Grandfather wrote, about his life, in three parts. I read it again last night. It's interesting to see, just how peoples lives have changed over the generations, since Granddad was born in 1924. Copies of my Granddads original manuscript were printed, bound and distributed among the family. This particular document, I have used in my family tree research. It gives a wonderful insight into times gone by!


Part I



Part II



Part III


Picture
Picture
Picture


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    51-year-old Author and professional blogger. Expat formerly living in Gran Alacant on the Costa Blanca! Currently, residing in my adopted home of Perth, Western Australia.

    Picture

      Contact Luke.

    Submit
    Picture
    Click me & email for more information!
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Asia-2019
    Australia
    Australia 2022/23
    Bettys-revenge
    Bipolar
    Bipolarcoaster
    Britain
    Bullying
    Business
    Cancer Research
    Cats
    Characters-i-have-known
    Charity
    Charlatan-or-confidant
    Christmas Thoughts
    Claybornes World
    Coming-out-stories
    Cooking
    Coronavirus
    Croatia 2022
    Current Affairs Politics
    Darrell In The Uk
    Death Of Queen Elizabeth
    Dunbars
    Easy Horse Care
    Events
    Events That Shaped My World
    Family
    Fascinating Facts
    Friends & Colleagues
    Gran Alacant
    Guest Bloggers
    Ibs
    Immigration
    Information
    Inspirational People
    Interviews
    Japan And Thailand 2020
    Jersey-2019
    Lifestyle Break
    Lockdown-life-in-photos
    London 2022
    Lounge-d
    Luke-martin-jones-awards
    Marmite Watch
    Memories Of Fareham
    Memories-of-home
    Memories-of-southampton
    Memories Of Spain
    Me-too-oxfam
    Milestones
    Moving
    My Life
    My Writing
    Non Touch Toast
    Oxfam Sociopathy
    Penelope Wren
    Photographs-of-hope
    Pippa
    Platinum Jubilee
    Quotes
    Rabs-world
    Remembering Gran Alacant
    Reviewing Gran Alacant
    Santa-pola
    Self-isolation
    Shopping
    Short Stories From My Youth
    Southampton
    Spiritual
    Teaching Jamie
    Thailand 2022
    The-darkness
    The-streets
    The Two Of Us
    Travel
    Verruca-almond
    Villa In The Sun
    Visits From Friends
    War In Europe
    Weight Loss & Health
    Year In Review 2015
    Year In Review 2016
    Year In Review 2017
    Year In Review 2018
    Year In Review 2019
    Year In Review 2020
    Year In Review 2021
    Year In Review 2022
    Zest

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Tweets by realtruthblog
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture


    Instagram
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    A place to call home
    Finally, a place we can call home.  A community of like minded individuals, who used to call Britain home.  Now Spain is our choice, an altogether gentler, happier, sunnier and safer experience!
            Luke Feb 16
    Picture
Picture
Picture

Telephone

+447999663360

Email

lukemartin.jones@gmail.com
  • Blog
  • The Story Of Us
  • Other Blogs
    • Forever Enduring Cycles Blog 2015 >
      • Forever Enduring Cycles
      • Bipolarcoaster
      • Books For Sale
  • Gallery
  • Spain
    • First Month
    • Three Months
    • Six Months
    • One Year
    • 2 Year Anniversary
    • Spanish Views
    • Gran Alacant >
      • GA Advertiser
      • Gran Alacant News
      • LoungeD
      • No Wives Club
  • About
    • New Life
    • Wedding
    • 21 Years
    • Timeline
    • My Story
    • Australia 2016/17
  • Guest Bloggers
    • Penelope Wren
    • Debra Rufini
    • Claire Coe
    • Richard Guy
    • Optimistic Mummy
    • Julie Rawlinson
    • Letters Of Hope
  • Links
  • Contact
  • My Writing
    • Short Stories From My Youth
    • Verruca Almond
    • The Streets