Manora - the end of an era
Categories: uncategorized
Tags: family, Gran Nora, Manora, Guernsey
Date: 18 December 2008 16:19:52
Today has been very much the end of an era. Gran Nora's house has gone through and for the first time in well over half a century it no longer belongs to the family. What I hadn't realised was that in Guernsey is it quite a formal procedure and my Mum, aunts, uncle and my cousins (the children of my Uncle Steve who died) all had to go to the Royal Court in order for the paperwork to be completed.
It's quite a strange feeling because I have so many happy memories tied into this house. When we were kids it was the most amazing place to play hide and seek because there were so many hiding places. Many hours were spent sitting on the wall around the front of the property, watching the world go by or all the cousins swimming down at the gully by the Lion Rock below. So many photos have been taken with people sitting on this wall! I have fond memories of sitting in front of the TV with my lovely grandpa, watching Playschool and podding peas. In later years, when Gran was much more frail she could often be found sitting in her favourite seat in the window from where she could see all arrivals to the front door, as well as look at the wonderful sea view. So many memories tied up in one place.
The thought of the house belonging to another family is hard, and yet no-one in the family could take it on because it needed so much work doing to it. Also, I am not sure that it would have been the right thing to do. Manora was, and is, part of our history; where we have come from and the experiences there have helped to shape us into the vibrant and strong family that we are today. Today we have to move on, however painful and difficult that is, and we have to shape a different future, without Gran Nora, but still with the rest of us to carry on what she started. That has to be something to look forward to.
