My story that I am about to tell happened in 2003. I was born in Germany and moved to England on my 8th birthday in 1991 along with my younger sister and two brothers. Myself and my sister could not speak any English. Both my brothers were able to speak a little English but were not very good at it. We moved to England for personal reasons and, therefore, had to move into my Nan and Grandad's house before finding our new permanent home!
Over the years that passed, my Nan became my absolute soulmate. She taught me everything that I am and know today. God, do I miss her so much! Then came that fateful year in 2001 when Nan had a nasty fall in town whilst out shopping. She broke her hip and I would learn that Nan was never to return home again! I nursed my Nan right up until the end on her death bed, returning to her only what she gave to me - love!
The last days before her death were the hardest. I would cycle my bicycle through wind and rain straight after work no matter what, to keep her company and comfortable in her hospital bed. She begged me on numerous occasions not to bother to come and visit her as it used to be so late at night by the time I finished work. I felt it was my duty, like she cared for me when I was younger. I just ignored and carried on.
A few weeks had passed until one evening she really had deteriorated and she found it very hard to breath and told me that she didn't want to live anymore and I was to take care of her son (my dad), the house, and that she will always watch over me! Within minutes the priest from Nan's local village church came flying through the double hospital doors, to Nan's bedside and my face in horror, I asked, "Nan what is going on?!" She simply said that she called for him to say the Lord's Prayer. I knew then that Nan didn't want to fight anymore and in the sweetest way, I forgave her! Nan died peacefully in her sleep two days later... The one day that I told her that I wouldn't be coming, just so I could have a rest.
I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl two years later and moved into Nan's home. Weird things started to happen, or were they signs? I was washing up one evening and all was still when suddenly her pantry cupboard doors were open! The funny thing was I didn't hear them opening? Another time was her silver teapot, which was on the tumble dryer, oddly flew across the hard tiled kitchen floor whilst I was out of the room! Electronic toys would go off on their own in dead of night, perfume smells in bedrooms, cold sensations on my forehead at night, doors opening on their own, lights flickering, not to mention dream visitations of Nan.
I can sometimes smell Nan when kissing my daughter goodnight at bedtimes. As soon as I acknowledged all these strange happenings, they more or less stopped. So whether it's coincidence or me going absolutely potty, I will leave it up to you to decide. A lot more things happened but all I can say is that it did happen and I'm a believer!
Your comment about the knitted items struck a chord for me. I have a Christening gown hand made right down to the lace even by my great-grandmother, for my mother. I was Christened in it, and so was my daughter. It's my only 'family heirloom'- something from my 'great', and it is very treasured. So I understand how you feel.