Grandparents are brilliant. We can offer ‘a call on me whenever’ service that is invaluable when a young couple are juggling all the balls of life in the air. We can bring all sorts of magic to our grandchildren and we can look on in awe at how our own children have blossomed into beautiful young parents themselves.

This week is Halloween. It’s an opportunity to make some memories. I’ve one up my sleeve. We have a crop of kale growing. It is tall, lush and succulent. It seems there may have been some seed contamination. During September, a few sun flowers popped up their yellow and golden heads. Then, Tim found an abutilon that I transferred to the garden.

Now, Colm has discovered a few pumpkins here and there. I’ve asked him to show me so that I can find one with Ricky and Peter and we will cut and shape the face. We’ll put in the light and so on. I’m not a lover of modern Halloween trends, preferring the traditional simplicity we had when I was young.

Precious memories

I never remember a pumpkin back then. My memories of Halloween are of being on all fours bobbing for apples in the old blue baby bath at home in Co Tipperary with my brother Phil.

As we grew, apples were replaced by coins so we could show off holding our breaths under water. Dad would hang a swinging apple on the door jamb between the kitchen and the scullery. That could give you a right bang.

Our own lads played it, enthusiastically pushing each other’s faces into the flour. I hope they remember us laughing too

My recollections are clear of water all over the kitchen floor and everyone soaked, but it’s the laughter of my parents that make it a cherished memory. Mam never liked the flour mountain game with the grape on top because it created such a mess. It’s a great one for all ages. Each participant has to cut a slice off with a knife.

The last competitor has to pick up the grape with his/her mouth and that results in flour all over the kitchen with much spluttering and glee. Our own lads played it, enthusiastically pushing each other’s faces into the flour. I hope they remember us laughing too.

Last Saturday, I met two of my friends for coffee. I’ll call them Bessie and Ellie. Two great ladies but I’m embarrassed for them really. It happens that both their grandchildren are in the same class. Each of them was doing the homework with the grandchild.

They were flummoxed. The words had to rhyme with the pictures and neither of my two friends could solve one of them. There might have been a sneaky Halloween theme.

They gave all the reasons why they couldn’t figure it out. I listened with glee. Then, I said, “ye should hear yourselves, two grannies not able to do junior infants homework.” The three of us parted, laughing heartily.

Anonymous grannies

I remembered minding Katie while Philip and Aileen attended a meeting in a midlands town. I thought I’d visit the shopping centre. I met a granny while walking the streets. She had great admiration for my little granddaughter.

She went on to tell me that she used to mind her own grandson. The child’s mother used to come with the food prepared and ready for heating. The granny said, “I used to give him whatever he liked and throw out that auld stuff. His mother was none the wiser and he grew into the finest young lad.”

Well, that granny also needs to maintain her anonymity. I see the lengths my daughter-in-law goes to in food preparation for the little ones. I will always honour the wishes of the parents. The buck stops with them.

Happy Halloween everyone. Go make memories this week.