Christmas Memories - The Parcel

 

My Gran was a pretty amazing lady. I mean everyone would say well she is just a regular British woman what is so special? Well, one thing was that the hole in her heart that normally closes when a baby is born didn't close for her.  In those days there was no surgery for that and so she lived her whole life with a hole in her heart. Never ever did it slow her down. She took care of her home and everyone around her that
might need a helping hand, including the creator of Andy Capp, who lived down the street in early days. She would always listen to me and when I was 9 and visiting there, all I had to say was, 'oh, look at that, isn't it pretty?' and she would go into the shop and buy it for me. Yes, I am afraid I did take advantage of that from time to time but most kids would.

Of course, it only worked if Gran and I were alone. If Dad or Mom was there, they would put a stop to any of that nonsense. Secretly I think Dad figured I was getting into his territory of being center stage - LOL.

Every year in about October because Gran would package this up and send as early as possible to be there in time for Christmas was something that no one will really understand today at least not like this.  There came a large Christmas parcel. Gran did not trust the postal services either in England or in Canada and figured they would mess it up somehow. Not only was every single gift wrapped special and labeled, all the gifts were then sewn into a heavy white cotton package, with the heaviest thread. On the cotton parcel, our address was written in marker, printed in big block letters. When Mom received the parcel this part had to be cut very carefully with shears as nothing else would get through it as it was tightly stitched shut. Over the cotton parcel wrapping was brown paper wrapping, with our address printed on it again and all tied shut with brown coarse string after taped shut. Over that brown paper was heavy brown parcel paper, which too, was first all taped shut to the point that no one's fingers could possibly open it. After it was completely sealed shut with tape there would be heavy string tied all around it. Our address of course was printed on the top layer. Two layers of brown paper different thickness and then the sewn cotton wrapping, all addressed.

Gran's thinking was that if the outer layers gotten torn off in the travels, the

cotton one would make it for sure. She would only use the very latest British stamps on the parcel so that I could add them to my stamp collection. Inside the parcel was my yearly good winter coat from Marks & Spencer's St. Michael's brand. The only place my Gran bought any of my clothing. She would send
jumpers, coats, toys, and things for my mother and father too. This parcel was pure magic and such a treasure of so many things. Gran was great at stuffing little toys, like cars and farm sets and tea sets all through the package. Even 45 records made it in her careful packing. 

Grandad made a choice of the 45 'My Little Nicotine Gal' because Mom and Dad both smoked back then.  The treasure collection of my magazines also was tucked in there along with Giles comics for my Dad. I loved the old granny in Giles and would look through all the pictures to find her. I never understood the humor in them as they were political and adult but I loved the drawings. Gran sent weekly newspapers, women's and children magazines all year round, rolled up and tied with string, the collections came for Christmas, Robin and Twinkle when I was young and then Diana and Jackie when I was a teen. When it arrived my mother would take it and put it at the top back of her closet, even if I was jumping on their bed I wouldn't be able to see it. To this day I am amazed at how many gifts were tucked into this parcel but things were inside of things and the parcel always fit into our mailbox, even with a coat inside.

Christmas morning not only would the presents from Santa be there, there were presents with the wrapping paper that could only be from England and to my young heart they were better than whatever Santa brought because it was from my Gran.

Grandma Giles

Have a wonderful Wednesday!