Next month will be my grandparents Golden Wedding
Anniversary. 50 years ago in Peckham, the town they grew up in, a slightly shy
15-year-old Sylvie finally agreed to meet a somewhat rebellious,
cigarette-smoking 18-year old Jim (complete with ginger, Teddy Boy hair).
“I thought he looked alright,” shrugs my Nan whenever she
tells me the story, “but I wasn’t too sure.”
Maybe not love at first sight then. How did the first date
go?
“Well, one of the first things he mentioned was that he
hated it when girls bit their nails. That made me worry because that was my
worst habit then.”
So, how did you get past that?
“Well, it was dark in the cinema so he couldn’t notice then.
The rest of the time I just kept my gloves on.”
Good thinking, Nan.
The next day Sylvie bought nail paint that stops you from
biting them and to this date she has had the most perfectly shaped nails of
anyone I know.
What about you then, Grandad?
“Well, I dated a lot of women before your Nan but she had
all their best qualities in one.”
Right.
A few years on, they were engaged. And one snowy day in
March 1964 Sylvie and Jim enjoyed a small and simple ceremony followed by a
quick drink and dance above a local pub. Then they got the bus home to their
new flat in Catford.
So, there was my Nan, meeting the love of her life at 15 and
married to him at 19. And here I am at 23 with no great success on the relationship front. Perhaps I could learn a thing or two about relationships off of my
grandparents? These are the main lessons that I could distinguish…
Never lose the teenagers in you
My Nan and Grandad met when they were barely adults and they still hold hands
and can always be found jiving together at parties. Admittedly, it is a little
embarrassing when your Grandad announces, “Your Nan’s had passion fruit
tonight, now I don’t stand a chance in bed” but it’s good to know their
relationship is still youthful.
Revenge is all gravy
My Nan can be quite reserved and is one of the most caring people I know. So it
shocked me to learn that when my Grandad jokingly declared at a dinner party that my Nan's coffee “tasted like gravy”, demure little Sylvie actually
went and made him a mug of Bisto (milk and sugar included). I’m sure there are
many morals to this story but I am laughing too hard to list them.
If you run out of things to say, just fall asleep
When watching a film with my grandparents a while ago, I started chatting away
only to get replies in the form of snores. Apparently if your partner begins to
bore you, subtlety is not of high importance.
Take a hike
Whenever my grandparents invite me on a “little walk” I am never quite prepared
for the trek across Kent that follows. My Grandad even takes a pedometer just
to demonstrate exactly why I can’t feel my feet when we finally return home.
However, they’ve been walking and exploring many miles together for 50 years so
it must have done some good.
In all honesty, it’s difficult to put your finger on exactly
why a laddish Teddy Boy and a pretty but sensible young girl hit it off so
well. At a young age they met and just clicked and 50 years down the line they’re
still going strong and my family and I are lucky enough to share a part of
their story.
Happy Golden Anniversary Sylvie and Jim ♥
