I have many stories I could tell about Grannie, and I often do as she was a woman of incredible character. This story, however, particularly captures the kind of person she was.

On one of Auntie Jean and Grannie's visits to see us in Australia, we went rock climbing (Grannie, as you can imagine, was only a spectator). I took a break from climbing up the wall and went to sit with Grannie. We sat in silence for a few moments and both watched Auntie, Jodi and dad climb. After a few moments she said "I think I could do that you know!". 

I was amazed, but also not at all surprised, to hear Grannie say those words. Of course, at the age of nearly 90, she did not attempt to go rock climbing, but I think this perfectly captured Grannie's willingness to try new things. She never let her age be a barrier to living her life to the fullest possible extent, which I believe she did right up till she died.

Thank you Grannie for teaching me so many life lessons. Even after you retired from being a school teacher, you continued to be a teacher of life in more ways than you would have ever known.