DEAR News Of The Area,

AS we prepare for another Christmas, those of us who have seen 80-plus family gatherings can expect to take our ease while the next generation takes responsibility for directing the operations and the grandchildren settle down with their favourite gifts.

Offers of help are refused and it is easy to feel useless where once we were the lynchpins of similar occasions.

Nevertheless, while we might keep a low profile we are the keepers of objects full of wonder for little ones.

My granddaughter is fascinated by a flexible wand which at the push of a button or flick of a switch can produce a claw for picking things up, a light for finding stuff which has rolled under the furniture and a magnet for pins, batteries etc.

What’s not for a six year old to love?

Walking sticks and wheel chairs are another source of fascination, although we need to be prepared to reclaim them once they have been turned into weapons, and don’t even get me started on dentures.

If your four year old grandchild has located the secret button of your recliner – well, good luck with that one.

I find that I am often a source of merriment, attempting to follow a conversation in spite of being auditorily challenged.

When asked a question like “What is that sign?” I am likely to reply “half past four”.

It’s actually fun to generate howls of laughter without even trying.

Who knew we were such great entertainment value?

As the poem says, “Play up, play up and play the game”.

A happy Christmas.

Regards,
Margaret ENGLAND,
Toormina.