A very Happy Birthday gracesmum lovely story well told
every year mum loved to relate the story of my dad trudging through snow 2' deep the 8miles from where he worked to the hospital where I was born in January '54
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65 years ago tomorrow, a German war bride in a small Scottish town felt that contractions were probably sufficiently advanced for some action to need taking, so she picked up her little suitcase and walked, alove, 3/4 mile up the hill into the town to her MIL's house which was next to her FIL's printing business where her DH the eldest son, worked with his father and brother. Her MIL, not entirely unsympathetic, but feeling this was no big deal, agreed that Yes she should get along to the hospital so she carried on along the High Street to the local Cottage Hospital. Her DH accompanied her but didn't go in of course, you didnt in those days. In fact he went back to the office and awaited developments. She spoke some English but it was her first baby and I imagine she was pretty scared of an unfamiliar situation in a strange country where until very recently the only good German had been a dead German. I believe the midwife was kind, if a bit brusque.
I arrived in due course and my father brought my 7 year old stepsister along to "meet" me after she came out of school with a bunch of daffodils she had picked from our next-door neighbours' garden(!)
How very different from nowadays - ante-natal care, supportive fathers present at the birth, paternity leave, even the offer of a lift to the hospital!
I wonder how on earth my poor Mum coped with the apparent indifference and the expectation that she "had to get on with it".
Thanks Mum 
How times change! Happy Birthday Gracesmum 
Happy Birthday Gracesmum 
Many Happy Returns of Tomorrow gracesmum!
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GM you share your birthday with DGS (who is 6 today) and my favourite son in law (who is 32) DD3 is now 38+ weeks pregnant so you may also share it with our newest grandchild.
I share my birthday with one of my nephews and I love the fact that it's something special we have together (even if it is too soon after Christmas
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A very happy birthday, Gracesmum ...those were the days! 
gracesmum Hope you're having a grand Birthday and enjoying yourself. Many Happy Returns!
I love stories. Thanks for sharing yours Graces and here's hoping you have an enjoyable day. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday, gracesmum. You deserve a treat or two. A or a wee dram perhaps? ((((hugs))))
Happy Birthday gracesmum I hope you have a wonderful day!
Many happy returns of the day, gracesmum - and your story is so interesting. I have this picture of your mother, walking steadily along the road, carrying her little case. (Inside it would be your wee flannelette nighties!) Can't send daffodils, but here are some xx
Lovely story Gracemum happy birthday. I hope someone is spoiling you.
My story is nowhere near so sweet. I was the 4th in 5 years and they told my mother I was not about to be born and sent her to the loo, I arrived and was nearly drowned at birth! Thus began my long life of hospitals and strange health issues. Don't worry, won't bore you, got over most of them and got on with life!
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag graces!
Have a lovely day GM you thoroughly deserve it.
Happy Birthday Gracesmum a milestone one, too! what a lovely story about your mum.
It would be nice to hear some more like yours. Mine was quite boring really - mum in the 'pictures' with auntie when contractions started so off to hospital, then dad showed up when they didn't return home.
tried to give you too many cakes
grace Happy Birthday [cupcakes]
gracesmum Happy, Happy Birthday ( so good I've said it twice)
Have a very happy birthday Graces, you deserve a treat
Happy birthday and enjoy all your celebrations.
Happy Birthday GM
Happy birthday gm
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