Typical Gransnetter

After some careful thought, here is Mrs Typical Gransnet.

She lives in Scotland and is called Kate. She is 68.

She is a retired teacher (she was HoD) and has traveled widely.
Her favourite holiday destination is Italy.

She reads the I and The Telegraph. She used to be a Liberal Democrat, but now votes Labour.
She is a church goer and doesn’t support the monarchy.

She isn’t vegetarian, but she does not eat red meat.
She enjoys knitting, watercolour painting, gardening and writes the occasional poem.

She listens to Classic FM, Radio 4 and Boom Radio.
Her favourite authors include Trollope (Anthony and Joanna) and Hilary Mantel.
She watches The Repair Shop, The Traitors, and loved Happy Valley.

She shops at M&S (less so these days), John Lewis, SeaSalt and Aldi.
Her favourite perfume is by Jo Malone.

She is happily married, (her husband is a retired lecturer and has a dicky heart), she has two adult children, and three grandchildren, one of whom is at university and is a worry; and another is on the autism spectrum.
She has a difficult relationship with her daughter in law, but it’s better than it was.

varian

I do not think of myself as a typical Gnetter beacause I am a very fortunate Granny in many ways.

When I read other Gnetter's stories it makes me realise how fortunate I am.

Who is the typical Gransnetter?

I honestly can’t understand the point of this post at all.
It’s got me completely baffled

What’s a typical human? You might as well ask that. When I joined I assumed it was all grandparents but it clearly is not and some aren’t parents,either . Good to have different points of view.

I agree with you dahlia , varian I think you have been given a very rough ride! Varian is not smug , she recognizes how fortunate she is, that does not mean she is unaware or unable to emphasize with people who are coping with distress/ trauma.
Varian these are for you 💐💐💐💐💐

Grayling1

I, like Kalu, don't think there is such a thing as a typical GNetter. I particularly appreciated being a member during Covid as it give me an insight in to how other members were coping. I do find it a bit strange that some contributers who are not grandparents would join this site - not critising - just saying!!!

People who are not yet grandparents went through Covid and were interested in how others were coping.

There are more posts and threads not about being a Gran than otherwise.

Not everyone defines herself in terms of her family anyway.

I’m not a Gran, but am a mum and have numerous great nieces and nephews. I love them all, but don’t post about them - I tend to skim the threads about other people’s children and still find plenty to read and respond to.

I find it a bit strange that people don’t understand that.

Yes, at least we've got the job description I asked for earlier, thanks, Hermother

😂😂😂

Hermother

A typical gransnetter is white, female, short in stature, rotund of figure, white haired and wears a benign smile at all times, even when she's been mugged by a stereotypical hoody who nicks her pension when she's coming out of the Post Office. She wears thick, wrinkly lisle stockings, sensible shoes and a cross over penny over her crumpled elasticated slacks. She attends evensong every week, is a keen and active member of the WI and spends her afternoon knitting shreddies.

Love this
Thanks for making me laugh Hermother.
By the way, does anyone actually collect their pensions from the Post Office any longer?

I know, it wasn’t meant to be a comparison but examples of “the hand you are dealt”.

I, like Kalu, don't think there is such a thing as a typical GNetter. I particularly appreciated being a member during Covid as it give me an insight in to how other members were coping. I do find it a bit strange that some contributers who are not grandparents would join this site - not critising - just saying!!!

"Foxygloves*. Comparing someone else's difficulties to our own doesn't make ours any easier to bear. I've tried that. It doesn't work.

I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical GNetter.
Sorry OP.

merlotgran

^Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards^

Bo***cks!.

We'll just have to agree to differ then
I have no desire to play competitive misery memoirs with anybody, but it would be strange to have reached our 8th decade without some bereavement, illness or indifferent health, perhaps financial worries emotional trauma but what differentiates us is how we cope. Look at women in the two world wars- they were dealt a crap hand, often losing sons as well as a husband, maybe their homes too, struggling to bring up a family without the health and social benefits of the 20th century. Think of the people of Ukraine or any war zone around the world.
So I dont agree its bo**ocks but just life.

A typical gransnetter is white, female, short in stature, rotund of figure, white haired and wears a benign smile at all times, even when she's been mugged by a stereotypical hoody who nicks her pension when she's coming out of the Post Office. She wears thick, wrinkly lisle stockings, sensible shoes and a cross over penny over her crumpled elasticated slacks. She attends evensong every week, is a keen and active member of the WI and spends her afternoon knitting shreddies.

I don't know what a typical gransnetter is...
I know I feel fortunate to have the time to come and read stuff on here when others are out working or looking after sick family etc... so I suppose gransnetters must at least have some time to themselves or they wouldn't be here.

I think I've lived a pretty ordinary life. Not sure that makes me typical though.

varian

I do not think of myself as a typical Gnetter beacause I am a very fortunate Granny in many ways.

When I read other Gnetter's stories it makes me realise how fortunate I am.

Who is the typical Gransnetter?

For me, this comes across as a little patronising. On reading it I am reminded of the posters on Facebook who are 'Blessed' because they consider themselves to be luckier than the rest of us in having holidays, grandchildren, being 'worth' it etc. 'Oh, you poor soul, look at me. I am so lucky'. In truth if you have had to face tough times and been rounded off like a stone that has had water action, it makes you much more understanding to the ups and downs of life because you have been there and had to face the music. Is there a typical Gransnetter? We seem to be a wonderful large eclectic community of wise and experienced people and I for one am very glad I found this group and it keeps me sane when surrounded by the great 'ooh, look what we have and do' of this world.

Nothing wrong with being grateful and happy. A lot of my life has been nightmare-ish but I'm still here, albeit a bit battered. I don't begrudge anyone who has had a happy life. I can't imagine what it's like but they are lucky.

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards

Bo***cks!.

I'e had some horrible times but as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger .

I've always had a fantastic husband and kids and can honestly say I'm happier and more content than I've ever been.Despite the odd family worry .
I always thought thats just how life is ,you dont let the begger grind you down .
I'm happy you haven't had difficult times Varian but you know what? I dont think you really appreciate the good times if its always been good ,you need something to measure it against .

In your long post Elegran you have overlooked the fact that the premise, indeed the title, of the thread was about a typical Gransnetter, nothing to do with gratitude.

The OP say she doesn't think of herself as a typical gransnetter because she's been fortunate.

It seems no one else thinks they're typical either!

Foxygloves

^unlike some Gransnetters who have been dealt a bad hand of cards^

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards.

I think that is a bit unfair, honestly. Some people do have it much harder than others, however they play the cards. Your comment did sound smug, I must say.

I suspect those few who have criticised the OP for posting that she was grateful to have been so fortunate, and accused her of smugness and so on, are doing so because they are resentful of her good luck in the lottery of life.

We have no control over what numbers we draw in that lottery. Good things happening to one person haven't been stolen from someone else, just as bad things happening to one person don't mean that they can't happen to anyone else.

I don't think Varian is being smug. She is saying that she has been lucky. Full marks to her for being aware that she has been lucky. Her saying so doesn't take anything away from those who have not been so lucky.

She is NOT being like Foxygloves Pharisee who prayed "I think thee God that I am not as other men are" - He was pleased with himself for being better than others, not being a thief or murderer or swindler, but a man who could look at others and criticise their faults because he was good and kept all the commandments, gave to the poor, etc etc.

That is quite different to Varian saying that she has been fortunate and not suffered some of the things that are posted about about on the forum. Illness, disability, bereavement, betrayal, conflict in relationships, loneliness, depression, poverty. Those unfortunate things happened to people - they were not sins that they were virtuous enough to not have committed!

I could echo her post. I have lived to a good age without chronic or acute illness (apart from BC which was sorted out by one operation) I had a happy childhood with loving and sensible parents, and 50 years of a happy marriage before I was widowed, my children and grandchildren have no broken relationships or major health problems, I have enough money to live reasonably comfortably, enough interests to fill my life and friends and family to prevent me getting too lonely (of course I would like to see more of everyone, but they have their own lives and their own families to fit into their time)

I am aware that not everyone who reaches my age can say the same. Is it smug to say that I am grateful to whatever controls my fate for all my blessings?

It depends how many bad hands you've been dealt Foxygloves. Most of us can take so much before we break.
I don't think you are smug varian. Good for you if your life has been happy.

unlike some Gransnetters who have been dealt a bad hand of cards

Ah but it’s not the hand you are dealt but how you play the cards.

I didn't think you were smug at all Varian. It's good that you've had a relatively fortunate time in life. I suspect that most of us have had ups and downs to a greater or lesser extent through life. Some very bad downs at times. However, grandchildren are a blessing and a wonderful distraction at times from the bad, sad things going on in the world.