They share a grandmother

Vera has been visiting Margret (next door). She comes here about once a year and she is a welcome visitor. We did not manage to see enough of her this time, but both sides were busy.

I called this morning. Margret had made soup to help my soft/liquid diet. I sat and listened to them talk about their shared grandmother. She was one of 9 red heads born to their parents in Russia. She married a scientist there and they left for Germany early in the 20th Century. (I'm sure Margret will correct me if the timing is wrong.) She already had 2 daughters, but the younger one died after receiving the smallpox vaccine (essential for their immigration to Germay). So she arrived in Germany unable to speak German and having just lost a baby. More children came later. Very sad. Subsequently the couple emigrated again, this time to America.

The memories were triggered because Vera bought black patent leather shoes in Rothbury during the visit. She loves black patent leather. Their grandmother envied the daughters of the British Embassy in Russia (Moscow or St Pete's?) because they had black patent leather shoes, probably brought from England. In her later years, when she and her husband were prosperous, she always dressed in beautiful clothes and wore beautiful shoes.

V and M's family history is very rich. Today's story included the piano in the grandparents' home that was played on by Liszt during regular musical soirees.

This was all good distraction from my sore mouth, which is not too bad today. I'm full of pills and a bit sleepy. Soft diet and cool foods today, but no appetite so that's easy.