Mum has a thing about grapes.
They were a bit of a luxury in Mum’s family in 1950’s Philippines.
One Christmas we were alright with money so I asked Nanay if I could have a small bunch of grapes for Christmas. We spent Christmas in Caibiran, I was so proud of my grapes that I wore it as a brooch as I believe no one else has one in the island!
Mum via whatsapp. 2021
When Mum started working in England she couldn’t believe how affordable grapes were so she GORGED herself on them and put on loads of weight! there were always some on the windowsill in her Nurse’s room.
Come to think of it we ALWAYS had grapes in the fruit bowl at home! and bunches of black, green AND red for special occasions, like Christmas.
These ceramic grapes were made by Mum when she was working at the Royal Free hospital in London during Occupational Therapy sessions with the patients where she would join in, each bunch took a week to make.
I remember them being on a windowsill at home in the hallway and I remember the plate being broken! I had no idea Mum had made them I thought she’d bought them.
They’re actually really good!
So Mum’s thing with grapes has never left her… pretty sure I was the only child ever to be dressed as fruit at our school fancy dress.
(Just incase you’re wondering, Mum wore the grapes pinned to a pink cotton dress on her left shoulder like a corsage! she designed the dress herself and had it made in town when she was a teenager. During fiesta at Christmas time it’s like open house in the neighbourhood – going door to door eating and partying in their best outfits. When the grapes started to droop and fall off, Mum just started eating them!)
Pearls of the NHS 