FebulousFebruary 2026: The Old Photograph

Creasing years

Through the creasing years
that photograph of Granny Murphy still makes me chuckle.

There she is in all her finery on the chapel steps at cousin Shelagh’s wedding, in one hand her rosary beads, a quiet anchor in a day of bustle.

Her hat, a small determined planet orbiting just above her wispy silvery strands.
The photographer probably called her name, she lifted her chin, and her whole wizened face smiled, chuffed to have made this precious moment. Click.

Only later, once it had made it to the album, did uncle Hugh notice the church across the road’s spire rising perfectly from the crown of Granny’s hat as if the Protestant building itself had chosen her as its new perch. Titters to belly laughs bubbled and tumbled through the family, with Aunty Mary nearly choking on her Battenberg.

Granny didn’t see the funny side.


Fiona, Kent