Great Grandma

This is MY Grandma, Valeria Tomaniczka (formally Somogyi)

(Ok so I share her with a few/ 13 other grandchildren and 17 Great grandchildren and counting). 

I am so incredibly glad that my children are able to get to know her.

Born in Hungry on 15/11/1931, yesterday she celebrated her 80th Birthday.

So here is a little about her;

• Grandma was always a bright student and  part of the Hungarian National Chior
• She is the oldest sibling having two younger brothers.
• Meeting in school at around 13years old she shared a 10years friendship/courtship before marring Janos Tomaniczka (Grandad)  in the May of 1953.
• In 1956 after living through the violent Hungarian Revolution they left behind family and friends and headed to Austria with no clear plan from there. In February 1957 after many months on a boat and 5 months pregnant (suffering a lot of morning sickness) with my mum, her firstborn, they landed on the shores of Australia.
• She went on to have two more children, two girls and one boy.

• She taught herself English by reading novels with a dictionary in hand
• She still loves books and reads 1-2 novels most week the genera hardly matters I think she just  loves to read anything.
• She is a hard working, honest lady who at 80yrs still hand rakes and clears a great deal of her 7 acres by herself... all autumn long.
  
• Despite or as a result of cooking almost every night for her family she doesn't enjoy cooking and happily let my Grandad take over during their retirement. Now living alone since his passing she often prefers toast to cooking for one.
• She loves fresh cut flowers and music.

She has all the time in the world for her Great Grandchildren and has been able to attend anythingwe have ever asked her to. Here she is a few weeks ago at an award presentation for Adalia.

My children love having a Great Grandma, Adalia especially tell me how lucky she is as "most kids don't have a great grandma.

Happy Birthday Grandma