Last month I wrote about my artist grandmother's childhood in Germany. This month I'm exploring the way her family was on both sides of the second world war, and her escape with my infant mother to a new life in Canada.

By the end of 1940, aged only 26, my maternal grandmother Gunda was on a boat to Canada and a whole new life. She had my 1 1/2 year-old mother with her and was pregnant with my aunt Bettina. They were on the last government-sponsored ship taking evacuees from England.

This giant spool of twine is a very useful tool when it comes to wrangling tomato plants.

 I inherited a funny pair of scissors from my grandmother...

I've been writing about my family again. My grandmother Gunda was an artist and a big influence on my life. She has an amazing story...