No photo for this one.

Today is 15th November (hey I can do simple maths!) and is my grandfather’s birthday, or would be if he was still alive. He was the only one of my grandparents still living by the time I was born, the 4th of his grandchildren and the first one that, like him, was left handed!

I don’t want to be too mushy about him, he could be a complete pain in the backside, he liked routine, was always early for everything and couldn’t keep a tune to save his life but that didn’t stop him from singing loudly. He wasn’t easy to live with and my mum and uncle had a difficult time with him. I didn’t know that, he was my Grandad, source of sweets, cuddles and occasional trips out.

As I got older, he was an example of faith. He had mo issue with us being raised Catholic (any way to God is better than none.) and always came to church with us at Christmas, despite having to get up and down all the time and the different words of the hymns and the Our Father.

I was with him when he died, unafraid and certain of eternal life, even though in a typically grandad move, he let us and God know he was ready on the Friday and didn’t actually die until the next day!

He was the best man he could be given the times he lived in and today I’m thankful I got to know him and have a grandad.