One year on

Today marks one year since Dad went home to be with the Lord. It's hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since I was able to talk to him or listen to one of his corny jokes! I still miss him sooooooooo much because he was such a great Dad and Grandad and so today I'm feeling a little fragile. But I'm thankful for all the happy memories I have of him and everything he taught me.

As I've been thinking about him a lot, so many things have made me smile. I have really vivid images of holding his hand when I was a little girl, as we walked from Salford to Eccles (yes, walked) to see my grandparents, reciting nonsense rhymes all the way. This would only be interrupted by him saying a hearty "Hello there!" to a passer by, only to turn to me and say "Who's that?" He would speak to anyone and everyone.

He had so many things wrong with him and seemed to be forever going in hospital. (Broken neck, chronic asthma, several operations for hernias, ulcers, nasal problems, heart problems to name a few) yet whenever we asked him, "Does it hurt?" he'd always smile and say, "Only when I laugh."

The way he made my brother Paul walk 10 paces behind us in the 70's when he wore his white jacket. He was so set in his ways and couldn't cope with the white jacket. My cousin always called him Dogmatic Bob. Even that made him laugh.

I'd just love to give him one more hug......