Happy Birthday (2)

1. My Dad died not long after his 59th birthday and today he would have been 63.

2. Mum, aunty Linda and I are joined by my brother, his wife and daughter for a get together at the hotel. There's lots of playing and chatter while some us pop off for a massage, manicure or pedicure before settling down for a brilliant afternoon tea. Three tiers of posh sarnies, scones and cakes.

3. We say a toast to George and wish him happy birthday and wish that he was here. We don't have to make a special effort to talk about him or set aside a special time, we talk about him a lot. He is exceptionally easy to remember.

4. This photo is of my mum, brother and I. Just before we took it mum was saying how much dad would have enjoyed the day. There was a pause before we said 'well, maybe not the spa treatments bit and to be honest, there's football on so he would be watching that, but yes, apart from that he would have liked it'.

5. And he would have liked it; he'd have liked how happy we are together, how much laughter there is, how much good chat there is, how lovely his granddaughter is and how alright things are. Happy Birthday, old boy.