Family

Even though it was pretty obvious that Michelle, my daughter-in-law was pregnant..and near to full term....it still came as a shock...a pleasant one of course.  

The all important call came just as some passing guy was offering me some dosh for my dying shiny blue MPV that lies , tilting awkwardly in our driveway.  An offer that at that moment in time, was deemed of absolute no importance and subsequently, completely ignored...yet, only minutes before someone else had made me an offer for our crazy Metro lying alongside.....I use that word mainly because nobody ever, ever, begged to be a passenger in it...quite the opposite...it jerked all over the road...great fun parking if you didn’t possess a sensitive foot.

So what was so darned important to my eldest son that day...?

Simon calmly informed me he had some news..as he does..sometimes you have to provoke him into the next part of the conversation...no hint of the content....in fact it was a "who wants to be a millionaire" moment....OK come on... hit me with it Si...do I have to phone friend for the correct answer?....perhaps, another job in their house for me...I know that Joseph had recently vandalised the lounge curtains...the little tinker...he just wanted to see his grandad...maybe...

One of the last "major" jobs I had completed, was to fix a toilet seat...and as Simon'd drill and tools were still contained in the maufacturers celephane, I visited the house armed with the suitable gear... after managing to complete at least 3 other similar projects...( by the way thats extra coffee) he insisted on taking me back home at a pre-agreed time, only for me to walk into my own lounge and be confronted by all the rest of my family surprising me for my 60th birthday.... a birthday I was desperate to forget....overwhelmed I retreated to the garden for a quiet beer (yeah right) only to be greeted by all our friends who managed to leap out from behind so many bushes....brilliant..but ..by then...yes you guessed it...of course..I desperately needed a shower and change of clothes...oh! not forgetting that I had forgotten to mow the lawn...knee deep in the long grass...if only I had been told in advance..another great day tho'...

I digress....where was I?..."yes"...Simon suddenly announces proudly..."the babies arrived....and it's a girl"....I must admit I came close to a tear of joy...is that trully allowed?...emotional...that’s me...

Thank the lord one of them has broken the pattern. Well done Michelle.

Until Friday all our girls have had girls...and the boys have had boys...

We have 8 offspring between Julie and myself...that’s 5 each...do you know, I still can't remember whether I have any qualifications in Maths...

Anyway...Michelle and Simon have produce a lovely baby girl and named her Peggy Rose.  Mum is looking very healthy and seemingly glowing....dad is worried but nevertheless looking extremely happy... 

Our congratulations go to Michelle & Simon....

To us, Peggy is the 11th grand kiddie but it doesn’t stop there...very soon we will have another... making...yes..a total of 12.....

Kirsty, the next in line, as we speak, is getting the route mapped out to the hospital...her advanced parking ticket has been purchased, I believe..and in fact today's trip to meet little Peggy being for the first time, has been a dry run for her...not having a boyfriend that can drive is certainly not putting her off.  Today, she had so many questions for Michelle that quite frankly, if no-one else had been visiting she would have stayed for hours....(only 3 around the beds and we were suddenly increased to 8)

Do you know...I'm convinced, I had long blonde hair in the good old hippy era but I am told silver/grey is somewhat dignified in a man of my years...I suppose in those years to come, when I do eventually get thrust into my newer mode of transport, namely the wheelchair (once I have sold the cars) , I have not only plenty of muscle power to push me around...but also loads of great company...that’s a theory that I am indeed not confident will be a future arrangement...mind you, being a gadget man, I probably will invest in adding some other means of propulsion...so hey ho!.....