the sharpfamily

Molly and her Rudolph the brown nosed reindeer (at least I think it's a reindeer. Anyway, this is her getting quite excited about the prospect of her second Christmas

We will always miss you Grandpa

He is gone

You can shed tears that he is gone

Or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him

Or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for someone because of yesterday.

You can remember him and only that he’s gone

Or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what he’d want

Smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

Arrivals and Departures

What a rollercoaster month it has been.... First of all, a mad dash back to London from visiting Grandpa Sharp on 27th November for Richard. Made it to London at 1230am on 28th, hospital at 1am, about an hour before Juanita, who thought "she might be having some contractions, so I'll just pop into the hospital with my 26 week pregnant friend, Alex, just to see if they've started"

Needless to say, Kate Abigail arrived about an hour later at 130am, after about 3 pushes. We are both utterly delighted with her, even Molly seems to think having a "baby" that moves around when you poke it is pretty cool. We are now considered the "poster couple" for parents who want to give birth without any pain relief, which is somewhat surprising given Juanita's notoriously low pain threshold. We even gave a talk at ante-natal classes this week.

We made it home on 28th, and saw all the Kellett family, who were also very proud. Grandpa Sharp managed to get an emailed photo printed out at his Hospice and boasted very proudly of his new grand-daughter to all the nurses.

Unfortunately he didn't make it to see her "in person", as he slipped his moorings finally in the early hours of 30th November. It's now 4 weeks, and I am crying my eyes out as I write this. We shall all miss him greatly, not least his wonderful patience with screaming young girls who won't drink their milk, but also for his love and guidance over the last 34 years of my life. One of the constants of my life has now gone, and I will never be able to fill the hole.

Granny Sharp is being incredibly brave, but must be feeling what I feel about 1000 times more. Let's just hope we can enjoy Christmas and remember the good times...

Happy Christmas Everyone!