For Harry, My Father In Law.

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry

I am not there, I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Fry

Not your average 16 year old

Emily is 16 today.


And she's not here - she's in Germany on a school History trip. Off they went at stupid o'clock this morning. I pity the staff I really do - just four of them here for a pizza party and the noise level was off the scale. If you flew Heathrow to Munich at around 7 am this morning I do apologise.


We didn't really get what it said on the tin when Emily arrived. For starters I thought she was going to be another boy, and she was supposed to be of average weight. She doesn't know the meaning of the word and weighed in from the off at just shy of 10lbs. And obviously she had some out of the ordinary plumbing and has developed an out of the ordinary attitude to life.


Happy Birthday Em. Enjoy. I know you will.

So a week has gone by and my purse is a little heavier, my washing basket a little less overflowing and the fridge a little fuller. But the house is a little more empty and not quite so insane. I do miss him.