Dear Grandad,

Over the last 14 years I have made the most amazing memories with you that I will remember forever. I wish you weren’t taken so soon because I already miss you so much and its going to be so hard without you. You were such a big part of my life and I’m going to remember every second of it.

You loved making everyone else happy and you were such a kind and caring person. I remember when you dressed up in a Santa costume just to make Christmas special for all the kids on the street! You walked down in full Christmas spirit shouting “ho, ho, ho” and ringing bells while all the children screamed in excitement. (I’ll put a picture of you as Santa with Heather and Heidi below).

I was always ready as soon as I got in the car after school for you to say “you got all your sums right?” and normally I would say yes but if I said no you would have a reaction back that would just make me laugh. I was always so excited to see you and spend time with you. I loved testing you on Aston Villa quizzes I found online as it took at least 5 quizzes before you got 1 question wrong. You will always be their No1 fan. The house was never quiet when you were around as your singing could be heard for miles and the cheering whenever villa scored was deafening. I remember one time in particular they won this apparently important thing you were on about and we all were screaming and so excited that they had won (I don’t remember what match it was).

I loved the many stories about your childhood like when you accidently set of the fire alarm telling me “id never ran so fast in my life”. As you were fond of history it was a really fun day out when me, you and Orla went to visit the prison. It was so funny when we seen the photo of this young girl who looked identical to Granny and had apparently been a criminal but released as she was a child and given a new identity in the world . We were convinced that Granny was this criminal as she was the same age as what the young girl would have been and looked exactly the same!

I wish I could hear you one more time saying any of your famous lines like “ I lay my hand upon your head behold 10,000 bugs are dead”, or even going on about the racket of the  music. I remember dressing up in Granny’s clothes in the wardrobe with all the cousins(making a complete mess of the room) and running down the stairs to show of our outfits to you in the living room- where we knew you would be! I miss seeing your face light up and having the best conversations with you. Christmas was the best time ever in England with all the family around the table eating all the food but you skipping the vegetables. You made everyone so happy and anyone to have met such an amazing, wonderful, kind human  is so so lucky.

I miss you so much. I miss you telling us we were going down the road on our bikes way to fast, you asking me for fake coffees from the plastic kitchen. sitting with you in the tent,  sat next to you cheering on the volleyball and screaming at the top of our lungs, helping you make Granny’s morning tea and carrying it upstairs, hearing all the stories about your childhood, going on walks, visiting places, you helping us fix the TV,  you asking me about all the sports I play and I just miss seeing you. I know I am so lucky to have had you in my life and I love you so much. You don’t understand how much I miss you! I can’t believe that you are really gone. I still text you the villa scores and any updates that are happening in my life but I know you will never see them but I still do it anyway. I hope you are watching down on me and are proud of me because its been really hard and it hurts a lot to know your not with us anymore. I love you so much. You mean the world to me. I will never forget you Grandad (Grandelf).

Love From,

                         Katherine xxxxx