May Day

May 1st is here and I have to admit that it's a difficult day around these parts. I've been dreading May for many reasons, not least because I am so buried in work I can't imagine actually meeting any deadlines. And despite it being my birthday month, which happens to fall on Mothers Day this year, it is also the month of my dad's birthday, a few days before mine, a day that I loved to spend with him.

Last year, when shopping for birthday cards, I came upon a lovely Grandpa card that I bought for Raf to send to his Grandpa. I came across it a few months ago in the drawer we keep cards and stationary and felt so sad for all that we've lost. Dad really was Raf's biggest fan - outside Rich and I. No one was as interested in Rafi as my dad. He would spend hours, literally hours, listening patiently and with sincere interest to me as I prattled on and on about the things that Raf had been up to. Mum would show Dad pictures of Raf I would send through (he was pretty computer illiterate) and he would always exclaim that he was so lovely, that he'd "never known a boy like it". He called him a "lovely little chap" and he was so comfortable in his company. They would sit together cuddling, watching some Peppa Pig, and my dad was really the only person in the world other than me who Rafi would cuddle like that.

Raf played this endless game of climbing up on a box and climbing over the arm of the chair, demanding that grandpa pull him over. Dad's poor shoulder was already injured, but he did this same move over and over again. 

A quick cuddle and a rest and Raf was up for another round.

Midmorning, eating snacks, watching Peppa.

Next day, it's time for a nap.

Whilst I should actually be spending this time doing work, I'm going to try and blog almost daily until Dad's birthday, sharing some memories of my lovely old Dad.