Dear Noah,

Today I watched as you lay in your cot, your hand gripping your granny's finger. Already her smile and voice are familiar landmarks in a world you are otherwise innocent of. Many years will pass before you get to read these letters and the world will have changed for both of us, but maybe you will get to read them when you have reached my age and can look back fifty odd years to reflect on where your life has taken you. I cannot predict how my hopes, dreams and fears will be realised in the remaining time I have, but I know that at their centre will be my love for you, your brother Joshua and your cousin Jake.

If I have one regret, (and I'm not one to have many of those) it is that I know so little about my own grandfather. In a small way I hope this blog will be an opportunity which opens a door that has been  closed to me. One story I do know about my granddad is that he could roll a cigarette with one hand while ridding his bicycle! This is not a feat I wish you to learn, of course, and if you never smoke it will be at least one of my fears that won't see the light of day. I strongly suspect mum and dad will have something to say about it as well!

Speak to you later,

Granddad.