Where does the time go???

Dear Dad..

Where does the time go??  No seriously though.. where does it go?  It doesn't seem 2 minutes since I was writing my letter to you in May and now its your birthday and here I sit pen to paper.. (ok ok finger to keyboard..stop splitting hairs..) with my next installment for you and I dont know where the last 4 months has gone.. or the last 4 years too if I'm honest..

Soooo.. last time we looked Jake was about 3 and I just had a couple of babies right?? or was it that I was about 7 and you were 32 ish pretending to be 22 ish instead? I know, I know there was no 'pretending' it really was 1960 you were born not 1950 right?? ;)

I wish I was still 7.. happy days.


I've been thinking about time a lot lately and I've been busy too!!  I'm on the family tree trail.. and I can tell you with a maiden name like Smith its not been easy.. as we know, everyone is called John, Sam, Fred or Mary and I know people think I'm joking but I'm bloody not.. they are all called that.. along with George.. I seem to be finding a lot of George's lately.. anyway I discovered cousin Malcolm (Doris's lad) on an ancestry site and we've been sharing information and pictures and I'm now back to 1740 on your Mum's side and 1797 ish on your Dad's.. its not been easy but its been fascinating.. oh I wish I could show you!! You'd really love it and I only did it because you said you didnt really know much about them.

I found Uncle Billy (the bad un), I found the mills at Vulcan Street in the Post Office Directories - so they really were mill owners!  I finally found out, after much hard work cos the council were completely bloody useless I have to tell you.. that the graves from the chapel at Westgate Hill that was taken down weren't moved to Scholemoor like we thought but are actually still there at Westgate Hill!!!  But I bet you knew that all ready.. they're undisturbed and *hopefully* intact, I'm going to go down there in a couple of weeks.. yes, I'll take flowers for your Grandma Kath... I know you'd like that..

She had a couple of sisters you know.. one of them was called Jane Isabel, they called her "Jennie" would you believe.. I know this because I'm now in touch with her Great Great Grandaughter (at least I think thats who she is..LOL) isnt that spooky?

Malcolm gave me loads of information on the other side.. he shared photos of Nan's sister Florrie who I could totally see the sisterly resemblance! There was one of your Grandma too and her mother, and your Grandad George and Uncle Percy who I can see in your face too.. and he said something about the "fish oil" in Morley, said thats what they all called it .. I always wondered why you called a fish n chip shop a "fish oil".. guess now I know..

So much to share and not able to talk about it with you!! Well I can talk but you're not answering much these days..  except in the most weird of places as usual.  So..next stop is the next best thing.. I'm going to take my findings and visit Auntie Sandra.. raid her pictures and memories and see what else I can dig up..

What else is happening.. well Jake is about to pick a high school can you believe it?  There's that time thing again.. moving toooooooooo fast, remember when he didnt even go yet?  I sometimes wonder when I get into bed at night if he'll be 25 when I get up in the morning!!  He's getting ready to go on his first residential school trip.. they're making him stay away from home for 3 whole days!!  What will I do without him?  I tell him I cant wait to hear all his news and he'll have such a good time but I sort of wish he wasnt going really.. I know he'll be even MORE grown up when he gets home..

Heather & Angelina just had their birthday.. yes another one.. and its cost me a fortune again.  They dont want tea parties anymore.. they want make up parties!!! It's not good...

They miss you, they know what day it is.. they're sitting eating their dinner talking about the maltesers that are in the fridge.. I miss you.. can't you come back now?  if only it were that easy.. I wish someone would create a hotline to Heaven.. only I'd be on it permanently whinging at you and there'd be no time for anyone else to use it..oops.

I wonder sometimes if you could talk back, what would you have to tell me?  I bet you'd tell me all about the people I've been researching.. that'd be brilliant!!  I wonder what there is to know.. I wonder if you ever get chance to find out..  I hope so.

Well there isnt really much else to say..I'd like to say see you soon.. but although I'd love to see you, I'd rather like it to be here where I am and not there, where you are..if you dont mind!  In the meantime, I think we'll settle for a trip up to your hill maybe before the snow comes..

Love you.. still.