Warning - sad and happy post.

It would have been my brother's birthday today - he would have celebrated being 73 - but died when he was 37.  He was a 'victim' of the jogging phase. 

What I think is so amazing is that when he died, his sons were 11 and 13 years of age, yet they are just two amazing men, and both 6ft+. My sister-in-law is petite, and thinking of how she would cope with their sons was quite a worry at the time. 

I received an early Christmas card from her yesterday - she has flown off to Vancouver to stay with her eldest son, hence the early card. 

My brother, however, would have been SO proud of them all. 

Danuta, isn't it lovely when your niece obviously thinks of you as special too.

My brother's two daughters are like that too, we communicate almost daily, whether by text or phone. My sister's daughter lives in Florida, yet we also communicate regularly.

I think this stems from the fact that the three are all approx ten years older than my two offspring, and as their parents were full-time workers, they always spent their summer holidays staying with us. A wonderful time we had, lots of crafts and fun. They are very special to us too.

Not only us, but our offspring are close to them, too. When our son has to go to America for work, he always takes extra time to stay on and visit his cousin and they do lots of things together - kayaking, for example.