Our first grandchild was born Wednesday 20th June 2012 at New Cross hospital. Apparently all went well except the experts at the hospital had sent Joy back home even though her waters had broke a good four hours before, This led to a bit of a panic when the contractions started up seriously close together but, Dan managed to get her back in before the birth.
The maternity wing had not changed much since out children had been born over 25 years ago which is not by any means praise of any kind. The rooms are dated and dingy, the only show of technical advancement being the outrageously priced TV, Internet, radio, phone set up in the room. Joy was also unhappy that they are still serving lukewarm mushy meats for meals.
I have to go on record as acknowledging how tough Joy was despite her image as a big wimp in the family. She gave birth with two paracetamols for drugs, refusing even gas and air. That is tough!
Back 0n the wimpy side they saddled the girl with what must be the posiest name in the family; Alicia Isabelle Chloe. 6lbs 10 oz of Yoda look-a-like, which I suppose is better than the normal Winston Churchill style baby.
For once, and I know this will shock everyone, I kept my big mouth shut and remembered it wasn’t my place to comment on the name as it was their child first and foremost. It was hard because like Groucho Marx I have a habit of blurting out the first thing that comes to mind without any pause to how others will feel on hearing my words. Unfortunately, I am not nearly as witty as Groucho was, so I suspect my remarks are all the more scathing. Let me take the time to apologise to one and all I offended and who I will probably offend again at some time in the future, there really is no malice intended or ever was.
Becoming a granddad is quite a milestone I suspect, although to date doesn’t seem to have made much difference to me, but then again Alicia is so tiny at the moment there is little I can influence. Annette had the natural instinct and soon had Alicia asleep in her arms and looked very comfortable with a baby in her arms. Perhaps we will see a bit more of them now as we will be the closest baby sitters.
Wednesday’s child is full of woe, not while I breath. Let’s see is I can teach her a bit about the funny side of life before my time is up. Strange to think that a new birth marks the calendar with you prospective bucket kicking ceremony. Just for a moment I was thinking; will I see Alicia start secondary school? get married? Scary stuff 🙂
What a depressing outlook Dave. There are always grounds for optimism as your own parents had a good innings and saw you and Paul have children. Grand-kids are a great opportunity, just ask my parents! I’m sure you will make a great grandparent if you come over as you do on wargames night!
Not at all depressing young Mr Morris, thus the smiley face at the end. It was but, a passing thought, despite the doctor telling me I could explode at any minute I refuse to lie down and die, in fact I now propose to die with my arm outstretched so I can be as equally awkward in death as I was in life. Let’s see them get the lid on my coffin.
On a more serious note, might not get to see much of Alicia because of the weird God stuff Dan and Joy are into but, I plan to be the grandfather from hell 🙂
Well I’m glad about that – thought for a minute I was going to have to fight The French on my own! 😉