You Never Stop Worrying...

Being a grandad and hurtling towards my half century are, perhaps, contributory factors in one of my more obvious traits i.e. I do tend to have a moan now and then. Now I realise, dear reader, you may find this hard to believe. You're sitting there thinking, surely not, isn't Mr Smith one of the happiest people in the land, never complaining, just getting on with life and always happy with his lot...? Well, I can understand you thinking this.

I woke up this morning at ten minutes to six. I usually waken at six - but today is Sunday, normally a time for a bacon roll and a lie in and a chance to try and recover from the stresses of the week. However, today I just can't get back to sleep. Pressure at work? Money worries? Younger daughter changing jobs and approaching what is a difficult time of the year for her anyway being the anniversary of the passing of her fiance? These don't help. The price of brandy increasing and Heart of Midlothian Football Club doing their best to throw away a place in next season's Europa League? True, this adds to the increase in my blood pressure. The infamous Mrs Smith giving me grief? Not really, as this has been a constant since 1982...

No, my lack of sleep may well be down to thinking about my baby grand-daughter Ava. Three weeks before her first birthday she has been sick for most of this week and there is the possibility she may have to go into hospital if things don't improve. Hopefully, she'll be fine but being a born worrier I'll be happier when she's back crawling around the floor and sinking her newly cut teeth into my fingers. I'll be heading round to see her later today along with her brother and sister who will undoubtedly set about me with their usual gusto.

Children can give you so much love and joy. But no matter how old they are you never stop worrying about them...