yet another dj

Two years two months, I’m back to visit my Mancunian roots. Grandma passed away only two years ago, yet it feels much longer. Or perhaps, life is passing by so quickly that I never stopped to think, never stopped to remember. How sad. I could get all emotional right now, but it wouldn’t be fair or natural. Death is one of life’s cruelties – we take it for granted. Even more sad.

“Is this your grandma?” – little Luke said to my cousin, as we prepared the flowers at the cemetery. The sky was clear and we got to work, replacing the fading flowers with the new. My flower arrangement was fun and funky, to let gran know my current character. Hard to believe, but ten minutes ago we were at the store buying the flowers, while the heaven’s skies were pouring down on us as if we all needed cleansing. The rest of Sunday’s weather was warm and forgiving.

The home I never knew, sometimes this is what it feels like. There’s so much history here I wouldn’t know where to start. Getting to know my cousins better perhaps? It’s already begun, slowly but surely. “Uncle Jonny Uncle Jonny – why do they call you kiwis?” – one of little Ellie’s many questions to keep my mind in motion. I really enjoy the intellectual conversations with my second cousins… they’re so young, so smart. Smarter than some of the people I’ve met in London. Bless ‘em.

“Cuppa tea?” That’s my fifth tea (1 sugar) in the past day and a half. Pass me over the shortbread for some serious dunking action! I stopped drinking tea when I was twelve – these were for gran and grandad. Enjoy.