Two  weeks ago I received a whatsapp message from my mum. It said that my grandad wasn’t doing very well and it would probably be a good idea to come and see him. In the next two days, most of his family including me had been to see him and early on Saturday 1 July, he died.

Today we say goodbye to him and I am due to read a poem at the funeral. I also wrote the below but can’t even re-read it without crying so I’ve gone for a different one.

It’s a cliche but make the most of your time with friends and family. Work won’t be with you at the end.

IT’S A DIFFERENT DOOR, A DIFFERENT GATE

A DIFFERENT FEELING THAT LIES IN WAIT

WHERE ONCE WAS ONCE WAS TWO AND A WELCOMING HUG

NO ONE MOVES ABOVE THE UGLY LION RUG

TONY BONY MACARONI, WRIGLEYS DOUBLEMINT

AND DRIVING GLOVES, ONLY

LIVED FOR SO LONG JUST TO PROVE HE CAN

LEFT THE FLAT ON THE DAY OF, SAM

AND VEE, THE ELDERS AND THE BEST,

EVEN THOUGH HE LOVED THE REST

KALIBER, BLAND FOOD, CHOC AND MORE CHOC

NOT MOIST ENOUGH, IT NEEDS MORE CHOC

ILL NEVER UNDERSTAND THE SILENT FIGHTS

THAT TONY MUST’VE HAD THROUGH LONELY NIGHTS

AS MOGGY WENT AND LEFT HIM AT HOME

LEFT HIM WITH US, BUT A LITTLE BIT ALONE

HE WOULD NEVER WANT EMOTION OR DIFFERNECE OR FLAVOUR

BUT IN HIS FAMI;LY HE GREW TO SAVOUR

THE WEIRD, THE WONDERFUL, THE GOOD AND THE GREAT,

HE WAS ALWAYS THERE JUST A NORMAL MATE.

EVEN TIL THE END THERE WAS A DISTANT SPARKLE

BUT NOTHING EVER RHYMES WITH SPARKLE

SO LETS SAY A MISCHIEF, A GLINT IN HIS EYE

SOMEHOW IN SPITE OF SYLWIAS PIE

HUMOUR, A CHEEKINESS, A SLY USE OF WIT

WITH SKY SPORTS AND THE DAILY MAIL, HE READ A LOT OF…

BUT NOW HE’S LEFT AND I’LL NEVER AGAIN SEE

THE DEAR IN THE TILES

OR THE GLINT OF THE SEA

FROM 6 FLOORS UP, THE TENNIS AND SHORE

MOGGY AND TONY DON’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE