It is almost one year since my Grandad died. I still hear his voice.
Some of my main memories of him from when I was younger involve his, as I perceived them, somewhat ridiculous eccentricities. This was a man who used to write dates on cheques like this...
Friday 28th October 2011 A.D.
Seriously. "A.D." !!! Like the bank cashier might look at his cheque and think..."Hmm, I wonder if this cheque is from over 2000 years ago, how can I possibly tell if it doesn't say A.D. or B.C. on it?"
He was also an epic complainer. I remember him sitting at the living room table, writing letters of complaint on his big old typewriter. I don't know who they were to, anyone who would listen I suspect. He taught me how to use the typewriter, I still love the romance of even the thought of the clicking letters and the ink blots. So much beauty is lost in the functionality of modern technology.
If I ever asked him what the letters were about, he would launch into some huge rambling explanation about the topic, in far too much depth for my young mind to understand. My Mum would roll her eyes and try and make him stop. One of the things he used to complain about most was the Euro. There was debate about whether or not the UK should join the Euro, and he was passionately against it.
He would stick anti-Euro stickers on every letter he posted. It wouldn't surprise me if he stuck quite a few on me! At the time, I didn't understand. I thought "Why would governments suggest something that wasn't for the best?". I was young. I was naive.
Now I see he was right. Eccentric maybe, but right. At least on that one issue. He taught me to always stand up for what you believe in, even when you feel like no-one else is on your side. Even when your input is almost certainly irrelevant. Even if you may be wrong. You, and only you, have to be able to live with yourself.
Thank you Grandad.
I'm never writing "A.D." on a cheque though....
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