Version Francaise (3) Les liens de l'amour.

Je ne vais pas vous raconter en détail la première année de mon petit-fils. Il était adorable, bien sûr, mais c'était aussi une année remplie de nourriture renversée et de couches sales.

Je crois que tous ceux qui l'ont rencontré sont tombés instantanément sous le charme de son rire communicatif. Il tient certainement de son père sur ce point, qui, au même âge, souriait et riait tout le temps. À tel point que je l'appelais « Sourire », et je le fais encore parfois, même s'il a maintenant la vingtaine.

J'ai commencé à appeler Finn « Petit Sourire » et ça a l'air de lui plaire.

Lorsqu'il avait quelques mois et qu'il a commencé à reconnaître les gens et à réagir aux voix et aux visages, ce fut l'un des moments les plus émouvants et les plus beaux. Le voir assis sur les genoux de son arrière-grand-père, riant aux éclats au son des chansons de mon père, a fait ressurgir des souvenirs si forts. Ils avaient une complicité immédiate, évidente pour tous ceux qui les observaient. Malheureusement, ce lien et cette relation si précieuse ont été trop brefs : mon père est décédé subitement en janvier dernier. Nous étions tous à l'hôpital et l'une des dernières personnes que mon père a vues avant de s'éteindre fut son arrière-petit-fils, Finn.

Mon père adorait tous ses enfants et petits-enfants, mais je crois qu'il aimait son arrière-petit-fils plus que tout.

J'aime à penser que les derniers souvenirs de mon père furent heureux, au moment de son départ.

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Page (2). I'm going To Be A Granddad.

I remember it so clearly, the first time I heard that I was going to a Grandfather. Granddad as I am now happy to be called. It was a Sunday, much like any other, and my son and his girlfriend had invited me to spend some time with them in their new flat. When I walked in through the door I knew there was something going on. My son was all smiles and Raven was curled up on their sofa looking a bit giggly. My son made coffee and then sat down next to Raven. "We've got something to tell you." He said. Now, I know my son, and as he looked at his girlfriend my heart started to race. "You're going to be a granddad." he said. I looked at Raven and she smiled and nodded. I had a thousand thoughts going through my head and I wanted to jump and down and shout I was so happy, but I managed to keep a reasonable cool. I knew this wasn't a planned pregnancy but as I looked at them both they looked so happy so I just said. "Really?" They both nod...

Page (4). Finn at the Beach.

Apologies to anyone who read this story when it was originally published on my writing site, www.writerscafe.org/madenglishman FINN AT THE BEACH Baby Finn was on holiday at the seaside with his Mummy and Daddy and his Granddad. They were all staying in a nice caravan near the sea in place called Devon. One morning, after breakfast, Finns’ Mummy said. “Let’s all go to the beach today.” It was a lovely morning a nd so everyone agreed this was a good idea. The beach was very nice with lots of soft clean sand to play in and at the end of the beach there were some rocks. In the rocks were little pools of seawater full of interesting things. Finn liked the sand. Finns’ Daddy liked the rock pools. Finns’ Granddad liked to play on the sand too and he was soon busy building sand castles. Finn liked the sand castles and liked to knock them down with his little red spade. Finn and his Granddad laughed. Finns Mummy took...

Page (6). Go to sleep little man.

Now although the caravan Finns' Grandad had hired was large, there were just two actual bedrooms. A larger room with double bed and a smaller room with two single beds. The third sleeping area was made from seating in the living room. Baby Finn still needed a cot and one had been provided by the Caravan hire firm. Finns' Mummy and Daddy installed Finns' cot in the smaller of the two bedrooms and removed one of the two single beds. Finns' Grandad decided he would also sleep in the single bed in the small room beside Baby Finn. Between the bed and Finns' cot was a small brown wooden unit with two drawers. The top was quickly covered with toy cars, baby wipes, a drink cup, a plastic fish with a little room left over for Finns' Grandad to put his watch and keys and anything else he had in his pockets. Baby Finn always had an assortment of soft toys to sleep with and these had also made the journey to have a holiday in Devon. The soft toys were n...

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