Yesterday was one of those wonderful days which had been a long time in coming. I’ve mentioned here before how, when I was growing up, we often used to travel down to visit my grandparents at their house in Harlesden. That large, comfortable house is now a kind of London base for the family. It’s easy enough for me to get to, and I often go up there to see my parents, for example at Christmas. Yesterday, though, was the first time my whole family had all been together in over five years: Me, my mum and Dad, and both my brothers and their families. Due to the pandemic, work and various other factors, it has been so difficult to coordinate getting together as a family again.

Yet yesterday we managed it, and it was incredible. Of course, my brother Mark’s two children, my nephew and niece, had grown quite a bit, and are now energetic and rambunctious, if a little stubborn. I also met my brother Luke’s newborn son, five months old, for the first time yesterday, and it was truly incredible to watch him look around the back room, lying on the very floor I remember once crawling over. I also managed to hold him yesterday – the first time I had ever held a baby to cuddle him – and I was utterly, instantly besotted. Naturally, I was trying hard not to drop or hurt him, but the minute or two my young nephew was in my arms was one of the most precious, beautiful things I have ever experienced.

There isn’t much more for me to write about on here. It was one of those family days spent chatting, eating and playing with the children; it ended all too soon, and part of me really didn’t want to come home. It had been far, far too long since we had all been together, and I really hope it isn’t long until we can all get together as a family again.