Special photo of my Uncle Richard - who I drove distracted by my endless questions February 5, 2012

As a very small child I often spent time with my granny and the then unmarried adult-children who still lived with her - including my Uncle Richard. I don't see him often now, but when I do he still reminds me of how I drove him distracted with my incessant questions. I adored him and followed him around endlessly as he worked in the big garden, where fruit and vegetables were grown.

I've just been sent this news clipping of him and his wife - so I'm sharing it, and remembering him as the young man that he used to be. The text tells the story of how the couple met - she was on her way to work, on her bicycle, and got a puncture. He stopped to help. It was the start of a whirlwind romance.

He was the youngest of all my big, strong uncles. Sometimes he played games with me, swinging me around, or tossing me up in the air. He'd also teach me new skills. He taught me to use a knife and fork like "a big girl - instead of eating with a spoon.

When I was a little girl food was still rationed, treated carefully and never wasted. I loved bacon and developed a kind of a ritual, with close relatives like Uncle Richard. If he was eating bacon I would go and stand by the side of the table. I'd stay there, looking up hopefully at him (rather like some dogs do). If I was lucky (although now I come to think of it, perhaps it wasn't anything to do with luck, maybe it was a game he played to keep me quiet while he was eating ) anyhow, 'with luck' my patience would be rewarded and, right at the end, I'd get my hoped-for treat of the crispy rind from his bacon. I thought he was wonderful and fully expected to marry him when I grew up - so I was rather shocked when I discovered that he'd got married to Auntie Jean without even asking me - but obviously it was a good decision.