With love and fondness

A grandfather gone.
Mr Robust and Healthy 96 year old grandfather in law died last week, surrounded by people he loved and who loved him, including us. Very sad but also very special. He went down hill quite quickly, hadn't really been sick and had spoken briefly  to us the day before he died.
That suited him, I think. He would have hated to be 'frail, aged'.

Some things that made him very special, certainly one out of the box!

• He was a fantastic baker and was known for his sponges, shortbread, scones, preserves (he has answered talkback callers on ABC radio on the topic of preserves, and been interviewed by Matt Preston for the Age Epicure). And he was very generous with it, I think someone at the funeral said they recieved some shortbread two weeks ago.
• Up until the last few years he picked his own fruit at 'pick your own' places, to preserve.
• He barracked for the Hawks before they were the Hawks- apparently they started out as the 'May Flowers' or something equally amusing in the 1920's or so
• At 96 he saw his 9 year old great grandson play footy at the MCG (Auskick) and was proud!
• This year he had about 156 daffodils bloom in his garden and a very healthy crop of silverbeet- in the inner-ish suburbs of Melbourne.
• He cut articles of interest out of papers and sent them to us, accompanied by a letter in his fine handwriting on his personalised stationery
• He was always immaculately groomed, often with a tie and suit jacket.
• He was really involved in certain aspects of his community and was interested in people.

I think he was an inspiring, kind, funny and interesting man.
Grandpa, you will be missed and I am glad to have had you in my life.