In 1996 Dad went and raced at Rob Roy despite his cancer being pretty advanced.

Though we are not having a party for your 80th birthday, I think if we did, you’d be up for it and be the last to leave.

I think if we had speeches at this not-happening party, I’m fairly certain I’d make a speech, you would make a speech and then Stephen would make one to beat us both.

It’s right that the young end up bettering the old.

Today we took your grandson off to get his broken arm set. It was an oddly proud moment as he joined the family proper. (In my family, you’re only truly “in” after you break a bone),

I think you’d like The Boy. He is very much one of us. He’s outgoing, talkative and always keen to have a go.

As for your grand daughter- well she’s quite a piece of work. Though only 3 months old, she’s well and truly got me worked out and already getting me to jump whenever she so chooses. And I love it.

So, while it’s your birthday, I can’t help but think about my own birthday this year- 40. I’m not far off the age you were when I was born and this has made me reflect on my own performance as a father. It’s probably not for me to say how I’m going (and it’s fair to say Harry’s broken arm has kinda put me back to the field…!), but I do often find myself wondering what you’d do in any given circumstance. Sometimes I don;t do what you would have done as I’m not so certain that it was or is the right thing to do. So in circumstances where you haven’t set a good example- you’re serving as an example. I’m sure I’ll end up the same with Harry.

It’s right that the son tries to be a better father than his own father. It’s for others to judge whether he has succeded.

If I have reflected on anything this year, it’s been the words that used to annoy the hell out of me when I misbehaved: “You know what’s expected of you..”

And you know what Dad? I think, maybe, after all these years, I’m beginning to understand what you meant.

I just wish you were here to see it.

Happy birthday old boy.

My Father, Richard Reynolds died from complications caused by prostate cancer in 1996.

Rachel is 12 weeks pregnant with our second baby!! I am beside myself with excitement. In fact I’m beside myself, beside myself.

I am so clucky it’s actually a bit pathetic.

We (that is to say I) have agreed to not find out what sex this one is. Rachel, being an only child, simply must a/ get her own way and b/ find out what her present is before the days it’s due to be opened. We’d like a girl, but I am convinced (and equally stoked) that it will be a boy…

Speaking of due- this one is due on the 4th of October, some 26 odd months behind Harry!

Here’s the three of us with member number four not quite in view:

Rachel's Birthday 2010.

A selection:

www.flickr.com thomasrdotorg’s Christmas 2009 photoset

It’s not a well known secret that I am participating in Dieter Kahsnitz’s wonderful new panel style show “The C-Word Naked” along with Lincoln Burns. We’re not actually naked (well one of us is), but we are free from restrictions.  Perhaps that’s why it’s naked. Who knows?

Ep 3 is online now! Go to Cword.tv/naked