Sweet 16?

Well it's been a while, and it struck me that the picture of you aged 4 that I have on my desk is probably not much of a guide to what you look like now... You're 16 now and it's ten years since I last saw you - what a waste, eh? The effect of the letter from the 13 year old Holly has gradually subsided, and although it was the most hurtful thing I have ever read, I live in hope that there were extenuous influences behind it's content and that the older, more independent Holly might not feel quite the same...

I am guessing that you're not quite old enough yet for some curiosity about me to have overcome your natural inclination to believe everything you've been told, but I seem to remember rebelling when I was 17, when I suddenly discovered that my parents talked rubbish and I knew best about everything - didn't actually last long, but I'm sure I was a right pain while it did! I live in hope that your 'rebel' stage will come and that when it does you will want to find out things for yourself, rather than relying on things you've been told by people who had an agenda I've never understood...

As you know, I was divorced before I met your Mum - I have 3 children who I have brought up in conjunction with their mother and who have all known that we love them equally... That's all I ever asked your mother for too... Your eldest brother graduated as a teacher last year and has been teaching at a primary school in Haywards Heath since September. He had his graduation ceremony at the Dome in Brighton last month and his Mum and I went together to watch it... A proud day for both of us...

I see from the scraps of information about you that I can glean from the internet, that your horse riding is coming along well and that you, Shandy and Absolute Taboo (de quoi vient cela...?) are becoming dressage stars! It would be great to come and watch you in action - I hope that one day that might be possible.

I also see that you've got into the Talented Athlete programme at Claverham - well done you!

Anyway, gotta go now - work calls...

Until next time,

Dad xx