My Last Valentine

lonestar.Sat 19/01/08 17:26

I have spent all day decorating in the Loft, this has involved emptying all the units and boxes down one side, moving them and then putting them back.

Naturally it has also involved sorting stuff I've not looked at for a while, throwing out even more stuff.

While sorting I came across this, it was a small book I bought my partner while I was working in Dublin about 6 weeks before he died. It's amazing just how much it moved me to read it again, and how much it brought back.

I know you shouldn't reproduce text ect but it is only us isn't it.

The little book is called "Guess How Much I Love You", written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. It tells of the love between Big Nutbrown Hare and Little Nutbrown Hare.

It's very short so here it is, and I know I'm a right softy!

Guess How Much I Love You

Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears.

He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening "Guess how much I love you," he said.

"Oh, I don't think I could guess that" said Big Nutbrown Hare.

"This much," said Little Nubrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go.

Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. "But I love YOU this much," he said.

Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you as high as I can reach," said Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you as high as I can reach," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That is quite high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that.

Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet.

"I love you all the way up to my toes!" he said.

"And I love you all the up to your toes," said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head.

"I love you as high as I can HOP!" laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down.

"But I love you as high as I can hop," smiled Big Nutbrown Hare - and he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above.

That's good hopping thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that.

"I love you all the way down the lase as far as the river," cried Little Nutbrown Hare.

"I love you across the river and over the hills," said Big Nutbrown Hare.

That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think any more.

Then he look beyond the thorn bushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky.

"I love you right up to the MOON," he said and closed his eyes.

"Oh, that's far," said Big Nutbrown Hare. That is very very far."

Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves.

He leaned over and kissed him good night.

Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, "I love you right up to the moon - AND BACK."

Well you probably think it's a bit of silly nonsense, but I really loved that little book when I found it and gave it to Dave on our last Valentine. Oh bugger and there go the tears!!!!!!!!!!