I can't believe another year has passed. I don't know where the time goes. It rushes past so quickly I almost can't keep up.

This last year has been crazy. Work has been insane. More challenging than I could ever imagine, but for all the grey hairs (your estimates were a little off - I'm not totally grey yet but probably will be by the time I hit 40) and stress it's been an incredible year. As I write this I'm sitting in a hotel room in Denver, looking out to the Rocky Mountains and listening to John Denver (because you have to, really). It's a beautiful day outside. The sun is shining brightly and it's warm enough to be midsummer, but I can still see snow on the mountains. I'm here for a work conference and really enjoying it. I'm lucky to get such opportunities.

Karl and I getting married. Photo by Christine Tremoulet

I've been married for almost five months now. It was an amazing day. The happiest in my life up to that point. We had a beautiful ceremony and an epic party afterwards and for all that it was wonderful, you were missed and never far from my mind.

Baby

Then, in January this year, when I thought that I couldn't be any luckier, I found out that I'm pregnant. We don't know whether it's a boy or a girl yet, but I'm looking forward to meeting this wee person currently growing inside me. I'm sad that you aren't here to share this experience with me, or to meet your second grandchild. You would have made a fantastic grandfather.

But, sad as I am that you won't be around to see them, your influence on me will filter down I'm sure. I can see many trips to museums (and by extension, cups of tea) and I'll try to remember to drop the newspaper before charging into the sea after a child chasing a beach ball.

I love you Dad, and I still miss you.

Ann