I often think.

Family. What an odd word that it to my ears. It is bandied about on Eastenders as a term of affiliation; something that has to be adhered to and cherished. I can honestly say I have never felt such great emotions about the concept of 'family'.  I was born into a family of 6 children, 5 boys and one girl. There was roughly two to three years between each of the children. Mum and Dad got married because Mum was pregnant with my eldest brother H. I was later told that my Mum had a miscarriage of a girl. To this day I don't know where she fitted in.  I am the second youngest. My Dad died 12/12/1960 leaving the family virtually penniless. I was 4 years old. Victorian values. I was brought up in what should be described as a Victorian household. My Mum was born into a big family with many brothers and sisters. How many? Who knows? She never, ever, told us that fact, we had to divine it. Her own parents were born in Victoria's reign. She grew up in such circumstances so