The Grandfather Clock.

This clock counted the seconds and minutes of our married life from almost the beginning.  We bought it on a whim when we visited Torquay for a holiday when we were in our early 20s...  It cost £450 then, and I can remember feeling sick with worry.at the cost.  Since then it has watched our one son grow and the other being born.  It has also followed us into a number of different homes and made sure we were never late for work or for any of our appointments.  It had a slight mishap as a result of our latest move, having been dropped by one of the removal men. but it has now been repaired.  
It therefore faithfully struck the hour this morning at the time Ken had to go into hospital for his operation.  We both left the home feeling apprehensive but returned 6 hours later feeling enormously relieved that the operation appears to have been a success:  Thankfully, the last line of the song didn't apply in this case and, of course, Ken would never describe himself as an "old man."  That clock needs to go on ticking for many many years more.


"My grandfather's clock was too large for the shelf
So it stood ninety years on the floor
It was taller by half than the old man himself
And it weight not a penny's weight more
It was bought on the morn that my grandpa was born
And was always his treasure and pride
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died 

Ninety years without slumbering (tic tac tic tac)
His life's seconds numbering (tic tac tic tac)
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died. 
At watching its pendulum swing to and fro
Many hours he had spent as a boy
As he grew into manhood the clock seemed to know
For it sharaed everyu sorrow and joy
And it struck tewntyfour as he entered the door
With his beautiful and blushing bride
But it stopped short never to go again
When the old man died