I first saw this little chap was when he was but five days old, and we've been best mates ever since. Joshua Nahum, two lovely biblical names, he was given, he was born with jaundice, he looked like he'd just come off a meiterranean beach. Two weeks into life he got chicken pox, gave it me, and we looked a right pair. He loved wheels, josh would get the yellow pages sit on my knee and want to see every car in the book, took him to see steam trains at Bury, the noise of them made him jump more than once, but you couldn't drag him away from them.
This picture we had been to liverpool, and had a ride on the Mersey ferry, to the accompaniment of Jerry and the Pacemakers, Josh banged his head on brass railing, he didn't half call that ferry stupid, and wanted off immediately, an oldish man was constantly making origami objects, and this bird he gave to Josh which helped dry his tears.
Every time I went down and it was time for me to go home, his tears would be inconsolable, and as soon as I got through the door he would push me into a seat, climb aboard, and talk, talk, talk.
Josh had the habit of when he wanted your whole attention, he would put the back of his hand under your chin and pull your head, so it was eye to eye contact.
One day at about the age of two he climed onto the windowsill, and without any warning launched himself into mid air straight at me, he had no idea whether I'd catch him or not, Josh's mum said after, "That's faith," putting your whole trust in someone not to let them down, the consequences of missing that flight would be too awful to mention.
Josh is now in Scotland, I've never seen him for years, I sometimes think of him. In his own little way, he could pray for people, and miracles would happen. I'm ever so glad I found this slide tonight.