Imperial Danny

Danny Messenger at an Imperial 66 typewriter in early 1989.

While Hurricane Danny, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2015, peters out into a tropical depression off Guadeloupe (against whom I once played rugby) and promises to bring much-needed rain to the Caribbean, in wet and chilly Canberra another Danny is causing a storm. Well, a storm in a teacup, really. And there will be lots of tea drunk to calm the nerves in the coming days, as we anxiously await the birth of my second grandchild. My No 3 son Danny and his wife Emily are expecting, anytime very soon.

Hurricane Danny seen at its height from space, above, and expectant Dad Danny Messenger in his Xavier University football T-shirt, below.

Below, a drawing of son No 1 Simon Messenger typing, aged 11 months. Simon is the father on my first grandchild, Isaac William Messenger, now aged 18 months.

Above, Simon, right, aged three, with his younger brother Tom, in 1986.

Below, Simon's son, Isaac.

Below, Simon tried out headphones at about that age, too.

As did Danny, below, in 1989. Danny is showing the signs here of having head-butted a coffee table.