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So. After a rough year, sad to say that my dad died this week from pancreatic cancer. I'd been taking him to/from chemo, hospital appointments and all his A&E sessions, for nine months and, at the end, both my parents and I were shattered.
Enormously sad to lose him, honestly, but glad it's over before he simply faded away - which is what happens to a lot of people in this situation.
But that's not what I wanted to focus on. There's an adage that a man dies two deaths. The first, when his body dies. The second when the last person to remember him, dies.
Inspired by others who've been through heartache, I wanted to focus on, and share some positive memories.
Inspired by others who've been through heartache, I wanted to focus on, and share some positive memories.
When the wife and I announced we planned to have kids, my parents sold their house up north and moved south to live in the same town as us so they could help with the kids. Because they REALLY wanted to be part of their grandkids' lives. Despite being surrounded by southerners.
He re-learned secondary school physics to help me pass my GCSE because I was properly *awful* at it. I got a C, dear reader, I am not a man of science.
(now accepting your physics and science puns, because resistance is futile)
(now accepting your physics and science puns, because resistance is futile)
We watched Cheers together, and there's an episode where Sam draws glasses on a picture of Rebecca hanging in the bar. I came down the next morning to find he'd drawn glasses and a moustache on my school picture. Jesus, we laughed like fucking drains at that.
I never worked out where in my ear those coins came from.
He once bought my mum a wallpaper stripper for her birthday, as she mentioned in passing they needed one for redecorating the lounge. Dad thought it was expedient to combine the two events.
(no, no stripper jokes)
(no, no stripper jokes)
Took him to see Iron Maiden back in 2011. He was morally offended at the price of the t-shirts.
"Thirty quid for that? Christ, that's a ripoff."
Four pints later, he wobbled back to the merch stand and bought one.
"Thirty quid for that? Christ, that's a ripoff."
Four pints later, he wobbled back to the merch stand and bought one.
Constantly complained about the price of beer anywhere down south. It was only when he went further north to watch cricket that he was happy with the price.
Basically, anywhere south of Edgebaston was rubbish. Apart from the Oval, but even that was paid for with reluctance.
Basically, anywhere south of Edgebaston was rubbish. Apart from the Oval, but even that was paid for with reluctance.
He's the reason I started messing around with computers and Airfix kits as a kid ... and look where that got me.
(my football love was through my grandad)
(my football love was through my grandad)
So. There you go. My dad. He was a good one.
But now, I want to thank you. Thank you everyone who's been a beacon of warmth and positivity in their Twitter posting in the last few months.
But now, I want to thank you. Thank you everyone who's been a beacon of warmth and positivity in their Twitter posting in the last few months.
I've been fortunate enough to skirt the edge of madness this year and not get pulled in. Just. But honestly, you don't realise how helpful it is to read ALL THE GOOD THINGS when you're in a bad place, until you're there.
The world in general isn't in a happy place right now, and it's too easy to get dragged down into the mental quagmire.
All the upbeat things I've read on here over the last nine months have been massively, massively beneficial to my wellbeing.
All the upbeat things I've read on here over the last nine months have been massively, massively beneficial to my wellbeing.
Right. All done. Back to racking up dozens of likes with quotes from my children, and tales of my misfortunes after this. Promise.
Much love.
Much love.
