What I’ll miss about my dad..
speeding ahead on his mobility scooter
taking forever to take a family picture
arriving really early when he came to visit
giving me a hard time for being late
telling me how many hours he slept last night (average 10)
checking the temperature gauge outside
checking the temperature gauge inside
finding new things that he managed to fix with gaffer tape
giving me a hard time for mentioning an expiry date on food in the fridge
eating apfelmus and stollen
playing endless chess games
Dad beating me endlessly at chess
being worried that jess the dog would knock the chess set flying mid game
watching a big footy match, rugby match, any match
Dad loving his formula one, especially Lewis Hamilton winning
having a small beer on his balcony
Followed by a port or 2
watching Andrew Marr or Laura on a Sunday morning
watching election results till the early hours
Moaning together about Brexit
daily phone calls (unless he was out at tescos or watching planet earth)
telling him about my travels and diving
listening to dad tell stories about all his travels
walking his regular walk round the block at Highwood mill
going to strawberry fields, Johansson’s café, Amberley tea rooms
laughing together about Inge/ my mum and all our happy memories
crying together about Inge/ my mum and all our sadder memories
and lastly I'll miss dads love, his dry sense of humour and his endless joy in living life to the full, to his very last breath
Val
16th February 2024