Happy Birthday 🍺
It’s my dad’s birthday today.
He would have been 96, but he died 40 years ago.
He was the youngest of 5 and lost his dad when he was 3.
He was a Cockney, having been born within the sound of Bow Bells in London.
He worked hard at school and won a scholarship to the local grammar school.
Being the youngest, he looked after his mum when she became unwell.
Because of this responsibility, he didn’t meet my mum until he was in his early 30s, on a coach touring holiday in Europe.
They married within 9 months.
He set up his own business, industrial heating, and ran this with my mum and uncle til he died.
He was a great dad, full of sage advice.
He stayed awake until I was home from babysitting.
He helped me get lots of practice when I was learning to drive and was able to celebrate with me when I passed my test a month before he died.
I often wonder what sort of person I would have been if he was still around, but I hope he’d be proud of what I’ve achieved.
Happy birthday Dad.