Dear Dad,
Happy New Year!
Not sure why it’s happy , you’re not here and we’re in another lockdown trying to protect and keep each other safe.
Last year on the 6th of January you called me asking to help you organise mums surprise birthday lunch. I told you that next year it’s her big 65th birthday and you should throw a party for her. Your reply to that was ‘this year I’ll pay , next year you can pay!’
Dad, unfortunately with lockdown, I didn’t even get to see mum let alone have a celebration. Can you imagine what everyone would have said if we went ahead before your bhog! Truth is nobody would have understood the reason why it was important for us, maybe this 3rd lockdown was a blessing, you know me always getting into trouble for the right reason. I don’t think mum would’ve enjoyed herself anyway (nor us) especially you not being there in person.
It snowed here over the weekend, well bubbly got huge amounts of it, I don’t think Suman got any, mum, Kawal and I got a flurry!
I was thinking how you used to have a love hate relationship with the snow, you hated working in it, but you loved playing in the snow with us. It still astounds me how you were able to make snowballs with your bare hands.
Dad, do you remember last year, we were meant to cut Niam’s Paw Patrol cake at home. What baffles me is that if I ask him to go and get me something from another room ( his slippers or his book) a few minutes later he’ll come back ‘ mummy what do you want ?’, but he has asked me to call you several times as he wants to remind you that his ‘paw patrol birthday cake ‘ needs to be cut! Nearly a whole year later!
Right Dad question time!
So, you and mum used to travel a lot, be it around England or different countries. You honeymooned in Great Yarmouth, and took many trips back there, second honeymoon in 1983 was driving around America, you covered so many states! In 1987 onwards you both took us to Singapore Dubai and Sri Lanka. A few years later to India and thereafter I was married but you all enjoyed trips to the continent.
So, my question to you and mum is this :
Kawal and me should have been called Great Yarmouth
Bubbly should have been named America
Suman’s name should be Singapore!
😉 😉 😉 😉
‘Don’t be cheeky’ I can just hear you saying this to me!
I think even though it poured down with rain for the 3 days we were in Norfolk, I know I’m so glad that we all cleared our diaries and had that family weekend away. All of us in our individual caravans but cramped into one enjoying either breakfast lunch or dinner. We all just got on with it, we had a laugh, I had a big win on the bingo, we went to the beach. Did a bit of sightseeing. Thanks to Kawal for organizing, and to Jij for the idea of the bingo! Who knows when we’ll ever be able to do this again so freely, but I know it’s one of the best holidays we’ve had. It was nothing fancy but we made memories!
Next month marks your 1-year anniversary, and ours too of not physically having you with us. Funny thing though, I always feel like you’ve got your hand on my shoulder. Not sure what I will ask you or even if I’ll write to you.
Miss you Dad
X
Cherish your memories! Write them down so you never forget and you can pass these stories on !