Here I sit backstage at an international dance event to rival most: Bristol Swing Festival. Instructors have flown in from Canada and around Europe and the UK to impart their wisdom with the 180+ participants. I attended the event as a punter last year and am excited for the people about to launch into this year's event!
As you'll likely have read, this tour has presented me with many wonderful ups and a couple of spectacular downs. Throughout it all, my family have been a constant source of support: financial, emotional, practical, whimsical...
As part of my tour I set myself several goals, most of which have been shared here before. What I may not have shared with you is that for significant dates and birthdays throughout the year, I am creating gifts, rather than buying them. For someone who cannot draw or make things with her hands (to an aesthetically pleasing or functional level in any case), this means the gift of song, the gift of poetry, the gift of film & now, the gift of prose.
So I'm going to wish my father a very happy birthday by sharing with you lots that I love and appreciate about him, & by celebrating the times we have shared as well as the ones he has helped to finance. So this one's for you Dad: :)
... One of my earliest memories is of my dad's bright yellow Corsair (I think this is the right one!). It was followed my a metallic aquamarine Honda Civic 5 door hatchback methinks. I know he had a Vauxhall Viva, but the memory is hazy... If memory serves on one trip in particular we broke down, and in the days before mobiles we had to hot foot it to the closest phone box - the AA callbox we used to #phoneafriend is still situated approximately 1 mile from the BP garage near Knutsford on the A556 & I smile every time I pass it to this day. I had been visiting him for the summer and had literally brought half my bedroom with me, we had a 1 mile trek with Casio keyboard with plastic cover, which I remember blew about in the wind a lot, suitcase(s), brown faux leather 12"record case, which I think possibly broke during the walk....
What I'm impressing on you is not my elephantine memory (which has been remarked upon many times afore), but rather his commitment to just 'get on' with the task at hand. He does this better than anyone I know.
Fast forward a good few years & we find ourselves in Hong Kong to celebrate the union of my sister and her long time love & now father to my gorgeous nephews. We stayed in a Philip Stark designed hotel don't cha know! The wedding took the day and my dad and I, with beer, banter and monkey nuts took the night. A wonderfully vibrant city, offering amongst many things a stunning skyline, welcoming atmosphere & rather fabulous afternoon teas. A hangover from colonial times which we can debate another time, suffice to say several emporiums were sampled & provided an elegant sufficiency. Sufficiency of the afternoon tea or the beer you ask? Why, both of course!Time in mainland China was spent with a host family (my brother in law grew up with a their son and they had not long migrated back to their native land). We marvelled that each table in the restaurant had it's own grill in the middle. You selected your choices from a fantastic array of meat, fish & vegetables at the very large buffet style counter, and then grilled your food at table to your own personal liking. This is a win-win (my favourite thing!) for us as I like chicken and red meat 'just safe', my dad and sister enjoy them 'well done' enough to be what can best be termed 'nuked'! I approve of this approach in a restaurant and wish there were (more?) eateries like this in the UK...
But I digress, again... Birthdays are funny things - we celebrate the passing of time since our mums 'got on with it'. My Dad's mum was surely the most warm-hearted of women. For me she literally defined the word 'lovely' & despite over 15 years passing since she departed this earth I know we all think of her & celebrate her beautiful spirit often.
So this post is about taking the time to say thanks to our blood, in laws & loved ones. Those that make time when they have none. Those that smile, make a brew & listen to my tales from the road when their day has been long and their activities often strenuous.
In short: I say thanks to My Dad. I wish my sister & brother in law every happiness always & salute their daily investment to be amazing parents.
A toast, dear reader: To My Dad (& of course yours should you wish to join in). May he remain a source of quiet strength & inspiration, may he 'live long & prosper', may he enjoy a steady 'few scoops' this evening (& beyond) &... may he have enjoyed these words!
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