Dear Dad,
So its been 8 years since you took your final journey; and i am not entirely sure where that time has gone.
I got the idea for this from watching one of your favourite shows M*A*S*H* - i have such fond memories of watching it with you, only now i understand all the jokes!
Well the world is a bit weird at the moment - although i am pretty sure you will have just used lockdown to continue your reading habit. With all the shops closed though you would have finally had to embrace the online shopping thing - i am sure that would have brought the rest of us some entertainment.
I’d like to think you will have retired by now - so could really up your book collecting game. Parkers, the business you worked so hard on over the years, is no more; but it wasn’t really the same place after you left, it wasn’t quite the same getting my renewal letters signed with “love Dad”.
Rob has had a good year - he’s taken the chance over lockdown to make some changes and i am sure you would be hugely proud. He’s made sure mum and Jane have been kept on their toes too and stayed in touch with them every week in their “bubble”.
Mum is good - she misses you of course - but she’s still taking everything in her stride as always. Her and Jane keep themselves busy - gardening, pottering, house hunting, and the latest idea...a camper van. Oh you would be roaring at that one! Can you imagine, the two of them, the two dogs in a camper van - oh you’d love watching it...from a distance!
There’s so much that you have missed - births, marriages, deaths - i think your favourite of those came this year when Uncle Steve became a grandad. I can only imagine the hell you would have given him over that - you would’ve said nothing to Aunty Sarah of course it would have all been aimed at Steve. Baby Harri by the way is simply gorgeous and we’re spoiling him as much as you would’ve done.
I asked James to marry me - i am sure you would have given him some stick for that - but that side of my character definitely comes from you so it was your fault all along. I am sorry you won’t be there to see it - but Uncle Scoot agreed to take on some of your duties - so if you give him your notes i am sure we will still hear your thoughts even if we don’t hear the booming laughter. Although i guess at least you can be there without wearing a tie now :)
I hope you found your mum up there - she would have been so pissed that you left us so quickly - i am sure you’ve been given a stern talking to.
Losing you made us far closer as a family group though dad - we found strength and humour in each other. Its not perfect - Rob and I are still chalk and cheese - but we have learnt to just get along.
Anyway dad, i just wanted to say hi - i promise i will try to do this more often. I do think of you everyday; i always have something to tell or ask you. I know you hear my mutterings.
I love and miss you dad - must go, dinner needs to be cooked.
Lots of love, me x
