Dad and Naomi got married a few years ago. This is the photo that makes my students say"Oh, he looks like Sean Connery!”

Its my Dad’s birthday today! Happy birthday Dad!

Dad is the parent that I got my acquisitive hoarder genes from, and he is solely responsible for my nose. He taught me many, many things, including but not limited to; how to navigate and read maps, a love of camping, of the treasures that can be found in the trash, that relationships are hard and don\Zt get easier as we get older (as I had hoped), how to restore furniture (ah, the pleasures of a well-stocked tool shed), an appreciation of wine, halva and brandy-soaked chocolate-covered cherries, how to get a fire going (a skill which never ceases to impress boys here!!!), and an enduring affection for Neil Diamond and John Denver (in small doses).

He tried to teach me about the importance of maths, money, investment and banking, but none of that really stuck, much to his dismay. Also, I still can\Zt eat brussel sprouts, mint peas, that damned red fish that came in packets (I can smell it even as I type), and prawn crackers.

Every time my computer goes into screensaver slideshow mode when there are guests present, I think of Dad and the slideshows of my childhood. Every time I see a half-decent piece of furniture out for the rubbish men to take away, I think of stealing it, restoring it, and putting it away in the shed until I need it.

I still owe him for the debt accrued in the Scarab daze, for housing me at various times in my adulthood, for the beautiful plate I borrowed without permission and broke, and for my 18th birthday party, the one with the mysterious footprints on the wall and the random beer bottles that continued to turn up for weeks (Michael, help me out here\Z).

Hooray for Dad! If I can manage to prise my camera out of Ashley’s sticky fingers, I will post a photo of a photo later this week.

• Kristen said on 04/10/18 at 06:08 PM.....

  Happy birthday, Dad of Jo and Ashley!

  
  Fathers are special people and yours sounds as great as mine, Jo.

• michael said on 04/10/22 at 03:04 PM.....

  It’s strange to think that 18th was 14 years ago…still brings back fond memories at the strangest times tho’...and no, I’ve no idea how those beer bottle keep on coming back… http://www.marshmallowspikers.net/images/smileys/smile.gif