He is a quiet man, who loves the comfort of his own home. He meets his brother and friends on a Sunday afternoon for a drink, his tipple of choice is a pint of Smithwicks with a Guiness head and after a few of them he loves a Gin and Tonic with lots of ice and a slice. The rest of the week he can be found at home, sitting in his back garden on a sunny day developing a tan to rival George Hamilton, and in his living room in the evening watching movies with his surround sound at full blast so that the whole house rocks.
He has the sharpest sense of humour and also the filthiest, a trait I am ashamed to say I have inherited from him (I am a lady the majority of the time). He knows lots about lots so is a great go to guy when you need an answer or an explantion for something. He is the worlds biggest Frank Sinatra fan and has a voice to rival him, he used to sing in a band when he was younger you know. He is the vainest 71 year old I know, he insists on dieting so as not to put on weight, he lashes the Nuxe oil in his hair when he is going out and is always a dapper little fecker in his suit and matching shirt, tie, handkerchief and cufflinks.
When we were younger he was the only man when you had an ouwie, he would sort it out in an instant. If we happened to be in trouble for what ever reason and doing some 'time out' in our bedroom he would come home from work give us some money and send us off to the shop for a treat. This did not go down well with my mam. He lived qietly in a house with 4 women and didn't complain much (note the use of the word much, he can be a moany old shite when he wants to be), but he loves all of his girls relentlessly and since he lost his best pal he took on the role of both mother and father and has excelled.
He is always there for us three, quietly in the background ready to step up when we need it. He does all of the little jobs we ask him to and never complains that they are an inconvenience to him. He buys us little treats on his trips to town and on a Saturday when we descend on his house we go to the shop and as he picks up sweets for his grandchildren he also pops something onto the counter for his three grown up girls. He throws us a few bob every now and then for a nice lunch or to treat ourselves to something and when we go on holiday we get some money for a few drinks while we are away. You see no matter what he is doing his grilies three are always in his thoughts.
In recent years he has been blessed with three grandchildren by my two sisters and while his love for his daughters overflows, the love and pride he has for his grandaughter and his two grandsons is a whole other story. You can see it oozing from him when he is in their company. They are like the elixir of life for him. He might moan about the standard aches and pains of any 71 year old when we talk to him on the phone, but put him in a room with these three little people and he has the energy and agility of a 21 year old. He rolls around on the floor, runs, jumps up and down and throws them around as if they were light as feather rag dolls laughing and roaring with fun.
So there you have it, a glimpse of the man I call dad. He is truly wonderful and we are all blessed that he is ours. Happy Father's Day dad, you are most definitely the best in the business, your the boss!
As I have said, my dad goes out for a little drink on a Sunday afternoon, and has done so since forever. When we were little we would enjoy our Sunday roast and then dad would make us up a delicious dessert. I haven't had it for years but can still taste it. It was the simplest thing in the world but was a firm favourite on a Sunday in our house, so in honour of my dad I am going to treat myself to a coke float. What treats did your dad make for you when you were little?
Coke Float
1 tall glass
1 generous scoop of vanilla or raspberry ripple ice cream
Coca Cola
1. Place the ice cream in the bottom of the glass.
2. Pour the coca cola over to fill the glass.
3. Enjoy!
Apologies for the photo quality that follows but the blazing afternoon sun does not make for clear close up photos and the shade of my parasol wasn't much better.
