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My Dad and stepmum took wee legal out on Saturday. When they came back, my stepmum had a chat with me about my Dad's forthcoming retirement.

There's no doubt that my old man is absolutely bricking it about giving up work. He's worked for the same company since leaving school, making his way from apprentice sparky to running the Stoneleigh office which includes him being responsible for the Royal Show and the Town and Country exhibitions. Over the last few years he's had some health problems and he's had a bit of struggle with the guy who will replace him (son of the founder of the Co).

Shortly after my paternal granddad retired he was struck with Alzheimers. Seeing such a physically and mentally strong guy dissolve in front of the family took a lot of of all of us, especially my Dad. My Dad hates hospitals at the best of times so you can imagine what he went through having to see his father being spoon fed and Dad being ignored as his Dad thought I was his son.

By all accounts, members of my family have distintive eyes. I'm not sure what it is, a twinkle, or the shape, but it's there. You can see it when the family get togeher. Even though Georgie has blue eyes, you can tell she shares the family trait. One of the most touching times during my Granddad's illness was during visiting. I was there with my Dad and his mother. Gramps was rambling and talking to me about moving my motorbike out of his garage as it was leaking oil (I didn't have a motorbike then, he was thinking of my Dad's Vincent when Dad was in his early 20s) mid sentence he stopped, took my nan's hand and in an instant the old twinkle came back in his eyes "sorry for any trouble I'm causing, but no matter what I say or do, I'll always love you". Not a dry eye in the house.

Anyway, I'm drifiting. Dad retires this year, probably after the Town and Country Show and he's painfully aware that he needs to keep his mind active. He likes playing computer games so he's treating himself to a very high spec PC. He's got a house out in Turkey so he'll be going out there a lot and he's also talking about taking up fishing again (as a side note, my old man is left handed. As he taught me how to fish, I fish left handed!)

My old man is a Bluenose. He's only been once since we got promoted (that famous night game against Arse) as he thinks the Premier league is turning into a a UK version of American Football.

So my stepmum has decided to get my Dad a season ticket for next year.

Poor sod
posted by kwacky at 6:36 pm