It was horrid outside so I had to get another lift, again from Ellen.
Work was moderately hectic again today. There's a big project going in this weekend and there's a LOT of fine tuning to be done.
Ellen took me home at 4pm, where I found Melissa, her mother and the baby. Melissa had bathed Penny, then her mother had taken her to feed her while Melissa washed her hair. Then, Penny shit all over herself and she had to have another bath. Thankfully, I was at work when this happened.
Just after half 4 Melissa, Penny and myself drove to Liverpool, to the Baltic Fleet on the dock road, to make an appearance at my father's retirement party. We stayed for a little over an hour and Penny met some new people (so did Melissa and I, but they only really wanted to meet Penny). I had a pint and a pie, both made on site. Very good.
Came home, had tea, Melissa is watching the Big Brother eviction. She called me downstairs to watch some tosser Geordie shaving his own arsehole. And she wonders why I don't watch it.
I've got a busy day tomorrow. Early start, late night. So I probably won't blog.
So for now, allow me to editorialise a little :
I have some vague memories of my dad's passing out parade, back in 1985, and I'm so pleased and so proud to have been at his retirement party 26 years later. I think the passing out parade is one of my earliest memories; I remember sharing a packet of crisps with a boy called, I think called James. As far back as I can remember my dad, I remember him being a police officer. It's crazy to think what's happened in that time in our small family. My brother was born (David), we've been on countless family holidays (Somerset, Wales an inordinate amount of times, France loads, America), owned more cars than I can begin to remember (Escort, Rover, Opel Manta, Audi 80, Honda Accord, Volvo, another green car, an Opel I think, Astra, to name but a few), moved house I think 4 times (only two that I have distinct memories of), survived skin cancer, his youngest son has emigrated to New Zealand (having previously travelled the world. Twice), settled there with a flat, a job and his lovely finacée Jenni, while his oldest (and more handsome) son has grown up, gone to university (occasionally), moved out, bought a house, gotten married (to the lovely Melissa) and had a baby, his first grandchild (Penny). All the while, his lovely, amazing wife has stuck by him, by us, through thick and thin, having just celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary. Whatever way you look at it, he's won at life.He can now safely and comfortably rest on his laurels. Tinker with his MGB, put up shelves, tend his garden, read his news paper, watch his motorsport... And if he gets a minute, we've got a laminate floor that needs putting down, some doors that need painting and potentially some wallpaper that needs hanging.
In your own time, dad. xx
