My Dad

Five years ago I received a phone call in London to tell me my Dad had made his last journey on earth and was now in Heaven. I had said my final goodbyes to him just 2 weeks earlier when I was back in NZ.

Dad would have been proud that he had 2 farewells, a funeral in NZ and a memorial service in London.

Dad was a good crazy person who told appalling puns. Most of them were funny but we'd just roll our eyes and go "Daaaad". The only one I can remember is about the Eiffel Tower. I rang him from Paris just to hear him say it. When Dad answered the phone I said "I'm sitting here looking at the Eiffel Tower", he didn't miss a beat and said "get an eyeful of it".

Dad saw many things happen in his 88-1/2 years and kept up with technology until the end. The last present I brought him was a mobile phone just 3 weeks before he died. Just before I moved to London I brought a computer for Mum and Dad to use and it gave him a new lease on life. He used to send me an email most days and enjoyed receiving mine about the places I'd visited.

It's strange being back in NZ and Mum and Dad not being here and I miss them both so much. Dad was a good dad and loved the family so much. He did all he could to help us through life and helped to shape us into the people we are today.

The last 5 years have been difficult and I will always love and miss him, but I can say that I am happy again.