A letter to Dad

Dear Dad, I have been thinking a lot about you recently. I want to thank you for the love you gave me. For your patience when I didn't like football, your love and care in showing me how to wallpaper with you - that was fun. For showing me the steam machine, for the lovely happy times at home. For understanding when I wasn't a tough man. For driving us to Lavenham when I was unhappy and for buying me that blue pullover. For making the wonderful layout boards for my toy cars and Lego houses. For taking me to lovely Grandma on a Saturday. For showing me the factory. For your part in my having the wonderful home in Hoe Lane; I still love that house and now that I am on my own I seek a home again. I believe that what I desire is mine. For your wonderful letter of encouragement and support which I still have. For the wonderful holidays you took Mum and me on; Spain, Italy, Switzerland - I am sorry I fell down that hill, Greece on my 13th Birthday, the trip to Yugoslavia whewn I was 17 or 18 and I drove your new car; the aptly named Triumph Dolomite . For the trip to the Moulin Rouge in Montmartre as part of my passage from boy to man. Had we been Jewish it would have been Bar Mitzvah. For upping sticks with the rest of us and moving to Suffolk when you were aging. I love you, I just wish I had said it to you. I went to the graves on Mum's birthday and planted a gold heather on yours and a purple heather on Mum's. It will be 20 years next year since you went away but my love is still here. Thank you for everything. Your loving son Johnnie xx