Seeing the world through someone elses eyes

You all now know how much I love Daddy, and how amazing I think he is. He is the best Daddy that I could ask for. He has so many qualities and I aspire to be as strong and brave as he is. I admire him so much so that even Ceddy is a lot like Dad in many ways.

But I may be slightly biased, so I asked Dad's and my facebook friends if they would mind taking 5 minutes out of their busy schedules to write down a story, a memory that they have of Dad and this is what they came up with:

Ann (mentioned in previous posts) and her husband Norman have been family friends for many years – When I think of them, I think of all the BBQ's, lunches and family gatherings that we spent together, oh and I think of Grandads (Ann's lovely Dad) amazing stories. I knew that by asking Ann for something she would tell a great story (It must run in the family!!!) and that it would put a smile on everyone's face. This is what she came up with:

Rob and the three D's: 

Dinner: He can't tell the time (dinner time)... We were invited to have lunch with you in France, but strangely we arrived to find him coming out of the shower wrapped in just a towel. What an entrance! Was he auditioning for Hello! magazine? No. Your Mum and Dad had forgotten that the clocks had gone forward an hour. Embarrassed, your Dad thought we were early and we thought we were on time. No lunch ready, but no problem as we enjoyed the entertainment provided by Rob. Never mind, just open the wine! 

He's the Gas man...well, not quite. Another dinner time again and we arrived anticipating another delicious meal cooked by your Mum. No food (beginning to sound familiar), as the gas had run out. There was a dash to buy another canister before France closed for lunch time. No problem, just open the wine Rob! Food seems to have been an issue as he once tried to set fire to his eyebrows while cooking on the BBQ! Cheers! Bring on the entertainment, Rob, and open the wine again!

Drink: Sunday morning 26th October, in France, and your Dad wanted to watch the sport. One problem, no TV. So without further ado your Mum, Dad and children bundled into the car and armed with croissants for breakfast, drove over to us. Time passed, breakfast and coffee were over and in need of further refreshment the bottles of beer were opened. Sport on. Fire blazing in the grate, I put a leg of lamb in the oven and prepped some veg. More logs on the fire and more bottles of beer were supped and the sport played on. Meal eaten, children sleepy, your Dad decided to drive you all home. Car, what car, where's the car? Did the car know the way home by itself? A good day was had by all and you all arrived home safely. Let's just say that Rob slept very well that night. 

Driving: Do you believe in coincidence? We were on our way down to Portsmouth heading for France. Guided into a parking spot we sat waiting to be called to embark. A blue people mover pulled up behind us. That looked familiar. The driver looked familiar. The passenger looked familiar. Children waved. Then it dawned on us that it was your family. Now what's the chance of that happening again? Neither family knew that the other was heading for the continent on that day. We had both driven 140 miles, yet ended up together. To celebrate, once on board we headed for the bar. An enjoyable crossing was had by all.

Sarah Puma's stories (Grab the tissues Mum, Dad'll get all teary I mean his allergies might flare up!!!!)

I worked for your Dad in the very early days of my career... all fresh faced & out of uni, working alongside your Dad taught me valuable lessons & developed my confidence that has stood me in good stead over the last 16years... gosh now that makes me feel old!!
Your Dad's approach to office life was unconventional at the best of times & wonderfully off the wall at others... his commitment & energy was never failing & this I've always felt lucky to have worked alongside & learned from...
I always remember & still chuckle about disco dancing in Brighton & Rob busting moves to ward off male admirers from one of our less confident male colleagues!
You mum & dad coming to one of the many Redstone do's as the flintstones when all around them everyone was in black tie & ballgowns!
Cheesy chip board meetings in the Freelander parked on top of a multi-storey car park in Hove... & Think! training programme which despite us running over 20 workshops I still failed to learn to juggle!
Refusing to eat anything that had tomato in it!! Oh & team building outings consisting of beer, curry & more beer!
All very happy & fond memories which have stood me in good stead for my working life so far! & for that your dad deserves a huge thank you from me!

When Uncle Adi thinks of Dad he thinks:

Doughnutting your dads white bmw works car in a car park in the snow.... boy racers! I asked Mum when it was that Dad had BMW and Mum said "Why? Has Adrian sent you a message? Let me guess, the sports center carpark?! 

We used to race to see who could set the speed record from Eastbourne to Rugby.... sure it was me who held the record! Daddy I think you might need to set the record straight on this one!!!

Getting very drunk after pinching all of your Grandads whiskey while attempting to run a bar at Kevin and Fleurs wedding..... I'm guessing that Grandad didn't know about this incident!!!

Rob sliding into a thorn bush on a water slide. Water slide is a loose term, more like black plastic sheets, a hose pipe and lots of 10p washing-up liquid!!!

And bump starting a tractor lawn mower... That little red one of Grandads that had branches growing through it? Don't think you ever did manage to get it working :-P

It all seemed a good idea at the time!!!

Shelley has been a very close family friend for a number of years and spent a lot of time with us when we were little.

I remember him always being happy. I don't think I ever saw him miserable!

But he always had a 'project' on the go!

If we popped round he always had his joggers and an old rugger shirt on and I'm sure footie socks all crinkled round the ankles Or those beautiful Mickey Mouse trousers that Aunty Mary made him (that ended up as shorts!) he never seemed to take them off! I don't think he could have got anymore wear out of them! I'm sure if he had had it his way, they would have been turned into boxers once they were too tatty to be worn as shorts! 

He would always be doing something on one of the houses - be it spraying Wood street in that lovely blu/green paint. Painting a deck or something in wood at Clifton Road. Or not finishing doing my bedroom!!! 

Always giggling and usually covered by you children!

Your dad has always been the type of bloke you can count on and you know even today with his illness I know he would do anything he could to help his friends - top bloke!