General Chat

These two stick in my memory.

Good one

When i saw my son being presented with his BSC Eng (hons) degree., not many in my family if any went to University never mind obtaining a degree.

A bad one, but did turn out to be good one.

When i was about 16 i cut my hand rather badly, i walked into the house and passed out, when i came around my dad called me a wimp, or words to that effect, could not repeat what he really said. What he said to me, i never forgot, nor did i forgive him.



Now my dad and i were never really close, him having spent 12 years in the Royal Navy,1937 to 1949 i think i only saw him about 4 times in the 12 years, so never really knew him, to me he was a stranger, and to be quite honest i was frightened of him.

Now years later when i started doing my family history, and researching what my dad did in his time in the Navy and what he went through. He was on two ships one was torpedoed and sunk, and one was sunk by enemy aircraft, this one being in 1941 at the battle of Crete. He and the other survivors spent about 12 hours in the sea awaiting rescue, of the ships company of 723 only 250 survived.


So all these years later i can fully understand those word he said to me were based on his experiences in the war, and i must have seemed a wimp to him after what he seen and been through. All is now forgiven though, pity hes not here so i could tell him.

George

that's a shame George, but how were you to know - probably a lot of children were in the same position as you - not knowing their fathers because of the war - war casualties nevertheless

As Anne says you were not at that age to know, unless he had told you about his experiences. However, nobody should ever call somebody a wimp for passing out after an accident, but some 'tough' fathers were like that years ago, they didn't know any different.

just the kind of thing my father-in-law would have said - he was shot blaster in a quarry - a tough occupation - but he was as hard as nails with not one ounce of compassion - it was always "I'm telling you" and "you do as I say" - a nasty piece of work

Thank you Ann& Ann

My dad was never a "tough" father i think if he was here today he would apologize for saying what he said , if he would have remembered what he said.

I believe it was on the spur of the moment thing and just said what came into his head based on what he himself had experienced, some horrific things no doubt.

George

George, we have both been there then. And, our fathers before us.
My father had nine years in the Royal Navy, six for the war, and three afterwards.
When he first went in, as a young lad, his first posting was the Russian Convoys, and all the horrors it contained. And, afterwards, Italy.
He had Alopecia from the Convoys, and growing up, we were never allowed to mention it, or any of his war years.
After the war, when he went back in again, he lived on board ship up the Kyles of Bute, whilst we lived on the island. We were lucky if we saw him once a week. So yes, strangers to their children, were some fathers.
As an adult now, I can understand it all. As a child, I could not.

Julia in Derbyshire

Julia

Looks as though our Dads were in in the same boat so to speak.As you said lots of things you could never understand as a child, but now as an adult lots of things fall into place.
If i had not started doing family history, i doubt if i would have known anything about my dad, i'm so glad i did otherwise i might have remained oblivious of what he experienced.
I am thankful that he survived the war, many others did not, their sacrifice should always be remembered, and also those who suffered with injuries, as do many today.
We have a lot to be thankful for


George

My most memorable moment (besides my marriage and birth of my two sons) was being at the birth of my first grandchild and cuddling him at a few seconds old whilst his mum was being attended to.
DIL decided at last minute that she wanted me with her not my son and I had the pleasure of showing baby David off to his Dad and other Grandparents.

Pam

How lovely Pamela, a moment to always remember.

In no particular order.

My sister being born on my 4 th birthday. Best present I ever had.
Going to my Irish family in the early 1950s the and having great fun with my cousins all of whom were older than me
Passing my 11 plus and my parents being so pleased
Wining medals for my Irish dancing
Meeting, marrying my first husband and having our children including twins.
Marrying a second time to a very different person who are stilling love with each other
Having grandchildren, the latest one visiting me for the first time and her mother handing her to me as soon as she arrived

May add more latter

Any more I think Island has one :-D ;-)

LOL Ann. It's something I'd rather forget! Especially as it's nearly tea time ;-) :-D

Please don't be coy Island. It is so unlike you. LOLOL

Julia in Derbyshire

Oh ok then :-D
Daintifying a friends 6 month old first thing. I'd minded her several times before but that first time early morning one was something else :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0 :-0I
My blood drained :-0

You've all been there but someone elses bubs trouser contents aren't as endearing as your own little darlings :-0 :-D :-D

Is that all. I was hoping for more LOLOL

Julia in Derbyshire

It was enough for me Julia LOL

I was a mere slip of a gal at the time, not some seasoned earth muvva :-D

Yesterday, when I had death staring me in the face in the guise of a large van ...millimetres away from smashing the car I was in to kingdom come.( not the van driver at fault).

I am glad that having reminded D on Monday morning where the 'important paperwork' was and emergency numbers for other nok, before I left to visit a friend for a couple of days, that I am still here to tell him he won't need it yet :-0

Goodness me Rose. Are you ok?

Gosh Rose what happened. Glad you are able to tell the tale.

Thanks Island and Ann, yes I'm fine, my friend and I were on the way to hospital. for her appointment, but nearly ended up there for different reasons.... bit shaken both of us and just very glad to be safe back at her house at the end of the day.