Was it the invention itself which impressed your Father? What did you invent OG? Have you painted anything new? I did a lot of scribbling with pencils many years ago, but I do wish I could paint.What to opine on Mater and Pater, forsooth?
Father and I got off to good start he came back from an overseas posting just after I had learned to speak, with what turned out be a lifelong gift for diplomacy (this is as recounted later by my sister who is 14 years older than I)
I heard the front door, so wandered in the hall and there was my sister kissing this strange old man.
I ran back to shouting shouting that my sister was being attacked by a strange old man in uniform.
In marched father with my sister on his arm, when he finished kissing mother he looked over at me a strange expression on his face and said
"You always wanted a lad, he's all yours!"
For most of my early years he never used my name, it was always either "Now lad" or "Mother the lad needs a wash!" sort of address.
He was a very good father, if strict, and never smacked me, Mother had that function covered more enough already, and his logic always impressed me.
For instance
"I don't really mind you drowning yourself in the drains, fishing for newts, I did that too, but it upsets your Mother, and then she gives both of us hell!"
Very motivational, and when I was 40 years and I proudly showed a Patent in my name, he actually said "Well done Tony"
I was shocked, and asked him to repeat it, and of course he gave me that look and asked "why?"
"Father that's the first time you have ever congratulated on anything!"
He thought about this for a moment.
"Well I always thought that sooner or later you would do something worth congratulating you about." and went back to his newspaper.
I still miss him!
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