63 Comments
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Carolyn Gabbard Fugate's avatar

I loved this and I actually laughed out loud. The first time I read one of your essays, I told you I was reminded of James Thurber. As your dad would say-THIS WAS BETTER,

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Jo Thompson's avatar

He looks like he’s at a swim-up bar for frogs. I would have loved to have seen your mum and dad as presenters on Gardener’s World

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Linda Cardillo's avatar

You had me laughing from start to finish. Why are older parents do much fun? Although as it is happening we often don't see the humor until we look back. 😉 Thanks for the 😃.

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skull_theater's avatar

Laughed out loud and am still smiling. Sharing this with others who enjoy a brilliantly written piece of humor with their coffee.

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thank you! Very kind of you.

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Lorraine Tilbury's avatar

What a delightful story! The toad adventures bright me right back to my love of The Wind in the Willows as a child...

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Lorraine! Nice to hear you enjoyed it.

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Marg Roberts's avatar

So very funny. I wish I could write like that!

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Valerie Ishii's avatar

Oh my! This is going to keep me smiling all day. Thanks for another gem. I now wait with glee for your mum and dad’s ‘our garden’ VT to pop up on Gardener’s World.

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Ruth Brompton-Charlesworth's avatar

Fookin hell ! That did make me laugh. Bless you for writing such perfect posts. ❤️😂

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Ruth!

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Laura's avatar

This was so delightful. Thank you. The sticky note is just...perfection.

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Laura!

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Erika Marshall's avatar

Your father sounds delightful and your mum is a wise woman to just go along with his folly.You are a good child who will make a good parent someday for noticing the small beauty in everyday life.Thank you and carry on.

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MJ's avatar

Reading this makes me so happy 😊💜🐸

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Tom Cox's avatar

How nice to hear!

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TheJules's avatar

Loved it. Lolled at Keith Harris and Orville died doing that 🤣

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BJ Zamora's avatar

Now I adore your parents too! Such glorious attitudes toward life.

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Peter Masters's avatar

I agree with all the others. Read it to my partner Sharon and she was laughing out loud.

I remember having copies of a book you wrote years ago about trying to become a pro golfer. I was editor of Golf Weekly back then...

pendarviapete.substack.com

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thank you, Pete! Nice to hear from you!

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Marika O’S's avatar

I'm still chuckling, what a glorious read.

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Marcus Nobreus's avatar

Wow! Amazingly beautifully woven between the toad(s), dad, mom, and yourself. Thank you for this moment.

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Tom Cox's avatar

Thanks Marcus! Very kind of you to say so.

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Marcus Nobreus's avatar

Well, for me it brings back inspiration and memories of how writing used to be, when it was considered an art. So I’m glad to follow you and some of the other so talented substackers here. And I’m brand new to the community so it’s exciting to get involved and read these kind of musings.

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