The Bruegel Bridget painting is my favourite (one I own as a greeting card and will not send to anyone: I hope to frame it), partly because Bridget is in some ways the most successful of the hunters, also because Hunters in the Snow is one of my very favourite paintings full stop. These notes are delightful. Long may your Dad's FULL CAPS OBSERVATIONS continue.
Long before I was born, my grandpa whacked off his thumb down to the knuckle with an axe.
He told my grandmother to go find the rest of his thumb in the wood pile so he could take it to the hospital and have it sewn back on, but she said no.
Due to the lack of thumbnail, by the time I was little, he was quite excellent at Got Your Nose and regularly horrified small children with it, first myself and later my own kids.
He was, all in all, a jovial and big-hearted man, and I miss him very much.
Brilliant, Tom. I’m at the Oval watching humanity at its most absurd and your writing has made me laugh until tears fell from my eyes :) My son (23) is unamused as I read excerpts to him. I’ve assured him that it will be funny when he’s a grown up.
I reread and loved this all over again. I hope you have recordings of your dad and mum telling their stories. I have a few of my grandad. Wish they weren’t on tapes!
I am apparently married to your father's younger brother (although my husband doesn't cuss quite so much). The frogspawn and Peak District anecdotes are particularly familiar to me.
Your Dad reminds me of someone's Dad I used to work for, full of unstoppable enthusiasm and insessant social skills. An antidote to the often slightly reserved British self doubt. Great to read about & very well written, thanks for spreading the vibes! 🥁🎉
Read it before, a treat to read it again. Came home starved and it’s perfect with leftover chicken dinner reheated, red wine and Waxx Off & Sachi. I want everyone in my life to read it.
The Bruegel Bridget painting is my favourite (one I own as a greeting card and will not send to anyone: I hope to frame it), partly because Bridget is in some ways the most successful of the hunters, also because Hunters in the Snow is one of my very favourite paintings full stop. These notes are delightful. Long may your Dad's FULL CAPS OBSERVATIONS continue.
Ah, yes, the old I-cut-my-finger-with-an-axe bit.
Long before I was born, my grandpa whacked off his thumb down to the knuckle with an axe.
He told my grandmother to go find the rest of his thumb in the wood pile so he could take it to the hospital and have it sewn back on, but she said no.
Due to the lack of thumbnail, by the time I was little, he was quite excellent at Got Your Nose and regularly horrified small children with it, first myself and later my own kids.
He was, all in all, a jovial and big-hearted man, and I miss him very much.
I made the mistake of reading this while eating breakfast, I now have porridge stuck in my nose, and all over my computer
That swimming pool video is just magical.
Your dad is THE BEST! An absolute riot 🤣🤣 I can only imagine the laughter and nonsense growing up in your house 🩵
Could we get a book of The Bridget paintings pleeeeeese
I’d certainly buy that book!
Brilliant, Tom. I’m at the Oval watching humanity at its most absurd and your writing has made me laugh until tears fell from my eyes :) My son (23) is unamused as I read excerpts to him. I’ve assured him that it will be funny when he’s a grown up.
I reread and loved this all over again. I hope you have recordings of your dad and mum telling their stories. I have a few of my grandad. Wish they weren’t on tapes!
You can convert them to other audio formats, companies nearby will do it pretty cheaply. Same ones that convert analogue film and to digital. 👍
Good idea. So afraid they will snap on playing. I’ll have to get out the sticky tape and renew my splicing skills!
I am apparently married to your father's younger brother (although my husband doesn't cuss quite so much). The frogspawn and Peak District anecdotes are particularly familiar to me.
Your dad's delightful, he should be everybody's dad. And his ducks rock!
He is everybody‘s Dad.
The question is:
do they want him to be! 😂
I just love this.
Thanks Alexandra!
Your Dad reminds me of someone's Dad I used to work for, full of unstoppable enthusiasm and insessant social skills. An antidote to the often slightly reserved British self doubt. Great to read about & very well written, thanks for spreading the vibes! 🥁🎉
Thanks Nancy!
I can see myself re-reading this whenever I need a smile. What an absolute legend!
I just discovered you can play the video at half speed. Even more of a wondrous thing, thanks Tom!
Your dad sounds like a right character - is it any wonder you write such wide ranging commentary when you’ve lived around it for so long!
I’ll bet he could swap stories (or compete) with my dad - he’s another one with no filter or volume control. Forth could be held for quite some time!
Read it before, a treat to read it again. Came home starved and it’s perfect with leftover chicken dinner reheated, red wine and Waxx Off & Sachi. I want everyone in my life to read it.