A little audio intro from me, to provide some context to what follows: My dad has come to an arrangement with the public pool in Nottinghamshire where he swims: after everyone else has got out of the pool, he is permitted to do a somersault before he gets changed. “THEY OPEN UP THE STORAGE CUPBOARD AND LET ME GO IN THERE SO I CAN GET A GOOD RUN-UP,” he said. Last week my dad, who will be seventy in August, got his friend Malcolm, who is seventy-three, to film the somersault. “It’s shattered all his illusions,” my mum told me. “Until he saw the film he thought he was creating poetry in motion. But it’s really just an old bloke who can’t run fast doing a sideways flop.”
My god, you will never run out of things to write about! And your dad is right. We are indeed living in the age of the git. Your story of your dad's finger and the bird, reminded me my grandad who cut off his finger with a hatchet while making a paddle with which to stir the pigs' feed. Clearly his method was not up to safety standards. He came into the kitchen to find my grandmother, a bloody rag wrapped around his hand and said with no fanfare at all, "Mary, I had some trouble with the hatchet." I've been trying to match his gift for understatement all my life. Thanks for this. It was wonderful fun.
This makes me nostalgic for my dad. He wasn’t near the character yours is, but he did have some fresh takes on people and the world. I miss him. Thanks for sharing these. 🙃
Your dad is … Words fail me. Reminds me of my dad in a way. I should write down notes from my dad too. Love the cauliflower, bastards and the seashells and the photos on the phone! All of them. Would love to see how and if you use these further. Listening to your voice piece as well! Thank you!
I had to apologize to the cat on my lap several times for laughing out while she was trying to sleep. What a fun read! I’ve always loved your dad stories.
I just almost ruptured myself with laughter. Please do multiple volumes of books on Dad vignettes.
I love your dad. I fell in love with him in your earlier books and I haven't changed my mind. Funniest thing I've read in ages.
I lost it at the shells in the socks. You could do a Little Book of Dad to give us daily wisdom
These are brilliant. Funny and witty and a lot of wisdom in such an authentic way of approaching the world. He sounds like a brilliant guy
My god, you will never run out of things to write about! And your dad is right. We are indeed living in the age of the git. Your story of your dad's finger and the bird, reminded me my grandad who cut off his finger with a hatchet while making a paddle with which to stir the pigs' feed. Clearly his method was not up to safety standards. He came into the kitchen to find my grandmother, a bloody rag wrapped around his hand and said with no fanfare at all, "Mary, I had some trouble with the hatchet." I've been trying to match his gift for understatement all my life. Thanks for this. It was wonderful fun.
This makes me want to know my dad better.
This makes me nostalgic for my dad. He wasn’t near the character yours is, but he did have some fresh takes on people and the world. I miss him. Thanks for sharing these. 🙃
You're dad is a precious gift. I needed this.
I mean, I think we've all wanted to tell Boris and Alan to fuck off, and I certainly am allergic to Clarkson...
Your dad sounds so lovely. I never knew mine - how special to have one like yours. I'm sure it makes all the difference to who one is. x
Your dad may now be my favorite person! This elevated my mood more than any prescription ever could and made me wish to join in the shenanigans.
I've just been kicked out of the living room for giggling too much and destroying the peace and quiet. Thanks Tom!
That duck painting is pretty damned fine (tell your dad).
Your dad is … Words fail me. Reminds me of my dad in a way. I should write down notes from my dad too. Love the cauliflower, bastards and the seashells and the photos on the phone! All of them. Would love to see how and if you use these further. Listening to your voice piece as well! Thank you!
Oh boy- I needed that!! Have been laughing uproariously. He’s a real character isn’t he? I loved him in your books too.
I had to apologize to the cat on my lap several times for laughing out while she was trying to sleep. What a fun read! I’ve always loved your dad stories.