As well as making me laugh out loud, this brought back so many funny little memories - mainly of my beloved dad.
The phone number was 'Ross three nine o five'. We moved from that house in 1974 so I really don't know why my brain insists on using valuable space to remember this trivia.
My dad wasn't a bargain hunter, but my uncle certainly was/is. The one that sticks in my mind the most was the proud purchase of a nearly new pair of football boots from what must have been a very early origin car boot sale (sometime in the 1970s). The boots were a size 6, my uncle was a size 8, but he wasn't going to let that minor detail stop him from purchasing such a brilliant deal.
My dad had many, many phrases most of which he seemed to have inherited from his dad. Any pie produced for lunch/tea/dinner e.g. chicken was described as "ooh me eye chicken pie".
I LOVE an inherited catchphrase. Maybe I should start using some of my dad's. My dad would've fully supported the purchase of those boots!
I've also realised that my son, like so many others his age, is growing up without a landline so will never have his first phone number occupying his brain for his whole life. This makes me feel sad enough to consider getting one!
What a wonderful piece of writing. My dad grew up in Nottinghamshire and used to answer the phone with “Hello, Retford Police Station”, until he picked up the phone one day when by chance someone from Retford Police Station had rung him and the officer on the line told him off. He also commonly moos down the phone at you (like a cow) upon answering. He also says “trying to connect you sir” like a telephone operator when he belches. I think there must have been something in the water in Retford!
I've just remembered another from my dad, he always sings "make room for the mushrooms!" which I believe was a public service broadcast to eat more vegetables from the '70's. But he still sings it every time he is cutting up mushrooms to add to any meal. My dad is not a singer. But this is always belted out like a professional tenor!
The 5th and greatest instalment into the Attic of Fame. I am going to take this moment to claim honouring the love you have for your dad with memories I have made with you - when I reversed half a mile (100mtrs? who knows, you have since always made me think it could have been 2 miles!!!) down a one way street in Lille to get Liaka's pet passport stamped so that we didn't miss our ferry, as a homage to Robin. I know at least HE would have approved. Needs must ;-) Please keep instalments coming as and when needed of the treasure trove of memories you have of your dad. I, and I am sure, we all, will lap them up. He is inextricably so much of the bit weird, quite normal that you are. My dad says "who loves you baby?" as well as doing the gesture Jasper Carrot used to do to denote 'dickhead' which I suspect your dad may have done too. Long live the magnificence of the peculiar and wonderous dads in our life. Forever love to you xxx
As you can imagine, when I was writing that bit about the bus stop, that moment in Lille came to mind, just as it did when I was sat in the bus stop!! He would have definitely approved! I wonder if there's a whole generation of dads who say 'who loves ya baby'? Based on the two of us, I think there might be! Although he didn't do the addition of the Jasper Carrot thing and I wonder if this might be totally unique to your dad!! xx
My dad wasn't one for rules either. During lockdown he made me buy him an exemption card so he didn't have to wear a COVID mask - not for health reasons, rather that they made his glasses steam up!
I loved reading this, your Dad sounds lovely. I lot mine 7 years ago and he was my biggest cheerleader too (in a very quiet way) our phone number growing up was 55553 and my Dad would answer double five double five three! I’d forgotten all about that! There’s not a lot I wouldn’t give for an other day with him.
It's not how my mom answers the phone, but it's that, after I say hello she always asks me if I was holding the phone because I answered so fast. It's usually right next to me, so...
I DO remember when seatbelts became law, I think around the same time here in the US. I was about 4 or 5. I hated that my dad made me sit in the middle of the pickup truck's single seat, straddling the gearshift, so I had a seat belt. How dare he want me to be safe? :D
My Little Pony Show Stable! I can fully picture mine, as well as my yellow with purple mane, and blue with purple mane ponies.
What a fantastic guy your dad must have been. And what a legacy to leave, his (no doubt favourite) child continues to make this world a brighter place. My late mum spent the early part of her childhood in Ireland and refused to go to school there because she was afraid her grandmother would fall into the fire. Hence she had some great phrases like "Come you in on out of there", "That'll dry your arse up to your elbow", "Close that light off" and "Behave, or I'll cut your tail off".
This will be our first Christmas without her, so we'll try to honour her memory by discussing things we miss like those funny phrases, comedy misspellings and the like. And we'll think of you and so many other families in a similar position. x
Peace to you & yours, Annabel. What a funny & lovely writing about your dad. It was so enjoyable to read. My dad is almost 92 so I’m mentally gathering thoughts & stories of his life. I get to spend a few days of one on one time with him at least every 6 weeks & call him often. He’s had the same landline number since 1960 but will lose it soon as he’s moving from his huge two-story house to an apartment in an assisted living facility in a couple of months. I admire him so much…as it sounds like you did your dad as well.
I did. And thank you. I hope your dad's move goes well and it's not too tricky for him. I expect that will be strange for you too. That's such a long time for him to be somewhere. Enjoy your time with him x
A bit bigger than a double wedding - I went to a mass wedding with 2000 other couples (Google: the Moonies). It was cheaper than a non-mass wedding I imagine, but still cost a few quid more than I think it ought to…
My dad passed away last year, almost to the day. It was lovely reading about yours, thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your lovely and funny dad stories. (I wish I had a good catchphrase to contribute but most of my dad’s expressions were R-rated!)
As well as making me laugh out loud, this brought back so many funny little memories - mainly of my beloved dad.
The phone number was 'Ross three nine o five'. We moved from that house in 1974 so I really don't know why my brain insists on using valuable space to remember this trivia.
My dad wasn't a bargain hunter, but my uncle certainly was/is. The one that sticks in my mind the most was the proud purchase of a nearly new pair of football boots from what must have been a very early origin car boot sale (sometime in the 1970s). The boots were a size 6, my uncle was a size 8, but he wasn't going to let that minor detail stop him from purchasing such a brilliant deal.
My dad had many, many phrases most of which he seemed to have inherited from his dad. Any pie produced for lunch/tea/dinner e.g. chicken was described as "ooh me eye chicken pie".
God I miss my dad xx
I LOVE an inherited catchphrase. Maybe I should start using some of my dad's. My dad would've fully supported the purchase of those boots!
I've also realised that my son, like so many others his age, is growing up without a landline so will never have his first phone number occupying his brain for his whole life. This makes me feel sad enough to consider getting one!
What a wonderful piece of writing. My dad grew up in Nottinghamshire and used to answer the phone with “Hello, Retford Police Station”, until he picked up the phone one day when by chance someone from Retford Police Station had rung him and the officer on the line told him off. He also commonly moos down the phone at you (like a cow) upon answering. He also says “trying to connect you sir” like a telephone operator when he belches. I think there must have been something in the water in Retford!
Oh my goodness, this is amazing! And thank you.
I've just remembered another from my dad, he always sings "make room for the mushrooms!" which I believe was a public service broadcast to eat more vegetables from the '70's. But he still sings it every time he is cutting up mushrooms to add to any meal. My dad is not a singer. But this is always belted out like a professional tenor!
I remember 'make room for the mushrooms'! Love it that your dad does this.
The 5th and greatest instalment into the Attic of Fame. I am going to take this moment to claim honouring the love you have for your dad with memories I have made with you - when I reversed half a mile (100mtrs? who knows, you have since always made me think it could have been 2 miles!!!) down a one way street in Lille to get Liaka's pet passport stamped so that we didn't miss our ferry, as a homage to Robin. I know at least HE would have approved. Needs must ;-) Please keep instalments coming as and when needed of the treasure trove of memories you have of your dad. I, and I am sure, we all, will lap them up. He is inextricably so much of the bit weird, quite normal that you are. My dad says "who loves you baby?" as well as doing the gesture Jasper Carrot used to do to denote 'dickhead' which I suspect your dad may have done too. Long live the magnificence of the peculiar and wonderous dads in our life. Forever love to you xxx
As you can imagine, when I was writing that bit about the bus stop, that moment in Lille came to mind, just as it did when I was sat in the bus stop!! He would have definitely approved! I wonder if there's a whole generation of dads who say 'who loves ya baby'? Based on the two of us, I think there might be! Although he didn't do the addition of the Jasper Carrot thing and I wonder if this might be totally unique to your dad!! xx
My dad wasn't one for rules either. During lockdown he made me buy him an exemption card so he didn't have to wear a COVID mask - not for health reasons, rather that they made his glasses steam up!
Love this!
A wonderful human.
I loved reading this, your Dad sounds lovely. I lot mine 7 years ago and he was my biggest cheerleader too (in a very quiet way) our phone number growing up was 55553 and my Dad would answer double five double five three! I’d forgotten all about that! There’s not a lot I wouldn’t give for an other day with him.
❤️ I’m sorry for your loss x
It's not how my mom answers the phone, but it's that, after I say hello she always asks me if I was holding the phone because I answered so fast. It's usually right next to me, so...
I DO remember when seatbelts became law, I think around the same time here in the US. I was about 4 or 5. I hated that my dad made me sit in the middle of the pickup truck's single seat, straddling the gearshift, so I had a seat belt. How dare he want me to be safe? :D
My Little Pony Show Stable! I can fully picture mine, as well as my yellow with purple mane, and blue with purple mane ponies.
I'm excited that somebody else shares my love of the show stable. I sometimes Google image it just to swoon for a while.
❤️❤️
Thankyou for sharing those lovely memories of your Dad
I love writing about him! He was such a character.
What a fantastic guy your dad must have been. And what a legacy to leave, his (no doubt favourite) child continues to make this world a brighter place. My late mum spent the early part of her childhood in Ireland and refused to go to school there because she was afraid her grandmother would fall into the fire. Hence she had some great phrases like "Come you in on out of there", "That'll dry your arse up to your elbow", "Close that light off" and "Behave, or I'll cut your tail off".
Absolutely love these phrases! I feel that you should carry on the tradition. And thank you for your lovely words.
This will be our first Christmas without her, so we'll try to honour her memory by discussing things we miss like those funny phrases, comedy misspellings and the like. And we'll think of you and so many other families in a similar position. x
Peace to you & yours, Annabel. What a funny & lovely writing about your dad. It was so enjoyable to read. My dad is almost 92 so I’m mentally gathering thoughts & stories of his life. I get to spend a few days of one on one time with him at least every 6 weeks & call him often. He’s had the same landline number since 1960 but will lose it soon as he’s moving from his huge two-story house to an apartment in an assisted living facility in a couple of months. I admire him so much…as it sounds like you did your dad as well.
I did. And thank you. I hope your dad's move goes well and it's not too tricky for him. I expect that will be strange for you too. That's such a long time for him to be somewhere. Enjoy your time with him x
What a lovely tribute to your dad. Looking forward to many more stories! Sending love to you and your family x
Thanks so much.
Oh Annabel, I was so sorry to hear of your dad's passing. Much love to you and your family.
Thank you.
A bit bigger than a double wedding - I went to a mass wedding with 2000 other couples (Google: the Moonies). It was cheaper than a non-mass wedding I imagine, but still cost a few quid more than I think it ought to…
My dad passed away last year, almost to the day. It was lovely reading about yours, thank you for sharing.
So sorry about your dad. It feels like it's going to be a long winter ahead and I hope it wasn't too hard for you last year.
And WOW - 2000 couples! That must've quite an interesting experience.
Thank you for sharing your lovely and funny dad stories. (I wish I had a good catchphrase to contribute but most of my dad’s expressions were R-rated!)
Haha!