a family birthday

if he were still with us, our dad would be 98 today.

he would have mixed emotions regarding the VE Day celebrations.
many tough memories would have come to the fore.
every Remembrance Day he would watch the television coverage, and quietly sob.

he had a couple of stories that he would tell.  because they were happy/amusing ones.  

i'll pass over the one when he was having a pee in a cornfield in Normandy and a young German soldier surrendered.

the best one, because it incapsulates everything he taught me, was about a customs officer.

Dad had gone on an oriental tour for his stockbroking firm - breaking into as yet uncharted territory.  he'd bought home kimonos and pretty things for his women folk.  and being the most honest man i have ever known, he walked to the 'something to declare' line.  
as he did so,  one of the customs officers stepped forward and said, please can i shake your hand Sir.

it turned out that this man had carried him off the battlefield in Normandy in 1944 and Dad was the only soldier able to say thank you.  despite the decades that had passed my dad was still recognisable - he was very handsome.

this experience was used to teach us (his children) how important it was to say thank you, and how, if you're an honest bloke, you don't take advantage, and pay all taxes due.

happy birthday dad x