An offshoot of my dad’s old cactus going strong.

This is an offshoot of my dad’s old cactus. I first brought the original here around 2005 as it needed some tender loving care.
Dad was then 87 and at that time still living in our old home up in Rawtenstall. Mum died aged 70 in 1990. He just asked me to keep it for him when I said I would take care of it till it recovered and then take it back.
Events overtook us a few months after his 90th birthday, which was celebrated with a dinner for friends and family, at his request, which I organised. It was held at what used to be known as the Assembly Rooms. A grand old colonnaded building which had rooms to hire for functions.
He made a great speech, reciting two of his favourite Lancashire Dialect poems, word perfect, from memory.
It was such a lovely get together. Some of the extended family coming from places as far away as Exeter and London.
His eldest nephew was the MC.
He became increasingly frail in the early months of the following year. So the cactus stayed with me.
When it too looked as if it may not last too much longer I took an offshoot and stuck it in some compost.
Amazingly it grew! And grew. I still call it Dad’s cactus!
It looks beautiful just now. I put it on the dining table just to take the photo.
Its favourite place is in the kitchen sitting on top of the freezer by the back door.
I put it outside in the garden in the summer months.
I thought we were going to have sunshine today and took a photo of the sun appearing just above the school earlier about 8:36.
It is very mild but windy and has now clouded over, with the clouds scudding across the sky giving intermittent glimpses of brightness.
We’re off for our usual Saturday pub lunch later.