In Australia Fathers Day is celebrated in September. Seeing as a few people have been sharing their memories of their dads it got me thinking about my own.

He also spent most of his working life in service. Firstly in the British Air Force (RAF) and then in the Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a doctor. This meant that we moved house every 2 and half years, both within Australia and overseas. Dad was often absent as part of being an Air Force Dr was being on call.

I remember quite a few Sunday dinner, Christmas dinners and other occasions when we either had to wait because he had been called out or our celebrations were interrupted by ‘that’ phone call.

During the late 60’s we were posted to RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia. Dad had to see to the Medevacs that came through from Vietnam and stopped at Butterworth on the way back to Australia with wounded soldiers. Mum said that this distressed him quite a bit seeing such young men with such terrible wounds. He also spent some time in Vietnam in one of the joint services hospitals. He would never talk about his time there though.

I remember my Dad most for reading to me when I was very young. He read Winnie the Pooh, the House at Pooh Corner, The Wind in the Willows. Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the looking glass to me. He made all the characters come alive, giving them their own voices. He was a bit like Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe combined ( and he did love the Goon shows on the radio).

After Dad retired he and my mother managed to have some wonderful holidays and travel together. The spent a couple of great holidays in the South of France with friends.

During my very opinionated late teenager years my dad used to say to me when I was yakking on about something, ” there’s no black and white you know, it’s all shades of grey.”

I think where ever dad is now he would probable reckon that since it’s gone 6.00pm, it’s time for an aperitif. Cheers Dad