We got a great email about a Dad from Alice O’Connel:

My Da works in brand and package design but wants to be a writer, he’s been working on his novel for about a year now having been to many many creative writing courses. It’s a family mystery, as far as I can tell, he doesn’t talk about it a lot. He’s unable to read fiction now though, which is a shame as we used to trade books. He actually had a book of poems that he and his brother had written published in the 70’s in Dublin. It was a limited run and they all sold out, he swears to this day they weren’t all bought by his Ma. I read them a few years ago and they were all trippy hippy dippy nonsense, he admitted acid had been an important factor in their creative process.

I meet my Da once a week for lunch and we natter away about all sorts of things, it’s always my favourite part of my week. We take turns taking each other out and have a few regular places for organic food, sushi and Thai.

He came over from Dublin to London with his youngest brother in the 70’s and was greeted with a sign on a cafe saying ‘No Irish, No Dogs’.

He used to play classical guitar and is still quite good when he picks it up. When I was little I used to hate him playing as he wouldn’t listen to what I was saying, he’d just dreamily nod at me.”

He sounds great. If only all Dad’s could be so sociable.

Here are Laundry New Years Resolutions for me (and for you)

1) Only watch reality TV if it is not based on a salacious curiosity for other people’s mental problems - so really only Springwatch will qualify.

2) When in public do not pull facial expressions when recalling conversations in one’s head.

3) When in private do not pick nose when watching TV - just because you are alone doesn’t mean it is not disgusting.

4) Recycle more, consume less

5) Do not stare at other people’s food until they are forced to offer you some

6) Do not mention 3 times a week that you are often mistaken for someone 5 years junior (yes someone thought I was a student the other day YES (oh - maybe they meant mature student)), especially if you don’t look in the mirror often enough to check on your wrinkle/grey hair status.

7) Life admin is just as important as office admin - sign up to that pension plan, make that opticians appointment, post that letter to Santa…

Update your “to do” list regularly

9) Invent a fashionable string that can tie objects like umbrellas to your wrist to prevent loss.

10) Never make New Year’s Resolutions, they are pointless.

Trackback URL