My Dad didn’t want a funeral, didn’t want the “hoo ha”, he said. At the risk of having him haunt me forever, which I wouldn’t mind because I’d really like to have him around, I’m posting this because celebrating the dead is for the living, & there are so many people who will read this who also loved him. Dad was a people person. He loved people and people loved him. He was one of those Dads that all your friends loved, one of those magic people with a gift for effortlessly making other people feel good. He wasn’t loud. Dad was just quietly, effortlessly funny, a larrikin energy tractor beam that drew in anyone in his orbit. He would’ve killed it in show business but he was a draftsman by trade who ended up a precast concrete guru, the son of a welder & a machinist (who had to give up work once she married 🤦🏻♀️). The thing is, when Dad had two girls of his own, and lived in a house with three women (interesting during teenage years, he used to say, as we all “cycled” together), he was never sexist. We grew up thinking we could do anything because he told us so. I’d hang out with Dad in the garage learning to use tools, how to mow & edge the lawn perfectly and wash the car. Terrified, I’d cling to his much loved Hobie Cat as he taught me to sail, pretending I loved hooning at breakneck speed across Toowoon Bay and heading out to sea, just to be near him. Dancing concerts probably evened up the terror score – more like an endurance event for Dad, he’d sit at Parramatta Town Hall, tortured for hours, just to see his girls on stage for a poofteenth of a second. I always wonder if in those moments he regretted working so hard with Mum, to give us the opportunities they never had. Of course, it wasn’t all roses. Early boyfriends sometimes created “issues” for Dad, but then later on in my early 20”s, after an absolutely disastrous experience…
My Dad didn’t want a funeral, didn’t want the “hoo ha”, he said. At the risk of having him haunt me forever, which I wouldn’t mind because I’d really like to have him around, I’m posting this because celebrating the dead is for the living, & there are so many people who will read this who also loved him. Dad was a people person. He loved people and people loved him. He was one of those Dads that all your friends loved, one of those magic people with a gift for effortlessly making other people feel good. He wasn’t loud. Dad was just quietly, effortlessly funny, a larrikin energy tractor beam that drew in anyone in his orbit. He would’ve killed it in show business but he was a draftsman by trade who ended up a precast concrete guru, the son of a welder & a machinist (who had to give up work once she married 🤦🏻♀️). The thing is, when Dad had two girls of his own, and lived in a house with three women (interesting during teenage years, he used to say, as we all “cycled” together), he was never sexist. We grew up thinking we could do anything because he told us so. I’d hang out with Dad in the garage learning to use tools, how to mow & edge the lawn perfectly and wash the car. Terrified, I’d cling to his much loved Hobie Cat as he taught me to sail, pretending I loved hooning at breakneck speed across Toowoon Bay and heading out to sea, just to be near him. Dancing concerts probably evened up the terror score – more like an endurance event for Dad, he’d sit at Parramatta Town Hall, tortured for hours, just to see his girls on stage for a poofteenth of a second. I always wonder if in those moments he regretted working so hard with Mum, to give us the opportunities they never had. Of course, it wasn’t all roses. Early boyfriends sometimes created “issues” for Dad, but then later on in my early 20”s, after an absolutely disastrous experience…
My Dad didn’t want a funeral, didn’t want the “hoo ha”, he said. At the risk of having him haunt me forever, which I wouldn’t mind because I’d really like to have him around, I’m posting this because celebrating the dead is for the living, & there are so many people who will read this who also loved him. Dad was a people person. He loved people and people loved him. He was one of those Dads that all your friends loved, one of those magic people with a gift for effortlessly making other people feel good. He wasn’t loud. Dad was just quietly, effortlessly funny, a larrikin energy tractor beam that drew in anyone in his orbit. He would’ve killed it in show business but he was a draftsman by trade who ended up a precast concrete guru, the son of a welder & a machinist (who had to give up work once she married 🤦🏻♀️). The thing is, when Dad had two girls of his own, and lived in a house with three women (interesting during teenage years, he used to say, as we all “cycled” together), he was never sexist. We grew up thinking we could do anything because he told us so. I’d hang out with Dad in the garage learning to use tools, how to mow & edge the lawn perfectly and wash the car. Terrified, I’d cling to his much loved Hobie Cat as he taught me to sail, pretending I loved hooning at breakneck speed across Toowoon Bay and heading out to sea, just to be near him. Dancing concerts probably evened up the terror score – more like an endurance event for Dad, he’d sit at Parramatta Town Hall, tortured for hours, just to see his girls on stage for a poofteenth of a second. I always wonder if in those moments he regretted working so hard with Mum, to give us the opportunities they never had. Of course, it wasn’t all roses. Early boyfriends sometimes created “issues” for Dad, but then later on in my early 20”s, after an absolutely disastrous experience…
My Dad didn’t want a funeral, didn’t want the “hoo ha”, he said. At the risk of having him haunt me forever, which I wouldn’t mind because I’d really like to have him around, I’m posting this because celebrating the dead is for the living, & there are so many people who will read this who also loved him. Dad was a people person. He loved people and people loved him. He was one of those Dads that all your friends loved, one of those magic people with a gift for effortlessly making other people feel good. He wasn’t loud. Dad was just quietly, effortlessly funny, a larrikin energy tractor beam that drew in anyone in his orbit. He would’ve killed it in show business but he was a draftsman by trade who ended up a precast concrete guru, the son of a welder & a machinist (who had to give up work once she married 🤦🏻♀️). The thing is, when Dad had two girls of his own, and lived in a house with three women (interesting during teenage years, he used to say, as we all “cycled” together), he was never sexist. We grew up thinking we could do anything because he told us so. I’d hang out with Dad in the garage learning to use tools, how to mow & edge the lawn perfectly and wash the car. Terrified, I’d cling to his much loved Hobie Cat as he taught me to sail, pretending I loved hooning at breakneck speed across Toowoon Bay and heading out to sea, just to be near him. Dancing concerts probably evened up the terror score – more like an endurance event for Dad, he’d sit at Parramatta Town Hall, tortured for hours, just to see his girls on stage for a poofteenth of a second. I always wonder if in those moments he regretted working so hard with Mum, to give us the opportunities they never had. Of course, it wasn’t all roses. Early boyfriends sometimes created “issues” for Dad, but then later on in my early 20”s, after an absolutely disastrous experience…
Thank you so much for your beautiful messages about Dad. It means a lot to me & my family, especially Mum who spent so many years caring for Dad. I also need to thank the amazing staff at McQuoin Park who cared for Dad for almost a year & when the end came, treated all of us so gently, along with a Geriatrician angel who appeared, Dr Alexandra Annesley who I wish we’d known Dad’s entire medical life instead of for a brief moment at the end 🙏🏻
55 years ago today this very special human was born. Happy happy birthday to my beautiful husband. Long may you shower the world in your special Jimmy brand of joie de vivre.
#repost Reposting this to showcase the brilliance of @gisellepeacock whose small business @gpowerdf is still recovering from Covid. Giselle is a world champion Latin dancer & a world champion human being. The pandemic shut down her small studio & with zero tech expertise, she went on line. I was overjoyed to find her in cyberspace after attending her classes at Sydney Dance Company a decade before. Even though she’s a world champ, Giselle can make anyone, from her brilliant young students to this middle aged wannabe, feel good about just letting it all hang out no matter what your ability or age. You can hear her endless enthusiasm in this clip. Thank you Giselle for giving us all hope that one day we might be a tenth the dancer that you are❤️🙏🏻💃🏻 Posted @withregram • from @gisellepeacock Name Dropping!!!! After what is almost 3 years now of this lovely woman attending my classes online and literally being apart of the @gpowerdf landscape via computer (lol) @chrisbath finally surprised us by actually coming into the studio……😲😲 She even brought me a jar of her honey from the busy bees at her farm. Which is to die for 🍯 🙏 @chrisbath is an Aussie journalist, radio, tv presenter, and very established news anchor. But she’s not just a smarty pants, she’s one hell of a dancer. And hopefully will ChaCha her way back on dancing with the starts (All-Stars)🙏 Just look at her go !👏 I was so blessed to first meet Cris and friend @soniakruger (who also needs no introduction ) Around 11 years ago in my class at Sydney Dance Company. Both lovers of Ballroom dancing. All these years later I’m so glad to get to be a part of this amazing, intelligent, funny….. and omg she’s so quick….😂vibrant, and energetic woman’s life everyday. Whether it be for Dancing, Barre, or a Hit class. Your there everyday ready for punishment…. Lol 💪 Thank you for being a great friend to me over the years…. Especially during very tough times. To all my dance family really…..thank you 🙏🙏 @chrisbath Aka farmerdancer Thank you for being apart of the @gpowerdf family. You made my day ❤️❤️❤️ Now let’s Cha Cha Cha !!! #chacha #chrisbath #dance #gpowerdf #gpowerdancefitness
Three decades of highlights from one of the biggest enthusiasts I’ve ever worked with….she gives 150 percent to everyone & everything she does. Congratulations on 30 years in TV @johgriggs7 & for keeping the b@st@rds honest 🙌🏻❤️
And so the Jimmy Festival of 55 begins…..
Worth the 2884m climb. #nofilter #lordhoweisland #visit #nsw #perfectday #slightlyexhausted
Worth the 2884m climb. #nofilter #lordhoweisland #visit #nsw #perfectday #slightlyexhausted
Biggest achievement of 2022 🎉🎉🎉 #carrot #guru 💪🏻
A tale of two dogs….. #swipeleft #ramboandsteve #birdnerdsrusfarm
A tale of two dogs….. #swipeleft #ramboandsteve #birdnerdsrusfarm
Joe the Floor Manager says have a Merry Christmas or else….. #merrychristmas #christmas #tv #swipeleft
Joe the Floor Manager says have a Merry Christmas or else….. #merrychristmas #christmas #tv #swipeleft
#buyfromthebush Not a paid post, or flowers for comment, just a massive shout out to a young local, 21 years old & running her own small business with great attention to detail, quality & service. If you need beautiful flowers for your wedding, for a friend or for you, and you happen to be in the Hunter Valley, give @flowers_bygrace in Bellbird a yell! She is awesome.
The upside of the wet gloom at #birdnerdsrusfarm today 🎉 Old mate came out earlier than right at the end of dusk, when I usually watch them fly through the trees in the near dark. Thanks to the all day twilight, this beautiful little beastie, confused about what time it was, peaked early, with the bonus of being so much easier to photograph. #sugarglider #australia
The upside of the wet gloom at #birdnerdsrusfarm today 🎉 Old mate came out earlier than right at the end of dusk, when I usually watch them fly through the trees in the near dark. Thanks to the all day twilight, this beautiful little beastie, confused about what time it was, peaked early, with the bonus of being so much easier to photograph. #sugarglider #australia
Two years of bumper crops, harvested over & over 🔥 declaring my official superpower is growing 🌶️ which will be uniquely handy for humanity #birdnerdsrusfarm
Finishing 2023 with a life first….making bagels with legendary Chef of the Year nominee Chris Rhoney @chris_rhoney86 Come visit us and try them @wollombikitchen_nextdoor 🙌🏻🙏🏻 . . #yum #bagels #wollombi #nsw
Nothing like watching a Northern Englishman nail focaccia like a Nonna. Come grab a chunk of tomato & olive magnificence by Chef @chris_rhoney86 @wollombikitchen_nextdoor & maybe a bottle of local olive oil to go with….
