Merry Christmas to my biggest fan!
Get ready for a soppy blog. Seeing as it is Christmas I wanted to say thank you to my wonderful dad. The first man in my life and the one who set the bar for Mike to live up to. Good job Mike loves a challenge!!
Ever since I was a little girl, my dad has encouraged me to be whoever I want to be and do whatever I want to do. He has supported every choice I have made and is always there to listen to me about anything and everything, especially my career decisions.
My dad is from a typical Middlesbrough working class background, going into the ship building industry straight from school and ending up in the oil industry. He worked really hard when we were little, mainly night shifts and he often talks about the times when he had been laid off when contracts were finished and money would be tight until the next call came along. Not to be political but get him onto the subject of Margaret Thatcher and you best be set in for a few days….
When I was about 6 years old, my beautiful mam (definitely my second long running biggest fan!) was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy. Both she and my dad were heart-broken at what our future as a family would hold, but they took it in their stride. Every set back and every change that came, they took it on the chin, embraced it and made sure it didn’t effect whatever we wanted to do. They still do the same and it reminds me each day that I am truly lucky to have them. When I was 13, dad left work and stayed at home to be with my mam, to attend to her every need. The two of them have literally spent 24/7 together since (bar the odd girly weekend away) and twenty years on since they made that decision, they are stronger than ever. My true inspiration and my heroes!
My dad is one of the country’s unsung heroes. He loves his family unconditionally, is an amazing husband, dad and grandad and makes sure my mam is cared for, remains well and avoids hospital at all costs. They both encouraged me to move away from home to study at University, the first in my family to do this. Despite money being tight, we made it work. Dad even flew out to France with me, when I was studying in Orleans, to carry my extra baggage and to make sure I got to my halls ok. He then literally turned around and went back home. Well, he went home after a very funny over- night stay involving too much red wine and severe indigestion meaning he slept propped up in the single bed in my studio and I ended up on the floor!
During my training contract (and for many years thereafter) he and my mam would drive up to Newcastle to see me on a lunchtime, especially if I had been having a long week that ultimately led to tiredness and unexplainable tears! (I’m hoping those who read this understand what I mean!!!). He would ring my office to check on me when he knew that all I was doing would be working and sleeping and then make sure I came home on a weekend for a good old Sunday roast! He makes the best gravy ever!!
When I decided to dive into the unknown, he was the first one to tell me to do it. To tell me to believe in myself, to go for it and to never look back. He loves to follow me on twitter and shout #ThisNorthernGirlCan with a fist pump in the air when I pull off the drive!
I am truly blessed to have him as my father and I am thankful for the opportunities and wonderful life that he has given me, my mam and my family. I thank him for showing me what being a husband and a father is really about, and for loving Mike as his own. Rosie has brought the biggest smile to his face and I can see that she is quickly becoming his biggest fan as he is becoming hers and I am happy to give that accolade over to her. This one is for you dad, I know you love the attention and never shy away from praise! Merry Christmas and bring on 2018!!
