• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

CHILDHOOD ILLUSIONS

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerry
  • Start date Start date
J

Jerry

Guest
When did you realise that your dad wasn’t the king of the world?
I can remember the exact moment.
I was seven years old and our dad was working at King Dicks factory in Tyseley, he worked on a shot blasting machine but that didn’t mean anything to me at the time
Well one payday he must have been working overtime so our Mum took me with her to meet him at the factory so he could give her some money for shopping
Well we stood outside the factory and when our dad came out he was wearing a boiler suit and he was black from head to foot, like a miner coming up from the pit!
That picture has stayed with me ever since
Another childhood illusion shattered.
Mind you, when I was a lot older and a bit wiser I realised that he was the king of our world anyway ^-^
 
My mom had always told me that she was the tallest girl in her class at school - then suddenly one day she was smaller than me..............
 
When I was about 6yrs my Mom tried to get my sister and myself off to bed on Christmas Eve.Dad went out and we heard the footsteps of Santa on our bungalow roof.Realising he wouldn't leave our toys until we were asleep we made our way to our bedroom just in time to see Dad flying past the bedroom window as he fell off the roof.He nursed his bruises and cracked rib all over Christmas.
I always wondered a bit about Santa after that.
My Dad was 17 when he married and 18 when I was born,being such a young parent he was always loads of fun.
 
I discovered my father wasn't immortal when he got pneumonia. :( Until then I'd seen him as being indestructible. S'pose he was in a way cos he bounced back from that as good as new! O0
 
I sat with my dad as he passed away. He'd been in great pain and had been on morphine, it didnt stop the waves of pain. I held his hand for ages and kissed him goodbye. He became my king of the world.
 
When I was growing up, I always thought my Dad was a no hoper, a loser,not much of a father because he couldn't buy me the things I wanted.
I overlooked the fact that he worked 7 days a week, bank holidays, even Christmas day when required.
I never went without a meal, I never went without warmth, I never went without my American comics on a Friday night, which my Dad bought in the local pub on the way home, although he didn't drink.
He wou;ld make me toy boats out of old wood, and spend hours painting them. I would look at them and think " what a load of crap".
Yeah my Dad was petty useless, but you know what, I was a spoilt , grabbing, useless son.
Now it's too late , I realise that my Dad was ten times the man I could ever hope to be.
One day I will tell him so, to his face.
 
I dont think it's ever too late Jim, I honestly believe your dad knows how you really feel about him. O0
 
Postie (Jim?) what a lovely post...thank you...
I know what you mean... I arrived at Dudley Rd. hospital 10 minutes after my dad passed away in '97, and the words of a song came to me 'See You In The Morning,' which is what I said to him, even though I knew he wasn't there, and I really knew where he was. I know i will see him again as well.

I always thought my mom and dad were the best (still do)...but it got very tricky once I reached about 13 and lots of arguments started then...
I'm glad we got through those years ok.
 
My Dad is and always will be, not just the King of the World but ...the Universe..
 
My dad was in his forties when I was born, an only child. He wanted a daughter so much and before I was born he actually saved up and went out and got me a piano. He worked nights at Lucas in Formans Road amidst the battery acid but never, ever moaned about his lot.
He never struck me, always expected me to do my best and didn't ask for more.  He was a wonderful father and I adored him. I miss him still after 20 years and like Mazbeth I arrived at the General Hospital half an hour after he passed away suffering from cancer and shingles which made him blind. Like Kandy said not just the World, but the Universe and if I can be half the grandparent he was to my kids then I will be happy.
Jerry thank you for giving me the chance to post this, although a little off topic, no illusions you see.
 
My Dad was just 23 years old when he died and that was just a few weeks before I was born. :(

That all happened 65 years ago and I have often wondered what kind of man he was and if he would have been a good Father had he been given a chance. I am sure he would have been and I miss him even though I never knew him. His Father was a lovely man and they do say "like Father, like son" :)

I am sure he would have enjoyed all of his Grand children and his Great- great grand children.

So "God Bless Dad and one day I will meet you and say "I am your child and I love you"
 
Rowan that's so sad that you never knew your Dad .
In those days there was no state support for "single parents" like there is now so I'm guessing that things were hard for your Mum but I can see that she did a great job bringing you up and I'm sure your Dad would have been proud of all of you!
 
rowan said:
My Dad was just 23 years old when he died and that was just a few weeks before I was born. :(

That all happened 65 years ago
Click to expand...

doing a quick sum here...well done (computer stuff etc)...
but I am really sad to read that you didn't meet your dad. :(

So "God Bless Dad and one day I will meet you and say "I am your child and I love you"
Click to expand...
that is really lovely...and I am sure he wil know you anyway :)
 
What lovely memories of all the dads. I also thought my dad was wonderful and even though we fought like cat and dog we loved each other very much. I was his only child and having lost touch with all his Brummie family he was fiercely protective of me. We had great discussions about all sorts of topics around the dinner table, he read to us when we had a library book we all wanted to read at once and he sang to us as we went on our Sunday drives. But boy he had a temper (I think I inherited it).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top