Sunday 19 April 2009

Good things come to he who waits...

My father has always loved trains, planes and automobiles. Trains and planes especially. He spent his childhood logging numbers of steam trains as they were gradually phased out and replaced with much more boring dirty diesels, and Farnham Airshow featured more than once in our summer holiday schedule.

Sadly - for him - he was something of a voice crying in the wilderness. My sister and I, though we tried to show willing, weren't really bothered, and whilst my brother showed interest, he was always more of a car guy. And whilst young, a CHiP's guy. (I think Brother's best Christmas present ever was the toy children's police helmet that my father bought and resprayed in Highway patrol colours so that he could pretend to be Jon to his heart's content...).

So you can imagine my dad's reaction when he took his two younger grandsons into a newsagent last week and told them each to pick a comic to take home. Boy #1, true to form, went immediately for a C-beebies publication featuring bright colours and stories about animals.

Boy #2, however, caused me a moment's concern when he pointed out a publication on the top shelf. Surely not, not already? But I needn't have been bothered. To Dad's delight, Boy #2 was desperate to get his hands on a magazine called 'Air Forces' ('Number One for World Wide Military Aviation News' - if you're interested...), featuring lead stories like 'F16 Fight! US Close Combat Tactics', 'JSF & Aircraft Carriers - The UK's Big Debate', and 'On Patrol With France's Securite Civile'...

They managed to contain themselves until they got home, and then Dad and Boy #2 screwed their bottoms into the sofa and enjoyed leafing through and commenting on each and every page.

I could almost read my father's mind. 'Finally, after all these years.'

Like I said - good things come to he who waits...

14 comments:

  1. What a lovely picture. The grandad and the grandson snuggled up on the sofa leafing through that magazine.

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  2. Aah that is gorgeous. How lovely for your Dad. Must have been so pleased!!

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  3. Brilliant.

    My dad is into cars, and how they work, he has even built his own. But I rarely even clean mine. My son is showing more form, and loves the Farmers Trader with all the tractors etc in.

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  4. Good for your Dad and good for boy #2. I can see them together now, on the sofa, enjoying themselves. The gene skipped a generation.

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  5. Oh, how lovely. In fact, I have tears in my eyes it's so lovely, though that might be more to do with my dad not being around to have moments like that. Fortunately, he had a daughter (me) to share in his main interests of real ale and live music!

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  6. How lovely. You will treasure these memories.

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  7. Very sweet story.

    My dad always tried to get me interested in stamp collecting, which I did rather half-heartedly. Maybe his grandsons will prove better at it!

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  8. It sounds like they had a great time together! Last year I bought hubby a subscription to Top Gear magazine for Christmas. This year I admitted it was a joint present for father and both his sons. There's no hope for me in this girl-free household.

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  9. I wish my kids got the chance to experience their own hisotry in that amazing way!

    I have tagged you in a meme that's going around, hope you don't mind. Please pop over and visit my blog to check it out when you have a chance!

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  10. My dad is in heaven too - The Boy is heavily into being a soldier just like Grandpa. While The Littlest just can't wait to go "thooting" ( at 2 I don't quite think he knows what it is but as he always gets such an enthusiastic response from his beleoved Grandpa he just keeps saying it!)

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  11. How much did you pay him?

    JK -- you're dad must be sooooo happy.

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  12. That is completely precious. Your dad must be over the moon. My dad is thrilled because Jonathan is now interested in tools. Neither my brother nor me ever were. I know dad pictures the two of them working on cars together someday.

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  13. Wonderful - all very familiar. My dad is a steam train buff. He's reliving his youth visiting Thomas the Tank Engine days with my sons and my nephew. A bit less dirty and steamy - yep I'm still talking steam trains not top shelf - than days of yore but apparently no less fun ...

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  14. I bet he feels great. My dad also has a thing for planes, but luckily his interest in football is greater and my brothers are with him on that one.

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