Dad, Grandpa, Husband, Partner, Tom, Tommy, Wicked Uncle, Great Friend.
 
You were all of those and so much more.

Born Thomas Michael Hall on 16 February 1941 at Low Hall Farm and suspected a little premature after Granny Hall climbed those steps a few too many times.  He made it to the age of 79.
 
Growing up, Dad loved his shooting and BBQ’s.  We’d go out beating all morning/afternoon then back to the Royal Oak in Stavely for lunch or dinner and a hand out of the dead birds.  Dad was in his element.  The BBQ’s were so much fun.  Dad loved entertaining.  I became a vegetarian because we had so many BBQ’s one summer I got thoroughly sick of meat – much to his utter disgust.  We’d always have a good laugh because Auntie Jeannie & Uncle Bill would be 2 hours late.  In the end Dad joked that he’d invite them to arrive 2 hours before the party actually started so they’d turn up on time.
 
Dad & Uncle Peter came to NZ for our wedding.  First thing to go wrong was that I couldn’t pick them up from the airport because I was still too drunk from the hen’s night.  I had to ring the airport to leave them a message to get a taxi to us.  Boy did they enjoy ribbing us over that.  We did however get our own ribbing in when they admitted they’d had to share a bed together due to a hotel glitch – first time for everything.  They were still in shock I think.
 
Next they decided to get the house ready for the wedding.  Warwick gave them a chainsaw – I got home to half the garden gone and a lot of wood for the fire!  It was like they’d never been given a chainsaw to use before!   Whilst doing this, Dad found the hidden lemon tree in the “native garden” (actually it was more like the wilderness).  So from then on every night at around 4pm Dad would say “Right, I think it’s time for a Gin don’t you?”  Warwick and Uncle Peter would totally agree and off he’d go through the branches to come out victorious with A LEMON and G&T was had.
 
Then the near fire!  We were renovating.  It wasn’t finished;we had walls, ceiling batons and joists but no gib, ceiling, windows or floor.  Dad could smell a fire and we were all roaming the garden, the fence lines with noses in the air sniffing trying to find out where this smell of smoke was coming from.  All totally baffled.  My bridesmaid Kylie suddenly piped up with “I think it’s coming from under the joists in the new dining room.”  Low and behold we found an old piece of sacking with one of Dads discarded cigarette butts in it slowing smouldering away.  Boy, did we have a laugh about how Dad had tried to burn our house down after that.
 
Dad loved being a Grandpa and he made a fun, loveable one at that.  He loved visiting us all, but when he could no longer travel he loved Max & Lulu’s regular telephone calls.  He also loved spoiling his grandchildren.  Our fondest memories are of Dad bringing the most beautiful clothes out for the kids to wear from the UK, and then having a fashion show.  The kids were always the envy of every parent.  Dad & Anne got Charlotte a “Princess” dress.  She loved it, it was so very beautiful.  He loved visiting the Mission Winery and the farmers markets in Napier too.
 
I was a rural firefighter for 9 years.  On one of Dad’s visits I got my first call out, but I had Charlotte who was only 6 months old.  Dad straight away told me to go and he would look after Charlotte, so I expressed my milk and froze it, gave him instructions and asked my friend Kimberly to pop in to make sure he was OK.  When she popped in Kimberly said he was sooooo thankful, she ended up spending the day with him, helping him heat the milk up etc.  When I got home Charlotte was shoved into my arms and I was told to feed her she’s hungry then after he’d had a few wines he admitted Charlotte’s nappy was the first nappy he’d ever changed in his life and man did he never want to do that again!  Thank you Dad for always being such a generous person.
 
This reminded me of when Dad used to be on the phone to Auntie Jeannie after Mum & Thomas died.  The phone, still attached to the wall, would be flying in the air around the kitchen whilst Dad was finding out how you knew when peas were cooked etc.  It was a sight to behold.  He was never fazed.  He was stressed, but just went with it.  Dad became a bloody good cook and I think that if he’d had more baby care time he’d have also become an expert at that too.
 
We went to America, Florida, Disney Land for Uncle David and Auntie Mary’s birthdays.  We spent 2 weeks there but only had organised accommodation for 1 week.  Dad & Anne found accommodation at The Animal Kingdom.  All of us together in a suite for A BARGAIN price.  They were so proud & excited.  It was an amazing place and we had so much fun together going around the parks and watching the kids go on rides and us dragging them on rides they didn’t really want to go on.  Going out and eating incredible dinners & breakfasts together.  Dad getting chiefs to sign menus and totally spoiling us.  We will never forget that trip.
 
I’d like to say Thank You to Anne.  You were Dad’s rock, his best friend and his fiercest allie.  Thank you so much.
 
Dad was always described as “a character”.  He was the most generous, fun loving, enthusiastic, kind, non-PC person in the world.  Sometimes – too generous.  His general knowledge could have made him a member of the Chase.  My cousin Helena always said she’d never play trivial pursuits with Dad because he’d even know when the game had the wrong answer!
 
Dad – we love you, we miss you, we thought you were invincible.  We are devastated you’re gone.  Say Hi to Mum & Thomas for us and after this pandemic, we will get together to celebrate your life with a “Tom Party” as it should be.
 
All our love Sarah, Warwick, Natalie, Tommy & Charlotte.
 
RIP.