If someone was trying to imagine the textbook perfect grandparent, fit with naughty jokes, cheeky questions, weekly conversations, enchanting life stories and so much love for their grandkids, I think they would imagine someone like my grandpa, but when it comes down to it, grandpa was so much more than this. He was hilarious, he was kind, he was so overly generous and somehow, he managed to make friends with every taxi driver he had ever met.
One of my fondest memories was from just before Christmas in 2018, when max, mum and dad all decided to go out, but I wasn’t really in the mood, so I stayed in with grandpa and granny Anne and they let me stay up way past my bedtime and we ordered Chinese takeaway and watched crocodile Dundee and I was one of the few people who was able to hear grandpa’s ridiculous attempt at an Australian accent.
When I was younger, around 3 years old, mum, dad, max and I took at trip to Paris and Grandpa and Granny Anne came along and looked after us for a day and in classic grandparent behaviour they took us to Disneyland Paris. Grandpa looked disgruntled after the spinning teacups but because he wanted to give max and I the best experience he continued on with vigor!
On one of his trips to Australia he drove max and I up to the blue mountains to stay at Lillianfels and despite a rocky start of driving the wrong way up a one-way street it was such an amazing trip. On the trip grandpa allowed max and I to have our first coca cola, as you can imagine an 8 and 10 year old on a coke sugar high would’ve been quite a lot to deal with but grandpa managed just fine! Grandpa also offered max and I two pieces of knowledge, that I think ill remember forever, first, never swim until 30 mins after you’ve eaten and second, if a grandpa cant have fun with his grandkids who can?
For Christmas in 2018 grandpa went with max to buy him his first pair of designer shoes, I don’t think the Kanye west branded, Fluro yellow shoes where quite grandpas style but his soft spot for us grandkids and his over generosity landed max with his favourite pair of sneakers.
I remember how much you loved the agra, I don’t think you could go more than a month without having a dinner there! In typical grandpa fashion, when mum, max and I came up to visit in September 2017, you threw a huge spit roast banquet in of Chris’ marquees with about 70+ of your closest friends and of course Christmas 2018 we went there for one of our last dinners together.
On one of our recent phone calls he asked me if I had a boyfriend and he gave me the advice to lasso one if I wanted, I loved hearing about the old folks club, and how shooting was going and grandpas everyday plans, and even if my high school drama wasn’t that interesting grandpa would still be hooked on every word. Even our last phone call, just before you went into surgery, I could still hear your cheery and optimistic tone and you were still cracking jokes with me.
I cannot wait to celebrate your incredible life once this global pandemic has calmed down. In someway I’m glad you don’t have to witness the world turn to shambles; I don’t think your sociable spirit could handle self-isolation!
Grandpa, I’ll miss your more than anything in the entire world. I’ll miss our funny phone calls and all the advice you gave me. I’ll miss your positive outlook on the world and how you could always find a joke in any situation. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to have as funny or interesting or insightful phone conversations with anyone else.
You came to visit Natalie, Max, Tommy, Charlotte and I religiously until you couldn’t anymore, I don’t think I’ll ever meet anyone who is more generous, giving, caring, not quite politically correct or hilarious.
I’ll miss you with my whole heart but I know you’ll look at for me whenever and where-ever I am. You had such a full and eventful life and I’m so glad that I was part of that. I love you.