Warning, this may ramble, occasionally contain some funny moments but trail off at the end - in essence, just like my dad
For starters, my dad is technically my stepdad. However, he moved in with my mum about 20 years ago, when I was 3, so he's been my dad, as opposed to my stepdad, for most of my life. He's not treated me any differently from the other kids, and yet, hasn't hidden the fact that I'm not a biological son of his, he's always been open and honest that he's not my father by blood, but by love.

He got diabetes when he was 7 or 8 (now mid 60s and still going strong), and this hasn't stopped him from doing what he wants, exactly how he wants it. He's traveled over the vast majority of the world bar Japan and Australia, mainly because he wanted to. He was in his early 20s when he decided that he was going to drive over the Sahara with a mate of his, just because he wanted to. Whilst out there, he apparently met a very stoned Ginger Baker, lying in the back of a jeep, after he'd eaten a ton of hash "to dispose of the evidence" (Note: Story may be false, I don't really have any way of confirming or denying whether Ginger Baker was indeed driving around the Sahara completely off his tits in the late 60s, early 70s)

He taught me to be self-reliant, and to do everything myself. As a result, both me and him will usually find a problem at the same time, and squabble over who gets to do it. I usually win because I point out that despite him being a risk manager, he has an appalling track record with basic safety and power tools, like putting saws down on tables whilst they're still happily active, or leaving soldering irons to burn holes in tables and suchlike. He relents when I point out that I have yet to attempt to destroy the house, unlike him at times.

We have a really good rapport, often taking the piss out of each other like old mates, which none of my other brothers really do, which makes him happy. I'm always around when he just needs someone to talk to, and it really is the least I can do, because he's put up with my shit for so many years now and never once complained about it, which is impressive.

So yeah, apologies for lack of funnehs, but I love my dad, he's ace.
(Ghost Atreides enjoying incontestable health benefits on, Thu 25 Nov 2010, 13:19, Reply)