Sometimes I envy my Dad

[Crazy Dazz]

He grew up during the Depression, he learnt the value of hard work and frugality, and nobody of his generation ever questioned that. He also learnt the value of compassion and community, the real thing, not the fake stuck on bs we have today.

He served his country in war people understood and supported.

He was able to marry and raise a family, in an era where such things were respected by all. He didn't have to contend with the government, deviants, and the media constantly trying to destroy families.

He bought a cheap house, on a big block, 5 minutes from the city, and wasn't made to feel guilty for having a backyard where kids could play cricket, climb trees, and grow vegies.

Mum worked, because she wanted to and was able to spend the money, not because two incomes had become necessary for survival. Nobody questioned that man had penises, and women had breasts, and only one of them could feed babies.

Dad was tight with money, but he owned a boat at the Yacht Club, and a Beach House in Safety Bay. He was able to send his sons to good schools.

Dad learnt how to fix things, and ran a successful tv repair business, in the days when we still repaired things and recycled beer, milk, and cool-drink bottles. He watered his grass and nobody ever told him he was murdering dolphins.

Dad wasn't much of a motor-head, but oh if he had been. Our street was graced with GTs, Monaros, Hardtops, and Chargers. There were even a few Mustangs in the neighbourhood. He owned Australian made cars, and had his choice of several brands, and dozens of models.
He drove an XR Wagon, and we would ride in the back. Nobody died, and nobody said we were killing Polar Bears.

If he had wanted porn, he'd have needed to buy it from some seedy newsagent. I can't help but think that the world was healthier and safer.

It's not like he missed out on "Technology" either. He was one of the first Australians, trained by the US Navy, to install and maintain Radar. His generation got to watch, in awe, as man walked on the moon. Dad worked at the Muchea tracking station and was the first Australian to talk to John Glenn in space.

Dad served with the Occupation Forces in Japan, which ironically helped him get a job working for the Japanese later. We got one of the first colour TVs in Australia, and one of the first Microwave ovens.

Dad lived the prime of his life through a time of great prosperity and advancement in Australia, but in an era where he could vote for a Labour party that sought to protect and enhance the rights or ordinary working Australians. Dad lived to see the new millennium, but fortunately not to see the disgrace the "Greens" and their sycophants would make of his Country. I don't think he ever heard the term "politically correct," and a "tranny" had 3 gears, or 4 if your were lucky.

[jaydee]

Boy, it's a different world now that's for sure.

[prydey]

The only thing you get from looking at the past is a sore neck...

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by prydey

The only thing you get from looking at the past is a sore neck...

Life without memory is no life at all. Without memories we are nothing....

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by prydey

The only thing you get from looking at the past is a sore neck...

what a silly thing to say - seriously. You are exactly what the post is NOT about - he showed respect - you obviously find it difficult

I was born in 1957 and can relate to everything the poster said - great post - thanks for sharing

[X-AHH]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

what a silly thing to say - seriously. You are exactly what the post is NOT about - he showed respect - you obviously find it difficult

I was born in 1957 and can relate to everything the poster said - great post - thanks for sharing

+1
I lived it too and I have the same respect.

[Loonar]

As above, #Me too..

I think what prydey might be trying to say is that none of us will live that life, times have changed and a lot of those things aren't achievable anymore. Plenty of people grieve over that, myself included, but feeling a sense of loss over it isn't going to do any of us any good.

If I could have picked which generation to live in it would probably be that one.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

what a silly thing to say - seriously. You are exactly what the post is NOT about - he showed respect - you obviously find it difficult

I was born in 1957 and can relate to everything the poster said - great post - thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Life without memory is no life at all. Without memories we are nothing....

The point is, you don't have to live in a previous era to have those characteristics. I'm not that young but I find many older generations look back with rose coloured glasses as though there was no bad in the world back then, and look down on the current generation.

I'm not saying not to have fond memories of times gone by. It was more about those who long for 'the good old days...'. Generally, those who talk about the good old days have the poorest memories. Often there is also prejudice against generations that don't do it as tough. No generation gets to choose the circumstances they grow up in.

We can all display and have the same characteristics though. There is a lot of good in every generation if you look for it, just like every generation has the worst of human behaviours.

[Bossxr8]

Give the leftys a inch and they take a mile. Problem is they have been given too much, it's all gone too far, and it's going to be near impossible to ever come back from here.

Listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and the news report had a story about how the younger generation have no resilience, and are largely ill equipped for the workforce because of it. Is it any wonder?

[Citroënbender]

I envy the opportunities my father and many other males of his generation had.

(That he consistently failed to acquit himself with cognisance of these, I cannot respect.)

[.:4:.]

What my late dad taught me was work ethic. He would say to me if you can do the job of your superior better then they can, it will be seen and you will move up. So not bragg about anything, but your actions will be seen.
Growing up, dad would often do day trips for meetings to all the major cities and leave early, come home late etc, and his regret later in life was not being around enough for his kids. But he provided. So thats what i did. Did the ot, after hours callouts etc, and never had a problem come pay reviews.
Even before he and his 2 mates started a company and they all did very well out of that, 7 figure incomes at times, he wasnt battling per say, but not swimming in cash. But always had a reasonable run of the mill car, always bought new. Things like a 1990 magna wagon, that died in a year, but he got a work car, the cressida was nice for back then. When he had to buy a new car in 95 it was a new ef futura classic wagon. So still nothing overly flash, but a reasonable and practical family car.
In 1998 when his business venture kicked off he bought a holiday house and in 99 got a towbar fitted to the ef. Now i had forgotten, but when i was 6 in 1993 dad made one of those parent never going to happen promises. I had always wanted a boat. Anyhow he took me to the maritime office for the books for a boat licence. He got his and i got a junior licence. I dunno if you can still get a junior licence aged 12. Then we went boat shopping. I reminded dad how much he hates boats, but he said he promised. He purchased a second hand 4.7m half cab with a 60hp 2 stroke on the back. I loved that thing, dad hated anything that wasnt sitting listening to the cricket. In late 2002 when i was 15 turning 16 early 2003, dad said lets go shopping. So my boat licence automatically converted to unrestricted when i turned 16. I reminded dad he hates what was my pride and joy. I was limited to 20 knots as a junior, the 60hp maxed out at 29 knots. So not too terrible. But anyrate, he wanted something a bit bigger. This time we went new. Made joint decisions on layout etc. On the model we had our eyes on, the easiest decision was not to tick the chemical toilet box, neither were willing to empty one. I was happy with the base 135hp sterndrive. Dad wanted the 220hp v6 sterndrive which was an extra 9k. As a 15 year old, not going to argue that. So he placed an order on the 5.3m bowrider, options were sterio, fish finder, canopy, gel coat, rod holders (dealer fit, but the dealer had never been asked to fit rod holders on that model, most get wakeboard towers etc) and folding draw bar on the trailer. In 03 it arrived. Dad didnt mind this one. I still have it. Does 50 knots at 4800rpm.
So growing up he was an honest har worker.

However when i was 21 he did things the wrong way. Left my mum and dissapeared. Finally when i got onto him, he said (myself being the youngest of 3) he only stuck around to see us 3 kids become adults. And by that time i had my own kid on the way. The few times my kid even met my dad he doesnt remember, so thats a bit sad considering he is 10 turning 11. My old man had re married, but passed last year aged 65.

[Poetic Justice]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

What my late dad taught me was work ethic. He would say to me if you can do the job of your superior better then they can, it will be seen and you will move up. So not bragg about anything, but your actions will be seen.
Growing up, dad would often do day trips for meetings to all the major cities and leave early, come home late etc, and his regret later in life was not being around enough for his kids. But he provided. So thats what i did. Did the ot, after hours callouts etc, and never had a problem come pay reviews.
Even before he and his 2 mates started a company and they all did very well out of that, 7 figure incomes at times, he wasnt battling per say, but not swimming in cash. But always had a reasonable run of the mill car, always bought new. Things like a 1990 magna wagon, that died in a year, but he got a work car, the cressida was nice for back then. When he had to buy a new car in 95 it was a new ef futura classic wagon. So still nothing overly flash, but a reasonable and practical family car.
In 1998 when his business venture kicked off he bought a holiday house and in 99 got a towbar fitted to the ef. Now i had forgotten, but when i was 6 in 1993 dad made one of those parent never going to happen promises. I had always wanted a boat. Anyhow he took me to the maritime office for the books for a boat licence. He got his and i got a junior licence. I dunno if you can still get a junior licence aged 12. Then we went boat shopping. I reminded dad how much he hates boats, but he said he promised. He purchased a second hand 4.7m half cab with a 60hp 2 stroke on the back. I loved that thing, dad hated anything that wasnt sitting listening to the cricket. In late 2002 when i was 15 turning 16 early 2003, dad said lets go shopping. So my boat licence automatically converted to unrestricted when i turned 16. I reminded dad he hates what was my pride and joy. I was limited to 20 knots as a junior, the 60hp maxed out at 29 knots. So not too terrible. But anyrate, he wanted something a bit bigger. This time we went new. Made joint decisions on layout etc. On the model we had our eyes on, the easiest decision was not to tick the chemical toilet box, neither were willing to empty one. I was happy with the base 135hp sterndrive. Dad wanted the 220hp v6 sterndrive which was an extra 9k. As a 15 year old, not going to argue that. So he placed an order on the 5.3m bowrider, options were sterio, fish finder, canopy, gel coat, rod holders (dealer fit, but the dealer had never been asked to fit rod holders on that model, most get wakeboard towers etc) and folding draw bar on the trailer. In 03 it arrived. Dad didnt mind this one. I still have it. Does 50 knots at 4800rpm.
So growing up he was an honest har worker.

However when i was 21 he did things the wrong way. Left my mum and dissapeared. Finally when i got onto him, he said (myself being the youngest of 3) he only stuck around to see us 3 kids become adults. And by that time i had my own kid on the way. The few times my kid even met my dad he doesnt remember, so thats a bit sad considering he is 10 turning 11. My old man had re married, but passed last year aged 65.

Rough... hard to imagine that hating your wife means you'd abandon a child you obviously had a bond with.

I'm sure there was always pros and cons to any time - my children will probably talk about the times I grew up in because I'll be the old codger reminiscing.

Even at 35 I reminisce about the days of my childhood where my parents owned pubs up until I was about 10. My parents ended up bankrupt but boy in the lead up to that it was some fun times and they appeared to have so much freedom. Probably a bit skewed from a 10yos memory, but eh.

My old man grew up in a very catholic household that even in his late teens early twenties involved taking the parents to the supermarket on Saturday and church on Sundays. Chores, many chores. I'm sure it wasn't all rosey.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by Poetic Justice

Rough... hard to imagine that hating your wife means you'd abandon a child you obviously had a bond with.

I'm sure there was always pros and cons to any time - my children will probably talk about the times I grew up in because I'll be the old codger reminiscing.

Even at 35 I reminisce about the days of my childhood where my parents owned pubs up until I was about 10. My parents ended up bankrupt but boy in the lead up to that it was some fun times and they appeared to have so much freedom. Probably a bit skewed from a 10yos memory, but eh.

My old man grew up in a very catholic household that even in his late teens early twenties involved taking the parents to the supermarket on Saturday and church on Sundays. Chores, many chores. I'm sure it wasn't all rosey.

The funny thing (not ha ha funny) about my dad was as kids, my sister is 4 years older, my brother 6 years older, at the dinner table mum would yell at him because he wouldnt really speak with us. So he would ask us kids if we have anything to talk about? We would typically say no. He was easily approchable if you wanted to talk, but if there was nothing to talk about, there was nothing to talk about.
So im 33, separated from my wife, my kid lives with her mum. I often call him and ask how was school etc, and all he says is good. Its almost like talking to cardboard. But i find it better as a parent to speak over house party. That way, its just to the little bloke, not to others, i can get a reaction and some speak out of him by changing my profile pic to funny photos of him as a little bloke. And i have my fun reminding him of the time he got his head stuck inbetween 2 vending machines. He thinks im the biggest man (not true) because i have heaps of tools and as far as he is concerned i can fix anything (i cant). Its not that i use it to buy affection, but the things i was i into as a kid, my kid is into, so his mum doesnt understand boy stuff, but my kid loves it.

[Fairlane 500]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

He grew up during the Depression, he learnt the value of hard work and frugality, and nobody of his generation ever questioned that. He also learnt the value of compassion and community, the real thing, not the fake stuck on bs we have today.

He served his country in war people understood and supported.

He was able to marry and raise a family, in an era where such things were respected by all. He didn't have to contend with the government, deviants, and the media constantly trying to destroy families.

He bought a cheap house, on a big block, 5 minutes from the city, and wasn't made to feel guilty for having a backyard where kids could play cricket, climb trees, and grow vegies.

Mum worked, because she wanted to and was able to spend the money, not because two incomes had become necessary for survival. Nobody questioned that man had penises, and women had breasts, and only one of them could feed babies.

Dad was tight with money, but he owned a boat at the Yacht Club, and a Beach House in Safety Bay. He was able to send his sons to good schools.

Dad learnt how to fix things, and ran a successful tv repair business, in the days when we still repaired things and recycled beer, milk, and cool-drink bottles. He watered his grass and nobody ever told him he was murdering dolphins.

Dad wasn't much of a motor-head, but oh if he had been. Our street was graced with GTs, Monaros, Hardtops, and Chargers. There were even a few Mustangs in the neighbourhood. He owned Australian made cars, and had his choice of several brands, and dozens of models.
He drove an XR Wagon, and we would ride in the back. Nobody died, and nobody said we were killing Polar Bears.

If he had wanted porn, he'd have needed to buy it from some seedy newsagent. I can't help but think that the world was healthier and safer.

It's not like he missed out on "Technology" either. He was one of the first Australians, trained by the US Navy, to install and maintain Radar. His generation got to watch, in awe, as man walked on the moon. Dad worked at the Muchea tracking station and was the first Australian to talk to John Glenn in space.

Dad served with the Occupation Forces in Japan, which ironically helped him get a job working for the Japanese later. We got one of the first colour TVs in Australia, and one of the first Microwave ovens.

Dad lived the prime of his life through a time of great prosperity and advancement in Australia, but in an era where he could vote for a Labour party that sought to protect and enhance the rights or ordinary working Australians. Dad lived to see the new millennium, but fortunately not to see the disgrace the "Greens" and their sycophants would make of his Country. I don't think he ever heard the term "politically correct," and a "tranny" had 3 gears, or 4 if your were lucky.

Enjoyable read. Thank you for posting this.

[roKWiz]

Originally Posted by .:4:.

What my late dad taught me was work ethic. He would say to me if you can do the job of your superior better then they can, it will be seen and you will move up. So not bragg about anything, but your actions will be seen.
Growing up, dad would often do day trips for meetings to all the major cities and leave early, come home late etc, and his regret later in life was not being around enough for his kids. But he provided. So thats what i did. Did the ot, after hours callouts etc, and never had a problem come pay reviews.
Even before he and his 2 mates started a company and they all did very well out of that, 7 figure incomes at times, he wasnt battling per say, but not swimming in cash. But always had a reasonable run of the mill car, always bought new. Things like a 1990 magna wagon, that died in a year, but he got a work car, the cressida was nice for back then. When he had to buy a new car in 95 it was a new ef futura classic wagon. So still nothing overly flash, but a reasonable and practical family car.
In 1998 when his business venture kicked off he bought a holiday house and in 99 got a towbar fitted to the ef. Now i had forgotten, but when i was 6 in 1993 dad made one of those parent never going to happen promises. I had always wanted a boat. Anyhow he took me to the maritime office for the books for a boat licence. He got his and i got a junior licence. I dunno if you can still get a junior licence aged 12. Then we went boat shopping. I reminded dad how much he hates boats, but he said he promised. He purchased a second hand 4.7m half cab with a 60hp 2 stroke on the back. I loved that thing, dad hated anything that wasnt sitting listening to the cricket. In late 2002 when i was 15 turning 16 early 2003, dad said lets go shopping. So my boat licence automatically converted to unrestricted when i turned 16. I reminded dad he hates what was my pride and joy. I was limited to 20 knots as a junior, the 60hp maxed out at 29 knots. So not too terrible. But anyrate, he wanted something a bit bigger. This time we went new. Made joint decisions on layout etc. On the model we had our eyes on, the easiest decision was not to tick the chemical toilet box, neither were willing to empty one. I was happy with the base 135hp sterndrive. Dad wanted the 220hp v6 sterndrive which was an extra 9k. As a 15 year old, not going to argue that. So he placed an order on the 5.3m bowrider, options were sterio, fish finder, canopy, gel coat, rod holders (dealer fit, but the dealer had never been asked to fit rod holders on that model, most get wakeboard towers etc) and folding draw bar on the trailer. In 03 it arrived. Dad didnt mind this one. I still have it. Does 50 knots at 4800rpm.
So growing up he was an honest har worker.

However when i was 21 he did things the wrong way. Left my mum and dissapeared. Finally when i got onto him, he said (myself being the youngest of 3) he only stuck around to see us 3 kids become adults. And by that time i had my own kid on the way. The few times my kid even met my dad he doesnt remember, so thats a bit sad considering he is 10 turning 11. My old man had re married, but passed last year aged 65.

I can relate to this.
I considered myself lucky growing up, as what we called middle class then. My dad worked hard and started his own upholstery shop in the mid 60s after I was born, we never went without as he progressed into owning larger premises and finally producing new furniture with a workforce of around 60 guys and owning a large company. We had the flash double story house, a holiday house on a southcoast beach, the boat, new cars every year, mum and dad traveled extensively OS twice a year.
But as he got older he must have thought there must be more to this, just as I left school at 15 years (me being the youngest of 3) he simply staged his own disappearance, with all the company funds and leaving his workers with nothing.
I remember coming home from work and my mother and brother waiting at the station for me to tell me. I can not really say I was shattered, I think I was more angry, that he left my mother with a second mortgage and no job to pay for it and that's apart from the company money being channeled overseas (as we later found out) (he also sold me my first car with money owing on it)
He had gotten re married to a rich American women in the Dominican Republic (whilst still married to my mother) and living in Florida.
My brothers and I rallied around my mother supporting an income to pay the house off until my mother landed a good job in the CBD.
We simply got it done.

Fast forward 25 years and the old man came back to Oz to live after the rich American died, passing her wealth onto him.
He's a jammy old boy as he sold up and got top dollar in the US just before Sept 11 then getting back over here in time to buy a cheap ex corporate apartment from the Sydney Olympics.
We do all get along to a point but I would never trust him totally again.

Life has been full of ups and down but I would never trade it. Yes I do like to look back and remember the good and bad.

[98TLS]

Met a young fella a few weeks back that had decided school wasnt for him so chucked it in all good wasnt a fan of school myself back when,through some mates his dad managed to get him a start in the workforce which was ok for a couple of months until the bloke he got a ride to work with retired leaving him no way to get there so he gave it away,he did mention though he looks for jobs everyday on his $1200 mobile phone i simply nodded my head and walked away.

[Ben73]

TO RIGHT. We need to go BACK and these stupid minlianls dont UNDERSTAND.


It's weird when I agree with Prydey on something. No doubt there were some great things back in the day, but people tend to forget all the bad things.
Just like how there are some great things about living today and some bad things too. In 2060 Millennials and Zoomers will be ranting about how 2000's and 2010's were amazing and 2060 sucks.

[.:4:.]

Originally Posted by roKWiz

I can relate to this.
I considered myself lucky growing up, as what we called middle class then. My dad worked hard and started his own upholstery shop in the mid 60s after I was born, we never went without as he progressed into owning larger premises and finally producing new furniture with a workforce of around 60 guys and owning a large company. We had the flash double story house, a holiday house on a southcoast beach, the boat, new cars every year, mum and dad traveled extensively OS twice a year.
But as he got older he must have thought there must be more to this, just as I left school at 15 years (me being the youngest of 3) he simply staged his own disappearance, with all the company funds and leaving his workers with nothing.
I remember coming home from work and my mother and brother waiting at the station for me to tell me. I can not really say I was shattered, I think I was more angry, that he left my mother with a second mortgage and no job to pay for it and that's apart from the company money being channeled overseas (as we later found out) (he also sold me my first car with money owing on it)
He had gotten re married to a rich American women in the Dominican Republic (whilst still married to my mother) and living in Florida.
My brothers and I rallied around my mother supporting an income to pay the house off until my mother landed a good job in the CBD.
We simply got it done.

Fast forward 25 years and the old man came back to Oz to live after the rich American died, passing her wealth onto him.
He's a jammy old boy as he sold up and got top dollar in the US just before Sept 11 then getting back over here in time to buy a cheap ex corporate apartment from the Sydney Olympics.
We do all get along to a point but I would never trust him totally again.

Life has been full of ups and down but I would never trade it. Yes I do like to look back and remember the good and bad.

Its one of those things. Sometimes you just have to look at the good before the bad.

[Trevor 57]

Originally Posted by prydey

The point is, you don't have to live in a previous era to have those characteristics. I'm not that young but I find many older generations look back with rose coloured glasses as though there was no bad in the world back then, and look down on the current generation.

I'm not saying not to have fond memories of times gone by. It was more about those who long for 'the good old days...'. Generally, those who talk about the good old days have the poorest memories. Often there is also prejudice against generations that don't do it as tough. No generation gets to choose the circumstances they grow up in.

We can all display and have the same characteristics though. There is a lot of good in every generation if you look for it, just like every generation has the worst of human behaviours.

poor attempt at justifying your response

You criticise those with memories but then claim you have no idea what they are talking about

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Trevor 57

poor attempt at justifying your response

You criticise those with memories but then claim you have no idea what they are talking about

Not arguing Trev. You can accept what I say or just assume you know different. I'm not bothered.

I'm just saying, no generation has a monopoly on character traits.

[PhilT2]

My dad passed away when I was 21, so nearly 50 years later my memories of him have dimmed a little. I went away to boarding school at 12 then moved away to work. But I sometimes wonder how much he understood or concerned himself with the world outside the small farm he owned. My only clues are the conversations I heard him have with neighbours and family as a small boy. By the time I was old enough to take an interest he was already paralysed by a stroke and no longer able to communicate.

Like most rural people he supported the National Party but I doubt that he believed the sun shone out of Joh Bjelke and I am sure he suspected the widespread police corruption that existed at the time. He was long gone by the time the Fitzgerald Inquiry uncovered the full scope of the graft in Qld politics.

My parents were what was called a "mixed marriage" Dad Anglican, Mum Catholic. That divide still affects some of my relatives to this day. Years later I travelled to Europe and passed through Belfast during the "troubles" The barbed wire there separating protestant and catholic reminded me of the fences between the farms of my relatives back home who hated each other with equal passion. My mum was the one who insisted I go to the catholic boarding school run by a the christian brothers. Dad was unimpressed but Mum's family were paying so off I went. I do recall one of Dad's family referring to a local priest as a "wandering stallion" but nothing more was said while us young'uns were around. Whether the rumours of child abuse in the churches got as far as our small community I'll never know but the church was a big part of the life of ordinary people back then and the sudden transfer of priests would have set tongues wagging. There are few secrets in small towns. Many years later I met victims of clerical abuse, including one of the people in this story. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-.../12336012?nw=0 I played a very small part in getting some victims to come foward and tell their story. Seeing first hand the impact the abuse has had on the lives of the victims has left a lasting impression on me. I cannot understand how the last generation were able to brush this aside and cover it up.

Dad might have had hopes that I would take over the farm but that waned over the years. I decided to leave school early and had applied for a number of jobs. By the last day of class I had offers of three apprenticeships and I took the one that brought me to Brisbane and as far from the farm as I could get. A couple of years later I had to register for the draft (I didn't get called up) and became a long haired dope smoking anti-war protester for a while. My family and I weren't talking much at this stage so what they thought of this I never heard. But my impression of many of the older generation at that time was how willingly they accepted the obvious lies from the govt of the day.

The thing that sticks with me is not wanting to be part of the silence of the past generation. many issues were not spoken about; taboo topics like gay and transgender people. They were around at the time, the first gender reassignment surgery and the first gay rights movement happened over a hundred years ago. Where I worked the older apprentices went out on Saturday night "gay bashing". Nobody cared; nobody said anything. i was the quiet farm kid from the catholic school. I didn't either for a while. This was Joh's Qld after all.
So I went from an anti-war protester to an anti Joh, anti-corruption then on to disability rights when my daughter was born, with a few side issues like asbestos exposure and domestic violence. I fear repeating the mistakes of the past, of being like the generation that mostly stayed silent when abuses occurred.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by PhilT2

My dad passed away when I was 21, so nearly 50 years later my memories of him have dimmed a little. By the time I was old enough to take an interest he was already paralysed by a stroke and no longer able to communicate.

That's sad. Sad too that you'll never know what you may (or may not) have missed.

[superyob]

I know what my grown up children have missed. And what lunacy my grand children face. The good old times existed. I know, I was there. Please post your social justice infested rebuttals to #Idontgiveacrap...

[.:4:.]

I was speaking to my son for a number of hours this arvo. His mum and i do not get along. But i have been investing a lot more time in the boy lately. I beleive its called being a father. He looks up to me as he is surrounded by women. No thats not a sexist statement, but being 10, he is into boy stuff. His mum and nana dont understand the interest in silly boy stuff. By silly i mean things like i have a 37cc 2 stroke engine that is just a engine but still runs. It doesnt drive anything, it just makes noise. But the kid is interested in it. My kids laptop is older then he is, he doesnt know any better so doesnt complain. My laptop is the same age and model. I explained how to defragment it to make it slightly faster. That does take a little bit of time and in the age of everything being now, he did have a whing. But the thing ran faster after, and he questioned me as to how do i know computers when he is young and i (to him) am old? Im not that old really, the boy turns 11 next month and im 33.
But its things that i put forward that make an impact on the little bloke. I cannot remember the last time i heard anyone say they defragmented their computer, im pretty sure newer ones do it automatically. But things like that my young bloke appreciates and its me in dad mode.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by superyob

I know what my grown up children have missed. And what lunacy my grand children face. The good old times existed. I know, I was there. Please post your social justice infested rebuttals to #Idontgiveacrap...

Did you miss the memo? Only the Whinging-Left know what's what, and they have the monopoly on social awareness.

So yeah, the only time my Dad Marched in the Streets, he was in Uniform and carrying a rifle. Personally I think his was the greater contribution. He didn't sign a petition to combat Racist Cheese, he enlisted and went off to combat some actual evil.

Some claim that his generation "kept silent" about too many things. I will say that there wasn't the awareness of the need to get children to talk. I wish I'd known how to tell Dad about the Scout-Leader who abused me, because Dad would have strangled that piece of filth with his bare hands.
The truly bizarre thing is that thanks to the Whinging-Left, we've actually gotten worse. Fact is my parents did know that something was wrong, and did attempt to get me help, albeit very crappy. (The "Counsellor" seemed to me to be an even bigger creep.) Now days, I'd probably just be told to wear a dress and explore my gender fluidity.

[PhilT2]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Some claim that his generation "kept silent" about too many things.

Read the report from the Royal Commission. So many knew what was happening and not only kept silent, but helped cover it up. There are those on the right who are still defending them.

[FTE217]

I think its pretty sad that a thread started up by one to be proud of his Father or Mother it no matter ends up being a debate of social issues/lessons learnt as time goes by.
I'm trying to have an open mind ont his topic for it is a bloody good one.
Hey I put my hand up, I've been guilty of just the same mind set, oh it was better back you know when - isn't that a natural trait amongst us all and in the future each decade.
What wrong were done in the past, will be done again in future gens as well.
Whats old is new again as they say.
People kept their opinions to themselves back then, now its open slather, wonder when the change will come again for it will.
One thing I keep being reminded by Mum, you learn something everyday.
I keep trying in doing so, listen to people pov's, especially being I have a range with my kids.
27yrs boy/well man now.
20yrs boy/young man.
15yrs daughter/omg what I'm learning here lol.....
Another good saying is comparing apples with apples.
Well each gen sure isn't that is it.
I've been guilty being a arrogant ignorant bloke - much like my hard working Father has been.
I appreciate every single thing that ol man has done for his family of 3kids (us) but you know what ? I feel sorry listening to my ol man today, infact for the last number of years.
I'm trying hard NOT to be like him, negative, criticising, we didn't do that back in the day etcetcetc......conversations have been very challenging for a number of years.
Yes its hard for a leopard to change its spots, sure he's getting on @ 88yrs but for such an intelligent person it staggers me he could have adjusted a little the last 15yrs IF he tried a little getting a grasp of today instead of bitching away about today and he'd be seeing his gran kids with better understanding what its like today for them - your days keep ticking off fast.
So in closing - I sure love my Dad heaps but I don't envy him in his old age - I'm sorry he hasn't realised after all his sacrifice working (similar to the original posters post) he doesn't know how to smell the rose's - alot of the ol skool are just like him.
I'm trying hard not to be like that and I thank my kids for this, IF I don't change some to be able to interact with them, especially a 15yr old daughter whereas Im 60 shortly.
My past was wonderful, no responsibilties etcetc but its gone/over, whats important is today and ahead - mixed with some ol skool good traits/lessons and blended with the now influenced in our kids.
The rest will be up to them.
I wonder what my kids will say when I'm long gone.

[mondeomatureguy]

Hi Guys,
When I think of my dad who died in 2004 he was so smart he studied Veterinary Science and with only one year left he dropped out and started drinking.

I wish I had half the brains that he had. I am the last of six in my family and I have asked my brothers many times why he started drinking and they said " no Idea".

I remember once he found a dog near our place in Sydney that had been hit by a car. he took it back to our place made a bed for it in the garage and brought bandagers and looked after it till it recovered from its injury's and then tracked down the owners.

My parents divorced when I was 13 years but I kept in touch with the old man and he remarried but still couldn't stop drinking. I often wonder if the drink didn't get to him what he would turned out doing?

With his brains he could have done anything "what a waste".

[mick taylor]

I do not envy my dad at all, he had to work 7 days a week, loved to work hard as he could flat out always.

He helped me pave old bricks a driveway at 69yo with bad emphysema and he was more productive than many 20year olds at that. amassing he would fall down because of loss of breath and then get back up and go for it as hard as he could.
He would help anyone out on the job site, fall over backwards for people he contracted for and got ripped off that many times by con-artist and builders.

He got a little colour TV when his mum died in 1980 so we had colour from then.

He worked until he was 70yo he thought that he could not make ends meet on the pension but he was much better off on it than working in fact.

He did not own a house, he lost the house due to my mums dad ripping him off and he almost went to Jail. 100 men's tax had to be payed for a high rise building that they were partners in and mums dad took off to Europe. it was planed to destroy my dad put him in jail and get my mum and us kids to leave Australia.
Yet I never heard him complain about such.

He drank like a fish on Friday nights and come home blotto for dinner and my mum hated him drunk like that, he was always a fine drunk never angry or violent but she would not have Beer in the house unless for a party.

I loved the 1960' 70' 80's the freedom that we had back then was great.