My father was raised by his uncles in a little western Scottish town called Helensbourgh. Yes I am half western Scottish. My dad used to say to me as a child "Steven, the west is the best" meaning the west of Scotland is the best of Scotland. You see Edinburgh is the east coast. It's funny, I never notice his accent. I just think he has a Scottish accent but definitely not an Edinburgh accent. A lot of people from Edinburgh think I am not from Edinburgh because apparently I do not sound like i come from there. Even before I moved to the west of Scotland. But people in the west don't think I come from Edinburgh too. They say I kind of have a east/west coast accent. But not Edinburgh.
Ask Kimmi, she is from the west and doesn't think I have a strong Edinburgh accent, my brothers, my mother have it. But not me. I guess I have subconsciously listened to my father more then I have listened to my brothers and mother? My father packed his stuff and moved to France when he was 18, he lived in Marseille. He was a plumber and picked grapes. And actually made them into wine. He also picked oranges.
He then moved to Israel. He got thought how to use a gun for his safety. My father is also a work a holic. He was always working when I was a child. I wouldn't see him as much as I wanted too. He loved black sabbath too. My dads style as a young man would have been a hippie to be honest. He liked Bob Dylan too. When I was younger I was snooping on his stuff a found his marajouna pipe. It was strange because I never knew he smoked until I was 15. He never done it in front of us. He wasn't a big smoker anyway. Probably smoked six a week. He's not a drinker too. I have a can of beer with him at Christmas and toast a whisky together at new year. He likes his whisky at new year.
In all dad, I am happy you are still alive. These past four years have been a rollarcoaster of emotions. You're 61 today. And I am so glad you survived. I am so proud and respect the strength you showed not to let your illness win. You fought for your family when many people would have gave up, because you were in so much pain. Yes you are still getting over the trauma but you done it. You won. That's something they can never take away from you.
Even now you are trying to help me with my problems and you are one of few who step back and take a look at how I am behaving and say, hold on that's not right. You always look out for me and make sure I am okay. You have helped me become a man. I am proud to call you my father. I used to believe that I wasn't but as soon as I moved out and met certain people, I understood the sacrifices you had made for our family.
Your partner ( my mother) is a catholic and you are Protestant. That says it all really. It's hard in Scottish/British culture for this to happen. But you see love for love, not love for religion. That tells you just what kind of man you are. Love is love.
My mother said to me when she first met you, you had hair so long it was past your arse.... I guess that's where I get my style from LOL!!
You're a world bag pipe champion, you competed alongside your uncle in the championships and won. We all know the reasons why you never taught me and my brothers and that's okay... I still respect you for that....
You're a grandad now and you're a perfect one. One day I will give you another grand daughter or maybe grandson and you will inspire them just how you've inspired me to live.
We are very simmiler, we tell it how it is, we hold nothing back. You possibly a bit more then me... Thank you for what you have done ....
I love you dad. Happy birthday.
(My dad, far right)
