most of you guys know me and my dad with the tardis, and we love going in it and travelling, were off to Tumit on tuesday for a coupl of days, and then next month possibly melbourne, and july hopefully to WA..
but.. this is the but.... were still coping flak from the family, i thought it would have been over by now, but dad is kinda thinking about selling the van in 6-8 months time , which will be sad... I know i wont inherit the van, thats dads choice, and i feel its kinda big for just me if i did take it on, I do love it , dont get me wrong... im kinda going the slide on camper ute comb... but thats for later on , as my dad says I can do anything i want when he's gone, he'll be 87 this ... but I just feel like im not leading my own life, like the family always has some say in thiings... I have a kind of idea of moving to adelaide , for a new start, kinda got an offer for a radio station down there, etc, but would after dad goes kinda thinking of taking 12 months off, Since my mum passed away 3 years ago ive been over my dads almost every day, bar a couple here and there ... i dont know , I gues im just venting.
I dont want to see my dad go.. but I know its bound to sooner or later, with my mum she had alzimers, and we knew it was going to happen although still very hard.. dont get me wrong i too love my family, even though there in sydney and were down here (south coast ) I dont know, the way they go on ,saying dad shouldnt drive it, some times he's ok , but he's not good at parking it, I'd love to do all the driving for him like when we were overseas ,in the Uk i did the whole lot, I can see why he wants to drive, but am I ok in thinking this or just the fact that its a family thing and they want me to drive... I love travelling with my dad, I guess i just get frustrafted sometimes... sorry for my rants..
Wombat 280 said
12:06 AM May 2, 2010
What can one say but hang in there and you and Dad enjoy what's left of his time. I was always taught by my Dad right up to the end that "If you ain't living on the edge you a taking up far to much room" . Live for the moment the family will come around after all it's them that are missing out.
Go and enjoy
the crow25 said
06:26 AM May 2, 2010
Milo,keep on loving your Dad the way you are.Sod the rest of the family.Ask them are they prepared for him to live with them,I bet you wont even get an answer.Your Dad is a lucky old bugger to have such athoughtful and loving son such as you.Good on you Milo.Cheers Crowie.
Kantiki said
03:44 PM May 2, 2010
Milo, can I suggest you and your Dad keep enjoying life as much as you can for as long as you can. With the age he currently is, you will have plenty of time when Dad is no longer able to travel. I would be trying hard to convince him that you should carry the burden of driving, while he enjoys the scenery.Start discussions now with the family about who is able to help with what.
I have four sons, I hope at least one of them will be as concerned about me, as you are about your Dad. You are both very lucky people.
Safe travels
Margo said
04:27 PM May 2, 2010
I can sympathise with you in this dilemma, My sister and I (late 60's) have a self-centred 93 y.o. mum who's complaining about being in respite care for 3 days while we have a few days to ourselves ! You're lucky Dad still wants to travel, go for it! take Kantiki's advice re family discussions.
Cheers!
Pam said
10:01 PM May 2, 2010
I think it is wonderful that you are able to travel with your Dad.
Re; Driving, I don't know your dad's capabilities but perhaps you could do what hubby and I do sort of. I do not feel confident pulling our trailer in cities so I do the out of town drives while hubby does the more difficult city places where he has to drive in amonst traffic. If you would prefer your Dad not to drive then maybe suggest he be the navigator, get him to work out distance to next town, where to stop etc so he still feels part of it when you are driving.
It is a precious time for you and your dad so do whats right for you and him and just take on board what family are saying but make choices yourself. It is you there doing with him so keep doing what you both obviously enjoy.
Happy fishing at Tumut!!
Helena said
10:38 PM May 2, 2010
HI Milo.
I can only say what everyone else has said your dad is very lucky to have you with him and you enjoy each others company keep going as has been said perhaps you can do most of the driving and let dad do the navigating as for the family I am sure they are only trying to help but you know how your dad so go with your gut feeling Milo good on you safe travels. Helena.
biggles said
01:53 PM May 3, 2010
Hi Milo
Cannot add much more to the good advice already offered, but Ive just been through a tough stretch with my old man ( he was 82 when we got his licence off him - thought he could still drive like peter Brock use to )
You could try to talk to dad & say how bad he would feel if he was involved in some accident & someone was hurt..
We just got a police officer to come around & explain he had seen my old man driving & he had 2 options - take another driving test or hand his licence in. That let the family off the hook as he wouldnt listen to us.
milo said
10:01 PM May 6, 2010
well, were back, but not happy,
dad took out a side mirror off a 4wd on tuesday, some our mirror fell off but i managed to fix it, but he hit the gutter in the roof when backing in to our front yard today,
I told him we were too close but he just told me to go to sleep, then bang, and it was caught on the side of the van... eventually got the van off the gutter but im just so peeved he yelled at me to go to sleep., also he always tells me to drive it safe, as how i feel comfortable, but he's passing every thing in site, including a freakn bus on cambewarra mountain, for those that know its not a real fun road ...
Im just peeved that he yells at me, I feel like not going on any more trips with him,
i dont want him driving any more, too scared that he's gonna do some thing bad...
its a shame cause i love travelling , and with him,but there are times when i just want to walk......
Pam said
07:45 PM May 7, 2010
It's hard for you Milo but you have to consider everyones safety. Thinking of you .
most of you guys know me and my dad with the tardis,
and we love going in it and travelling, were off to Tumit on tuesday for a coupl of days,
and then next month possibly melbourne, and july hopefully to WA..
but.. this is the but....
were still coping flak from the family, i thought it would have been over by now, but dad is kinda thinking about selling the van in 6-8 months time , which will be sad...
I know i wont inherit the van, thats dads choice, and i feel its kinda big for just me if i did take it on, I do love it , dont get me wrong... im kinda going the slide on camper ute comb... but thats for later on , as my dad says I can do anything i want when he's gone, he'll be 87 this ... but I just feel like im not leading my own life, like the family always has some say in thiings... I have a kind of idea of moving to adelaide , for a new start, kinda got an offer for a radio station down there, etc, but would after dad goes kinda thinking of taking 12 months off, Since my mum passed away 3 years ago ive been over my dads almost every day, bar a couple here and there ... i dont know , I gues im just venting.
I dont want to see my dad go.. but I know its bound to sooner or later, with my mum she had alzimers, and we knew it was going to happen although still very hard..
dont get me wrong i too love my family, even though there in sydney and were down here (south coast ) I dont know, the way they go on ,saying dad shouldnt drive it, some times he's ok , but he's not good at parking it, I'd love to do all the driving for him like when we were overseas ,in the Uk i did the whole lot,
I can see why he wants to drive, but am I ok in thinking this or just the fact that its a family thing and they want me to drive...
I love travelling with my dad, I guess i just get frustrafted sometimes... sorry for my rants..