Dad

A year ago today my dad passed away. I was there with my mum holding his hand has he passed. He was an amazing man, though he never thought it. He could paint, draw, build anything, he was generous, funny and intelligent. There was never a day went past where he wouldn’t make someone laugh.

Dad died just after their 60th wedding anniversary. He loved mum and us so much and protected us the best way he could. He was a great dad, a great husband and a great grandad and a great great grandad He loved children and hearing them laugh He would even when he could no longer walk have the children on his lap and make them giggle, so they would always say “more grandad, more”

Growing up, Dad would often take us to Dartmoor in the corsair, he would make us giggle as he made the car go over bumps and make our tummy feel funny. Mum would do a picnic and we would go on the moors Dad would run my brother to Judo and me to horseriding and come and see at us at all events. I don’t ever remember mum or dad missing out on seeing my brother or I in anything at school or after school activities.

Has I got older I was still a daddies girl, and when I passed my driving test at 17, he allowed me to drive his datsun Bluebird estate, it wasn’t my finest hour and I nearly hit a police car on a roundabout. He was fine about it, told me not to get so stressed about driving. I admit I pulled over and let him drive the rest of the way.

Both Dad and I worked for PSA in the civil service, so often dad would pick me up from my flat and we would drive up to Saint Christopher House, where he would drop me off before going to his office. I used to love those rides.

Dad came from a big family and loved them all, from his sisters and brothers to their children and to their children. When there is ever a Tagg get together, you can 1. Expect it to be noisy, the Taggs love to talk and 2. Expect to have your face aching through laughing all the time.

Dad was my hero, of course I argued with him at times. Has soon as he said “now don’t lose your temper” I knew I would. He did tell me off, I was a teenager with attitude and a even worse adult with attitude. Dad knew I’d bite back if I didn’t agree. I don’t sit on the fence, I have to say what I feel. However 99% of the time Dad and I were close.

Dad had so much pain and though he’d get grumpy, he would still make visitors laugh. Mum was incredible, for 20 years she looked after him, she would help him where in truth he probably needed a carer, but for mum it was what she had to do. She loved dad and je had given her and us a goodbye. She never moaned about what she did, even at 5ft 3 and my dad being just over 6ft 4, she just got on with it, and dad didn’t trust anyone like he trusted mum. He knew he was in good hands.

Dads energy is still very much around, and I’m so proud to have both my mum and dad has parents. My kids loved my dad so much and for my daughter who was very close to him it was very hard. He understood her way of thinking and laughed even the day before he died how she made him laugh when she was little when he was teaching her how to bake. He told her to put the eggs in with the butter, so she did with the shell on. She wasn’t being stupid, she is autistic and so did what was asked literally. Dad understood her and never pushed her.

Dad thankfully saw my son and his girlfriend who live in Canada through facetime the night before he died. He even made jokes about his accessories (oxygen)

Goodnight Dad, you are always in my heart and I know you are looking over mum, but so will we. Love you always. Proud to be the daughter of an incredible man.