There’s nothing too new in waving my parents off on holidays. (Dad calls it “spending the kids’ inheritance”.) Mum and Dad are no strangers to travel, be it the European vacation or sailing the high seas P&O style. A few years back they’d had to cancel a cruise—their twelfth, to the magnificent Milford Sound in New Zealand—when mum fell ill. But the plan always was to make #12.
My Dad is an old salty from way back. He loves his boats, even building one, christening it Steel-Aweigh; we had so much fun as kids in boats of all sizes. No doubt Dad was glued to the TV today to watch the Naval Fleet Review (while I navel gazed over a plot hole in book 3!)
This Monday, as the journey begins by plane from Coffs Harbour, Dad will get to taste that salty air one more time.
And I’m tasting salt right now.
Salt from my tears.
You see, Dad will be alone this time. Mum, who some of you will know passed away in March this year, just missing out on the release of House for all Seasons, will now only ever be with him in spirit (and in the picture frame he has packed in his suitcase!!).
Bon voyage Dad. Safe travels. See you soon. (No doubt with a million bloody out-of-frame, out-of-focus, a-novella-attached-to-each-one photographs that we can all look at over and over and over!) Oh, and I intend tracking him on the P&O Sea Princess Cruise Cam incase he decides to do a I’M KING OF THE WOOOOOOOOOOOORLD!
This post is very timely as I have just written the dedication for my next book (out end March). Simmering Season will be dedicated to Dad, my moral compass who let me travel my own path through life–loving me no matter how I strayed, letting make my own choices–even when he didn’t understand.
This theme will feature throughout Simmering Season. I can’t wait to bring the story to you.
Speaking of photos…. A few from the old album to bore you with. (Yes, I take after my dad!)
