Been a bit busy the last week so thought I would come back to this now so thanks for all the kind thoughts itt ^^^ last week.
This is/was my Dad and for those that have not read from the start and he passed away 5 years ago just before I got married to Petra and was lost to a cancer relapse that had been missed and then his records lost by the hospital causing further delays in treatment meaning it was too late to treat it and he was given 6months to live in the November and passed away peacefully with my brother, Petra and myself by his side whilst holding his hand.
Here he is – Andrew Charles Blacklock
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He was a really top Dad and a very well liked man in work and socially with my early memories of him being a man everyone had time for and he had an unbelievable caring side but even from an early age I remember the arguments that Mum and Dad had but he remained focused on us as kids.
He grew up in Burton on Trent and attended a boarding school locally before working for Rolls Royce as an apprentice and had a long career there working his way up the ladder but left to pursue a career as a buyer in a big company and again worked his way to MD before he got moved aside at the age of 50 and found he couldn’t get re-employed as most people felt he was too old.
His health problems had then started as documented in the early days of this diary and eventually having been consigned to the over 50’s work scrapheap he decided to wind down and took a chauffeur’s job for a cosmetic surgery company where he drove around picking up/dropping off mainly young women who had been in for boob/nose jobs and drove the surgeons around the country on a regular basis until he had to retire due to his illness.
After he had passed we scattered most of his ashes here at Bretby Crematorium where his mother was scattered and due to the distance my brother and I agreed to scatter some in a lovely place just off the seafront by me as he had always wished to retire and live by the sea but never got the chance. (just spent 30 mins trying to rotate but given up!)
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Here is Ivy on the anniversary of his passing sat by the big oak tree where we scattered the ashes around the base and I drive past the tree every day on the way to work and always say “good morning” to him and on birthdays, anniversaries etc go and spend a few minutes with him for a chat and take the kids to see him.
If you have read from the start you will know that I caused a lot of hurt to him whilst he was alive and I had to live with the guilt of that whilst he was ill wondering if I had caused some of his health issues and was so glad when we actually started speaking again and had a few months together before he passed away but still regret hurting the great man and really regret the fact he never got to see his grandchildren as he would have been an amazing Grandad as we was a great Dad.
I know since he passed I have done some things that he would be proud of and a fair few he would definitely not approved of but I guess that’s just me and being the person he was am sure he would understand but he is never forgotten and always in mine and my families thoughts.
RIP Dad.