My Dad

There's been a lot in the news today about the Queen's Birthday Honours and it reminded me of when my Dad was honoured by the Queen.

It was over 30 years ago, New Years 1982-83. He was given the honour of becoming a Companion to the Order of the Bath, which is a bit of a mouthful, but he can shorten it to just "CB" and put those initials after his name on anything he cares to. He doesn't use it though - I think I'm more proud of him than he is himself, or maybe it's just that his old age has diminished the pride and joy that came from such a momentous occasion.

It always makes me laugh to think that, if Dad had received the next highest honour - that of receiving a Knighthood of the Bath - he would have been Sir Charles, and my Mum, well, she would have been known as "Lady Sadie"!! I was living in Israel at the time, and when my friends found out that Dad had received his honour, they joked that I should now be known as the "Almost Honourable"!

How my life has changed since then.

I'm almost glad that my Dad has dementia now, that he doesn't understand the way my life has turned out. He'd be so upset. He'd do anything within his power to make things better for me and for my children, but I don't tell him anything because I don't want him to be upset, even for a moment. He'd forget within minutes anything that I tell him, but I want to spare him even that moment of pain if I can.

So

to my Dad, to his amazing life that meant he was honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and to the fact that he's going to be 90 in October :)