“If you've heard this story before, don't stop me, because I'd like to hear it again.”

"here comes the last of the great romantics"

I had a nightmare last night, probably influenced by the ever playing radio, but it's left me with a nagging negative air (although how anyone would ever notice I cannot imagine).
Last week I was at my Mams (there's a novelty) when my Dad disappeared. Now this is not unusual, as he sometimes actively avoids me, I don't think he actually likes me. Anyway this vanishing act was into the back room , rather than upstairs his usual bolt hole. I was a little concerned and looked in to find him lying on the floor, semi-conscious and vomiting all over himself. The strangest thing ifs that my Mother was sitting across from him, not alerting anyone to this because he had said not to!
My Sister was there too (she is also a Nurse, albeit the trickier mental health variety). We (notice not I) eventually got him to have a change of clothes and a lie down, once his conscious level had returned to normal. I made my Mother promise to keep him at home for a day or two, as he had been working outside and it was unseasonably warm, I suspected he was a little dehydrated. Next day he was apparently much better, but after I rang up my Mam went out shopping, and according to my Brother, as soon as she was gone, he (my Dad, not my Brother) slipped into some clothes and went out! What a big petulant child. He simply would not take any advice from me (nor has he ever) but any quack or half wit can espouse rubbish ion the tabloids or on TV and he will happily repeat it as gospel! Real life experience and advice from me goes unheeded. I know I sound like the petulant child now, but he has never liked or respected me, despite my efforts. almost on a daily basis he accuses me of picking on him, when all I am actually doing is trying to engage him on some, any, level.

I often wish for the cliched family,- Dad pops in an does a bit of DIY for you and jokes about something he read, Mam comes round for a cup of Tea, Brother takes you out for a drink, we all laugh and joke and discuss the issues of the world - "time to wake up Mr. Hopkinson".

(as illumination for the above, in the past four years, My Dad has visited me once, on the night I was assaulted, for 10 minutes, my Mam has maybe been here three times, totalling less than an hour, and two of those I'd brought her here in my car, even though she passes within a third of a mile EVERY day on the bus. C'est la vie!).

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them... well, I have others." - Groucho Marx