Dad

Dad worked in the mills all his life until they laid him off. Then he walked the streets selling sticks for firewood. He always hankered after something called

‘A quiet life.’

This seemed to involve a lot of sitting in front of the telly, smoking fags and swigging lager.

Dad cried when the IRA blew Mountbatten up. He was infuriated when they tried it with Thatcher:

‘The bastards missed her.’

When the men in white suits came for mum, dad found his inner philosopher. He opined:

‘The mind's a funny thing.’

Dad liked visiting mum. There was a colour telly.