| Not quite a death bed confession 20:16 - Feb 1 with 951 views | Pendejo |
At 20:20 Thursday evening my uncle (Charlton fan) shuffled off this mortal coil, he was at home under the palliative care of the local hospice so it was an expected event.
I was sat by his side as he took his last breath, released from the constraints of old age and numerous health conditions. And whilst our family & his friends are appreciative of everything that I'd done for him; shopped, did the laundry, kept him company, took him to McDonalds (he loved a double quarter pounder with cheese meal with a vanilla shake), made sure the hospital released him to die at home, fed him jelly and ice creams.... I failed him on something.
Ultimately I bottled confessing something to him.
Back in mid to late-80s he had a Ford Granada 3.0 Ghia, similar in colour to Regan's in The Sweeney, one weekend visiting us in Ipswich he'd gone out with my father and step-mother. I knew they'd be out for sometime, the keys were sitting on the dining room table, I had not long passed my test and fancied a go in something other than my 1100 Clubman (or the driving instructor's Maestro then Peugeot 205 diesel), I saw the opportunity and took it, driving a loop of Chantry / Belstead Hills - Belmont Road, Hawthorn Drive, Birkfield Drive, Sheldrake Drive.
It's my only regret
Charlton's win yesterday with an Ipswich influence was perfect, thanks Harry Clarke
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| Not quite a death bed confession on 20:35 - Feb 1 with 762 views | UB9Blue |
Sorry to hear about your loss.
Perhaps your Uncle would have quite liked the idea that you showed your rebellious side...he possibly did in his own way when he was younger.
Like many things that we thought we had got away with, we sometimes find out that our parents/relatives knew or guessed anyway.
Enjoy the memories as they are and dont worry about teenage rebellion....unless you were fifty by then! |  | | |
| Not quite a death bed confession on 20:38 - Feb 1 with 743 views | Meadowlark |
My condolences.
My dad used to have a Ford Granada. Yellow with a black vinyl roof. I borrowed it (legitimately) in 1974 and drove to Luton - from Lowestoft. We won 4-1 ! Then drove on to Wembley Stadium where Crosby, Stills Nash & Young were performing, along with Joni Mitchell and The Band. We missed those two though due to our late arrival.
A good day out.
I don't think your uncle would have minded...... |  | | |
| Not quite a death bed confession on 20:42 - Feb 1 with 706 views | Swansea_Blue |
Sorry to hear that P, although it sounds like a mixed blessing if the poor old souls was in a bad way. Having been in a similar position with my mum and then gran, and having failed both times, getting him out of the hospital to be able to pass away at home is the best gift you could have given him. I’m not so sure about the McDonalds milkshake though…
I imagine a 3 litre was very tempting indeed! |  |
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| Not quite a death bed confession on 20:57 - Feb 1 with 613 views | ArnoldMoorhen |
Did you crash it?
Scratch it?
Damage it in any way?
If no to all the above, you didn't harm him in any way by your actions.
Obviously, you could have. But you didn't.
You could have harmed yourself more, had you been stopped and found to have TWOC, driving without relevant insurance etc. But you weren't.
You could have harmed innocent bystanders or other motorists, as an inexperienced driver at the wheel of the most powerful car you had been in. But you didn't.
I wish you had mentioned it to us before he died. I would have told you to confess it to him.
The one small area of "harm" you did was using some of his petrol and putting miles on the clock and wear on the tyres.
By my calculations, you have more than paid him back with the Maccy D runs.
You have made restitution.
You are forgiven, my child. | | | |
| Not quite a death bed confession on 22:04 - Feb 1 with 482 views | Churchman |
RIP your uncle.
I suspect if he didn’t already know he’d have suspected - and hoped you’d ’done stuff’. Certainly not too many years before (late 1970s) it was expected. How else were you to learn?
Wherever he is, he will be smiling at you and at Charlton’s excellent win yesterday. |  | | |
| Not quite a death bed confession on 22:23 - Feb 1 with 416 views | IndependentlyBlue |
Sorry for your loss. You were obviously a good nephew. Forgive yourself, sure he would have done, |  |
| Better to stay silent and be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt |
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| Not quite a death bed confession on 01:28 - Feb 2 with 219 views | bluelagos |
Sorry for your loss.
My cool uncle (now sadly living with dementia) had a Sierra Cosworth. I was 17 (passed test) and he threw me the keys and asked if I'd like a go.
Doubt I was insured (never asked) , wet country lanes, accident waiting to happen. But it didn't.
A few years later he accompanied me to Aus on a Lions tour, he absolutely loved every second of it. I even swapped tickets (a Cat 4 for a Cat 2) cos I knew he liked rugby far more than me.
Cool uncles are the best - as I often tell my nephews:-) |  |
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