One of the best things about my Dad is his pride.

 

Generally in me.

 

More specifically in something I’ve done.

 

I’ve tried many things when I was growing up and no matter what I did he always showed me just how proud he was of me.

 

Sometimes he even tried to join in, although unfortunately for us all, his skills on the dance floor do not bear any resemblance of skill when completing the same moves balanced on a quarter inch blade of steel on a frozen ice rink.

 

When I look back at all the things we used to do together I realise that, up until I started studying law, my father and I really had nothing in common. Here was I some strange child who had no interests that even vaguely resembled anyone else in my family.

 

I did gymnastics, rode ponies, skated. All in all nothing even remotely similar to either of my sisters but Dad didn’t seem to care. I remember him getting up early one Sunday morning to drive all my riding gear up to the local showground while I’d walk my pony up from where she’d slept in the back yard.

 

He’d stay the day, buying my tickets, making me eat lunch and calming me down when Kali did something wrong. Then he’d follow me back to the stables and help be rug and feed her. I really enjoyed those days.

 

Later as I got older and better and began riding for other people he’d come and just enjoy watching without having to worry about what ring I was in at what time. He’d even hold a horse or two while I ducked to the bathroom or chased a loose horse. Although those moments came to an abrupt stop after an ex racehorse named Bobby, who wasn’t all that big, really, managed to drag him halfway across the showground before I could catch up with them.

 

When I started skating he’d drop me off and pick me up. He did try a few moves on the ice but it is really a niche sport and it wasn’t his niche. I do remember him coming to watch a rehearsal for my Christmas show. He wasn’t really watching though. He’d watch my bits and then duck outside to make a phone call or something. It was during one of these urgent phone calls he managed to run straight into the glass door, shattering it instantly and almost breaking his nose.

 

It is still legend around the rink.

 

When I began selling cars I think he thought it was fate as the place I had started was one we had purchased a prestige car from many years before. He followed my career quite closely and from the comments that got back to me I could tell he was proud of my achievements. He’d tell anyone and everyone that I was selling Volkswagen, BMW and eventually Mercedes Benz. I think he liked having a daughter that was doing something that not many women actually choose to do.

 

When I first told him I wanted to study law I could tell he was chuffed. He immediately sent me all the information I needed and has followed each and every subject with me as if the outcome had a bearing on him too.

 

Anytime I needed help with a problem or a question I knew I could rely on him. He wouldn’t tell me the answer but he’d talk to me in such a way that I could figure the answer out for myself. It certainly seemed to work well and I haven’t failed a subject yet. Touch wood.

 

Now I still have a long way to go, and I don’t really know what field of law  I want to get into but maybe...one day...over a door somewhere.

 

Doubleday and Daughter – Partners at Law

Jessica