Time for some father/daughter bonding I think

So, basically, a little road trip, a boat trip and a long-overdue family catch-up all rolled into one. I’m actually really excited about it.

My dad and I have never really had the typical father-daughter relationship. We’ve always had family around- my sister, other relatives, various distractions… and somehow, despite the years ticking by, we’ve never really had that proper us time.

And I think I’ve reached the point where I’m realising that life is just far too short for that. You only get one set of parents, after all.

There’s something quite strange about getting older and suddenly looking at your parents differently. When you’re younger, they’re just Mam and Dad. The people who tell you what to do, embarrass you in public and, in my case, presumably wonder where on earth they went wrong.

But as you get older, you start to realise they’re just people too. They’ve got their own experiences, their own regrets, their own stories and, whether you like it or not, probably a few bits of wisdom hidden away somewhere. I’m hoping this weekend gives me the chance to discover some of those.

There’s been so much going on in both of our lives, and I think we’ve got years’ worth of catching up to do. I’m hoping a change of scenery, a few good conversations and perhaps a drink or two will give us the chance to properly reconnect.

And, if I’m being completely honest, I’m also hoping that a bit of time away from Hartlepool and a completely different perspective from Father Dearest might help clear some of the mental clutter that seems to be permanently fizzing around in my head.

I know Dad and his partner are just as excited to have me down there, which makes the whole thing even more lovely.

So, here’s to a Bank Holiday weekend of long drives, ferries, family, catching up, probably far too much food and hopefully a few laughs along the way.

Let’s see what the Isle of Wight has to offer! And most importantly, let’s see what a little father-daughter bonding can do.