Wow Gaff, I am very impressed. Your father a Bird Colonel. You must be very proud of him. Of course you did not see him much when you were a child. I think it must have been hard for him, but he did it for his family. I have a lot of respect for him. Send him many wishes. And Gnat your stepdad also had a special job. I agree when you say that is cool. And Gnat what is the Squid ? My father was a bricklayer. He has build a lot of houses and also his own house. He has worked hard his whole life. I am proud of him. I think the building trade is a bit in our blood. My grandfather was also a bricklayer and his father had a building company. I also work in a building company where I do the book-keeping. And my youngest son is also working in the building trade, he works with a crane. But in Belgian they say that we are born with a brick in our stomach. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yeah, we're all pretty proud of our Dad, Marthe. Mainly it is because he is an honest, reliable, stick by your word man who loves his family. We are going to a pizza parlor tonight to celebrate his birthday. My youngest sister showed up last night with her two kids as a special surprise. They live a couple hours away. Your family's trade of brick laying sounds interesting. It seems like it would be very satisfying to see buildings and know that your handiwork and that of your forefathers had a part in making it. We don't have too many brick or at least red brick buildings in this part of the country and most of those are older buildings. So, we don't see them too often.

Marthe - a "squid" or "guppie" is a term for Naval officers. Each branch really kinda has their own terminology for themselves as well as the other branches. For instance, the Marines are known as "jarheads". There's a bit of a funny rivalry between Navy and Marines because the Marines are a branch of the Navy. The Marines will say stuff like how they're the "men's department" to the Navy and stuff like that. My stepdad is grateful for the Navy being their "cheuffeurs" back when he was in the Corps. :wink: It's harmless ribbing they give to each other a lot - but they do hold a lot of respect for each other because each branch of the military is important in its own way. Not to mention any and all military men and women have to sacrifice a lot so there's definite understanding there. I also agree with Gaff that it's really amazing your family's been involved in the building of so many places there in Belgium. There's a definite sense of accomplishment when creating something and seeing it in its final stage and all its glory. I think it's why I like to bake/cook so much. I love how I feel when the dish is done, I feel like I've done something worthwhile. Even though it'll be devoured in a few minutes time and be gone forever. :wink: Brava to you and your family of builders Marthe!

Late to this thread, but I really enjoyed reading about all your dads and grieve with you over your stories of their passing. My father was an Italian baker. He apprenticed with a man from Amalfi, his grandmother's home town. He learned the trade from him and then started his own store after he got married to my mother in the mid 1950's. My brother has now taken over the store. My father suffers from dementia, so I feel like I say goodbye to him every time I hang up the phone. He used to be mathematically brilliant. He could do calculations in his head faster than a calculator. I was an adult when I realized that he had a unique gift. He was also in the A curriculum at what we would call a magnet high school now. He was in a tough college prep course but never went to college, even though he was eligible on the GI bill because he felt he needed to help support the family. All of this intelligence is just a memory to all of us now. I am lucky if he remembers me and my son on some days. But, I had/have a wonderful father who taught me many important life lessons. I could go on about him, as I am sure all of you can about your own fathers, but I will just leave it at that. Best to all, GinaP :cool:

PS to Gnat, My father was in the Navy too, during WWII. He was the cook aboard ship and was in D-Day plus 1. His ship struck a mine and sunk. Miraculously, all hands were saved, which the men (all elderly now) attribute to their captain--a man who has long since passed. GinaP :cool:

Hey GinaP, My dad was a cook in the Navy during WWII also! Small world,huh?! He was in the South Pacific mostly.

Gina - I can only imagine how difficult it must be to essentially lose someone you love when they are still physically present. He sounds like he was and is a special father. How fortunate so many of us are to have a great fathers - be they blood or stepfathers - in our lives. I bet you grew up with the best tasting bread and baked goods. Does anything compare now?

The Old man of the Sea..... My father's half-brother, Ken, was a life-long merchant seaman and rose to the rank of Captain from starting on the tugboats on the River Mersey at the age of 14; he lived for the sea and was torpedoed four times on the convoys in WW2. One time, all three officers above him were killed, leaving him as a young Leiutenant in charge of his decimated crew - he was decorated for that one. He ended his working days peacefully as captain of the ferry going between Liverpool and the Isle of Man (where his father was from) and died at the ripe old age of 89, still talking about the sea..... (My Dad was in the RAF and their other brother in the Army during WW2)

Stevie- Sounds like your Dad's half-brother was a young Hornblower of his time. Starting young, loving the ocean and much honored for unexpected heroism. Hope he found his Lady Barbara.

Here in Bosnia we don't celebrate a particular date as Father's day but some celebrates Mother's day last Sunday in May. It is really wonderful to see all of your thoughts, and plans what you did for them and how you talk about your fathers and mothers. Family is really important to us all. I remember when I was a little girl I was asked a numerous times (like many other children have been too) by my parents' friends and family who I loved the most: mum or dad? I would always say dad. I don't know why I would say that and it doesn't mean that I loved mum less , but he meant the world to me. Although he used to drink a lot he mainly never laid a hand on me or my sister or raised his voice. He stopped drinking and smoking four years ago after he had a heart attack. He makes the most out of his day and working in the garden planting vegetables and I try to help him a lot. During the war our house was hit several times and I helped him repairing our house by making cement and bringing bricks and doing all the handy work with him. (This may give you idea that I am not afraid of hard labor work.) I lawn the mow today.

I'm sorry for the delay. I am GLAD I could read and learn so much more about your lives girls, about your fathers most of all. :) Thank you for sharing all of that! :hug Thank you GNAT. :). I'm sorry you couldn't spend this special day the way you all hoped you could spend it. Pffff. Still, it's nice you could END this day in a better way. :) AND weather permetting! :sun :wink: It's cool you helped, by cooking. :applaud: It was a nice attention, from you. :wink: The pie looks similar, but I'm afraid mine was store bought. The recipe looks great and I may have to try it sometime.Hehe yes, the recipe sounded COOL. :wink: Don't worry, shop bought cakes are delicious too! Just to clarify, my parents didn't sing professionally. My Dad was a pilot. They sang in school and church choirs. My Dad sang in Barber Shop quartets. And during the Christmas Holidays, my Mom would play the piano and we would sing all the verses of Carols. So, music is more their hobby.BRAVO GG about your father! :applaud: I'm always impressed with pilots. :wink: And it must be great when it's Christmas time in your home, singing that way, all together. Beautiful atmosphere. :) And as for the music, my father also loved it. He could not sing but he liked to dance. We have danced a lot and I miss it. I'm sorry again Marthe. Sometimes there are things that appear in our minds and remind us of cool past events. And then we miss them, we become sad again. He loved life, I can see. He loved to dance for example. It's nice. You shared very cool moments with him. That's GREAT. I'm glad for you, for that. Good memories. Not sad ones, good ones. :) Try to see them that way. :wink:

And you can be proud of being in this long time family "builders". :wink: It's very nice indeed when what you are doing is staying for a long time HERE. That people can see your work, enjoy your work. :) :cool: Gina, BRAVO about your father too. He is a very clever person! I'm sorry he's got this mental-desease now (I think we call it Alzeimher here in France. Not sure though). It is terrible for all of you in your family. Yes. I'm sorry. Gaffer'sGirl: Stevie- Sounds like your Dad's half-brother was a young Hornblower of his time. Starting young, loving the ocean and much honored for unexpected heroism. Hope he found his Lady Barbara.Same thoughts as mines StevieT. :) It's great you remained close to your father Selma. And I have to say he is a lucky man to have such a daughter! :wink: :) I don't remember being asked about "who do you prefer, Dad or Mom?" Honestly? Now I would answer such question: "Go to Greece to see if I am there!..." :???: :angry2: It's a mean question to ask. Anyway, I love them both. The same.