We organised a 'Retirement' Party for dad held on Saturday 23rd February 2008. After spending all morning and early afternoon trying to get it all together, balloons, decorations, food, drink and sorting you out, we came back to a very unhappy dad."whats wrong dad" we all asked. "you have all bloody left me sitting here all day while you have all been out gallavantin, where have you been?" we told him again that we had been sortin out his party, but he wasn't havin it!!! we finally quickly got dressed and got his recliner chair together with all the bits we needed to keep dad comfortable for the nite and headed up to the hall. when wheeled inside dad could not believe this party was for him and how much work we had put into it. he turned to me and said,"thank you all for all of this, i now know what you were doing, but i got so lonely sat with just the men, i wanted my kids and i forgot where you all were", i give him a kiss and told him i needed to help the others get everything sorted. the hall looked great after kat, daz, neil, tan, john, jaq,jus and matt had finished with it. shamrocks hanging from the ceiling, white and green crepe paper hung in order on the stage and two special suprises lurkin behind the sunbed room next to the stage. we sat dad down in his chair all comfortable and rearin to go!!! dj steve had set up his station in the corner and the tables were all laid out and in place, everything was perfect, perfect for our dad.guests started to arrive and share with dad what would be his last party before he left us after fightin hard against this evil beast that has shattered our world to pieces. the party started to get into full swing with me starting the karoke with xanandu(much to neils disgust)!! the room was filling up and dad was surround by his friends. we kept checkin on dad to see if he was ok, but so many of his friends wanted to speak we all left them to have their final moments with this wonderful man. one suprise that then entered the room was dads uncle all the way over from ireland and his wife, neville and ann, dad was overjoyed, not only did the people who thought anything of him there, but his family. and so they should of been, anyone who respected our dad,"the legend" was there. the party was in full swing when the stage was graced with dad's first suprise, mr darren morrell, dressed as an irish man!!! a bleeding leprechaun!!!! and by heck seeing a 6ft plus man in that outfit in itself was a laugh, but daz carried on in true style to entertain us with dads life to date. we were all so proud to share all our own little memories with all those that respected this true man and daz carried this out spot on. we were then entertained by "the chinese elvis" who was a great hit. dad loved it!!! the party was in full swing when dad graced the mic with his irish karoke songs, "more", the guest shouted and dad in true dad style carried on- only us who had been with him 24/7 knew how hard this would of been for him, as only days before dad was sleeping 20hrs a day!!,but he graced us with "fields of athenry","danny boy"- we love you dad.you tryed so hard to be your usual party self, but this "thing"couldnt even give you this grace!!all your children then sat you down and sang to you a song we had dedicated just for you- "the wind beneath our wings". after we ahd finished you took the mic, thanked all for coming and expressed how you enjoyed workin with all your friends from work. you then went onto a speech about "your pearls"- which i can't write at the mo as my tears are streamin down my face, one day i might be able to write it down.!! we all love you so much dad, that party was just a small thing we all did for you, from your face that night we knew you had enjoyed it. i took you home while the others did all the tidying up. you sat up in your nursing bed and told me how grateful you were to us all for all we had done,and how much we all meant to you. you were on a high, none stop talkin just like before, litle were we to know that that was to be one of the last times we would have a full conversation with you. days later you slept all the time and your conversations were to become one worded. not dad at all. we love you dad with all our hearts, a true legend and gent, a loving dad and grandad. may you rest in peace you wonderful person. loving you forever. your pearls.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx