We never really celebrated Father's Day - I think we saw Dad often enough that we didn't feel the need to have a special day for him. My sister sent me this photo last weekend though on the Australian father's day and we had a bit of a chat about what Dad was like. That's me in the centre with my much loved Ray Bans. Dad's sporting a fabulous moustache and looks like he should be in a film set in the Alps, any alps.

This photo (taken in late 1987) was a historic because it was the first and only time Dad ever swore at my sister. Like, really swore. A snowstorm was coming in and my sister, dead scared, sat in the snow and refused to move. Me, of course, was squealing excitedly down the mountain, caught up in the adrenaline rush and excitement and not realising that they were behind me caught in a little Dad-daughter drama. Dad's swearing shocked my sister in action, and we all survived. I can still remember the sound of the skiis in the snow, all those years ago, the inability to see ten feet in front of me.

We remember many moments like that - Dad taking us down the coast for a swim on a 40 degree day and the burning gum leaves falling down on us from a bushfire, Dad making me paddle into some pretty big waves, Dad making us run up stairs, Dad taking us down the waterslide, Dad bareback horseriding with us (even though he used to be scared of horses, he still got involved because we wanted horses, which resulted one day in him falling off and pissing blood that night), Dad coming on family holidays to Bali, to New Zealand, on camping trips, going on bushwalks to distant waterfalls, surf trips down the coast, yoga challenges (he was doing hot yoga at 60, kiteboarding still at 75)

When asked by his brother whether he wished he'd had boys, Dad was speechless. I dont think he'd ever thought about it. Us girls were always up for an adventure and he loved us to bits. What had gender got to do with it?

Remembering these adventures made me think a lot about what we're still grieving - Dad coming on adventures with us, no matter how old. Bushwalks and bike rides and trips overseas. Even having our own adventures now seem less exciting because we can't tell him about it anymore - he's the first person we think to tell when something wild happens, something fun, adventurous.

But here we are still, both girls, having adventures, without him.

He'd be proud.

With Love,