Eliza's blog: the Father’s Day edition

Overpacked and overheated, but grateful for family, Devon & a great dad.

I am currently on a train to Devon having booked a week off work. That sounds lush, I know. However in reality, I couldn’t decide how much stuff to pack (chronic over packer here), so brought way too many clothes in an XL suitcase which has resulted in me not getting a seat as early on as London. It seems that while men used to go to war, they now shove in front of you to get a seat on the train leaving you sat in the walkway for the next three hours. Please also bear in mind that it is thirty degrees, the toilet door keeps slamming and it seems the fifty pounds I spent on this ticket didn’t seem to include air conditioning.

I shouldn’t complain, I am about to spend a week with my family in Lyme Regis. My mum grew up in Devon so I always love seeing how happy she is on these holidays and the nostalgia that comes with it. Typically these trips involve a lot of crabbing, plenty of butter tablet fudge and a boat trip where one of my siblings is usually throwing up over the side due to the waves (having got back in at 2am from “one drink” at the pub). Safe to say that sitting on the floor of a train gives you enough practice to prepare for the motion of the Atlantic Ocean.

I am lucky that I still get to go on these holidays. My parents always make sure to organise something for all of us each year. I turn 26 later this year so I wonder at what point these holidays will stop. My dad is still paying my phone bill, and I’m going to see how far I can push that one. My parents really do look after us and a world without them in I just can’t imagine. Luckily I don’t have to think about that yet, but life is short and things can change quickly. The phrase “no one’s coming to save you” always make me smile because my dad does. Always. He always shows up for me and is there in my time of need time and time again. Unfortunately for him, on 31st July I’m moving flats so need to enlist his help (again). He’s already informed me he has booked the day off work, and as a thank you I will take him for dinner. He sorts stuff out for me without me having to lift a finger, or even think, he’s reliable beyond words. Whether it’s picking me up if I am stranded somewhere, mapping out my train route before I start a long journey, or hearing about my stressful day (when his was probably 10x more stressful), he’s always there. When I was younger I used to get into bed and realise my feet were cold, so would phone him whilst he was downstairs watching tv and he would come up and put fluffy socks on my feet. I feel you can start to see the picture now.

It sets the bar for when I start to date again. And unfortunately for these men, the bar has been set high. Saying that, the bar is currently on the floor and most men can’t reach that anyway. I don’t mean to sound like a man hater, because that isn’t the case. However when they push in front of you to get the last seat on a train, they really do make it hard for me to like them. I know there will be someone out there who will care for me in the same way, but putting fluffy socks on my feet when I could do this myself will be the real test.

Eliza works in HR at an Investment Bank in the City of London. When she is not at work she spends her time playing netball, seeing friends and exploring all the coffee shops South West London has to offer.