On Facebook, one of Dad's ex students is putting up photos from WAAPA - 'the early years.' She just put up one of the iconic images of my father. It made me think about this blog. I started reading it for the first time since it was written. It's a strange document of life and death which includes a travel tips, family memories and euolgies. I am not sure really what to do with it.

As a family, we miss him dearly. I am constantly surprised when I meet people for the first time who hug me and tell me that my father change their lives. He certainly changed ours - constantly. I remember when he decided to take us to live in America. I was 11 years old. Attending a convent school, I had ten other girls in my year who I had know since I was 7. They were my world. The day dad came to pick me up from school to take me away, my dear friends hid me in a cupboard thinking if he didn't find me that I could live there happily for the next two years. The ensuing struggle included me holding onto door frames and chairs and my friends and dad dragging me down wailing to the car. I think back now and wonder how he must have felt - taking us away from all we knew into the great unknown - I think he would have felt elation. He loved adventures and we should too - whether we liked them or not.

Catch Up

Mum has asked me to update this blog for some time but to tell the truth, I still find it quite difficult to visit as I know that the first author of this is no longer around to write in it.

Still, life goes on. Grandchildren get older - Otto is 5 now, Ginger is 3 and Priscilla is... not sure how old Priscilla is but she's crawling around and is enamoured with a large plastic duck... oh and she's a red head.

Nath is executive producer on a TV show here - it's his first gig in the top job so fingers crossed.

Ashleigh got engaged today. She is very happy.

Mum is looking well. She spends a lot of time in Sydney and it's always sad when she goes back to Perth but her friends are there and, for now, it's her home.

Paul and I are fine. His boys are getting big - Zac is taller than me and has taken to patting me on the top of the head! Paul's music is going well. He is playing the Opera House tomorrow night which makes it a clean sweep - I had a play on there, the boys have both performed there and finally, it's Paul's turn.

Priscilla centre stage

Please welcome to the world Miss Priscilla Marnie Monaghan Gibbs. Seen here being cuddled within an inch of her life by her adoring sister Ginger. Also pictured big brother Otto having a cuddle with Ginger. Nath and Tash are doing well - but a wee bit exhausted with three under four under foot.

Wedding et al

It's been an awful long time since this blog was updated but with the urging of mum, I thought I should share with you some happy snaps of our wedding. Paul and I got married in our backyard in Sydney on October 20, 2007. We kept it low key and invited our friends from 'the East coast.' The Perth celebration happened on the 5th of January 2008.

Dad sent me an email before he died telling me that he and my godmother (Wendy) would be at my wedding. It was a hard email to read and I can't revisit it to this day but something told me if anyone could find a way to make his presence felt - it would be him.

Our house has an amazing jacaranda tree in the backyard. Dad always remarked about how beautiful it was in full bloom. I was hoping that it would be in bloom for the wedding because that would mean, Dad was around. Two days before the wedding - not a bud... on the morning of the wedding, it was as if someone flicked a switch and pale purple fireworks went off in the tree. He alway did like to make an entrance.

There was one other sign that Dad had kept his promise. The day before the wedding, I was in the backyard setting things up when all of a sudden a large black, white and orange butterfly accompanied by a smaller butterfly with the same markings came slowly fluttering into the yard. Both butterflies circled me before going once around the garden and disappearing. I believe that was Dad keeping his promise. Since that day, myself and Paul have seen the same butterfly two times - once on Dad's birthday and also on the day I was promoted to my new job.

I now look out for Geoffie whenever it's a special occasion because he wouldn't miss a celebration for anything.

OSU Tree Tribute

On Sunday, Dad's friends from Ohio State University braved inclement weather to officially toast the tree dedicated to the memory of Dad and planted in the grounds of OSU. Dad loved his time at OSU and made some life long friends who have journeyed across the country and around the world to visit Gibbs' old, younger and youngest. We will always remember the kindness, inclusiveness and humour these people injected into our lives abroad. They not only put up with Dad's often wicked ways, they revelled in his school boy pranks and love of life. His friend, George Steele who to this day keeps Mum informed of all things Columbus describes the day and the dedication:

"Sunday, here was raining. First time in weeks we had an all day rain. We met at 1:00 pm on Sunday over at OSU. At the tree, a Buckeye tree. We drank a little Sparklin' Shiraz and shared some good memories of your father and all of you Gibbs. Geoff wouldn't be Geoff without all of you. We adjourned back to our place and drank a few more glasses of Western Australian wine, showed a brief video of G. G. Gibbs in his finest form, and spent more time recalling some good tales. We were fortunate your Dad brought us together. And he still seems to be doing it!"

Thank you all for the effort you put into arranging the dedication and tree. I know these things can be fraught with red tape. It means so much to us and I am sure he's pretty chuffed (that's means happy to all you yanks!) too. Go Buckeyes!

Memorials on two continents

This is the seat that Dad's wonderful neighbours and friends donated to his favourite park. He loved to come here - although I can't imagine he did much sitting - Dad was never a sitter! He loved to meet his fellow dog walkers of a morning and admonish them for their 'badly behaved pets' - which was hilarious considering Buddy always had a mind of his own and never came when called.

Next Sunday 5th of August, a small ceremony will be held in the park for all those who helped to get the seat through council and pay for its construction - no mean feat in itself. On the same day, in Columbus, Ohio, Dad's friends at Ohio State University are having a similar ceremony. They have arranged a tree to be dedicated to Dad in the grounds of the university. On this day too, Ginger Lightly Monaghan Gibbs will be celebrating her 1st birthday in a park in Sydney.

Dad is going to be busy that day!

Pictures to follow.

Otto's Birthday

Thanks to Lynne Woolfenden who posted a comment today, I thought I should come an update this site. It's been months since I have been near this blog. To tell the truth, it's still a little hard to visit - let alone read. But it's Otto's birthday tomorrow. He'll be three and I think that deserves an entry.
Last year at this time, Mum and Dad were toiling away in the kitchen making him a Hickory Dickory Dock cake. It took them hours. It's a strange feeling to consider how much has changed in a year. To consider the tornado that was dad is no longer going to be making birthdays events that rival Barnam and Bailey's. He would have been so proud of the little human being that is Otto. He is creative and funny and loves his family to bits - just like his grandfather.
We will do our best to keep the Geoffness around Otto. He still remembers Dad and has taken a photo of him and mum to his swimming class on a number of occasions. Thankfully he refrains from wanting to take Geoffy for a dip with him.
Ginger is a delight. She's turning into a real little girl. She loves her brother who is now finally giving her more than a passing glance. It's wonderful to know that Dad was able to see both these amazing people enter this world before he left it. And they will know their grandfather because we can never forget him.