September 2. Day 246. Paddling upstream

Some days you really feel like you are paddling upstream.
No matter how hard you work the tide seems to be rushing in and pushing you back.
For much of this morning I really didn't feel like I was winning and I couldn't work out why. I felt like I was swimming against the tide.
And then I got it. It's Father's Day. Kippers were cooked, presents were wrapped, cards were written on and all the normal activities associated with Father's Day happened in this house.
I do rather think the events such as Father's Day are Hallmark occasions designed to sell merchandise when we shouldn't need a special day to recognise those special people in our lives.
But it can't hurt. What does hurt is remembering those who are no longer with us. Like my Dad. I miss him and events such as Father's Day only serve to amplify that.
Remembering is good. Moping is not so helpful.
So I headed out to the Peaks to Point Festival family day. Fresh air, exercise and sunshine are great for the soul.
And as one who always gets a great deal of joy from sticking my oar in, I loved watching the families trying out the canoeing on Oxley Creek thanks to the Pamphlet Sea Scouts.
They may not have been very good at it but they were having a great time giving it a go.
None of this made me miss my Dad any less but it helped me focus on the happy childhood memories which I'm pretty sure is what Dad would have wanted.