Thanks for the memories.

If there is one thing my travels to date have taught me, it is that nothing in life is ever certain. No matter how thoroughly planned an adventure may be, no matter how well organised we may set out on our journey, and no matter how many possibilities and outcomes we may have imagined in our minds – there will always be times when things are beyond our control, and the big, wide world takes over.

Early this morning, the world I know changed forever. Surrounded by family, Puppa Bird – father, grandfather, great-grandfather, patriarch and chief nest builder of the Bird flock – passed away. I’ve spent some time today thinking about my grandfather, and what a remarkable person he was, and tonight I write from Ireland – a country which just days ago, he fondly recalled from his own childhood memories.

I remember as a young child, riding my Nanna’s old bike around my grandparents garden for hours on end, setting obstacle courses out of garden furniture and plants, and dreaming of one day being tall enough and strong enough to climb the towering Oak Tree down the back of the garden. I remember my Puppa strolling through the back garden, whistling as he walked, or lazing on a daybed on the lawn. In summer he’d pick bunches of grapes fresh from the vine, sharing them with the grandkids while we would talk non-stop about what we were doing at school, at home, and later in life, while traveling. He’d sit for hours and listen to his grandkids talk, never once letting on how incredibly boring and mundane our stories really must have been, and always showing complete interest in whatever fad or phase we were going through at the time.

As we got older, and louder, I remember my dad being so worried about how much noise we would make around the house, and how much of a nuisance we were – however Puppa didn’t care, he would just switch off his hearing aid, sit back in his chair, and smile as our antics carried on around him. Other grandparents had cupboards full of toys and games, but Puppa Bird was the master of keeping us entertained – all he needed was a couple of wooden spinning tops, which he had mastered the art of spinning upside-down on their handle. No one else’s grandpa could do this trick!!! We would sit for hours around the dining table, spinning the wooden tops, as Nanna would fuss about the kitchen fixing yet another delicious meal or dessert for all to enjoy.

It never occurred to me that one day these memories would be just that – memories. Always an image of health, and always so full of life, it didn’t seem possible that this man would one day leave us all behind.  

The more I’ve travelled, and the more people I have come across on my journey, the more I have realised the importance and value of family, and the lasting effect they have on our lives. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family, however, it is hard to be away from home while you know so many people are hurting, grieving, and trying to get on with everyday life when it seems like the whole world has been turned upside down.

I was lucky enough to spend my last day in Australia with my grandparents, and will be forever grateful for the love and support they have given me throughout my life, and as I set out on this unforgettable journey I have taken on. I will forever remember my Puppa as a man who was proud of his grandchildren, proud of his family, and who showed unconditional love, care and support no matter how much we deserved otherwise. Nothing got a better, more mischievous smile from him than when Nanna had spent a whole day trying to solve the target word, or the final crossword clue, only to have one of the grandkids walk in and know the answer at first glance. Of course, he wouldn’t let Nanna see his cheeky grin – he’d go hungry for the week!

I can’t remember a single time when he ever raised his voice, was ever too busy to sit under the oak tree and have a chat, and no matter how exciting the cricket match or footy game may have been, the TV was always switched off when the grandkids arrived – for there was always fun to be had! Christmas Day always saw the Bird family converge on Adey Reserve, armed with frisbee and vortex, and arms overflowing with water pistols and balloons. Nothing pleased Puppa more than when one of his much-doted-on granddaughters would hit a brother with a full force water balloon, drenching them with water, and signalling the start of a water war. Of course, the boys would have to wait until he was out of sight before they would begin their retaliation!

Cyril Bird was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather, and today my family lost someone so special to us all. Only one person on this planet has always been as resilient, hardworking, robust and strong as Puppa Bird… and somehow he managed to marry her! My Nanna is the rock on which our family is built. She is a strong, funny and caring woman; a woman who has had her fair share of challenges in life, and has always come out the other end stronger and more determined than when she began. Her family is her world, her house is her castle, her floor is always clean enough to eat off, and the kitchen is her domain, and her domain alone – don’t even think to offer to do the dishes!!!

Tonight, over 16,000km from home, on the other side of the world, my thoughts are with my family, my Nanna, and the extended Bird flock – which has now changed forever. I hope that while our hearts are heavy, and the world seems so unkind and unfair, we can all look back on our time with the man who was always there for us, and we can all smile at the gift he has left with us all – the memory of times spent together.

Cyril Bird

5^th June 1927 – 20^th June 2012