He worked so hard all his life,
to pay the bills and provide.

Somehow through the thick and thin,
you could say we all survived.

With rotating shifts and roster days,
he had some days off.

He liked wee apple buns
and when he spoke his voice was soft.

He put a few bob away,
for holidays every year.

We walked to far away places,
when the weather was clear .

He took me to a mountain top
and pointed out to sea.

'You can see the coast of Scotland from here, '
he'd say to me .

He bred budgies from a roost,
on top of the back yard wall.

In the times when he was off work,
he had time for us all.

My Da tried to learn to speak Japanese
before he died.

No matter where I go in life ,
he's always by my side .

By Paul McCann

.