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Smile though your heart is aching By
Drew Robertson (fifth born, fourth son) TIME passes so fast...it is now more than three years ago that my father died. Why am I mulling this over in my mind? Born 125 years after the great Battle of Trafalgar, Robbie would have been 76 today! The relevance of Horatio Nelson's victory against the combined fleets of Spain and France, off Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast, is that it was always a standing joke that the flags always flew for Robbie on Trafalgar Day. And so they should. It is perhaps a useless piece of information, a pure coincidence that he shared his birthday with such an historic event. Robbie himself used the link many times, one of the first was as the opening sentence in a 12-year-old schoolboy's English essay – the last was probably on his final birthday before he died. Laughing, once again, at this ridiculous fact.
But such pieces of trivia were entertaining nibbles of information used by such an amusing raconteur who always had a story to tell – usually leaning on a bar, fairly relaxed, with a pint of ale in his hand! Pedigree was his favourite. He had led such a full life climbing from the Edinburgh tenement blocks where he grew up to the height of his profession as a extremely accomplished journalist. There were so many experiences, a life rich in variety – a wealth of stories to fill the retirement years, although he never really stopped working. In latter years, he was deeply into the internet. He'd no doubt laugh at the invention of blogs, of which this is one I suppose. That's a thing I miss so much is talking nonsense, reaching degree level, after downing several pints with Robbie. We'd spend hours mulling over our lives. What if...if only...we'd chat over the next big project we were going to try. Perhaps we'd just be telling our usual jokes to each other, or to anyone else that would listen. Robbie and I had the same sense of humour. Actually, in the final analysis we shared so much common ground. He was my friend, colleague and father all rolled into one which is somewhat of a privileged rarity. Although in the last few years we lived miles apart, me with my family in Derbyshire and he in his beloved Borders, we spoke to each other numerous times every day. Again, just chatting about nothing particular – just perhaps offering a familiar, friendly voice for each other. Our conversations were a vital part of our lives and it is something I've never really forgotten or come to terms with. Yet, Robbie would not like anyone to be sad – he'd insist that everyone looks back with happy thoughts. In the words of the Charlie Chaplin song, 'smiling though your heart is aching'. I remember all the great, no marvellous, cherished moments we shared. Robbie may have shed his mortal coil and depart this life, but he is never forgotten and I'll no doubt raise a glass or two to mark his birthday. The memories and love still remain and will do so forever!
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