Monday, December 07, 2009

so long baka


So my grandfather passed away on Saturday afternoon. He died in his sleep, and was so thin and frail that it was the best way for him to go.

Mum gave me a signet ring of his – engraved with his initials – when I met her at the airport on Sunday. I’m not one for signet rings, but this one is special. It’s a little piece of him for my pinky.

I miss him and I’m sad. He was an eccentric, a Free Mason, a dude who always had to be making or fiddling with something. Who always had pin-up calendars of chicks with gigantic breasts in the garage, who flew a different country flag outside his house everyday, who would walk up to complete strangers and have long conversations with them, anytime, anywhere.

He collected a mound of shit – everything from model cars to other gimmick stuff, and he had a sharp sense of humour. My grandfather, who I called Baka, because Mum calls him ‘Papa’ as a French thing, and that’s the variation I picked up as a baby.

He’d get bored and roar around the old age village, and once almost knocked an old lady down, which caused a huge furore in gerry atrick circles.
Sometimes he drove us crazy because he was HELLUVA stubborn, he had sweets stashed everywhere, [and a set of dentures as a result], and he’d glaze his cars in an extra coat of home varnish. Seriously.

He died at 83, so had a good long life. And he had a good heart – he’d do anything for his children and grandchildren. He was very special to all of us, of course as he was family, but also because he was special. In a very eccentric way.
He’d make an impact on every person he met.

(Eccentricity isn’t something foreign in my family tree, as you may or may not have gathered.)

So you’ll be missed Baka. I am relieved for you that you’re in peace now, and I love you.

I am trying to ascertain whether I go down for his funeral this week, or the scattering of his ashes in January, when the whole family will be there. Either way, I will pay my respects to my loyal grandfather.

I can’t stop thinking about him and wondering where he is now. And if he knows we’re all thinking of him. And if he’s happier.

In other less sobering news, the Killers concert blew me away. They spoke to me man. The Killers is bittersweet music for me, I love all their stuff – both technofied and rockified.

However, I have listened to their songs on OCD repeat during amazingly happy times and where I have been so sad and grief-stricken, and somehow they’re the ones who pulled me through.
They played my favourite favourite - Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine, and This Is Your Life, and I went a little berserk, but they didn’t play On Top, which would’ve made the line-up 100% perfect.

Either way was great to go to a concert with Ant and Gilb and company, wear a shirt that says Buenos Fucking Aires - it’s a rock concert not a boardroom – and just let go a bit.

I didn’t know they were from Las Vegas, good God! They sound all North London, I mean come on!
‘That’s the point Peas,’ said Ant. ‘Britain discovered them before America did.’

Well blow me down with a feather. They even have the accents dialed. How did I miss that?

16 comments:

Pebbles said...

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather Peas. Sounds like he was an awesome dude.

Peas on Toast said...

Monki - thanks my dear :)

Vimbai said...

Your Grandfather sounds liks a man who was larger than life, so trust me, he's perched somewhere in the heavenly stratosphere causing chaos and surrounded by calendar pin-up chicks :-)

Peas on Toast said...

Vimbai - thanks so much :) And yes, that sounds pretty much like his idea to me - pin ups in the clouds - ha ha!

Billy said...

"pin-up calendars of chicks with gigantic breasts in the garage"

Classic! Sounds like a magnificent man. I hope my kids and grand kids talk of me like you wrote about him. RIP baka. My condolence's Peas.

Peas on Toast said...

Thanks Billy ;)
Yip, my gran would just turn a blind eye and act all nonchalant. He got the Pirelli calendar every year. :)

Billy said...

Pirelli! the man had taste to!

It is the question said...

Hey Peas

Sorry about your grand dad.

Also loved The Killers - and Z&G.

Posted the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/user/thelastboyscout007

IITQ

Peas on Toast said...

Thanks IITQ!

And yay some vids! WHAT a concert :)
It really cheered me up.

Nicole B said...

I am sorry to hear about your grandpops, I know the feeling - my dear own one passed on 2 years ago, and I still miss him so much.

On a killers note. Saw them last night at Val du Vie in Paarl - they were mightly awesome. I was a slight fan before, after last night im a definite fan!
The only shitty thing was this: I, along with about 10000 other concert goers were stuck in the parking lot for about 4 hours after the concert. I got home around 4am this morning.
Eventually after an hour of trying to get out last night, most of us just resigned and either drank or - in my case - attempted to get some sleep. I really thought I was going to die there. Thats how impossible it seemed.

Chantelle said...

Baka is surrounded by Busty beauties and loving it!
I'm so sorry to hear of his passing. I lost my grandfather 6 years ago and sometimes still cry about it. The sadness will fade and the good memories will warm your heart and make you realise how blessed you were!
Thinking of you and your family.

Anonymous said...

Hi Peas,

Go to both the funeral and the ashes..

You will never regret having taken the time out to do both...

Once done you can't go back and wish you were there..

I wish you and your family, peace and strength...

po said...

so sorry to hear about your grandpa, Peas. I am glad you enjoyed the Killers, they spoke to me too, through the skintight pants!

wobblywizard said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peas on Toast said...

Secret- thanks my dear :(
Yip we had the same problem with the parking lot - so we sat next to the Engen and ate snacks. Rock out. ;)

The Robbie Williams concert was worse though - was also stuck there until 4am - not cool!

Flirty 30 - thanks so much. Yeah I can understand even after 6 years there's a void :(

themeltinpot - thanks, I'm definitely trying to organise :(

po - thanks po! Yip, Killers was SO worth it..

Danielle said...

Sorry to hear about your Gramps. It is horrible losing someone you love. I can definitely relate.

Also sorry to hear about The Killers. I shouldn't have missed them. Darn it!