You hear a conversation between a father and his son.
- 1) In what way does the father admit to being mistaken?
- 2) What view does the son express towards his father?
- 3) What change in behaviour does the father recognise after his wife's emergency?
- 4) What is the biggest loss according to the father?
- 5) To what does the father confess?
(0:04) I’ll tell you what did knock me for six was when she had that seizure. (0:08) The doctor in A&E was talking and I wasn’t fully listening really to what he said and you’re watching it and And you think everything’s okay. (0:18) Yeah, you’re gonna be fine.
(0:19) She’s coming around a bit. (0:20) When he said those three words Do not resuscitate It was just you know, like an electric shock and suddenly I was focused on him. (0:29) I think apart from My dad’s death that was probably the biggest shock I’d had But you took it you took it better than me.
(0:37) Yeah, I would have thought You’d be crying on my shoulder. (0:41) Not vice versa. (0:42) And that’s I think that is the first time I’ve ever seen you cry I’ve cried in private before But that’s that’s you all over isn’t it you I mean when they put beer up in the budget that’s at all That was so bad, but you know you get over it.
(0:58) Don’t you? (1:01) I think probably that’s a bit of a the old defense mechanism.
(1:05) I don’t wanna you don’t want to dwell on it It’s a difficult. (1:08) Yeah, it’s difficult (1:10) And I realized I had to be the strong one (1:12) I had to be the one man up is such an awful phrase, but I had to kind of keep my own emotions in check (1:18) That’s the first time ever (1:21) you’ve actually needed me and (1:23) That’s when I became very very protective of you both as well (1:26) And I know before you yeah, you didn’t care what happened to me didn’t you
(1:32) Yeah, I tell you when it really (1:34) When I really feel your mum’s (1:39) Problems, you know these (1:41) Reunions the college reunion she goes to seven or eight of them get together (1:44) I mean, obviously, you know old age is like the hands on them a little bit.
(1:49) Yeah, but it’s a total contrast to mom Yeah, and actually sometimes as well for me.
(1:54) I look at my friends and their moms, it’s not jealousy as much it’s But it’s only human to sort of just why you know The biggest thing is the communication Not to be able to communicate Two-way with somebody you’ve lived with for 46 years If you stopped and thought about it, I think it’d probably drive you mad Sometimes she says I need to go to the loo. (2:25) Mm-hmm Just to keep having to tell her you can’t stand Yeah, you know you had the stroke and and then she sort of looks far off into the distance And sometimes the tears come And I just think that I think it’s very sad These should be the golden years if you like when they ain’t the tarnished, you know And the other thing is I couldn’t do it all without you mate. (2:52) I do I can