Ode to Aad..............

Friday 3rd october 2008

  Sometime early this morning,about 3a.m they say, a great man passed. I've had the privilege of knowing Aad for some 20 odd years.He first let me into his home as a young teenager and since then has never really let me out. Throughout the years he has taught and re-enforced many of the ideals that i hold true  today. He helped shape and make me into the man that i am.

   Aad was a funny old bastard. He'd welcome anyone into his home with open arms,yet had no hesitation in turfing them out if he felt it was necessary(this was always done in "no un-certain terms").  I myself have been on the wrong end of too many barrages from Mr. V whence coming home too late and too drunk or going out too late and too drunk. In saying this he was always more then fair,he actually apologised to me not that long ago for blowing up and sending me home. On reflection he felt he was  wrong and had no problem manning up and saying sorry. Truth be told he was right(as usual) and Arnie and I should of gone to bed instead of out  . Aad always shot from the hip and called them as he saw them, for this i loved him. You never were in any doubt where you stood in the van der Stap house. 

  There would be many ways to describe Mr V ,hard,tough,honest,forth-right,bombastic,loud,opinionated,selectively deaf(at times), loving,generous, the list goes on,yet when i try to put into words the one thing that typifies Mr V it always seems to come back to loyal. For those he loved he would do "anything for", no questions asked,if you had  a problem he would try to help.

  Throughout the years we've had many trials and tribulations,ups and downs,yet he always was there. He welcomed me into his family many years ago and i'm glad he did. I spent the morning before my wedding in his house and i've never seen a prouder man, i was often referred to as the 3rd son yet truly felt it that day. Bringing my young blokes into his house gave him real joy, he did so much for me yet somehow i feel  he got a raw deal. Family life etc got in the way of me getting down to Consett Ave in recent years which now i'm really starting to feel. 

  Aad van der Stap was a great man,i am a better man/husband /father for having known him. While the world is poorer for his passing i am much richer for him being in my life. His legacy will continue through his sons  and mine and those that he affected. R.I.P Aad  I love you

Mick