Father’s Day tea party in a no-fly zone

Not the big ones like Heathrow, but the small, unusual ones – like Compton Abbas or the private one at Hurn Airport (you probably have to be a member but Dad strolls in nonetheless).

I don't know why this is. He is not a pilot and I think he has a bit of a fear of flying (just like me).

But he would never, EVER admit this. Looking back it makes sense. I mean, I remember him hiring a minibus and driving us and another two families to Geneva rather than fly.

All our holidays involved a long drive, usually in a Cortina, Boney M or Abba playing on a loop and my brother and I being choked to death by the parent’s incessant cigarette smoking (it was the 1970s, when this sort of abuse was positively encouraged).

And now I come to think of it, Dad never came with us on big trips, it was always Mum who took us – claiming Dad had to “work” or “repair” Mr Gramps, our old wooden boat (tub), or something.

Anyway, for Father’s Day I told him I would take him to the beautiful Cranborne Manor for the annual fete.

The Teen didn’t want to come.

“All you do is drink tea,” she said. “And I bet you £10 you end up at an airport.

“Ok, Ok I get the message,” I said. “But we will all eat together when we get back.”

I left her at home, cooking dinner with her own dad while I set off with mine.

Dad was looking forward to his trip to Cranborne. It is such a quintessentially English village, with its rambling roses and the scent of lavender in the air.

However, we arrived at the tea room to find we’d got things a little wrong and the fete had been held the day before. I was gutted.

Dad, on the other hand, didn’t seem too bothered – even though he must have mentioned the coconut shy at least nine times on the drive.

“Never mind Dora,” (he has called me that since I fell in love with Follyfoot Farm, aged about five), he said happily. “Let’s go to Compton Abbas airport for a cup of tea.”

And so we did.

Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here