Ish found his opportunity and just so happened to be visiting this mutual friend about a car in order to get to know this girl. This girl was Maria, recently moved from Slovenia she was also making a new life for herself in London. Ish worked his gentlemanly charm and over time they dated, partied, lived their best life and within no time at all, they got married and started a beautiful loving family with three amazing, funny, talented, gifted, incredible, stunning, beautiful children ;)

It's now the 80's and family life came naturally to Ish, both with his own family and the family he made in London. He made fatherhood look easy, taking every bump along the way with ease and making every effort to think about others before himself, even when it wasn't obvious to us, his family always came first.

Ish, was wise and patient, he was a father figure for so many more people than just his children, if you were lucky enough to spend sometime with him, you would know that he always inspired solutions, wisdom and positivity. Something you would hear Ishmeil say regularly with the utmost conviction is the value of good manners, politeness and respect — and clean shoes,

Growing up, he always made an effort with bringing family together by going to or throwing a party almost every weekend with his children and the usual suspects Uncle Forouk and Aunty Razia — up until they moved to Canada. These parties were where the fun was at, a place where we could all get together, eat together, laugh, catchup and "...get up to all kinds of shtoopidness". The kids would stay up alongside their parents till the early hours of the morning singing and dancing to Soul, Reggae and Soca tunes like 'Nani whine', 'Tiny winy', 'One cent, ten cent dollar', 'Hot hot hot' and 'Long time'.

Every occasion was another moment he wanted to share with his kids, still playing cricket regularly, he would take his children to watch and support his team every weekend where the kids played a vital role tasting all the ice-cream and sandwiches before the players could. This was more than just a cricket match though, it was another opportunity to share his time with his family and friends, even when it got competitive playing against the 'John Fischer' old boys, that is when you knew where the 'Racal Decca' team supporters were, when you heard them kissing teeth.

Ish encouraged his sons to get involved with sports as much as possible, dropping them off to training, picking them up, he never missed a competition and without fail, you would see him watching and supporting you from the sidelines, you could genuinely see how proud he was as a father for his sons.

An avid movie fan, Ishmeil took his children to the cinema to see all the latest big movies, Star Wars, Superman, Lion King and Matrix to name a few. When Ish got one of the first VHS players on the market, the movie nights started! Sitting up till late with his kids watching their first VHS movies with cult classic's like Enter the Dragon, Warriors, The Message and Saturn Three (dad was a big Farrah Fawcett Majors fan, does the first name sound familiar :)

The family always had amazing trips and Ish loved to travel to Canada, in and around Slovenia, Croatia and Italy. There was one trip in particular, when the whole family drove through Europe at the time Maria was pregnant with Miles, they broke down in Munich, and flew down the Austrian mountains with barely any break pads left on the car. But in true Ishmeil style being the charismatic man he was, they met some amazing people and made friend's along the way, including the lovely couple who let the whole family stay with them when they broke down in Munich at 1am in the morning.

At that time, Friday night was treat night for us, Dad used to come back from work at the garage in Brixton with chocolate goodies like a Whisper, Flake or a Lion bar. He would get to the window to see our snotty noses pressed against the window, dribbling and everything waiting until he came in with a big smile on his face and all them goodies.

It's in the Mid 80's — 90's that the now seasoned and ambitious Ish started paving the road ahead with a successful career at ASSA UK.

After being made redundant from his job as a mechanic at the Black Taxi Garage Ish spent a few months job searching, eventually getting a position at the Swedish Security firm 'ASSA'. Luckily Ish wasn't just savvy and intelligent, he also had a good work ethic, was reliable and always on time.

Ish started off by working in the warehouse and as a very logical thinker, he used his initiative to organise and set up a new efficient working process that earned him a promotion to the 'Lock and Production Unit' and in no time at all put in place a well oiled production process.

During this time ASSA started booming and demands for better more secure security were coming thick and fast, industry contracts were won with clients including both MI5 and MI6 buildings, football stadiums for Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City and of course his favourite Emirates, then there was the RAF, TA Base's including the American Army base, prison facilities and a number of well known and major International Banks across the United Kingdom. Business was good and he was a pivotal piece of the success.

Credit where credit is due, Ish's determination and sheer hard work saw him promoted to UK Operations Manager and this new position saw Ish not only travel the whole of the UK but also internationally.

Now let's not forget to mention that this is in the early 90's and Ishmeil was the only person of colour to reach this level of seniority within the company and was well respected.

As the demands grew with increasing clients so did the after care sales, so god knows why... but Ish decided to hire the families troublesome twosome Rocky and Daniel to travel across the UK resolving any after care issues. As Ish was very professional and serious about this position he did not take any rubbish from this amazing double team...

Ish could of hired anyone else, literally ANYONE else but, he put family first and let us come up with him in his career. This is when the duo became dynamic and embraced the true meaning of dads wisdom like "Now piss off and get on with it" and "Noooo you Jackass".

With business demand increasing for ASSA even more at this stage and not learning his lesson from the last two 'donkeys' he employed, he then brought in ANOTHER family member to join his team. That is when his daughter Farrah came in as Purchasing Manager.

Ish being the thoughtful, kind and generous person he was hired a major work force to be reckoned with and ok, so maybe half the company was his friends and family, but that was exactly what made Ish special, he paved the way for others to succeed, he was the guyanese boy from the sawmill that made it as an operation manager and made sure everyone around him comes up with him.

And it wasn't just family as well as Rocky, Daniel and Farrah there was our Uncle Mo, Shaun, good friends and next door neighbour Vimal, Serena, who all benefited from Ish's generosity.

Brilliant builder, efficient planner and experienced property builder but still a dodgy plumber, or as we knew him, Mr Leaky.

Ish was always hands on and building, making, crafting was always his thing, probably inherited that from his young years in the saw mill. Ish moved on from ASSA to go back to doing what he really loved, getting his hands dirty, making things, being physically involved with his work and most of all, hitting the cafe's in the morning in the different areas he worked in.

As his son, Miles, I'm writing this particular post from my perspective because my paps took me everywhere with him and that included all the jobs my dad had to do, even when he was at ASSA. But the real fun started during my time in college and i needed extra dough. Ish left ASSA and started with little jobs and worked his way up to full renovations and project managing, mostly with (his brother) our Uncle Rocky.

The days were hard, but fun. We wake up and dad drags me out of the house at 7am, but the first place we go to is the cafe for breakfast, he always said it was to feed me but i know it was really for him, because we'd be in there long after we'd finish eating. Pap's would know everybody that walked in and would somehow become everyones best mate even after the first time he'd meet someone.

When we got on-site we would graft and work hard, my dad was always an amazing teacher, he had a way of showing people how to do things, how to teach, he was so patient and even if you did something wrong, he wouldn't get angry or frustrated, even though I cracked a ton of tiles, fit flooring too tight, mitred the wrong end of skirting, painted the whole room in the wrong colour, plumbed the hot to the cold tap... I kid you not, I once plumbed hot water to a toilet so everytime someone flushed it, boiling water came out and the hot tap was cold water, he called me that evening and was in stitches, laughing about it and said lets go back and fix it. But it was never a problem he would be angry at.

Dad was always more of a friend than a father, we played jokes on each other all the time, it was risky business going up a ladder with tools in both hands... we'd run up the ladder and pull his trousers down so he couldn't pull them back up. No one was safe! 

In dads more recent years he devoted most of his time to helping his eldest son Daniel build his dream home, harnessing all his building skills, knowledge and know how. It was the biggest project he had ever worked on, which of course also meant many meetings in coffee shops and cafes to go over some off the finer details... The house is coming to an end now and Dad's won't get to see his greatest work come to fruition but it will always be a strong reminder to all of us —and especially Daniel— exactly how much he was willing to do for us.

Retirement and meeting Lydia stories as well as Portugal stories:

The first day Ishmeil and Lidia met, was when Rocky asked Ish to go to a local cafe for a Portuguese coffee and rice cake. Lidia managed this coffee shop and asked dad what he wanted, little did Lidia know it was her.  Ish use to walk in handsome and dashing with his tracksuit bottoms tucked into his socks, he aimed to impress. The visits to the coffee shop became more frequent and Lidia and Ish became friends, they had hours of conversations and laughs together, this friendship blossomed into a fun, loving relationship over time. All the times people would call Ish to ask what he was doing he would say he is working or on a job when really he was relaxing in the cafe with Lidia drinking cortado and eating rice cakes, maybe a cake with the icing scrapped off because it was too sweet. 

It is funny how from simple things, the best things begin. Lidia was smitten and dad got free coffee and cake!!!!!

The first time Ish went to Madeira he met with Lidia, she picked him up from the airport and drove him around like a crazy women, she drove too fast and Ish asked Lidia to pull over and stop driving. He will continue the adventure in the car she can be the passenger.

Always the business man or on the hustle Ishmeil went back to the cafe to sell Lidia his mobile phone, he sold it for a whopping £1 and put that £1 towards his growing bill of coffee and cake.

The first break away that Lidia and Ishmeil had was to the Isle Of Wight, not much happened so they came back home hahaha

Ishmeils party spirit never left him. Ish would be ready with his party shoes waiting for Lidia to go out and have a dance, enjoying a spice rum and coke or few!

Lidia eventually moved in with Ish and they loved having the family over for BBQs, birthday parties and Christmas doo's but the best times together was when the grandchildren & nieces stayed over. Having marshmallows at the fireplace and pancakes in the morning. The kids loved to help in the kitchen, making breakfast and a mess. One funny thing Ish would do is play hide and seek with the children, however Lidia would go one step further and hide in the wardrobe, the kids would take forever to find her, while dad sat on the sofa waiting for Lidia to appear out of the wardrobe. 

One of their favourite places to visit was Brighton beach, walking down the pier holding hands.

Ishmeil always wanted to swim with the dolphins but never had someone to do it with, on his 65th birthday Lidia booked Ish a birthday present to swim with dolphins in Portugal however when dad asked what was going on, she said it was with sharks. As you can imagine dad dropped his swim suit and ran in the other direction. From that trip Ish loved Portugal so much they decided to buy a family home so they could spend more time together.

The first night in their new home, they had to sleep on a air mattress, which dad had to blow up manually, Ish did not find this amusing especially when the air came out during the night and completely deflated.

On a night out with friends, after one too many porto, Ish came home ready to go to bed when he managed to put a large hole in his headboard, this is a story only Lidia and Ish will know the truth "WHO DID IT?" was it Lidia throwing her high heels across the room or was it Ishmeil throwing his high heels across the room? Dun Dun Deeerrrrrrrr

Lidia and Ish loved to go out and one evening in Albufeira live music was playing in a village square, Ish grabbed Lidia hand and began to cha cha cha dance the night away. With no-one else joining into dance the crowds clapped and cheered the lovely couple on.

In 2019 Ish and Lidia decided to rave it up in Marbella, as Ish would say "if you can't beat them, join them"

Ishmeil wanted to spend much more time in Portugal creating memories with his family and friends, he managed to do that with a few, which means a lot.

Dad was blessed with 2 grandchildren, Ethan and Ella. When I told dad I was pregnant he responded "you lie?" No dad, you will be a granddaddy.

When Ethan & Ella was born a new love was born, a new generation and a new relationship. From the day Ethan and Ella came into our lives the attention was soon shifted to his grand-chiren, the first question dad would ask is "hows da pickny, did they go school?" 

Dad adored the kids and spent a lot of time taking them out, taking Ethan to cricket training and matches, going for breakfast pancakes, movie nights at home with roasted marshmallows in front of the fire, horse riding, holidays, so many experiences that the kids are so lucky to have shared with him. Dad would talk to the kids everyday and arrange boys days out with Ethan which Ethan loved. Ella would sit on dads head as though it was the most perfect spot!
When dad and I were together he would always say "Farrah, you have good kids, your doing a good job with them" which would give me that boost I needed. Dad always knew how to make you feel safe, like everything is ok. 

He always told me off for mothering Ethan too much and to let him do his thing "leave the boy alone" and Ella is motor mouth, crazy girl. One day the kids came home saying grandad taught them something in another language.....I wasn't expecting them to say "Cala a Boca" which is "shut up" in Portuguese. Safe to say that phrase is said alot in our household, thanks dad.

When the kids done something silly he wouldn't get annoyed, he would simply say "You donkeys" 

Can you believe Ethan came home today and said to me "mum a new boy started in our class today, I am his buddy and I have to show him around the school and make sure he is ok. Mum guess what his name is? ISHMEIL" my mouth dropped, what are the chances of that happening. 

Ethan and Ella adore Grandad and will miss his energy and calm nature. When granddad walked into the room, it made everything ok and the room would fill with fun and laughter. 

That love can never be replaced. Ethan and Ella are blessed to have had such an amazing grandad, our King and Love.

Always and Forever Grandad, you will not be forgotten ❤

"You don't build a toilet when you need to shit do you?"
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"Don't put your hat where your hand can't reach it"
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"Ya Jackass, whas rong witchu"
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"Heaven and hell is what you make of your time now"
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"Take your time and be patient, no one should have to panic"
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"Measure twice, cut once"
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"Ya Donkeyyy"
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"Yknow what dem people dem say"
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"Stress is man made"
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"Move from me "

"Was just going to call you, you're going to live a long time"

"I'll have half a cup"

"You alright"