EP 442
52:33Father's Day With Tommy's Dad
It's Father's Day, and we're joined by Tommy's Dad, Tim. We talk about Father's Day, Tim's father, the transition from advertising to landscaping, and Tim's favourite parts of parenting and fatherhood.
All Guests
Tim Jackett
Tommy's Father
1 episodeSept 2019
About Tim
Tim is Tommy's father and an advertiser turned landscaper.
In Tim’s words
Verbatim from the transcripts — each quote links to the moment.
“Dad doesn't give a shit about presents.”
“the best thing that you ever had was your diet in the prisoner of war camp, which was rice and weevils.”
“Lord, I am in your hands.”
“what the fuck am I doing here?”
“I think the favourite thing is just, um, well, enjoying the time together with you guys.”
“I only want one shot at it, and that's, that's how you make it your best shot.”
Tim’s advice on the show
What should landscapers understand before planting a garden?
Tim advises that landscapers need to understand how plants grow, their mature size, and habits before installing them, because many landscapers don't understand this and end up planting rows of plants that look bad as they mature.
How should you think about becoming a parent if you're unsure you want kids?
Tim says he never particularly wanted to be a father, but once he decided to have children he resolved he only wanted one shot at it, so he made sure to approach it as his best shot — treating the commitment seriously rather than taking it for granted.
Stories Tim told
Tim recounts his father Roy's capture in Java during WWII, the brutal camp conditions including dysentery and ulcers treated with a sharpened spoon, the practice of eating a scavenger dog hidden in a drum, Roy's fairness in distributing food despite being in charge of it, and his calm religious response ('Lord, I am in your hands') upon being herded into the camp.
Tim describes sitting in an ad agency boardroom being asked what shampoo he personally used for a men's grooming product pitch, admitting he just used soap, and realizing in that moment his days in advertising were numbered.
While travelling through Morocco in 1974, Tim and a companion picked up a Canadian stranger who told them a story about a previous travel companion disappearing with his gear at a service station; later the Canadian pulled a similar disappearing act himself, though it turned out to be a prank as he'd just parked around the corner.
Questions these interviews answer
Drawn from the episode transcripts.
What happened to Tommy's grandfather during World War II?
Roy Jackett volunteered, fought in the Middle East against Vichy French forces, was sent to Java to defend against the Japanese, and was captured and held as a POW for about 3.5 years, surviving on rice, weevils and scavenged food before returning home at roughly half his original body weight. He lived to 100.
From episode 442→What was Tim Jackett's career before he got into landscaping and plants?
He worked in advertising in account service in Melbourne in the 1970s on accounts like General Electric, before leaving the industry, travelling overseas for six months, and eventually moving into landscaping and horticulture, studying at Burnley.
From episode 442→Episodes with Tim
Every episode featuring Tim Jackett on The Daily Talk Show.