Shaun,
Like many others here, I've struggled to know what to write or when. I've cried my eyes out reading Rich and Rob messages. Like Rob said, it's been bittersweet to have met Rich, and he is a sound bloke, I can totally see how you loved living with him. I've shared a few bottles of white wine with him and listened to him in how much you meant him. And Rob, my god my darling Rob, to see how broken he is. I promise to check in on him for you. I would tell Rob often how much he means to me, because he is so openly emotional as I am, but I always struggled to let you know. I hope you knew that I absolutely adored you. More then you would realise. You were the first person (other the Laurel) that I connected with at work. The instant I met you on that social before Good Friday (Yr 1) I just thought wow, what a honest and open guy. You message me later that year and said how you instantly meet people and know you can trust them and how open and honest they are and that they are your people. I think that was the sweetest thing you ever said to me. And it touched my heart that is how you saw me and I didn't know how to say back to you I felt the same.
For me, meeting you led me to Rob and the beautiful Becky. Two of the most beautiful people I know and for that I will be so grateful. If even one of you was at the pub I knew i was in for a good night. But to have all three- blinding!
I've lost count of how many nights out I've spent a fortune on expensive Espresso Martini rounds and ubers home because I had tomorrow and didn't want to miss out.
I will also be forever grateful to how you looked after me through the redundancy period and how you ALWAYS had time for me. Even on your op day you remembered to message me goodluck and ask how it went when you were in recovery.
I don't think you realised when I got the job four days later you were the first person I told. Whilst a unusual way to get to know someone, those 3 months you were off and we got to know each were so special to me, the things we talked about and shared will always be precious to me. You meant so much to me and checking in on me almost daily on my big 'walk' telling me you believed in me, more then I did myself.
Work is so hard going in and seeing you not there, to not see you stroll in by lift same time as me pushing it late for 10am, I miss how lovely the office smelt when you wiffed by. I miss your sarcasm and random chats about crips (sorry but I still rate Skips and Watsits). I will miss seeing you at the pub, the simple nod of the head asking if I was alright.
Your presence is very much still there in softball and the pub chat. We all miss you so much. And whilst I wish today wasn't happening, I'm also devastated to be missing the funeral and not being able to meet Carole and Nathan and Nana. I feel I've heard you speak of them so much, that I would love to have met and hugged them. I want to be with our friends who all equally adored you. Bruce, Ellen, Rob, Becky, Ellie, Shelley, Tanya, Jamie and Niran to name a few. God you are so missed.
I didn't quite get my act together to find a ginger beer and make a Russell but I'm having a beer sitting on a rock overlooking the sea in a beautiful place in Italy, its so quiet and quaint here. Today is all about remembering and thinking of you. You loved the sun as much as me - and would be the first to comment ''have you been in the sun?''... so if I can't be with your family and friends today to say goodbye in person, then I guess this is the next best thing - so I'm going to have a few beers and then some and catch the rays for us both.
Forever love and miss you.
'MEL' X
Comments