Monday, October 28, 2013
Goodbye my lovely friend Chris. You have left us far too early but blimey did you pack some fun in. The legions of satan, as you said, rampaged through Quito in the year and a bit that Tony, you and I were together there. Your sense of humour, your craziness, your passion and excitement for what you loved – I will miss so much. I used to come round to your flat in Quito, we’d watch some crazy film that you had chosen and I didn’t understand and inevitably I’d be asleep within 5 minutes. We would then walk into work together and the rumour mills would start because it was seemingly incomprehensible to everyone that we could be just great friends but that is just what we were. I will always remember our long sessions with rum and shwarmas in the schwarma place in quito, talking nonsense. And you made me laugh so much! The story of the people from Mongolia you told us which I can’t even repeat but you just kept repeating! Our lovely trip to Puerto Lopez in 2012 when we marched again. When you were at my dad’s house in the UK with my little brothers and they pulled out a small plastic sword they played with and like Crocodile Dundee you looked at them intensely as you said ‘you think that is a sword’ and pulled out a mega sword from behind your back. Their faces were a picture as they looked at you quizzically – who is this guy?! And of course travelling around the uk earlier this year, you named us preggers girl and cancer boy, seeing friends who love you a lot, introducing you to my family and visiting castles and cottages, Stonehenge (through the fence) and going to Jacobean events. While you never had the chance to meet my beautiful baby girl face to face you have left her with a unique sense of style that I think she will have forever. For every pink frilly skirt, she has a Chicago bulls vest, a Harley Davidson beanee or a KISS black body suit. This baby has fashion edge and it is thanks to you! I am so happy that you got to spend time with your lovely son Eric who you adored in the US and that you passed away back at your home with your parents. It was far too early for you to leave us but I will remember you always and every time I drink rum, eat schwarma, see a sword, see a Milton play, hear about wing shun, see our friends from Ecuador, see a zombie, I will think of your lovely face and remember what great times we had together. I am so sad that you have gone but more than that I am happy that you were my friend and that we lived the times together and had the laughs that we did. My auntie, who met you for some bowls of homemade soup earlier this year which you wolfed down, said I will never forget his upbeat approach to his illness, he was a star. You were a star and a wonderful friend and that is what I will remember. With love always, Claire xx
