Off Face Book

[Old Cruser]

I have come out of F/B for a while for personal reasons.

Had one very upset young person text me thinking I had blocked them.

Some of you on here on on my F/B and can pm me on here and i can give you my email.

[Slacker]

Hi

I noticed you weren't there I was going to message you yesterday

[Old Cruser]

Yes, I needed to come out Andy.

[therealjr]

Mmmmm you might want to rephrase that OC?

[Old Cruser]

Mmmmm you might want to rephrase that OC?

Ohhh Noooo you have guessed my secret 

[Old Cruser]

Slacker many thanks to you and your colleges today, it was much appreciated.
I did get to thank some but not all, so would you pass on my thanks.
It was one of the biggest funerals I have ever attended, and the attendance was a clear indication of how well liked my brother was.
Many thanks Pam 

[Slacker]

Good to see you again though unfortunate circumstances.
Maintained radio silence for a couple of weeks for the privacy of you and the family.
I will pass on your thanks to all those at work.

[Old Cruser]

Thank you Andy, there were so many people there who I didn't know I just tried to guess who his work colleague's were before approaching them.

[Fly]

Don't know what to say OC. Less is best probably.
Think of the good times, bet there were loads, care to share 

[Alsatian]

Condolences from me OC

[Old Cruser]

Thanks chaps.
I will share a few Fly, as he was born when I was 11yrs old and mum wasn't too well so relied on me to help look after him. The result was I took him everywhere with me and it was me rather than mum he cried after. I feel as if I have lost a son and a brother.

He was a keep fit lad/man and when he was doing his Karate as a lad I used to go through his cata's with him ( not sure if that is spelled right. he also boxed, used the gym and used to run.

He was into the now disgraced Gary Glitter and I bought him some lurex material for mum to make him a shirt - I have a photo's of him with a pretend microphone and the shirt on doing his GG stuff. I also took him to see GG at Sheffield and we caught the 'milk train ' home. ( do they still have the milk train?

Also wagged it off work in the early 70's and took him to Blackpool for the day - he got sunstroke and spent the next day in bed 
Actually I took him all over with me on different day outings.

On another occasion when I had been watching tales of the unexpected (remember that ?) whilst sitting for mum and dad with my 2 younger brothers I told mum the programme was ok so she said my brother could stay up and watch it with me. Problem was it was quite gruesome on that occasion, and he was sick twice  when he went to bed -( I ended up changing his bed  After that he never could look at those 'fake eyeballs' we see for sale 

He came to my home frequently and we enjoyed many cups of tea ( he and hubby scoffed the chocolate biscuits )

Last year when he was diagnosed with his condition he spent many hours with me at my home and when he was in hospital I visited him every day.

He worked for the council and was a health and safety officer and union rep, he took this very seriously and the tribute by his work colleagues at his funeral yesterday just by sheer numbers was heart warming.

Ever thoughtful to the end - he picked his day to leave us on the 1st July, it was his daughters birthday on 30th June and mine on the 2nd July!

He was 53.

[Alsatian]

You have some lovely memories of your brother OC and I'm sure that these (and others) will be a comfort to you.

[Slacker]

A wonderful tribute.

Andy liked his tea and, as we always joked, never bought one when he could scrounge one off someone else. Only a few months ago I asked him if he was still on his first box since joining the council. One morning I walked int the office there was a teabag stapled to a piece of paper on my desk and the note referred to it being the last teabag from the first box!

3 blokes that stayed longest yesterday were ones he had worked with in the same gang at different times over the years since becoming a chargehand at quite a young age.

[Old Cruser]

Yes I know he has had regular visitors at home from his work mates and whilst in the hospital Andy - true friends indeed, also one of the Skinners has helped and supported the family through the last months, so sending my thanks to him as well.

I had a call at home on Saturday from one of his school pals and a neighbour of ours when we were children. He also has called several times whilst my brother was ill - even though he doesn't live in Derbyshire. and on Saturday was in tears, I made him a cuppa and we sat and he talked of their childhood and what they got up to  Pleased to say he was smiling when he left an hour later. he also went to the funeral.

He was a joker - you are right there Andy ' a wind up artist'