Alpine trip, another one.
Discussion
Hi guys. Thank you to all the people who've asked me to blog this nonsense again. I'm always surprised and appreciative of the interest it generates. I might be running out of steam but we'll see what happens.
I've already been out here for the best part of a week so I'll do a brief résumé of what's happened (not much) and go from there.
As I write this I'm currently on another thread discussing the passing of Groundeffect which occurred a while ago. I knew him personally and he was a lovely guy. We've all lost loved ones and friends but I thought I'd like to dedicate this trip to people I've known and lost on PH. Scott, Swerni, JAYB and Russell.
I'm sorry this is starting on a sombre note but I'm a bit maudling this evening and I would like to give recognition to the people who've passed.
If you could suffer some self indulgence for a while I'd like to talk about Russell, who many reading this thread may not know.
His PH name was Driving me nuts. Anyone who read even one post by him would know immediately what a wonderful, caring and selfless person he was. He spent hours of his time on here helping complete strangers, talking them through their problems and worries, always balanced, thoughtful and open. I used to read his posts in awe and wonder how somebody could be so giving and caring while I b
hed and moaned about trivial st.
One terrible day he posted that his partner, Lily, was in a hospice suffering cancer and they would be grateful if a PH'er with a loud car would come down and take her out for a blast.
In true PH style a whole fleet of us turned up (many of those wonderful people, if not most of them are not posting here anymore) in a myriad of different and very noisy cars. She was a lovely person and a hoon was quickly arranged where she was dashed off at breakneck speed through some local tunnels with everybody in tow thrashing the piston rings out of our cars.
Lily sadly passed shortly after that and Russel was left alone to deal with his grief.
I understand that loss a lot more clearly now but at the time I was unsure how I could help. We started to text and phone each other ever more regularly and eventually I would go down to his place in Brighton and spend the weekend there, talking all night, drinking, laughing and, very often, crying.
We started to go out at weekends, visiting race meets and car shows and driving for miles just for the hell of it. At times he would need me to pull over and he would suffer the most awful breakdowns right there in a car park somewhere while I sat by impotently, trying to comfort this poor, broken man.
We had many good times together which I am eternally grateful for and he eventually met a new lady.
The wedding was arranged and to my utter disbelief he asked me to be his best man.
I was stunned by this but also terrified. For all my bullst and bluster on these threads I am painfully shy and cannot deal with standing and facing people, had it been anyone else in the world I would have explained to him that while I was massively honoured it wasn't something I could do.
But this was Russell, the man I most respected over anyone else, I could not refuse.
So the wedding day arrived. Shal, my wonderful partner, had made sure I looked the part, had arranged everything and helped me write the speech (we spent weeks on it and it was very good!)
Russell was bursting with pride and it was such a privilege to see my friend who had suffered so much looking happy and fulfilled. We spent all day going over the minutia of the arrangements and then the service began.
He looked amazing, he looked healed.
Then it came to my speech. I was fking terrified. My legs were like jelly and I was sweating and I could barely stand. To my utter horror and eternal shame I stood in front of the crowd, made a weak joke and then fell to pieces, I couldn't do it, I couldn't fking do it. Just a simple speech to celebrate my friends wonderful day and I failed him completely.
And what did he do? On this most important day for him and his new wife?
He saw my distress, left the side of his bride and came to me and hugged me. He held me in front of that whole room while I blathered that I was sorry and I let him down and he just whispered "it's okay, it's okay"
I'm crying my fking eyes out writing this.
He was the most beautiful man I've ever known.
He began his new life and tragically suffered heart issues before he could enjoy the happiness he so richly deserved. I don't want to go deeply into it here but he passed from a massive heart attack and the world, and PH, lost a truely unique and decent human being.
PH is a great community even if we bicker amongst ourselves at times but I think it's very important that people like Russell are remembered.
Much to my surprise I don't possess a single photo of Russ, if somebody here does I would really appreciate it if you would post it in this thread.
He really was a one off and I often think of him when I make poor decisions or act like a, because he always did the right thing, he was always there with the right words.
Shine on mate.
I've already been out here for the best part of a week so I'll do a brief résumé of what's happened (not much) and go from there.
As I write this I'm currently on another thread discussing the passing of Groundeffect which occurred a while ago. I knew him personally and he was a lovely guy. We've all lost loved ones and friends but I thought I'd like to dedicate this trip to people I've known and lost on PH. Scott, Swerni, JAYB and Russell.
I'm sorry this is starting on a sombre note but I'm a bit maudling this evening and I would like to give recognition to the people who've passed.
If you could suffer some self indulgence for a while I'd like to talk about Russell, who many reading this thread may not know.
His PH name was Driving me nuts. Anyone who read even one post by him would know immediately what a wonderful, caring and selfless person he was. He spent hours of his time on here helping complete strangers, talking them through their problems and worries, always balanced, thoughtful and open. I used to read his posts in awe and wonder how somebody could be so giving and caring while I b
hed and moaned about trivial st. One terrible day he posted that his partner, Lily, was in a hospice suffering cancer and they would be grateful if a PH'er with a loud car would come down and take her out for a blast.
In true PH style a whole fleet of us turned up (many of those wonderful people, if not most of them are not posting here anymore) in a myriad of different and very noisy cars. She was a lovely person and a hoon was quickly arranged where she was dashed off at breakneck speed through some local tunnels with everybody in tow thrashing the piston rings out of our cars.
Lily sadly passed shortly after that and Russel was left alone to deal with his grief.
I understand that loss a lot more clearly now but at the time I was unsure how I could help. We started to text and phone each other ever more regularly and eventually I would go down to his place in Brighton and spend the weekend there, talking all night, drinking, laughing and, very often, crying.
We started to go out at weekends, visiting race meets and car shows and driving for miles just for the hell of it. At times he would need me to pull over and he would suffer the most awful breakdowns right there in a car park somewhere while I sat by impotently, trying to comfort this poor, broken man.
We had many good times together which I am eternally grateful for and he eventually met a new lady.
The wedding was arranged and to my utter disbelief he asked me to be his best man.
I was stunned by this but also terrified. For all my bulls
t and bluster on these threads I am painfully shy and cannot deal with standing and facing people, had it been anyone else in the world I would have explained to him that while I was massively honoured it wasn't something I could do. But this was Russell, the man I most respected over anyone else, I could not refuse.
So the wedding day arrived. Shal, my wonderful partner, had made sure I looked the part, had arranged everything and helped me write the speech (we spent weeks on it and it was very good!)
Russell was bursting with pride and it was such a privilege to see my friend who had suffered so much looking happy and fulfilled. We spent all day going over the minutia of the arrangements and then the service began.
He looked amazing, he looked healed.
Then it came to my speech. I was f
king terrified. My legs were like jelly and I was sweating and I could barely stand. To my utter horror and eternal shame I stood in front of the crowd, made a weak joke and then fell to pieces, I couldn't do it, I couldn't fking do it. Just a simple speech to celebrate my friends wonderful day and I failed him completely. And what did he do? On this most important day for him and his new wife?
He saw my distress, left the side of his bride and came to me and hugged me. He held me in front of that whole room while I blathered that I was sorry and I let him down and he just whispered "it's okay, it's okay"
I'm crying my f
king eyes out writing this. He was the most beautiful man I've ever known.
He began his new life and tragically suffered heart issues before he could enjoy the happiness he so richly deserved. I don't want to go deeply into it here but he passed from a massive heart attack and the world, and PH, lost a truely unique and decent human being.
PH is a great community even if we bicker amongst ourselves at times but I think it's very important that people like Russell are remembered.
Much to my surprise I don't possess a single photo of Russ, if somebody here does I would really appreciate it if you would post it in this thread.
He really was a one off and I often think of him when I make poor decisions or act like a
, because he always did the right thing, he was always there with the right words. Shine on mate.
Edited by br d on Thursday 26th June 20:18
Should’ve read your post first. Well written and clearly from the heart.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Edited by 57Ford on Thursday 26th June 20:25
57Ford said:
Should ve read your post first. Well written and clearly from the heart.
You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Thank you, that's perfect advice. You above everyone know that life can be cruel. I guess we all have to enjoy it while we can and be thankful for those wonderful people who come along to share a part of our individual journey for a while.
Take it easy tonight and make a fresh start tomorrow.
Edited by 57Ford on Thursday 26th June 20:25
I've got myself into a state, tomorrow is a new start, as it always is.
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