Another good-bye. Today we said goodbye to my brother-in-law Ian (this time that’s completely accurate, my late sister’s husband), who left us in early September, at the far too young age of 63.<\/p>\n
He’d been really quite unwell for a while, and I think him being still here up to then is a testament to his strength and to the NHS. He’d been through a lot in the last few years.<\/p>\n
This now leaves my nephews without either of their parents at a far too young age: while my old man departed when I was still in my twenties, I was into my fifties before my mom left us<\/a>. It also means I have an even more diminished family, but obviously we’ll be keeping close ties with our nephews.<\/p>\n I’d known Ian for about 40 years. I was still at school when my sister met him: we had our ups and downs, but since Sarah’s death<\/a> we’d become closer. Once more I’m going to be very honest in the way I hope people will be about me when I’m gone: Ian could at times be difficult (I’m not, of course), but he was an excellent dad to my nephews and husband to my sister, and a friend, someone I will miss greatly, and as I’ve said before, his sense of humour could be excellent, if on the dark side<\/a> (the irony there being that he was the one to actually lose hair at one point).<\/p>\n At times while he was ill he’d consider not having the (quite unpleasant) treatment and whether there was any point: as I’d say to him at the time “well, I’d rather you didn’t die just yet”.<\/p>\n Sadly we reached that point: my nephews are parentless, the house we helped my sister and Ian move into will be sold.<\/p>\n We had some laughs: the one I’ve been telling people of for years was when we went away for a weekend and ended up in Ilfracombe. We walked into a pub, and Ian & I approached the bar: there was a sign advertising scrumpy.<\/p>\n \nIan: “What’s your scrumpy like, mate?” Rest well, chap. I don’t believe in any afterlife, but you’ll live on in memories and in your sons.<\/p>\n [edit] Another good-bye. Today we said goodbye to my brother-in-law Ian (this time that’s completely accurate, my late sister’s husband), who left us in early September, at the far too young age of 63. He’d been really quite unwell for a while, and I think him being still here up to then is a testament to … Continue reading RIP Ian<\/span>
\nBarman: “I wouldn’t give it to my fucking dog mate. I’d stick to the Strongbow”\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nPleasingly, his sense of humour has clearly carried over. Entry music into the service was Staying Alive<\/em>, exit music Another One Bites the Dust<\/em>. Well done lads, he’d have loved it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"