I just wanted to dedicate this little piece of web to my good friend Bernard who lost his battle to cancer last week and whom we buried today.

It not often you get a friend whose there for your highs and lows, Bernard you were a true friend who saw past my faults and nurtured my strengths I want to say thank you for everything you did for me buddy I owe my success to you.

You touched the lives of many and left them better for it.

I hope we can move forward positively with ultimately what is your last project (helping the long term unemployed and socially isolated into employment). I will ensure we give it everything to make it a success and hopefully make you proud.

When you get to the gates make sure that the red wine and john smiths is up to standard! I’ll leave one on the bar for you tonight buddy.

Until we meet again amigo

Jay

Well written, Jay!!


I don't know Bernard, but I am sure he will appreciate it.


Enjoy your bar tonight!


Marco

Nice words.

Sorry again for your loss.

Good words, Jay. Enjoy your evening buddy. I'm having a drink now so I'll raise my glass to your friend Bernard.

Well said, Jay. I'm sure you're friend is in a better place now.

Thanks guys just putting a tribute down in words here kinda helped I just hope my mum comes through her heart surgery ok in the coming month.

Artoo_Detour wrote:

Good words, Jay. Enjoy your evening buddy. I'm having a drink now so I'll raise my glass to your friend Bernard.

Amen Paul and ill raise a glass to your Dad buddy may they both enjoying the ultimate bar somewhere on the otherside

Sorry to hear about your friend Jay, I'm sure he'll appreciate your words mate.

Scott

Well said Jay. Godspeed to him.

Jay I had no idea of your loss and I just wanted to say my thoughts are with you.

I was very touched by your speech and you only have to read it to see how much you were a good mate to Bernard too. He'll be drinking the best pint of ale that you could possibly imagine right now and toasting to his good friend Jay!

All the best to his family and yourself Jay, must be a difficult time for everyone, may he rest in peace.

Jay,

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your friend Bernard,it sounds like he was a great guy & will be sorely missed!

I hope your mum's surgery is a success & will be on the road to recovery very soon!

Thanks for the kind words of support i just reread my post and whilst probably slightly embarassed it captured my feelings as i had written it after Bernards funeral and prior to the wake kicking in.

Regarding my mums shes been better she took another turn for the worse today and i pretty much ordered her to rest up she now has to wait a further 2 weeks to wait to see the consultant who will be making the final decisions on the operation(s). Whats clear is the Angioplasty / stents she had fitted aprrox 7 years ago are now not enough. She needs to have a double by pass and she also needs open heart surgery to fit mechanical value i know she is keen to have then both done at the same time rather than face 2 major operations seperately.

I was chatting with her today and we both figured how crazy things have moved on. I mean heart by pass surgery is effectively adding new biological pieces to the heart kinda rewiring it and the mechanical value is the robotic element i guess these things were sci fi 30 / 40 years ago. I know shes worried because her own father passed away during heart surgery when she was just 15 years old (i remember her saying pig parts were used back then). My mum works in a medical centre as an admin manager so she has a sound medical knowledge base so knows what to expect. She also takes about 30 - 40 pills per day for everything from diabetes, athritis, Glaucoma through thyriod problems. I think the hardest part is for the docs is to ensure none of the medications for her various conditions clash lol

Im gonna go make her a coffee and spend some time with her chewing the fat for a few hours before bed.

Thanks again for the support guys it means a lot

Jay

Sorry to hear about your friend, Jay. That was the nicest thing I've read. And dont worry about being embarassed about it. You just said what you were feeling at the moment.

Hope everything goes great with your mom. Mine had the same problem. She had the stints put in and they helped for a couple years, then she had to have a double bypass done. Then a few years ago, my dad had a triple bypass done. So I know what your going through.

Chris_J wrote:

Sorry to hear about your friend, Jay. That was the nicest thing I've read. And dont worry about being embarassed about it. You just said what you were feeling at the moment.

Hope everything goes great with your mom. Mine had the same problem. She had the stints put in and they helped for a couple years, then she had to have a double bypass done. Then a few years ago, my dad had a triple bypass done. So I know what your going through.

Thanks Chris i appreciate it mate.

I assume your mum and dad came through alright?

Cheers Jay

Yhea, they are both doing great now. The doctor said if we waited 5 more minutes, my dad wouldnt be here now. Me and him were working out of town 2 1/2 hours away from home when it hit him. He just thought it was pneumonia at first. Now he says he hasnt felt this good in years. You'd be suprised by what doctors can do these days when it comes down to surgerys like this. But the biggest thing is, watching what you eat. Fried foods have to go. Baked, grilled, or broiled is the best.