Hello everyone. I wanted to share a little of my brothers life and his funeral with you.
He was a great bloke, loved life and especially his life in Thailand. He loved all things Thai. He had a Thai Teak House, so typical of the area he lived in, Chang Mai. He was really well integrated both with other Thai nationals and his fellow expats.
His love of Thai land started when he was stationed in Singapore with the RAF. Thailand was Siam then. He fell in love with the East. He loved Brunei and Borneo, he fought in Borneo.
He and his late wife spent several months a year there before he bought a house there. They had a suite in a hotel that was reserved for them the whole year round. Sounds very posh doesn't it. It wasn't. In his own words " as cheap as chips" less expensive than renting a house and with better service. It was in the hotel that they met Noonie, a Thai girl who worked on reception. She was studying to be a lawyer but could not do it without working. They sponsored her through University freeing her up from working and enabling her to study full time. She has been a practising lawyer for many years now and has married an Irish chap, they have remained almost a part of the family through the years. My brother was kind, generous and loving with a tremendous sense of fair play. He will be sadly missed by all in his adopted community.
Since his passing last Thursday in Thai tradition there has been a blessing, a celebration of his life every day. Today's ceremony was to encourage his spirit back into the house.
The funeral is tomorrow at 6 a.m. British time. It will be performed by 15 monks and there will be an English rector friend of my brothers who will also conduct an British ceremony. He will be cremated and his ashes will go back to England to rest with his late wife, Elaine.
I am in bits. I think I said before that I felt so isolated without one member of my family here in Spain. It is a feeling I have never experienced before. My sister Gill has been in touch with me via Skype to keep me up to date with what is happening in Chang Mai.
He was loved and popular, funny and witty.
R.I.P. MIKE
Once again, thank you to all of you for being such a great comfort to me.