Farewell

When I write a blog, it’s usually because I have random feelings and random thoughts. Tonight I have strong and sad feelings and strong and sad thoughts. My eyes are streaming as I type this, but if there’s one person who deserves a blog and a mention, it is Malcolm Patterson.

I met Mac almost six years ago. I started dating my wife six and a half years ago and I followed her to this amazing island of Prince Edward’s…if I am brutally honest I had never even heard of it prior to Hannah Jane. I worked for a consultancy company specialising in the betting industry. Meeting this special family and these special grandparents was tough enough as it was but I had major reservations about meeting the wife-to-be’s family as I undoubtedly had to explain my career path and gambling is hardly the easiest choice to explain…especially in North America. I went for the analysis and data in football point of view, and mentioned, if somewhat glossed over, the betting angle.

I rapidly learned that none of that really mattered. I wasn’t judged on what I did, I was being judged on who I was and am. I hope I didn’t disappoint. The reverse angle didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Malcolm and Nellie have always made me feel like their own….I cannot quite imagine what being one of their own actually feels like.

Malcolm passed away this evening, and all I can possibly explain or hint at is how sad I feel tonight. I am very much like my dad in this sense, and I take loss hard. Of all the aspects, characteristics, qualities and weaknesses that I get from my parents, this kind of emotion undoubtedly comes from my father. Dad takes things hard, and always has. That is far from saying my mum doesn’t….anybody who reads my blog knows exactly what I think of her. This particular side of me comes from my dad though. Most of the guys that will read this will no doubt want to rip me apart because of it, but you’ll know what it is about and it is one of the reasons why a. we are friends and b. you are reading this.

Two and a half years ago, Malcolm and Nellie came to Leeds for Christmas. HJ and I have a principle whereby one Xmas is spent in one country and one in the other, so we split time between both families. Mac and Nel came to Yorkshire at the grand old age of 84. I cannot quite describe what that meant to HJ and me. I had it in mind to propose to my girl, and their presence made it the perfect setting. After I gathered the courage to propose, we told our parents and then went into Malcolm and Nellie’s room. It was shortly before supper and they were fast asleep on the bed. We stirred them gently and broke the news, and their eyes lit up.

Fast forward a couple of years and tonight all I can picture is Mac and my girl rocking the dance floor in a Halifax bar. Their attendance at our wedding meant the absolute world to the pair of us. Just as the presence of my family from Yorkshire coming all the way to Nova Scotia did. Weddings are funny old days that bring out different emotions in different people. For HJ and I, we could not have wished for a better day than 4^th August, 2011, and that was in no small part due to the presence of Mac and Nel.

I have known Mac for six years. I cannot imagine how it would feel tonight having known him for 32 years…..or more….or less. I would not dream of downplaying any relationship that he had. What I can say is that knowing him for six years, six weeks, six days, six hours, six minutes…..you would quickly know this gem of a husband, this dad, this grandfather, this friend….and this grandfather-in-law.

My mum’s dad passed away when I was pretty young. I can recall the fifty pences and the boiled sweets that he used to give me when we visited. I can recall his large ears and him sitting in the armchair at Florence Mount. I wish I knew him better….and I wish I hadn’t inherited his ears. You can’t win ‘em all. My dad’s dad was Spanish, and I was older when he passed, but again, was never able to spend as much time as I would have liked with him as I saw him maybe once or twice a year if I was lucky. He had a sense of humour, much like my dad, and much like me. Small minds think alike, but we found it. I am blessed to have the family that I have, they are amazing. Mac was the perfect granddad, and I’m going to claim him, as I have done the last six years, as my grandfather. I can only wish to have had that kind of relationship, with that kind of gentleman, for my 32 years of existence.

Sat in the cottage a couple of weeks ago, the phone rang, and it was an organisation asking if Malcolm was still willing to volunteer his time to helping out those in need. He had put his name down some weeks earlier to help out. That was who he was, and what he did. If I was a betting man, I’ll say that there won’t be a better attended funeral in Montague, Charlottetown or PEI for years to come. You’ll be missed Mac, sorely missed and as much as I’m not a fan, I’ll raise a rye and ginger for you xo

Things To Do

Burns and I are famous for making to do lists. Busy lives and busy minds require some kind of organisation and we make streams of 'things to do' lists. They are generally extremely useful and help us remember things which could quite easily slip the net...occasionally they do. When you have 'write a to do list' on your 'to do' list, you know you're in trouble.

I have three to do lists on the go, and I usually write them twice a week. One is for my company Onside Analysis. One is for my website www.jumpinsport.com. One is for personal stuff. There are items that sit on all three that have been on for far too long that need zapping - and I will use this blog as motivation to zap one on each tonight.

The first two lists are pretty self explanatory and comprise of all the things I need to do for work. The third is completely random. It may include booking flights, it may include ordering something online, it may include reviewing my personal hygiene. Possibly the funniest moment involving my to do lists came in a senior management meeting a few years back when the owner of the company enquired as to whether I had cut my nails yet. He had caught a glimpse of my personal to do list. There is simply no blagging that one to be honest.

The main purpose behind the to do list is to ensure that I remember to do everything I need to do and on time. It came from seeing my mum constantly making shopping lists for what food we needed, as well as lists for what needed to be cleaned. My dad makes them frequently though I can't quite worked out the horse's name or which race meeting it is in.

Aside from the general reminder purpose, I would say that possibly the most important element of the list is being able to put a single line through each item. You would never think such a little bit of ink would make somebody so happy. The sense of achievement comes from acknowledging a job done and that is an important part for me.

Writing a blog should never form part of a to do list however in my view. Yet after not writing one for a while, it did last week. It should come when it comes, a bit like my mum's Yorkshire Puddings....you have to mix the pudding thoroughly, pour into the tray, leaving the oven door closed, and patiently wait for them to rise majestically before serving up. The alternative is a flat flavourless pudding with no real substance. You can't force, rush or plan something like a Yorkshire Pud or a blog and although your head or to do list may be telling you it is time to write a blog or make some Yorkshires, they'll come to you when you wait patiently and deserve them. You deserve a blog today. I deserve some Yorkshires next week.

This One's For You

As years go for me, 2010 was a pretty good one. The last quarter was a rough one what with one thing or another, but overall, I cannot complain at all. I am not going to ramble on however about last year. 2010 is now placed in the archive and there is nothing anybody can do to change it. 2011 is another matter and another exciting year lies ahead.

This year is going to be a unique year. I am fortunate enough to be marrying my best friend and I cannot wait. I cannot deny it, it is going to be a little strange wearing a ring (I have never worn any form of jewellery ever) and it will be bizarre to be calling HJ my wife and being called a husband. But it fills me with excitement and I am looking forward to August 4th and beyond.

What else lies in store for me this year? A couple of exciting new projects and business ventures are on the horizon and the first quarter of 2011 will be focused on those and getting them off the ground. The website jumpinsport.com is trucking along nicely and that will be developed further and I have high hopes for that one. I will surely be pestering a number of you to help spread the word on that one. The other projects will be coming and you will hear about them in good time I promise!

Travel plans are pretty limited next year for that reason. There were vicious rumours of a canine arrival in 2011 which I would still not rule out, and along with the new projects, we have nothing much planned for travel at the moment barring a couple of trips to Canada. I am sure that may change here and there knowing HJ and me.

As for resolutions, I have the classic old one – lose weight. I have had a pretty extravagant last two months of 2010 in terms of eating and drinking, and I’m determined to get back on track and in shape. If I am going to fit into a decent suit or something for the wedding, these love handles will have to go. So, alcohol is cut. Not totally, but two days per month. Holy Cow burgers and all that stuff is gone too. And back to running and football.

Not sure I really have many other resolutions, though I always enjoy hearing about other people’s and some of the more original ones.

I will end by making some predictions. Nothing too controversial but just some random thoughts.

If Michael Vick and Asante Samuel stay fit, I can see the Eagles putting a crazy run together for the Superbowl.

I was surprised by Arsenal’s win over Chelsea and the manner of it, but I am still not convinced by them at all. They may win the League Cup but that is it.

This is going to be a huge year for British boxing. There are going to be some majorly exciting fights for David Haye, Amir Khan and Carl Froch this year, and I am particularly looking forward to a major heavyweight fight for the first time in years.

August 4th is going to be a beautiful sunny day!

The UFC is going to become more and more mainstream this year. Events in Toronto and Rio are just the start of a major year, and I will take a punt that I will convert more of the non-believers.

This one is a bit bold and one that comes from nothing but pure feeling…..I see the Washington Capitals winning the Stanley Cup this year.

I have a good feeling that is going to be a great year! Happy New Year folks!

Blogging Inspiration

It's been long over due, but here is my blog. I usually start alot of conversations by apologising for something - I probably do it too much to be honest - but I'll apologise now if it doesn't grab you! It is probably the reason why the X icon was created in the top right corner on the webpage.

I've considered writing alot more over the last year, and after plenty of deliberation and finding other things to do (delaying tactics clearly), this is the start of new dawn....a blogging dawn. I've been encouraged to write more by my girl - you'll probably dislike the design, but hopefully the words make a bit of sense! And inspired by a couple of friends who have blogs - even random ones on subjects that I generally have no interest in, but can appreciate and enjoy for the way they are written.

One day I will get round to writing a book....not quite sure if and when that will happen, but I'll be writing more and more, and that will hopefully inspire the development of some thoughts to write one.

I'm not too sure exactly what I'll write about, but the likelihood is that it will have a sport theme to it. There may be some other random subjects, I do need to diversify things, so we'll see how that goes. It may be a load of rubbish, but trying never killed anybody (well, maybe one or two), and let's just see where this takes us to.

Here goes!