Mike
Categories: swansea
Tags: Mike
Date: 01 December 2006 20:09:18
I, like so many others at the moment in Swansea, just don't seem to be able to find the words, so I apologise for the random babblings. Ever since I found out, I've been wondering around in a complete daze. Unable to believe it. He was such an amazing guy. Caring. Gentle. Funny. Talented. Modest. And fab friend.
Mike (and Sarah) were the first people I met in Swansea who I became good friends with. I remember spotting the two of them, across our church during my first ever term at Swansea and thinking 'ooh! - young people!!!'. After the service over coffee, I remember him joking about how we almost had enough students to set up a Methsoc! The last time I saw him properly was at my trip to the pub before going away on placement (after that I was away, and then he went to India). I remember being slightly tipsy at the end of the evening and I was wearing uncomfortable sandals, so walking wasn't particularly easy. Mike insisted on walking me home, past his house and all the way up the hill, to ensure I was safe.
One of the regular events that we both used to go to, was the Reel Issues, held in the chaplaincy. Last night SCM had a Reel Issues there, we watched 'Its a Wonderful Life'. One of the lines in it seemed to sum up how I was/am feeling. 'Every man touches many people, and when they're gone, they leave a hole'. Its so true. Mike did touch the lives of *so* many people in Swansea, and across the world. And his death has left many holes.
These past couple of days, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. Everywhere there are reminders of him. The Kate Rusby song playing in the background; the programme about India on during my break at work; the young man on campus who looked scarily like him; and my attempts to take some mildly decent photos when we had a quiet afternoon at Three Cliffs yesterday. I'll never be half the photographer that he was, and as you can tell from previous comments, he was forever giving me tips on how to improve (which I had hopelessly forgotten yesterday). Anyway, the photos below was taken for him. In his memory. Rest in Peace.
