Poor old Joe

I had some bad news last night, My old pal Joe Gittle passed away, his mum phoned me with the news. It was totally unexpected. She went into his room yesterday morning to wake him but he was gone. He was just ninety-four, no age at all, when things like this happen we all become aware of our mortality. Joe was a get up and go kind of guy who had a zest for life, but yesterday poor old Joe couldn't get up, couldn't do anything, he was as cold as a witches tit. His Mum spent the morning phoning friends and family with the news, everyone took it badly, his older brother Gary is away on a climbing holiday in the Pyrenees Mountains and doesn’t know yet.

He and Joe were planning a trip to the USA later this year, Las Vegas I believe, he liked a good time did Joe, always the life and soul of the party. He lived hard and he played hard, having said that he was a great family man, and he loved his wife, he loved all his wives.
He was a great father to his kids and he knew all forty-six of them by name. He once said to me that if he ever died, he would like his ashes scattered in Great Yarmouth, at the foot of Nelsons column, yes there is a Nelsons column in Great Yarmouth and it was erected before the one in London. I don't know if his mum knows this, I mean about his wishes not Nelson’s column. I will have to pick the right moment to tell her, wouldn't want to upset her any more than she already is.

I’m not sure how the land lies with Mandy Joe’s young wife, they separated a few weeks ago, apparently Joe needed some space, he needed time to find out who he was, he needed direction in his life. I suppose its something that happens to all of us at some time or other. With Joe it happened every ten years or so, oh well he was a complicated guy and who knows what goes on in a fellows mind.

I think I might just pop round to see Mandy, and offer my condolences, see if there is anything she needs, its the right thing to do, and Im sure Joe would approve. Another one bites the dust.