Archive
A Tribute
To a lost friend.
It’s March 1st and it’s been 10 months since we lost Stu, our dear friend and colleague.
The season is starting to change from winter to autumn. The daffodils and snowdrops are growing strong, the grass is a vibrant green and thick, the sun is bright and high in the sky.
Stu’s dad Frank bought us a tree to remember him by. The tree is a Japanese acer, which will produce red-leaves. There was a tree planting the other week, a nice place has been chosen in the garden behind Paula’s Bench. I can see it now through the window from the counter where I am sat.
My thoughts often stray to Stu during the working day. When I think of something good to talk to him about or a joke that I know he would like and even to turn to him for help and advice with a problem at work.
From the Crosby Herald
Tree tribute at JMU to a special son
Feb 24 2011 by Mark Johnson, Crosby Herald
FAMILY, friends and work colleagues appeared at a special tree planting ceremony which honoured a much-loved son.
Stuart Kirk was 43 when he died of a heart attack at his home on Newborough Avenue in Crosby in May last year.
On Friday tribute was paid to him with the planting of a Japanese acer tree and unveiling of a plaque.
The tree was positioned near his favourite spot at work where he would read his books in the summer months.
At John Moore’s University’s (JMU) Avril Roberts building a 20 minute ceremony took place, where Stuart’s dad Frank thanked the university for allowing the service to take place.
Frank, 70, said: “Stuart was a loving, gentle and an unassuming man.
“He loved his nieces and nephews to bits and he loved our grand children too.
“He lived at home with us and we loved him so much.
“The tree is a Japanese acer tree which will produce red-leaves and it will stand out against all of the green-coloured leafed trees.
“He was totally content with his life and he never had one day off work sick. He was loved so much.”
He added: “He know something about everything and he knew everything about computing.
“His knowledge and his memory was amazing.”
Stuart had worked at the learning resource at JMU centre for almost 25 years.
His Crosby life included attending Forefield Lane school and later Chesterfield High School. He graduated with a degree in computing from Wolverhampton University.
The 43-year-old suffered a heart attack while at home and he was discovered by his dad who had just got back from a trip to Scotland where he had been visiting his other son Graham, 35, with wife Andrea.
Maxine Melling, director of libraries and student support thanked the gathering for attending the celebration of Stuart’s life and she said: “His colleagues remember him with a great deal of happiness.
“He came from a special family. The tree is accepted with our love.”
Stuart’s friend and work colleague Ray Burns said: “Stuart was a fantastic person to work with. He loved reading books such as The Lord of the Rings, and Terry Pratchett, and he enjoyed watching DVDs – Leon was his favourite film.
“He also liked the Lord of The Rings movies.”
A plaque was also placed next to the tree and its inscription read: “In memory of our dear friend and colleague Stuart Kirk (Stu). A gentle and unassuming man who knew something about everything and everything about computing. 1966-2010.”
My Family part 2
Well were to start I suppose Merry Christmas.
My Mum surprised me by asking me to invite on her behalf, Gramps and Syl to christmas day dinner. It knocked Pops socks off and Syl thought I was making it up until she spoke to mum for confirmation.
Claire and I enjoyed and loved the company of Mum, Dad, Amander, Peter, Pops & Syl it was a lovely day. It made a change being able to spend time with the family.
Mum misses Pops and Pops misses mum (It’s complicated) but hey they are sorting it out and I’m just glad I don’t have to be careful what I talk about now around Mum regarding pops.
A good was had by all maybe the start of something good.
Sorry this post is late I did start it in January. Hope you all had a nice time.
NHS Prescription Charges in England
Hi Everyone,
I’m wondering why we have to pay for our prescriptions medications in England; they are free in Scotland, Ireland & Wales. I’m only wondering because I’m in full-time employment and I bring home less than £1000 per month but I have a Asthma condition which I have had since I was about four which has progressively gotten worse, which now requires six different forms of medication and this ads up to quite a lot of money every time I get it.
Ok I can buy a pre-payment certificate which is what we normally do but can’t afford it at the moment but also can’t afford to get my current prescription so what do I do? Asthma is a life threatening illness one good attack and I’ll be in hospital or even dead if I don’t have the medication on me to aid in my recovery until an Ambulance arrives.
Now as I said I’m in full-time employment and I have been paying my National Insurance contributions since I was sixteen when I started work. Does this not go towards my medical prescriptions, if so why are we paying twice?
TTFN Ray
The New Home
Hi Everyone,
Yer I know three blogs in one day but what can i say practice make perfect and I have a lots of events to make up for.
Yer the new house, well it wasn’t the best of starts their was a few times we thought we weren’t going to get anywhere, we kept getting beaten on the housing bids. Oops sorry I better back up a bit for those of you don’t know.
Claire and I decided four years ago their was no way we would be able to buy a house again with the housing market in the trouble it’s in and the country so we decided to apply to the property pool. In Liverpool there is no such thing as council housing as Liverpool City Council sold all of it’s housing estates to independent housing companies.
The Council they stuck them all together to join the property pool. People apply and they bid with on properties they would like to live in. You bit with your circumstances the more dia you are the higher rating you get. The top bits get to view the house the top bit get first offer and so forth.
Well we kept getting letters and calls to tell us about potential houses and this was going on and on for months we kept going to see house after house then we got offered two at the same time one which was not even on the property pool and one we really didn’t want. The catch is that you are only allowed to turn down three offers then you have to go back to the beginning and fill out all the forms again.
The first one we didn’t want it was not in a real good place and it was a small terrace house with no gardens. So we declined. The second was from Cobolt housing what the companies can do is keep back half of the houses and distribute them to whole they want and they wanted us.
A working young mature couple planning a family. They showed us a three bedroom semi with back garden and front drive. The only problem it is in a roguish area. This is Cobolt’s master plan move the trouble makers out and move new people in and change the area.
We came to see the house and it was gutted the workmen were in and ripping everything out. We were a bit unsure a first and really didn’t like the attitude or language of the housing officer. She talked down to us both in a really pants manor. We went away and had a think weighing up are other options (none and one vote left) so we did a few drive byes at diffrent times and it seemd not to be too bad. So we accepted.
Next thing to go wrong was the handover dateit got put back twice then sigining day the housing officer told us to meet at the house and we waited and waited and she didn’t show so we rang her and she said we had to meet at the office and she was sure thats where she said (NOT do you think i’d go there if it was here!). Anyway signed for the house got the keys and drove round to see it.
It was bear, needed a lot of work. So we started to measure up and work out colours for the rooms. We started upstairs and had help from Mum, Amander & Peter. Then we started down starirs and all hell broke loose. We found some rotten skirten board called out the repair team and they discovered that it was rising damp. A specialist came out and decided we had it on every wall they came in and ripped all the plaster off every wall drilled holes in them and filled them then came back and replastered. This took weeks of tooing and frowing and many many phone calls and visits.
The the walls were dry the caprenters, plummers, gas fitters, electricians could all come back in. Then eventually we could start decorating again yes everything we had started downstairs had to be redone. But luck was on our side and Dad was at hand.
Dad is a time served painter and decorator and offered to help even though he had offered before but got a cob on as we were helping in every spare moment. So we left him too it. He has done a wounderful job on the down stairs and mum and dad even bought us a carpet for our living room which I fitted.
It was a month and a half over due but we finaly moved in on the first of November. We are settling in slowly and still have a room full of boxes to unpack but at least we have the important items unpacked and setup (Xbox 360, PS3, Wi-Fi, Sky+HD). Although the Wi-Fi took a month to get live as there were issues, it was only suppose to take ten days.
We have had Claires mum and new dad come and stay for a long weekend and Justin came for a lads night in of beer and Xbox and crashed in the spair room. So we are starting to get settled in and the house is starting to feel like home. As the saying goes your home is what you make it.
TTFN Ray
R77B 
