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You and your friend
I had the pleasue of representing the team of people who helped Mr & Mrs Hazey put Hazey's book together - here's what I paraphrased for the quite splendid evening that was organised on Saturday :-
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Last October/November time, I can’t quite remember when, a couple of people had the idea to nudge Hazey to get his blogs into print. By this time, Hazey’s blogs were widely read – I know he took great pride in writing them, great pride in receiving the comments, PMs and emails that people felt inspired to send to him – his writing touched a lot of people. I know he got quite intrigued by the idea – I’ve an email from December
“And once again, thank you all so,so much for all the work you are doing, I really appreciate it a massive amount, I cant wait to have my book in my hands, it'll be absolutely ace : )”
I’d like to think he was looking forward to someone lying in a hammock, enjoying reading his writing – obviously it’d be quite a substantial hammock, given the size of his book.
I was part of a team of people helping Hazey get his blogs into print – AB22, Pebbles, PS, MBH and Bad Mother were all involved in editing and worked with Hazey on getting pictures and covers and titles sorted and as well as all those who helped in the promotion and testing of the website.
And then it was January ,and we had an end. We worked with Mrs Hazey to get the book to the where it is at today.
It has all Hazey’s blogs – from the tedium of choosing a Waitrose sandwich for lunch, to the joy of a really excellent poo – from the exasperation of standing behind pensioners in the supermarket to the exhilaration of standing on Beachy Head with his new wife. These were not just Dull Ramblings – there is a wit and intelligence in his writing, a joy in life that is indeed inspiring.
I hope you enjoy reading and re-reading Hazey’s book – in one of his last entries Hazey wrote
I just want to say that I feel privileged to have had this space to talk in and to have so many people listen to me and enjoy my writings. It really has given me a sense of purpose these last few months, but it has also been so rewarding that it finally feels like I am doing something worthwhile with my life, by hopefully inspiring you lot and giving you a giggle - I hope! Despite all my recent issues, I am still thinking „Well yeah, fuck you, I‟m going to have a fucking great Christmas no matter how hard you try to ruin it, my dark friend‟. These trials can only hurt you if you let them. I always bear in mind that time inevitably passes. This will all be a memory (a bad one) soon enough, as will everything. So when you see everyone today, all your loved ones, all your distant relations, bear in mind that time passes, things change, people live and people die. We just have to make the most of the now. So to avoid it being a bad memory, instead of thinking „what a chore‟, the day will be thinking about how much you love your family and each of their personalities, because one day they won‟t be there. And one day you won‟t be there. So truly cherish the moment. Laugh, smile, hug, and revel in their company. Because it is a cliché, but a trueone that life is so terribly fragile that you really need to appreciate it and the time we get. You never know when something could strike like it has struck me, out of the blue. At 30 years old. I look back even a year today to what was the happiest day of my life. I had proposed to Liz on wind-swept deserted Beachy Head in the freezing cold as we hugged each-other to keep warm. It truly was the most perfect moment I could ever have dreamed of. That night if someone had told me then what I am going through now I genuinely wouldn‟t have believed them. So hang on to each other, its all we have and just…… love.
It has been an honour to have worked on this book.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you – My Dark Friend by Greame Kerton. |
Posted: 01:01, Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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Doffing of Caps
| Nice one on Saturday. I look forward to meeting you in perhaps less emotional circumstances |
Posted by Parkmaverick at 08:43, Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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Well Done Andy
That was a great little speech you gave. I think I dedected just a hint of nerves, and I maanaged to stop myself from filling with tears, until I met Liz, and then I couldn't stop myself.
I've just got back and intend to spend the early evening in my hammock with a good book. |
Posted by AB22 at 09:44, Monday, March 31, 2008 |
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