Today, we came together (online) to raise a glass in honour of Patrick. He was many things to many people - husband, dad, son, brother, uncle, son-in-law, mate. He loved his family, his friends, music (especially Phil Collins & SheBangg), the sea, and Hobgoblin. He (often) complained when there was salad on his plate. He had a wicked sense of humor and a fantastic laugh, but it was the sound of his laugh when he made Louise laugh that was my fave. He even had his own catchphrase (its all I fancy) which often accompanied pix of whatever he happened to be eating or drinking. He had one hell of a battle with cancer and he kicked it's ass!
Sadly, on the 27th of March he passed away, after contracting Covid-19. For weeks now I've been trying to come up with the words to pay proper tribute to him. Every time I do, I come up blank. I could easily write him as a character in a book (Rathlin Lass), but off the page, he was truly indescribable. If there was a level above "larger than life" that was Pat. It almost doesn't seem real that he's gone. I keep expecting to see a post with a plate of his spag bol, one of him about to take a sip of beer, or him and the cats, or my faves which was ones of him and his Boofle.
I tried like hell to get a Hobgoblin for today as it was all I fancied, but there's apparently none to be had where we live now. So I had a few Mike's Hard Cranberry instead and know that though we miss the hell out of him, he'll live on in our hearts.