Messymascot's faith in humanity and ginger safe haven

[Bluerover]

I feel your pain when it comes to committees and volunteers. Unless you are actively involved in the running of a club you can only underestimate the level of time and commitment needed.

My own club can always do with more volunteers but in general we are doing well. Other clubs struggle and it falls to the same old regulars time and time again to walk the hard yards.

There is an Irish expression to capture those who talk a lot from the sidelines but don’t lend a hand- ‘the Hurler in the ditch’.

Every committee needs fresh blood and fresh ideas but how you attract that is the million dollar question.

In my last Government Department I was a member of our Union, and indeed I have always been a member of the appropriate Union to my grade since I began working in the 80s.

I was on the Committee as well, when sadly our wonderful Chair developed a brain tumour, and died all too young in October 2015. I was asked to chair the Branch until the AGM in February 2016. Reluctantly I agreed on the understanding that someone else would be elected at the AGM.

Do you think I could get out of the job after that?? I was still Chair when I retired in November 2021 !! Six AGMs in a row, no one would take the Chair position.

This is what puts people off going forward on to committees, as they are afraid that they will be stuck with responsibilities for years, and will get nothing but criticism from said "hurlers in the ditch". I had one in particular who was a right PITA - always moaning. I had to grit my teeth many times to avoid roasting him at meetings.

Others were a pleasure to work with, but it is a thankless job.

 

[larbert toffee]

In my last Government Department I was a member of our Union, and indeed I have always been a member of the appropriate Union to my grade since I began working in the 80s.

I was on the Committee as well, when sadly our wonderful Chair developed a brain tumour, and died all too young in October 2015. I was asked to chair the Branch until the AGM in February 2016. Reluctantly I agreed on the understanding that someone else would be elected at the AGM.

Do you think I could get out of the job after that?? I was still Chair when I retired in November 2021 !! Six AGMs in a row, no one would take the Chair position.

This is what puts people off going forward on to committees, as they are afraid that they will be stuck with responsibilities for years, and will get nothing but criticism from said "hurlers in the ditch". I had one in particular who was a right PITA - always moaning. I had to grit my teeth many times to avoid roasting him at meetings.

Others were a pleasure to work with, but it is a thankless job.

I always admired anyone I worked with that took on a job as a union rep, like you say a thankless task so kudos to you BR

 

[larbert toffee]

I wasn't even on the boat. I was walking the dogs?

Well that's Fred's story and he's sticking to it.?

 

[larbert toffee]

I've been having lots of fishy things this week Anj. After the crab salad lunch on the boat yesterday I had a king prawn and fried squid in chilli starter followed by pan fried brill on a bed if champ. It was delicious. Michelle and I polished off the crab for lunch today.

That would be my food heaven.

 

[anjelikaferrett]

In my last Government Department I was a member of our Union, and indeed I have always been a member of the appropriate Union to my grade since I began working in the 80s.

I was on the Committee as well, when sadly our wonderful Chair developed a brain tumour, and died all too young in October 2015. I was asked to chair the Branch until the AGM in February 2016. Reluctantly I agreed on the understanding that someone else would be elected at the AGM.

Do you think I could get out of the job after that?? I was still Chair when I retired in November 2021 !! Six AGMs in a row, no one would take the Chair position.

This is what puts people off going forward on to committees, as they are afraid that they will be stuck with responsibilities for years, and will get nothing but criticism from said "hurlers in the ditch". I had one in particular who was a right PITA - always moaning. I had to grit my teeth many times to avoid roasting him at meetings.

Others were a pleasure to work with, but it is a thankless job.

Welcome to my world of Union committees. I took over as Group Treasurer (looking after about 5000 members) as a short term measure because the previous person had gone off sick and resigned. 7 years later I was still doing it and only stopped because I took a redundancy package!

 

[Bluerover]

Eldest son drove down from Nottingham today. Cooked us lunch, did a load of jobs. Second son arriving from York on Saturday for three days. They do look after us. Got my first Radio Therapy on 6th June. (D Day, hope its a good Omen!)

I've been adding you and your good wife to my prayers. As I get older, I find that the number of people that I have in my list is growing!!

Thankfully my own health problems are easing after a horrible 6 months.

 

[BornBlue76]

Our friend Karl passed away last night. May he Rest in Peace.

I can’t believe how far out of touch I’ve been. From this thread being my daily first thread I pulled away from everything to focus on my own life pressures and missed this devastating news..

Very unlike my wife who lost her parents young I have this mindset that we live forever. I don’t dwell on mortality. We get sick but we recover.. or we just keep going… we always have more time.

Seeing Messy passed on back in December has brought home again that we need to live more in the present.

Messy created a close community in this thread and for that alone he has done an amazing thing.

I’m sure Messy was up there running onto heavens pitch when we were safe!!

MHSRIP…

 

[Bluerover]

Hi I'm @messymascot aka Karl. I was diagnosed with a cancer called mesothelioma in 2019 after nearly 10 years of illness. Unfortunately this is an incurable type of cancer which is caused by asbestos exposure. I'm now entering the final stages as the cancer has grown and is starting to cause complications. Anyone who regularly visits the mental illness and depression thread is probably aware of parts of this story.

Anyways onto the thread title. Several members who visit the above thread, which I can't endorse highly enough both the thread and the regular visitors, wanted to get together and get me a ticket for the match. This was very much appreciated by me but initially I wasn't sure due to my health. However in the meantime @Earwigjoe contacted the club. They then kindly offered to supply 2 complimentary tickets. The 2 tickets were confirmed with myself today and one of my fellow West Cumbrian blues has agreed to travel with me and utilise the other. I will try to remember to take some photos and post them in here but I'm not the best at that sort of thing.

I want to use this thread to highlight what a truly great club we support as it would have been easy for them just to let the lads and lasses pay for the tickets. But I especially want to thank all the people who regularly post in the mental illness thread as they are truly magnificent. I first starting using the thread 3 or 4 years ago when I was going through a tough patch but since then I have been in the thread on a regular basis and there is always someone in there who wants to support another blue who has fallen on hard times. The clubs gesture and the fans in that thread and this forum are what make me proud to be an Evertonian. I love you all even the ones I don't always agree with. COYB The best team we could ever support. I'm glad I was chosen even though being 40 I don't remember the glory days of the 80s.

Sorry if that went on a bit but I needed to get it off my chest.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis. What an example to us all. RIP Karl and thanks for lifting us.

 

[Barnfred 55]

That would be my food heaven.

Didn't finish there LT. The crab lunch I mentioned on Wednesday was a crab melt toastie which just hit the spot for my hangover, then on Wednesday night we had a fish and chips carry out which we ate on the boat which, at that stage, was still sitting on the boat lift. Then yesterday I treated them for lunch at a nice harbourside restaurant and I had moules frites, which was delicious, and then there was enough crab left to make a crab sandwich for the ferry journey last night. Needless to say I'm having sausage butties for my lunch today. lol

Beautiful day down here today so just put a dark wash on and after lunch I'm just going to sit out in the back for a couple of hours. Have a good day all.

 

[Barnfred 55]

Well that's Fred's story and he's sticking to it.?

I have already provided photographic evidence of the boat taken by myself from the shore, minutes before said accident.

View attachment 167315

I rest my case your honour.

 

[Bluerover]

Didn't finish there LT. The crab lunch I mentioned on Wednesday was a crab melt toastie which just hit the spot for my hangover, then on Wednesday night we had a fish and chips carry out which we ate on the boat which, at that stage, was still sitting on the boat lift. Then yesterday I treated them for lunch at a nice harbourside restaurant and I had moules frites, which was delicious, and then there was enough crab left to make a crab sandwich for the ferry journey last night. Needless to say I'm having sausage butties for my lunch today. lol

Beautiful day down here today so just put a dark wash on and after lunch I'm just going to sit out in the back for a couple of hours. Have a good day all.

Lovely and sunny here in Kilkenny but only 15 degrees. However, we have a nice sun trap porch facing west and the sun will shortly illuminate it and it will be nice to sit there for a few hours reading my Kindle. Enjoy! (Edit there I had put east originally?? WTF was I thinking?)

 

[Barnfred 55]

I can’t believe how far out of touch I’ve been. From this thread being my daily first thread I pulled away from everything to focus on my own life pressures and missed this devastating news..

Very unlike my wife who lost her parents young I have this mindset that we live forever. I don’t dwell on mortality. We get sick but we recover.. or we just keep going… we always have more time.

Seeing Messy passed on back in December has brought home again that we need to live more in the present.

Messy created a close community in this thread and for that alone he has done an amazing thing.

I’m sure Messy was up there running onto heavens pitch when we were safe!!

MHSRIP…

As you can see from the page numbers Bornblue we have kept this thread going in his honour. It has become a little haven on what can sometimes be a very turbulent forum. And from a personal point of view it has been an absolute life saver for me. i couldn't ever thank Messy enough even if I tried.

 

[anjelikaferrett]

Didn't finish there LT. The crab lunch I mentioned on Wednesday was a crab melt toastie which just hit the spot for my hangover, then on Wednesday night we had a fish and chips carry out which we ate on the boat which, at that stage, was still sitting on the boat lift. Then yesterday I treated them for lunch at a nice harbourside restaurant and I had moules frites, which was delicious, and then there was enough crab left to make a crab sandwich for the ferry journey last night. Needless to say I'm having sausage butties for my lunch today. lol

Beautiful day down here today so just put a dark wash on and after lunch I'm just going to sit out in the back for a couple of hours. Have a good day all.

That is also my idea of food heaven. Love seafood/ fish.

 

[BornBlue76]

As you can see from the page numbers Bornblue we have kept this thread going in his honour. It has become a little haven on what can sometimes be a very turbulent forum. And from a personal point of view it has been an absolute life saver for me. i couldn't ever thank Messy enough even if I tried.

Yeah I read your comments amongst those proceeding his passing... and I remember it well.. Sometimes simple kindness can be so well timed it saves lives and gives hope.

 

[Barnfred 55]

In my last Government Department I was a member of our Union, and indeed I have always been a member of the appropriate Union to my grade since I began working in the 80s.

I was on the Committee as well, when sadly our wonderful Chair developed a brain tumour, and died all too young in October 2015. I was asked to chair the Branch until the AGM in February 2016. Reluctantly I agreed on the understanding that someone else would be elected at the AGM.

Do you think I could get out of the job after that?? I was still Chair when I retired in November 2021 !! Six AGMs in a row, no one would take the Chair position.

This is what puts people off going forward on to committees, as they are afraid that they will be stuck with responsibilities for years, and will get nothing but criticism from said "hurlers in the ditch". I had one in particular who was a right PITA - always moaning. I had to grit my teeth many times to avoid roasting him at meetings.

Others were a pleasure to work with, but it is a thankless job.

In life there are those that are happy to take responsibility, and those that are happy to let others do so.That rule applies whether it be work related or private/social. Cal and I were both in the former category. After Cal developed breast cancer shortly after I retired, we changed our priorities and started looking after number 1 first. It's amazing how our extended circle of friends diminished after that point.