My God... I just don't know what to say... I just read the title of this thread and thought to myself "Here we go, what is Medi up to now? I bet it's something silly that'll no doubt bring a smile to my face." Christ. I didn't know him that well, but I knew him well enough to wind up in the threads. He was a good laugh. I'm just stunned... Rest in peace mate, your presence will always be felt on MAP...
here is our AAR from the service. Very few photos, but what I took will be at the end of this post. I guess, I should really just tell you about the day, ignoring the getting there and all that stuff. I arrived around 35 minutes early, I didn't realize there were two chapels but the staff helped me make sure I knew where I had to be. I sat on a bench maybe 20 meters from the chapel entrance, and watched as the crowd grew and grew. There were a LOT of people there. I kind of hovered at the fringe, but to be honest, the obvious family grief kept me there, I didn't feel like I was intruding, but, along with a few others, kept our presence low. The service... well, it was packed. More standing than sitting. All the music through the whole ceremony was recorded by, and in one instance written and performed by Medi. Lots of people outside of SOT know him as Medi as well, it's been a knickname for a long time. Things that were said. The Lady who performed the ceremony spoke at length and wonderfully about Alex's life, friends, family and interests. SOT were mentioned as part of his worldwide group of friends. She spoke about his love of music and food, his hatred of strawberries and his quiet commitment to his family. Jasper, his brother spoke, and here I got a bit misty eyed.. no, I cried. He spoke of many of the people having been in the same room only a few weeks ago after the death of his mother. He contrasted his emotions about the 2 deaths, with his mother, they knew it was coming, he felt there was nothing left unsaid, felt he had spent time with her before her passing. With Alexander, it was so sudden, no warning. Age 32 he said 'It feels like the natural order of things has failed, Nothing about this seems right' He spoke of his brothers strengths. Who would he now compete with over who had found the loudest heavy metal song, who could he call and just chew the fat with, who would offer him the quiet words of wisdom, or the sharp, but witty, rebuke when deserved. He finished by saying that he thought that, before his death, Alex was in a good space in his life, happy with his music, his friends, his work, that Alex had found his place. He didn't end that phrase with anything else. Alex's best mate spoke of their past, Of Alex's unnerving way of finding the perfect witty repost immediately, not 6 hours later like most humans. Of Alex's quiet manner, speaking only when he had to, but what he had to say was nearly always important, or funny, or thoughtful. The curtains closed to another song Medi had worked on, and we filed out. I honestly didn't have the courage, or the gall to go to the wake, Nobody knew who the hell I was, and it was an inappropriate occasion to introduce myself to people. I waited until the main family and friends had left and took a couple of photos then went to get the train home. Apologies to Barbie if the phone was off and you tried to call. For the first couple of hours after the funeral, I don't think I could have maintained my composure on a packed train. Us British don't do private grief in public, and I would have cried. From Kings Cross to Leeds... I slept, I was knackered. There is so much I haven't remembered, so much I wish I'd been brave enough to do. I'll leave you with what I did do... They played a piece of music, performed and recorded in it's entirety by Medi and asked us to remember him, and say to him in our minds what we would have wanted him to hear. I stared at the coffin, whispered the words Barbie asked me to, then I said in my head as many names of you guys that I could recall in 60 seconds, and when the music ended, I said in my head 'we all love you, cya Medi' Ok, I'm getting real upset now. Photo's, Setting out. Arriving. The SOT flowers, a fast photo, taken in the only 3 seconds it wasn't inappropriate, yours are the red and white roses towards the back chosen by Barbie. and two pics of the memorial gardens where Alexander, Alex, Xand, Medi, will be remembered. S! dude, Love of SOT with you, we'll see you there.
Yeh i didnt know him that well, but his one sentence answers along with his wit used to crack me up sometimes. All the best to his family & friends, Rest in peace.
Thank you Plastic for sharing that. It's never easy burying a friend, especially when they are young.
Plastic thanks , I was given this when my mother passed, and i think you and medi's family would like it www.shepherdsfieldymca.org/ymca update/Christmas in heaven.htm
Dear God! I'm stunned I know it's been said but he really will be missed on here. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
WTF?!?!! Not even sure what to say. He was absolute class. Wish I could refresh the MAP page and this would be some bad joke and someone would get banned. I tried it... but the thread is still here.... I had recently wondered why he scarce as of late. He was solid... you could always stand by his dry humor to put paid to nonsense and more than once he threw in a good bit of perverse logic for a chuckle. R.I.P. bro you will be sorely missed. :cry:
My condolences to his family and friends. I can't believe he is gone... he really was an institution here at MAP, guaranteed to bring a smile and/or wisdom to any thread. The world just got a little dimmer with his loss.
I'm still in shock over this. The guy was so young. His poor family too. He'll be sadly missed here. RIP Medi.
Words don't really convey do they? Condolences to freinds and family. Place won't be the same. Sweet dreams dude.
RIP Medi, like everyone else on MAP I'm going to miss your humour. What a sad loss for his family and friends. Mitch
