For all you out there who knew Ian, and his - hrmm - sartorial taste...
He is taking his ease in a huge American style casket, which JUST fits into the hearse, and he is dressed, apparently in a very expensive (Russian) suit, with the absolute latest fashion Russian footwear - winklepickers! This is what I have been told.

I have been receiving letters from people who knew Ian and worked with him, but also, today, one from an association of ex Bevin Boys, who feel solidarity with anyone in the mining industry, especially at times like these.

The funeral is set for midday on Friday. The Rector's due here in a minute to sort out the service with me.

You are right. I can express my feelings better sometimes by writing them down. It gives me time to think. His company forwarded some photos they had been sent of him, including some out with the Hash. There's one of him in his bright orangr Sarajevo Hash T shirt, sitting by a lake with what is probably an empty can of Baltica by his side, and with his fingers in his mouth pulling a face and leering directly at the camera. It's on my desktop now, so every time I boot up the computer he gets greeted...usually at the moment, "Git!" or "You bastard!" Since we've got him back I've been more emotional, and cursing him for getting me into the state I'm in does help.

Andrea