-
Posts
7,266 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
7
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Blogs
Gallery
Events
Exhibition Layout Details
Store
Status Replies posted by shortliner
-
Hello, Mal's wife Gabe here.
Really very sorry for being the bearer of the worst news, but Mal died on Monday 18 March at 9.40pm. His children Cat, Fin and I and his best friend (my brother Vic) were all with him, here at our new home in Ancrum Bank. It was so very tranquil. So tranquil in fact that it took me and Fin ten minutes to be absolutely sure Mal really wasn't breathing, he looked so serene and calm. But he was definitely ready to go. All medical and caring staff said how content he looked, wrapped comfortably in all the warm wishes of all those who loved him, from both near and far.
A celebration of his life will be held at Mortonhall Crematorium, Edinburgh on
Thursday 28 March at 12 noon to which all are warmly invited.
I've been working hard all week getting his funeral arrangements sorted and his celebrant, Onie Tibbitt, is keen to get close friends to share the funny things he said or did that exemplified the kind of man he was. You guys were a massive part of his life. He was very close to you. Many is the time he would leave your forum with a moist eye telling me some sad news, or, much more often, with a chuckle. Sadly, you are the guys with whom I have least connection as I have never met or spoken, or indeed communicated in any meaningful way with any of you apart from the briefest of updates while Mal was in Basingstoke after his major op in February last year.
You guys may have been a facet of his life which was an entire mystery to me but now it is time to unveil the mystery. It is clear, as Onie and I have pored over Mal's lifetime, that the theme of Railways surfaces time and time again as a major focus in his life. Apart from your friendships, I would love to receive sentence or two from you guys explaining the significance of trains in general and RM in particular to Mal.
It is one of my biggest regrets that Mal never achieved his long-held ambition to set up his own model railway here in our new home. Who knows, in the fullness of time, I may even pick up that challenge, but don't hold your breath or you may turn blue and keel over and I've had more than enough of that thank you.
If any of you would like to contribute your thoughts, Onie is happy to get in touch with you for a chat, or you could email her anecdotes of funny things he said, or things he did which seemed to exemplify his character, before 5pm Monday 25th March so she can start compiling a tribute in good time. Onie's email address is celebrant@onietibbit.com, so feel free to email her direct, or if you would rather chat, let her know and she can arrange a convenient time.
And in case you don't know it already, our new address is 1 Ancrum Bank, Dalkeith, Midlothian, EH22 3AY, tel 0131 660 1609. My mobile is 07563557310. I’ll be shutting Malcolm’s email and phone contracts down at some point, so remember to delete him from your contacts list, but feel free to please add me if you wish ;-)
I know you will understand that I have my hands full. So please don't be overly concerned if I don't acknowledge any replies on the forum for a couple of days. Once I can stop juggling balls while unicycling, and once things start to feel a bit more settled, if it is not too presumptuous, I look forward to logging in and maybe getting to know you guys a wee bit.
Gabe
-
Mal was one of those "email mates", who (like pen pals who are miles apart) very rarely (if ever) meet "face to face", but that doesn't mean that they are not true friends - I can only offer my sincere commiserations to you all for your loss, but please be aware that he will be sadly missed on here - his humour and bravery in the face of that revolting disease is an inspiration - RIP, Mal
-
-
How to lay third rail alongside longitudinal or waybeams?
-
I don't know if this might help - https://www.facebook.com/groups/790137127861358/?tn-str=*F .
-
-
I've got a lurgie, which started a couple of days ago, including trmperature, shivers, runny eyes, woolly /uzzy head... Its going to be interesting to come back next week and see what I've been saying....
-
Changing the toilet seat is now my least favourite household chore.
-
I get the feeling from my latest attempt to buy my grandson's Xmas present that if you are a previous customer of Amazon it's Amazon Prime or not at all. (After three attempts I chose Waterstones)
-
Yesterday evening I ordered the new Lance Mindheim book from Amazon - which said it qualifies for free shipping - first it gave me that "pain in the butt" Prime, and then decided that it wanted me to pay for shiiping - you have to hunt through shipping options to find "free shipping" - I get the impression that somebody has decided that if they make it difficult enough, you will give in and use Prime - Sorry Amazon, that ain't gonna work!!!
-
-
It irks me when people "rubbish" stuff without reason and then when asked why, they don't say.
-
wishes those cows would shut up - they've been at it since 6pm and they sound like they're just outside when they're actually half a mile away!
-
Is looking to build an OO-9 Boxfile layout!
-
Rosebay Willowherb is out.
-
Wondering if anyone makes 009/HOe curved points...
-
Music never lets you down, Puts a smile on your face, Any time, anyplace. Dancing helps relieve the pain, Soothes your mind, makes you happy again, Listen to those dancing feet, Close your eyes and let go, But it don't mean a thing, If it ain't got that swing, Bop-shoo-wa, bop-shoo-wa, bop-shoo-wa
-
Just been announced, Malcolm Young of the rock band AC-DC has passed away in a nursing home in Sydney. Born 1953 he was suffering from dementia.
-
Junk mail today included a reply paid envelope. Stuffed it to capacity with paper and card from the recycling bin and posted it off. Childish but VERY satisfying.
-
Is it just me, or do other people have trouble opening a packet of biscuits using that little red strip ? I usually give up and use a knife.
-
Inappropriate Eisenbahn ad in September Continental Modeller?
-
Can anyone recommend a way to drill out the lifting eyes on a Hornby Sentinel? I assume a dremel type drill is the way to go?
-
Why is it always after christmas that things go BANG!. As my modeling lamp went bang a died on me. Just a t a cruicel moment of modelling. :-(
-
why do I have the urge to build a 4x1 shunting plank ?
-
Keep looking at US HO on eBay. Am I being tempted by the darkside?
-
I purchased some items form"China" and my inbox keeps getting spam from desprat women. Not intrested so that will be the last time I purchase items from China.
-
Tryin g to glue a small brass brake bracket to a plasticard chassis with super glue. The part was held in place with a small bull dog clip for over an hour but as soon as I released the clip the part fell off onto the floor. In the ten seconds it took me to bend down and pick it up it had stuck fast to my fingers. No I can't figure it either
-
You are not alone..... Speaking as a 61 year old who has full NI paid up and now struggling to get work. Then finds that DWP do not have to give me any money!
-
The erection shop.