I first met Michael when he was 24 and I was 17, he was a painter. He painted for Doncaster Council. He used to shout down the road to me. “Hey love, put the kettle on” This was the start of his cheeky sense of humour. He even shouted one day, “I’m going to marry you!!” I shut the door quick after telling him he wasn’t because I had a boyfriend. But he was right! My mum and dad set me up with him on my 18th birthday. How they did it I’ll never know. One minute I’d gone to the club with them, the next minute I was opening a big card from Mick, wondering who the heck was Mick and when I turned round there he was. All suited up, his work mates today wouldn’t believe how he was always in a suit, because you couldn’t get him to wear one now. That was the start of our 32yr relationship. We married 1st September 1979. We had a daughter Rachael who doted on him. He spoilt her rotten. If I needed him to do anything I’d just get her to ask him and it was always done. The same with our grand-daughter Lauren, her mum could say no but her grand-dad would go and get it. We fought like cat and dog, but we loved each other like mad. We used to say “You, me together for ever” At work he was known for his practical jokes. If something happened they knew Mick had been there. He was the most loveable, man known. He would do anything for anyone, He even would say I’ll do it for you when I was trying to get things done and stay at the hospital with him. Before he went into his big sleep he said to me,” My love will keep you alive and strong”. The last words he uttered were “give me a kiss”. Then he never spoke again. Here is a verse which tells you how much he meant to me. You never said I’m leaving, You never said goodbye. You were gone before I knew it, And only god knows why. He looked around his garden, He saw an empty place, And when he looked down upon the earth, He saw your tired face. So he put his arms around you, And lifted you to rest, He took you to his garden, That is beautiful, and for only the best. He knew you were suffering, He knew that you were in pain, He knew you couldn’t get well on earth, And life would never be the same. It broke our hearts when you left us, But you never went alone, Because we’ll all meet up again some day, To the place god calls our home. I Love you Michael.