So we're saying goodbye to our good friend, Ian. Greavsie, the larger than life lad from Durham who loved his rugby as much as a pint of beer (but never as much as he loved his Shaz). I knew Greavsie way back in the mid to late 90's when I worked alongside him in Network Engineering at Newbridge Networks. He then came out to join me, Neil MacLeod and Des Ewers and a few others who decided to emigrate to Kanata, Canada. Ian worked in my team in Product Training and Development and he was one of my Subject Matter Experts on the Network Management system (4620). He arrived with his lovely wife, Sharon and quickly settled in to a rented bungalow not too far from where we lived. He managed about eighteen months and after his second winter, before deciding it was not for him. Not long after Ian and Sharon moved back to UK. I missed him, because he was a friend and a lad you could go out and have a beer with and be sure of a laugh. Albeit, he could have his dark moments and it was once when he came fishing with me that he forecast his demise. We were both fairly large in build and we were out on Constance lake, which is just five minutes from where we lived. We were using Bill Price's 12ft aluminum boat and as you can imagine it was slightly overloaded. We were out in the middle of the lake dangling our rods over the side, when I said "It's time to move. Greavsie, hoik in the anchor mate." He said. "Okay, can I just bring in my line first?" "Yes, go ahead". Then we got chatting away and I started the engine. I asked, "Are we ready to go?" "Yep" he replied. I started the engine and kicked it into go. Suddenly the bow (front) of the boat where Greavsie was sitting, began to dip down. "Shit! he screamed. "The anchors still in". Before we capsized or sank, I reversed the engine. Luckily we were okay. A bit of swearing and cursing and after lifting the anchor, we set off to the other side of the lake. We didn't catch many that day, but we did talk a lot. During one conversation I asked if he was ever going to start a family. He told me that he had an heart condition which was inherited from his Dad and his Dad had died young. He slipped into a dark mood and predicted he would be lucky to reach 50 and that's why he wasn't going to have any kids. While he was here he socialized a lot and he really enjoyed playing his guitar and singing his favourite songs from Oasis albums. He also had a favourite film at the time, Titanic. He absolutely loved it. Typical Royal Air Force if you ask me. He probably enjoyed Fantasy Island too? Joking aside, Greavsie was a solid lad and a good friend. He leaves behind Sharon, who has been with him through thick and thin, good times, bad times and of course these last few years when he wasn't in the best of health. The big un' can rest in peace now and I'm sure those who knew him, liked him and who called him a friend will gladly raise a glass to him and hope he's having a pint at that big Rugby club in the sky. Awah ya big bugger. Rest in Peace mate. Your friends, Merv and Rhona Finch