How to describe my cousin John would not be easy at the best of times but I think my title sums up a few of his amazing qualities.

Like most large families we are spread not just around the country but across the globe so getting together is not always easy and at times years can go by between visits. Whats always evident though is how we can all so easily reconnect.

I hadn’t seen John or most of my other cousins since almost the entire family made the journey to Ireland to celebrate our grandmothers 80th birthday and what a party that was.

Then eight years ago my Mum died suddenly and John took time off work to drive his Mum and Dad down for the funeral. He spent most of the afternoon sitting with me and holding my hand, we laughed and cried and reminisced about long forgotten memories. I will never forget his kindness and compassion.

He came down to stay the following year and we spent a great three days together. He loved to sit, glass of red wine in hand, and chat while I was preparing dinner. He said he loved to cook and enjoyed good food and red wine, we even swapped recipes. I really saw the humorous side to him that visit as he was absolutely mortified when he seen me chopping the vegetables on a plate!! He then went on to describe how I would ruin my good knives unless I used a chopping board.

The next day we went off to Salisbury and guess what he bought me...yes a chopping board! I still laugh about that now.

He was a wonderful human being who was taken too soon but his memory will live on.