Measure of the Man

  CHRISTIAN - WHAT A MAN WAS HE!

* Two books of Condolences; one outside the old mairie in the village which needed extra pages after we found people writing any available space and one at the crematorium.  (222 entries)

* Cards and Letters (99)

* Emails in French (11) and in English. Here are the English ones to give you a flavour of how much Christian was loved and appreciated.

Dear Ruth

We are so sorry to hear about Christian – we cannot imagine the pain you are feeling.  Christian had such a big personality – always happy and cheerful – always cheeky with that extra kiss.

 I have told Christian next door and also sent a message to Margaret.  You and Christian have played such a big part in so many peoples’ lives through MsF.  Now it is our turn to help you – we are here for you.

Lots of love, Angela and Paul 

Christian had such a big personality – always happy and cheerful – always cheeky with that extra kiss. Angie

My dear Ruth,
I am so very very sorry to learn of Christian's death . That you and his children were with him at the end will I hope be some consolation as time goes on but at present there will be little light.
We are both thinking about you and of Christian and remembering the happy times we met you both together.
We will think of you on Monday as you say goodbye and we will be thinking of you as you deal with the months ahead .
Please give our condolences to his children,
Much love, Anne and Blair .

Dear Ruth,

Your British contingent did you proud as guests!  They were good company

when we saw them and otherwise extremely discrete to the point of our not

even knowing they were in the house!

Love, Anne G

Dear Ruth

I am so very sorry to learn of Christian’s death.  I had been worried about him for some time and when the blog went quiet I feared things might be serious.  I did not get in touch because I imagined you would be having a lot to cope with but that does not mean that I wasn’t thinking of you.

He was such a huge character and he loved you so much that life will seem very difficult without him, but you have such a wealth of memories that I am sure will help in due course, even if that does not seem the case just now.

I will definitely think of you both on Monday, and in the coming weeks. Bernadette

Oh, dear, Ruth - what sad news! Thank you for letting us know. We are
thinking of you. Lots of Love Bridget and Hortense

Ruth,
All of our positive thoughts are with you. 
Take care because you are and will always be special to us.
Bryan and  Family (USA)

We have just learned of the sad news that Christian is no longer with us. Both Beverly and I had so many wonderful times with him. As I always said he was my favorite Frenchman. I am so pleased I got to paint his portrait. We all will miss him but will remember his great smile and his zest for life. Love James and Beverly (USA)

Hi Ruth

Very sad to hear. I know that the next few days will be recovering from the stress and shock and the rawness of Christian not being there.

You will be very tired.

I hope that the families are rallying and that you have good company.

Will write again later when you will have more time to think.

I have had several glasses and will cook mussels the Christian way.

With much love, Jan (N.Z.)

I was very sad to learn from the MsF newsletter of Christian's death. He was a lovely man and very much part of the Maureillas scene.
I shall be thinking if you all today at the crematorium.
Look after yourself.
With kindest regards - Janet (Maman de Penny)

Hello Ruth

Just picked up your e-mail.

John and I are so so sorry to hear about Christian. We just wanted to let

you know that we are thinking of you and to send you all our love.

We will definitely raise a glass to Christian tomorrow to celebrate his life

and to remember him as a lovely friend who was always a delight to spend

time with.

Lots of love to you from both of us. I'll get in touch later in the week.

Jean xx

Dear Ruth,

I am so sorry to hear about Christian's passing.  Please accept my sincere condolences.  You and he were very generous to me when I stayed in Maureillas to work on Linde's house.  I will keep fond memories of his great spirit and good humor.  You and he are both in my thoughts.  I am also wishing you strength with your cancer treatments.  I hope to see you in June, when I will be visiting with my family.

Sincerely, Jeff (USA)

Christian was such a character and lovely person who has left us all with so many happy memories of times spent at McIntyre Road when we first got to know him, our visit to your home, Lynn's wedding and so on. June and I, Lynn and Laura have shed some tears this morning at the news of his passing and more tears laughing at some of the fun times we had with him. Five or six kisses was his welcome to June and she loved it. He enjoyed his food, wine and whisky and I always thought good on you Christian what better way to live life than to share these with the one you love and friends and family and I try to do the same myself.
Monday is June's birthday and we will be celebrating this and raising more than one glass of the best wine and the finest malt in remembrance of Christian. June and Bill

Ken and I are so saddened to hear of your loss of (everyones) beloved Christian. No amount of inevitably quite prepares us for the end.

We have such fond memories of your visit to NZ and more so of our wonderful time spent with you both at your home. Such hospitality and generosity of spirit.♥

Please also pass our condolences to Christians family.

We will indeed raise a glass in Christians honour and we will light a candle.

But first, today is our market day and to acknowledge Christians life the best way we can here in Mangawhai is head to the market and then enjoy a coffee and croissant at the local french cafe. Oh the memories, they are very closely etched in our hearts. Kathy and Ken (N.Z.)

we have Christian's picture in our kitchen - that one that James did of him.

I can feel your pain Ruth and yes life will be very empty for a long while. No amount of knowing the inevitable day would arrive prepares us for that cut of the spirit cord. This will change and his energy will feel tangible for you. He will always be by your side Ruth xxx

I might have to let ken live his dream of canal boating and we'll whisk you away for a bit. We''d have to bring our dog though - he's half poodle . Ken calls him a french poofter, and we have a laugh.

with all our love, Kathy and ken (N.Z.)

thinking of you very strongly today. When I was on my bush walk with Jak I got so tired and just couldnt carry on and needed to sit down on a bank ( most unlike me! ). Was sitting and breathing and then Christian was very strong in my thoughts with those words I CAN GO NO FURTHER". He said this on the bush walk in NZ which Ken often uses. And I suppose Christian is saying it again with his heart not being able to carry on. So I'm sitting there and a NZ song came strongly to my mind - NOW IS THE HOUR when we must say goodbye. It has Maori verses and always brings a tear. I sang a verse me and Jak. AND THEN, Christian told us to look after you. ( look after Ruth for me )

I have surrounded you in an energetic field of rainbow light and love

Its nearly 5pm here and soon we will raise our glass of red. Bon voyage Christian, it has been a joy and a pleasure to have known you

♥♥♥

kathy and Jak (Jacques) and Ken (N.Z.)

Morning Ruth

I have spoken to Margaret, it's so sad news Christian was so full of life! Everything seems so soon. at Easter he didn't look or seem that poorly just wanted to go home, 

Please let us know if we can do anything?

We are thinking of you 

Love Kelvin & Irene 

Dear Ruth
We were so sad to hear the news of Christian's death.  Somehow we had imagined that he would surmount all the obstacles and rally.  We spent a while talking and reminiscing about you both last night when we got your email and we raised a glass in his honour. - Pouilly Fume.  Hope he would approve.
You will both be in our thoughts needless to say on Monday.  I am sure that he will be greatly missed by so many people.  Thank goodness for all your friends who hopefully will keep you going and support you over the long haul ahead.
Bon courage and much love
Liz and Eamon

Dearest Ruth,

Just to say that our thoughts and love goes to you in these sorrowful times.
Lone and Jesper (Denmark)

Ruth,
Christian and you are part of us, part of our life in Glasgow when we all met and got married. This is so sad.
Please receive all my love, from the other side of the planet.
Louis (Australia)

Ruth, thank you for teling me of the sad news of Christian's death. I was

travelling home form my son in Belin when I received your mail.

I send you my love and sympathy with a big hug at this difficult time and

will be thinking especially of you and Christain and the happy times we have

shared tomorrow during his cremation

with love, Madeline

Myself and the family have wonderful memories of so many happy times he was a very caring  thoughtful friend he will be missed by so many in the village. He devoted so much of his energy to the Mairie sincere in his desire to improve village life for all
Please accept my sincere condolences all my love Margaret

we truly do care about you & our great regret is that we thought there was plenty of time to get to know Christian too. He must have been a wonderful person to have given you that glow you always carried with you: we so hope that your memories of him your time together will mean you always keep it
xx (Mgt and Ken)

Dear Ruth,
We were both very shocked and very saddened to have the news of Christian’s death. Our thoughts are with you at this difficult time and we will make Monday a special day to remember him.
I will be in touch again soon but in the meantime try to look after yourself and let others take care of you too  - at least for a while.
With love, Marlene.

Ruth, your mom has just rang me tell me about Christian. I am so sorry you must be devastated.  It seems so sudden. I am sorry I can't get over for funeral on Monday, but, will  be thinking about you. I did try to telephone you, but, got what I assume was the answer machine. I did leave a message.   Ruth, I will go and see your mom over the week-end, and give her the opportunity to talk things over. If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to ask.   Take care, lots of love & very best wishes, Mary xxxxx

Do hope  all went well to-day Ruth. It must be very comforting to know how well liked and respected Christian was. He was a nice guy, I always liked him, and appreciated how he always made me feel very welcome and at home, when I came to stay, never minded the journeys to airport, & forever generous with the hospitality!.

I am so pleased you are surrounded by so much kindness &  moral support, Ruth.  Its lovely to know you won't be alone. Mary

I have just come out to make myself a cup of tea as I found myself, not unusually, not being able to sleep and I have just read your very sad news.
Our thoughts, prayers and love are with you and we will especially think of you both on Monday and raise a glass to Christian.
We are so very sorry for your loss, words seem so inadequate at such a time.  I do remember you writing to me about meeting Christian and we could plainly see how happy you both were when we met him for the first time at our then house in Weymouth.
We will visit you mother some time during next week and we will be in contact with you soon. In the meantime please take care of yourself.
Love, Mary and Andy xx

Dear Sweet Ruth,

I am so very, very sorry to learn of Cristian's passing.  He lived a very full life....and you were always at the center of it.  I'm sure you are very occupied now with family and arrangements.  I will phone soon after Monday.....but if you would like to talk by phone before then, please do call....and I will call you right back.

In Deepest Sympathy and a World Full of Love, Nancy (USA)

Dear Ruth,

I'm sorry and so sad to hear that Christian had to leave you and us this morning. I hope he didn't have to suffer to much until the end. Please accept my heartfelt sympathy. In spite of distance I'm thinking at you with your sorrow and the lot of work you're are standing before. I hope you will get very much support, warm sensibility from the family and no problems. I regret not to be with you in Maureillas.

Take care of YOU! Nicole V (Germany)

Hi Ruth.

We are so sorry to hear about Christian.

Cannot even imagine losing the one I love.

Guessing you have a good support network of friends, take full advantage.

We wish you the very best.

All our love, Oli Tash and Matilda. X

Dearest Ruth

We're so so sorry to hear this, shocked and devastated in fact.

We'll be coming to say goodbye to Christian, that goes without saying. And we're really glad you've got family with you.

 Meanwhile we send you tons of love. Pauline and Adrian x x x x

Christian was a man who seemed larger than life, and who had enormous charisma and 'joie de vivre', and his passing is far too soon and very sad. He was a hugely important part of Maureillas, and he will be missed by many of us.

With love and sympathy

Penny and Dominic xxx

My very dear Ruth,
There aren't suitable words to say, we can only hope that you find some strength from knowing that we are here. 
I have spoken to Pauline, we both find it hard to believe, goodness knows how you are coping.  Thank heavens Christian's children are with you to help with the burden of the "formalities".  We talked of Christian and his birthday party last year, he was in such sparkling form that day, we are blessed in having such wonderful memories.
We'll all be with you on Monday.
With love from us both, Penny P xx

I did not know him well but he always seemed to me "one of the good guys".
Words don't mean much but my thoughts are with you.
Xx Roger

Hi Ruth,
So sorry to hear of your sad loss this morning. We understand that you have plenty of family support at the moment. If there is anything we can do please  don't hesitate to let us know.

Love  - Roger and Jenny   xxx

Dear Ruth

It was with great sadness that Maurice and I learnt of Christian's death during the night. We hope that he slipped away peacefully. We shall miss him.

It's hard to imagine what you must be going through: it's been such a difficult time for you for a long time now, but supporting Christian in his health problems must be better than losing him. I know it comes to all couples that one or other partner goes first, but it feels too soon for you and Christian to be separated. I'm so very sorry and send you much love and courage. I hope that you and Christian's children can support each other when preparing for the funeral and all that follows. 

With regard to the funeral, Maurice and I would very much like to come, if that's alright with you. Penny P says you hope it will be on Monday at the Perpignan crem, but please don't feel you have to reply separately to me; Penny P, Margaret and others will keep us in the loop. You have quite enough to deal with for now.

Thinking of you, much love, Rosie xxx

Dear Steve & Sarah

I don't think you'll have heard this news about Christian. He'd been getting worse for months and had spent the last few weeks in and out of hospital, finally ending up on permanent dialysis. 

There'll no doubt be a huge turnout for the funeral despite the early hour; even Mole will get up early to go and support Ruth!

love Rosie xx

Oh Ruth I am ever so sorry. I feared for him but wondered if he would rally. Pleased that you and his family were with him in the end. I do hope that the funeral on Monday will be a memorable but also cathartic occasion. I will be thinking of you. You do sound well supported which helps but as you say it is the end of a way of life. I do feel for you and will get in touch soon. Take care and thank you for taking the time at this difficult time to get in touch. Love Suzanne

All the times we spend with Christian are fun times and full of laughter, and his humour is always infectious.  Even as I type this it’s bitter sweet as he has and still does have a huge influence on our family, starting all that time ago in  the harsh conditions of Peterhead.  Then our first amazing holidays to France – what an influence on Julie and I and our directions in studies.  When I was studying for my A’levels, Christian said to me (while I was studying at my desk, no doubt having a whinge) the harder I worked at this age, then the easier life would be when I was older, and that still resonates with me now. Suzie (Australia)

Hi Ruth -
Anyway - I was trying to say that my heart goes out to you and I wish you strength and courage to get through this terrible time.  Anyway - Keith and I send you our deepest condolences - I know you will be surrounded by good friends in the village and you will need their support in the days to come.  Wish I was there to join them to help you but I am in there in spirit.
It's such a difficult time for you with all the other stuff going on in your life so try and be kind to yourself and take great care of yourself as Christian would have wanted.
Lots of love and see you in August when we are back. Vanessa xxxxx