Have we decided when we are toasting brisket?We could all meet in the forum pub.

Like others, I'm deeply, deeply, saddened by this news. I suppose, because he kept so utterly schtum about his illness and, because he was always so chirpy and did his quizzes for us etc. I had absolutely no idea he was poorly.....I have deep respect for his choice, it's clearly what he wanted, to go quietly and without fuss, staying positive to the end, and that's what he did. A true gent' with such dignity, RIP Brisket.

Kkkathykk, thankyou so much for coming here and telling us, his forum friends, about his passing away, and condolences to you, his other friends and his family. 

I was wondering about the funeral arrangements Kkkathykk and if you would consider it appropriate, if perhaps one of us GaGa folk who lives relatively nearby, could attend on behalf of us all? Also, about flowers: for us to have a 'collection' would probably get all too complicated, (unless anyone's got any good ideas about how to do that?) If not, I'd be more than happy to buy a little posy of red roses, (of course,) to send on our behalf.....even 'though I am a hair flicker 

soops .........i was thinking the same re a floral tribute .............i'd love to chip in but I'm afraid I wouldn't have a clue how to go about organising it.. I don't know where he was located but if it was within reason I'd be more than happy to go. Don't think brisket was from around my neck of the woods though.

That's a lovely idea. We've already been in touch with brisket's nephew to ask if we could send flowers or another memorial of some type to his services.

all these posts are really touching  and thoughts of his funeral are really heart rending , i would love to send a rose , can someone tell me his real name as i am up north and cannot make the funeral but i would like , if possible to send a rose 

Would  it be really tricky to arrange for us to contribute? I imagine it would but ...............................if not I'd be more than happy!

kathy, thanks also for your confirmation of what a lovely person brisket was. he and i talked privately here, and i just assumed that he gave everyone a kind welcome to these boards. he was a genuinely friendly guy who let me in to his world a little (know his name and that he lives in northern england) just a top bloke, ageless and timeless like everyone else has said. not much else to say. will miss you here RG!

Oooh we could all send a rose if someone could just let s know when and where. That would be lovely!

i would like that  , honestly  that would be ideal  xx

Yes..... that would be a lovely thing to do.....  

Paypal  might be an option? I'd like to chip in as well.. 

Well, once we have more information, we can decide exactly what to do. To me the ideal thing would be for us to send a floral arrangement on behalf of the community, and then maybe he has a charity of choice to which we could individually contribute in his name?

That's what I like to do....

contributing to a charity close to his heart is the way forward. kathy may have more of an idea. top suggestion lori!

sounds good  

I think we would be more than happy to do that Lori.....

can we contact the BBC/ITV/C4/5 or something  - we must be the first forum to feel like this - it is  newsworthy and feel brisket deserves the recognition - it must be a first - ignore me  if you think it is a silly idea

its lovely to read this thread, it makes me realise what lovely lovely people you all are,we all see each other on here from day to day, we all know alittle about each other but i for one would have never guessed brisket was ill. he was  wonderful and it seems he put others first, i didnt think there was many people like that about, but you have all proved me wrong because it seems many of you are just like him wonderful people..id like to think brisket is smiling down on you all and he would love to see you all smiling too im sure. 

deffo 

I don't think this is silly, Ros....but I don't think brisket would be comfortable with it, either.

Yep, that would be good.

he deserves some recognition  ............ a pure one off gentleman 

Just read this about Brisket. I am very sorry to hear this,i did not know him as well as the rest of you on here but a sad loss to the community. Rest in peace Brisket.

I didn't know that  Well, there are plenty of us 'Northerners' on here....I'm just a bit wary, tbh, he was obviously q a private person and shared what he chose to share and I'd hate to think that we were suddenly intruding or disrespecting that on his death

I agree Lori....let's be guided by his nephew and Kathy as to what they consider would be most appropriate

Yes, I agree completely with that .. I reckon flowers from the community and individual donations to a charity he supported would be the way to do it

I was going to post that self-same idea Lori! 

My bro' has set up a tribute page for my mum on the donations part of her chosen charity website. That way, it wouldn't be necessary for us to know brisket's RL name in case that made his family and friends uncomfortable but one which we could donate via in his forum name. It would be a page that Kathy could then show those who she chose to see it.

(By the way, a quick and quiet thank you to all for your own kind thoughts for me at the moment.) 

just assumed (again) that it was commonly known. you did suggest that someone from here represent him at his final journey so i assumed (again again) that you were aware of that. have to agree based on all the messages here that his privacy should be maintained and a contribution to his chosen causes and charities would be most fitting.

I think that's a perfect idea Lori - I'm sure brisket would be pleased with it as well.

My eyes have barely been dry since I read your post yesterday and reading all the lovely things people have had to say has been heartwarming as well as sad.  He was a very special fm and it is fitting that we do something to show that we appreciated him.

Since he shared our forum life here it seems to me that it would be appropriate that we do something here to celebrate him and the contribution he made to our community. 

It's already been suggested - so I wondered if we might go ahead and choose a day to celebrate brisket......maybe Saturday.  On that one day we could all choose our own rose avatars and fill the forum with flowers in his memory.

By way of celebration and in his spirit perhaps we could all make a pact to abandon our familiar boltholes and post a thread in his memory - all of us - even those who never start threads.  A quiz, a gentle rant, a favourite piece of music, a poll, a piece about what was on telly last night, pictures of our favourite pets  .....the sort of thing he'd post and we could talk to each other in those threads - probably to people we never normally talk to.

I think it would make him smile to see the forum buzzing, and us making the effort to talk and be nice to each other in his name for that one day, and it is in keeping with the brisket that we knew and loved....

The Rose Beyond The Wall

A rose once grew where all could see,
sheltered beside a garden wall,
And as the days passed swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light shone through
a crevice that had opened wide
The rose bent gently toward its warmth
then passed beyond to the other side

Now, you who deeply feel its loss,
be comforted - the rose blooms there-
its beauty even greater now, nurtured by
God's own loving care

That would be lovely and I'd very much like to contribute in a fitting manner without overstepping on his privacy.

we shall not flick our hair or bounce our legs    i'm trying to smile  but just goes to show , i never said much , but i took it all in , i really miss brisket , and i really appreciate the games he showed us , brought me and my daughter together 

I think that it would be lovely, and fitting, if one of us quietly did that, preferably, if the geography fits, someone like you, who was 'closer' to him x

BTW, (am I allowed to say?) when I logged in tonight, and didn't know about  brisket, I thought WTF the new background is a tattoo parlour EEEEEKKKK

However, given I now know...well done for doing that Rosemary x

didn't say i was closer to him, just that i'd chatted with him. he was a great person, but i never presumed to be in his inner circle like kathy. as it happens the geography and not wishing to impose fits so i'll go along the charity giving suggestion.

Xochi 

I feel that flowers sent by Lori & Co on behalf of us all, and then a charity page using briskets forum name where we can send donations is definitely the way to go.     

I love Hoochie's idea of a 'Brisket Day'; a day where everyone posts their own rose images, in his memory

I also agree that Seattle doing what should be done on behalf of us all is the best, most discreet and less intrusive way forward.  It would be great to know of Brisket's favourite charity, too, and I would definitely donate to that. 

In any event, I'll be making a 'Brisket' donation today regardless - to Cancer Research.  

Some lovely ideas about a fitting tribute here. I think the flowers sent by Gaga and the individual charity donations would be lovely.

Awww Lee I remember that poem, it helped me once deal with the anger of losing someone....

brisket's Sparkly rose 

An Angel fly's by to say hello friends so dear.
Out of the everywhere and into here. 
Your eyes are dazzling , oh so blue
a lovely smile, reaching through. 
that dazzling flickering sparkling light

You brought it will you, i see it tonight!
Where did you get that sparkly tear?
I found it waiting when I got here.  
What makes your aura like a warm red rose? 
It will touch you deep, there in your soul. 
Why should you be out of mind, because your not in our view

Your just in the next room, your still here..you.

Leaving us your smile, and warmest glow,

a treasured gift and so much more.

Ev

Thank you Kathy for coming on here and bringing us comfort. Hopefully our posts are returning the comfort to you. It does make you feel warm when you read this thread. So many lovely posts.

The wallpaper is amazing, much better than i imagined, thank you Rosemary and Lori, its  so good. 

A quizz night and a flower thread/theme on here sound brilliant idea's, and the charity of choice.

Possibly a memorial day on here for brisket, once a year? 

xx