Michael Robinson

Well, it's been too long since I visited this page buddy. Rubbish drills on my part, I realise; I will try and do much better. But today it's your birthday, so seemed a good reason to give your present to the Lifeboats. An awful lot has changed since I last took the time to write here - not all for the better, I'm sad to report. Your mum and dad are doing ok, but its been a tough year or so for them. Not least because your mum hasn't been well, but sadly Delma passed away - and during this covid ridiculousness, which of course made everything all the harder. Oh, we have a global pandemic by the way, what a joy. Your folks have remained stoic and inward-facing throughout, and I feel bad that I was either too busy or too distracted to have noticed sooner what a strain everything was for them. I know that Simon and Angie feel that too, but for my part I'm sorry to have let them - and you - down. Speaking of Angie, she's well and setting the Army world on fire, as usual. She got a Battery (and one that she wanted too), which none of us doubted for a second. She is an incredibly impressive officer, and I know that it's combination of both her strengths and yours that makes her shine so brightly. She and Kieran are good, making some of the big structural changes to the Old School Room she's wanted for a while. He makes her happy, and I know that's all you would ever have wanted for her. Simon, Sal and the girls are still way out West, but seem in good spirits. Simon has carved an enormous wooden bench for you, which he's placed overlooking the estuary - a fitting place for many an afternoon beer in your name. Claudia and Tabs are growing up ridiculously fast, both with huge personalities and a Clarke wilfulness that would make you incredibly proud. Claudia talks about you, and knows that I'm part of their lives because of you. Sometimes she gets confused between "Uncle Tom" and "Uncle Robbo", and it absolutely breaks my heart mate. But despite how crushing it feels, I'm also so glad to hear her speak your name and to be able tell her about you. I need to spend more time down West with them all, telling the girls more stories about their Uncle Tom - although I'll save some of the more risqué stories for when they're older. Or perhaps never... some really aren't for public consumption, let's be honest. It's a weird time for us all, and everyone feels oddly disconnected, and perhaps that's why this birthday seems more strikingly painful than ever. We all miss you, every day. But without being able to see each other, I that think maybe the pain is heightened and more acute. I'm sure you'd have some profound words that would summarise things better than I can. Anyway, I've rambled-on for while now and with the looming risk of becoming too mushy and emotionally-insightful, I'll sign off. Happy Birthday Tom. (Ridiculously, Sigur Ros just started playing; Classic Pies)

Michael Robinson

Hey buddy. So, yet another birthday and, as usual, I’m not sure what the overarching sentiment is supposed to be; “happy” never seems appropriate. It has been another crazy year, in a whole host of ways. Angie has had puppies. Not literally, of course, but Seren had a litter of 7, which obviously were ludicrously over-adminstered and pampered by Ange. She and Kieran are keeping one, called Aoife, so this is now a full-on spaniel household. On that note: I’m staying at Angie’s place too, right now. As we had always joked, the “Robbo Room” was called into action when I managed to throw my own relationship down the toilet (you will be unsurprised to hear). Cannot tell you how grateful I am to have Angie to look out for me still, she really is amazing. I know I alwasy say this, but you would be epically proud of her. As for the rest of Team Clarke, some other big changes have happened recently. You have another niece, Tabatha, so Simon is now properly outnumbered, bless him. I haven’t spent enough time with them of late; I know I’ve let you down on that front. I’ll do better this year, I promise. Your folks seem ok, but it’s hard for them, of course. It always will be. Philson has had a son too. That is probably the most mind-boggling thing of all - Phil as a father!! He has taken to it like a fat-arsed duck to water. Watching him change a nappy is simultaneously hysterical, horrifying and quite heartwarming. Daf is getting married (finally), and his Stag Do promises to be...carnage. I’ll make sure we all do you proud and give him a thoroughly horrendous send-off into wedded bliss. It doesn’t seem possible that it’ll be 5 years in April. I’m not sure I’d ever considered how things would change as time goes on, and honestly I don’t know how much they have. Yes, bits of our lives have moved on and we have new things to deal with day-to-day, but personally I don’t think anything will change the feeling of loss or heartbreak we have everytime we think of you mate. That bit will always remain, just as much as we’ll always revel in the awesome memories and be truly grateful for you, even if you did bugger-off far too soon. We miss you buddy, today just as mich as any.

Michael Robinson

Hello mate, Happy Birthday. I know it's been a few months since I've put anything on here, so I'm sorry about that. Just wanted to give a little birthday present to your Lifeboats today. We all miss you all the tie, but especially on days like today. It feels like it get even harder as time goes on and realising all things that happen to us now are things you won't have seen. That's tough, especially for Angie and your family. They're all doing well by the way. Angie has promoted (finally, a Major Clarke!!) and is looking forward to Shriv' with that clown Petrie next year. She's doing incredibly and seems to be finding some genuine happiness with Kieran; I know that's all you would want for her, no matter how hard it is for everyone to adjust to. Its a seriously weird situation, but 'weird' is the new 'normal' now, and I'm sure your effortless pragmatism would say that so much more eloquently. Your folks are on good form. Lally and I went down to see them a few weeks ago and spent a boozy weekend in Flemingston, even visited St Fagan's, which was good fun, as always. Haven't seen Si, Sal and Claude for while though, which I feel bad about. i'll get down there before your anniversary and rope Simon into planning for this year's bus... Anyway mate, I've gotta dash. I'm currently in LA (yeah, tough life) on an exercise and have to dash back to the site. You'd love this kind of stuff, especially the medical bods we're working with now. you could use your '5 mins of medicine' to chat irrelevant latin words with them... I'll take some tome to tell you all about it when we get back. Lots of changes at work and at home I could do with your advice on, but I'll have to make do with harking back to some of your more choice words of wisdom over the years. Miss you buddy.