'Cabin Boy'!

In 2003 after living in Milan I lived in London. At my cousin Stuart and his flat mate Tim’s place. 6 weeks maximum morphed into 3 months on the couch in the living room of this flat in Clapham Common.
My Cousin insisted that I not contribute money, (thank goodness), but I pay my way by being the ‘Cabin Boy’ about the house.

Every household should have one!

I was really crap at it.
I would rate 1 on the international Cabin Boy scale.
Being a good Cabin Boy includes tasks like, greeting Stuart & Tim with slippers and a full tobacco pipe at the door, cleaning, mixing cocktail's, answering the phone, getting the day's newspaper early in the morning, cooking, shopping, picking up and dropping off dry cleaning etc.

I literally never did any of those things.

If anything I provided entertainment at my obvious lack of usefulness as a Cabin Boy.

I tarred the name of good Cabin Boy's everywhere.

The time that I was there is affectionately known between us as “The Summer of Love”. There was no Romance for any of us at all, (in fact we seemed to repel girls), just good times.


It was through Tim I learned the game of ‘Thong Slap’.
My life somehow seemed empty before this.

For those of you who don’t know it basically involves a thong, (flip flop), a sore red and loud thwack across ones face, and the (stupid) want to outlast the opponent / s.

Tim spoke to me the other day and told me he was on a health kick also a strict diet, was being sponsored for it and giving the money he raised to me.
He said he was amazed at people’s generosity.
I am too. Always.

Anyway here are our correspondences:


G'day mate,

Well first of all, Happy Belated Birthday.. I hope you had a fantastic day. I was hoping to get this email to you last week for your birthday but either way I hope this brings a smile to your face.

I'm hoping nobody has let on what has been happening over the last few months but here goes..

After speaking with you quite a few months back I was very taken back as to how your condition has affected you. At the same time I was very inspired by your positive attitude and determination to not let this beat you. So it got me thinking.... I really wanted to give you a helping hand by raising some money for you, the question was how could I do that? Then it came to me, being the fat bastard that I am I could be sponsored to lose some weight to help my mate!!! And so it began, a 10 week health challenge to lose 10kgs!!

Through the kind generosity of friends, family and work colleagues I am so pleased to inform you that I have raised a total of $3000 for you!! This money is to be used for whatever you wish, whether it be for treatment, paying bills, going on a holiday or helping with the kids. What you do with it is totally up to you.

It is only with the massive hearts of the people listed below that I was able to do this, most of whom are total strangers to you but all were so touched by your story.

In keeping with my pledge, I wish to thank the following people who so kindly donated;

Chrisanthy Papachristos
Nina Scillio
Paul & Maria Loupetis
Tina Marshall
Luke & Michelle Simmons
Oliver & Amelia Hesketh
Amy Barnes
Brigid McGrath
Sean Bundy
Rodney Hamilton
Terese Appel
Paul Burden
Harry & Feona Nikias
David & Shona Snowden
Simon & Mel Beckett
Stuart Snowden
David Cheal
Nick Banbury
Andrew Thomas
Jenny Seymour
Daniel Bartlett
Renee Haley
Stuart Fox
Mary Karolyi
Dion Maber
Justin Morris
Dilshan Thambydorai
Joshua Smith
Kim Peacock
Sharman Carne
Stan Sotiropoulos
Josh Rubens
and Thomas Duryea Consulting who were absolutely fantastic in matching all my work collegues donations!!

Now the goal was to lose 10kgs, unfortunately I was not able to achieve that in 10 weeks but I am still chasing the goal and hope to hit the mark by summer, fingers crossed. I did manage to stay off the grog for an entire month, something that has never happened in the last 17 years or so!! Over the 10 week period I think I only had 3 drinks. I also bought myself a new bike which I will be using to help shed the kgs!

I really hope this brings a smile to your face mate.. I was totally blown away by the kindness of others and by the final figure, and I know you will be too.

Please send me your bank details so that I can transfer the money to you as soon as possible. (I was going to send you a cheque but that's just too hard for everyone!)

Take care mate and I hope to speak with you soon.

Cheers,
TTG
x


Response:

Hi mate,

Thank you so much, I am really touched and a little lost for words.

As I said to you on the phone, "I will go to the casino and put it all on black, if I win we split the profits!" (joking)
This is a good thing for many reasons;

You get to look like Arnold Swarzenegger and you raise money doing it!
But will you strut through inner city Melbourne in a pair of skimpy Speedo’s all oiled up on a frosty winter morning? You may raise some money but I don't fancy your chances.

Seriously.
This is a VERY selfless, humble act. You will be blessed for this, if not now, in time.

Thank you.

xp
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