Letter from Ian Thoms
Dearest Hannah,
It is with a heavy heart that I respond to your news that your father, my old and trusted friend, Mac, passed away on 25th January.
I'm sure that if I were to meet him now beyond the Pearly Gates, he would give me one of his broad smiles and throaty laughs and say, " Well Ian, as you know from the many cracks (craics to the Irish) we shared together, I never dreamt that my shift would be so long - well 88 is a good innings for a Paddy or a Jock! And the bonus for a long time Hong Konger is to go out on such a great number as 'baht baht', such a lucky number for the Chinese."
Indeed, Hannah, my enduring memories of Mac are the social times we had, your mum and dads' wedding day and the period when we worked for MTR building the Island Line and I picked up your Dad every morning and took him to Hong Kong Island. That was in the early 1980's. We had to drive to Kwun Tong and catch the vehicular ferry to North Point. We had some great chats and debates whilst the car ferry ploughed it's way slowly across Victoria Harbour. We used to put the world's ills to right, often with a very leftist sentiment. And many's a beer we had together - happy but never drunk!
I will never forget the morning we were driving towards Kwun Tong Ferry Pier and I stopped at an amber set of traffic lights in Wai Yip Street but, unfortunately, a large bus behind us had decided to run the amber lights. Consequently, the bus hit as at a fair speed. Luckily I saw the bus in my mirror and knew he wasn't going to stop. As the bus hit us I took my foot of the brake to lessen the impact for Mac and me and the bus propelled us straight through the junction to the other side. The pins in our seats broke as we rolled forward then back and as we both ended lying stretched out backwards the rear windshield was shattered into a thousand pieces and showered us with glass where we lay. Mac turned to me and said " Are you alright, Ian?". I was shocked but physically okay; I replied " I'm okay Mac, are you alright?" He replied in the affirmative and we both broke out in laughter - I guess to vent our emotions and nervous tension and recognize that we were both very lucky and had just exhibited why seat belts are essential. Oh! And by the way the car was a right off and I got a brand new and better company car from the MTR.
I wrote to your Mum on 25th December and promised Assun that we would visit Ireland to see her and your Dad this year, after I retire from full-time working, but sadly my good intent came too late in time to see my old friend. However, Mac was a really great friend and we will never forget him and the part he played in our lives in Hong Kong. You should feel immensely proud of him.
Our sincerest condolences; our thoughts are with you all.
Yours Aye,
IAN
Ian M. Thoms