Nik

So. Ive been putting off writing this because, for one thing I keep expecting him to walk through the door as if this whole thing has been an elaborate joke, and say something like “Oi Bird! What are you crying for!?….you soft arse!” For another, it has just been too hard to put into words how I feel about Nik. But I’ll have to give it a go now.

The first time I met Nik was the day my relatively new boyfriend at the time, Chris sprung meeting his parents on me with about half an hours notice. I’ll be honest, I was absolutely shitting myself because who on earth would want their son to go out with someone who was going through an acrimonious divorce with two young kids and all the baggage that comes with it!? And also I had already heard stories about Nik turning up to pick up Chris’s sisters from school dressed as Nelly with a plaster on his face.

But within about 2 minutes of meeting Nik and Ali I forgot all about my nerves and joined in the merciless ribbing of Chris. (The picture of Chris cringing that I’ve added is typical of a night spent with Nik and Ali utterly uncomfortable for him, utterly hilarious for me!).

The dynamic was set, and I felt instantly accepted by them both, which was absolutely massive to me. I am so grateful to both Nik and Alison for welcoming me and my kids into their family without batting an eyelid.

I found out quickly that me and Nik shared 2 of the same main interests in life, music and our own kids/family. I was quite “socially precocious” (by that I mean I went out underage) and it turned out I had gone to a few of the same gigs as him (sorry Chris!) when I was about 14 and shared similar stories of going to the Wheel and what music was playing at the time.We talked about music A LOT. Freebird always was/is Niks song as far as I am concerned.

I hadn’t had a father in law in my previous marriage. So I had nothing to compare it to. But honestly, I don’t think anyone could compare to Nik, as he was in a league of his own. He was responsible for the worst hangover I have ever had at work after he had been making me and Alison insanely strong margaritas randomly one Sunday.

He was chuffed that he was the only person to have a beer in the tent we had spent hours decorating for our wedding, (which then got blown away by storm Malik in the early hours of the morning of the wedding. I mean, who has a marquee in January!?) Totally playing down the fact the reason he was there drinking a beer, was that he’d insisted on being there helping us set it all up.

That was Nik. I could ramble on further but we’d be here all day. I know he’d say he “wasn’t arsed” about it, but I just hope he knew how cool I thought he was. Sleep tight Nik.❤️ Lots of love from Catherine