goodnight mattie

In the Post Courier on Tuesday last:

Poor road condition claims another life

A LAE businessman died in hospital yesterday after being shot in the head by criminals along the Boundary Road on Saturday night as he slowed down his car to negotiate potholes. The businessman who has been identified as Matthew Sigiruboi, was shot at close range at the entrance of the notorious Kapiak street, where there is a huge pothole. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Angau Memorial Hospital but died yesterday morning. The killing has left Mamose police chief Giossi Labi seething and the city residents in shock.

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Xmas before last ricebag was a wandering baby, catching pmv's and cargo ships and roaming the Momase Coast for months. Little-lost wandering baby. Always always returning intermittently to Lae and Family and Hot Showers and Cooked Breakfasts and Swimming Pools and Lawns and ... a little pub called Clashes. Clashes on 4th Street above ChemCare and acorss the street from SVS. Clashes where the lime green walls are covered in village-chic thatch and the bar is loooong and the hours ricebag spent at the bar were loooong too. Clashes with the wonky pool tables and the 2 o'clock sundowners.

Clashes with Matt. Mattie. MattMatt.

Thankyou Matt. For always playing Grayson Hughes "Lets Talk It Over". Every single time I asked. Even for the 5th time in a row.

Thankyou Matt. For opening the bar for me even though it was 5 hours before official opening hours.

Thankyou Matt. For keeping the bar open for me long after official closing hours.

Thankyou Matt. For driving me home and never saying maybe I should party less and breathe more.

Thankyou Matt. For always listening to my boring old little-lost-is-me mumblings into the wee hours.

Thankyou Matt. For being the bartender without the bullshit but plenty of the blah.

Thankyou Matt. For not saying and not saying and then saying the One Time When I Was Ready To Listen.

Thanks Mattie.

And Goodbye.

I'm so sorry this is the way you had to leave us. Not good enough was it mate. Nowhere near fair. Nowhere near. And I'm sorry you had to go before you saw your first child.

Will miss you mate.