Missing Max

Hi,

My name's Jo and I was part of the close-knit group in Cadiz. I've been thinking a lot of Max lately, especially as the seasons are definitely changing, and I can't help but think that here in Cadiz, this was what we were waiting for...beach life. However, with Max not here to enjoy it, life has taken a turn and it's not how we expected it to be. It's also such a shame, as Max was one of the people who appreciated the scenery and laid back lifestyle here the most. His flat was also directly opposite a gorgeous beach, so we used to hang out there everyday, mainly to facilitate his totty spotting. During the winter months I used to get a morning weather update from Max via text to let me know "it's blazin' mate, get over here on the terrace for some tanning and Spanish grammar" - well he certainly knew how to make learning the subjunctive tense a lot more appealing! He always said he couldn't wait for the summer and he, Steph and I had planned to stay here for the summer together and it's such a shame that he won't be here with us.

Max was always the one to make the most of a situation or moment, which is one of the things I loved the most about him...he made everything fun! I remember the day after my 21st birthday party, Max, Steph and I met up to re-run the night's events, and as a result of the stonking hangovers, Steph and I would've been more than content to sit back and chill at his with cups of tea and nibbling his endless supply of white choc with smarties inside, but Max had other plans and said we couldn't head home until we'd explored all the backstreets of Cadiz. Steph and I always say what a fun day this was, especially the kiddies park! Max wasn't even deterred by the rain, and insisted on walking at least half the way back to take in the views. A true positivist until the end!

Despite Max's admirable ability to find something to do out of nothing, as many people have written on this blog, the thing I miss the most is doing nothing in particular with Max; just hanging out at his, making random, yet interesting converstion around the kitchen whilst cooking, and his good ear and honest advice. We'd often sit around and cook together in his kitchen, but beforehand there would always be the eternal argument over which music to cook to - he assumed that I, being a girl from Watford would love his Garage music, but he was wrong, so we'd hussle over songs until always agreeing on Ray Charles, The Pharcyde or Beats Assailant 'Dirty Dozen', and Max was the only other person I knew who also knew the last listed song, so I always used to put it on in the bar I DJ at when he walked in, which was swiftly followed by "Yes Jo". I miss seeing those curly blonde locks strolling in the bar, but whenever I hear these songs I smile and think of him!

The other day my housemate Simon was playing old videos and I could hear Max's voice from my room. Hearing his voice made me realise even more how much I miss him, it made his absence more evident yet, and although it was painful to listen to, it was also lovely, as I could feel a little closer to him for a moment again and hold onto his voice and laughter and his silly jokes. That's also why I think this blog is such a good idea too, as you feel like you're keeping the legend of Maxieflash alive, so keep the stories flowing.

One last thing, I'm attemting to attach some photos with this blog, but I am terrible with computers, it they come out, there should be two of Max and I on the swings - he was attemting to do a perfect jump into the camera, but it didn't quite work out. There should also be another of Max with Fabien, a friend here in Cadiz, on my birthday. It was fancy dress and Max had come as a hip-hop ghetto boy so he was doing his take on that in the photo. And finally there's a photo that I took of him on his balcony...a typical day, which you all probably received in an email, we were just amazed at how "blazin'" it was so we took photos to send back in emails to make everyone envious of the weather. He said he would've given his friends a prize if anyone had worked out that the picture he sent, entitled 'sunrise' wasn't really sunrise (we were never up before 3pm) as the sun wouldn't have risen and set in the same place (sharp thinking lad).

Love to everyone,

Jo