Reddit Stories - Hubris UNLEASHED The CATASTROPHIC Collapse Of An $800k Project - When ARROGANCE Meets Disaster

Episode Date: June 20, 2025

#redditstories #askreddit #aita #hubrisunleashed #catastrophiccollapse #arrogance #disaster #projectfailureSummary: A tale of an $800k project's downfall due to arrogance and hubris, resulting in cata...strophic collapse. When pride meets disaster, the consequences are severe. Learn from this cautionary tale of unchecked ego leading to ruin.Tags: redditstories, askreddit, reddit, aita, tifu, hubrisunleashed, catastrophiccollapse, arrogance, disaster, projectfailure, downfall, pride, consequences, severe, cautionarytale, uncheckedego, leadingtoruinBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/reddit-stories--6237355/support.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 I hope you enjoy this story. Are you aware of my identity? Erogant manager faces consequences when an $800,000 undertaking derails due to the dismissal of a vital staff member. To clarify, this situation did not involve me. I was with the person when they received a phone call about this issue. Then he explained it all to me. He's not on Reddit so I'm sharing it. It's priceless.
Starting point is 00:00:29 All names change. to protect personal and company identities. Listed buildings, important of the story. In the UK there is a system for preserving ancient and important buildings. If a building has historical importance it is known as a listed building in the rules about how it's developed slash maintained slash improved are very strict. I need to be vague about the work involved otherwise it's too easy to identify the parties involved. My friend David is skilled in a very niche area of construction. He repairs and renovates
Starting point is 00:01:03 buildings using a very old construction method that hasn't been common for several centuries. All his work is on conservation projects and listed buildings. Work was required on a grade one listed property. The overall building work was being done by the main contractor ACC Limited. One part of the work is very specialized. The contractors' managers didn't know anyone who did it so the architect gave them a list of qualified people. The contractors chose my friend because he had the earliest availability. Five days into the work the owner of ACC Limited, the main contractor company, arrived on site. He was throwing his weight around and being a noisy gobshite, David's words.
Starting point is 00:01:49 David was just doing his job and ignored him. Noisy gobshite told one of his carpenters to get him a coffee. The carpenter disappeared. Noisy gobshite continued wandering and gobbling off about delays costing him a fortune. Fifteen minutes after the carpenter had disappeared the noisy gobshite asked my friend a question. Noisy gobshite, where is that fucking chippy with my coffee? Chippy equals carpenter. David, don't know.
Starting point is 00:02:19 Noisy gobshite, go and find out. David, I'm only here for this job, pointing to the walls, I don't work for ACC Limited. Noisy gobshite, I don't give fuck whether you're an employee or a subcontractor, you still work for me. Now go and find my fucking coffee. David, firstly, I don't appreciate being talked to like that and secondly, my contract with you is to do these walls, nothing more.
Starting point is 00:02:47 I'm definitely not a gopher. Noisy gobshite, oh, you don't appreciate being talked to like that, do you? Which subcontractor do you work for? David, none. I'm self-employed. It's just me. Noisy gobshite, a fucking day laborer, and you've got the nerve to talk to like that? Do you know who I am?
Starting point is 00:03:12 David, yep. Noisy gobshite, well, you're fucking fired. Get off the fucking sight now. David, okay, put it in writing. Noisy gobshite, fuck off. Just get off the fucking sight. David pulled his phone out and started recording. David, okay, I'll go.
Starting point is 00:03:34 I just want proof you told me to go. Noisy gobshite grabbed David's hand holding the phone and screamed into the phone. Noisy gobshite, get off the sight, you fucking idiot. You're fired. If you're still here I end ten fucking minutes. I'll have you fucking thrown out. David, cool, no problem. He picked up all his kit and walked away.
Starting point is 00:04:00 As he was leaving the contractor's site manager passed him, ironically with a coffee for the boss, and with a smile said. Site manager, you leaving early Dave. Bloody part-timers joking. David, no, your boss just fired me. Our contract is ended. Sorry, mate. Site manager, no, no. No, no. Let me sort this out. Wait, please, please, wait. David left. The site manager was losing his shit because he knew something that noisy gobshite didn't. Only seven people in the UK are qualified to do the work. They all have a waiting list and David had been the only one available. By the time he was home he had 12 missed calls. That was Thursday. Two working days.
Starting point is 00:04:53 missed so far. He said he'll go back, but only if he gets paid for the extra days and has a genuine apology in person from the boss. I met my friend when he was getting a call from the site manager saying the boss apologizes but is out of the country so can't apologize F2F. David also told me he phoned the other specialists to warn them but they'd all been phoned on Friday begging them to do the job. Nobody took the work. They're all booked solid. David also phoned the architect to warn him. Situations like this summon scrupulous contractors try to botch the job and fake the work. David is going to stick to his guns.
Starting point is 00:05:35 Pay for all missed days plus F2F apology. He is sure he'll get it. I've said I'll pay anything to watch the F2F apology. Update 1. Site manager phoned to say he was told by noisy gobshite to threaten legal action if David doesn't finish the job. job. Site manager was very embarrassed and apologetic. David reminded him he didn't leave and has proof that he was fired. Site manager phoned again to say noisy gobshite will apologize F2F on Friday. Can David start tomorrow? David said no. Following the threat of legal
Starting point is 00:06:14 action the conditions are different. 1. F2F apology before work restarts. Two, added pay for wasted days. Three, payment of full contract value up front before work starts. Four, all must happen by Thursday that that's the last day he can start and still expect to finish before his next booking. If he also works the weekends he has just enough time. I asked him why he isn't charging a huge extra amount for the guy being such a wanker. He said it doesn't look good if you take advantage of companies when they're under time
Starting point is 00:06:50 pressure. Not the done thing. It seems that one of my friends is an 18th century gentleman. Edit. I misunderstood David when he said only seven others do this work. He meant seven other businesses apart from his. They're small businesses so he says it's probably about 20 people who can do it. Still a small number but not as comically small as seven.
Starting point is 00:07:17 Sorry for misleading you all about the number. Update 2 Unfortunately, it seems there will be no apology. David has discovered that the site manager was blamed for not making Noisy Gobshite aware of the situation beforehand and was fired. David contacted the operations director for ACCC Limited, Noisy Gobshite's number two, and informed them that an apology is no longer required as he will not be returning to the job. The ops director apologized for everything and offered to renegotiate the money very generously. David told him that he had only considered going back to the job as a personal favor to the original site manager.
Starting point is 00:07:58 Since he isn't there, he feels no obligation to return. Ops director said he will get back to David but didn't say why. I asked why he didn't say give him his job back or I won't come back. David said noisy gobshite is too petty and weak to be told what to do by a craftsman. It will have to be the company's idea for the site manager to come back. If I tell them to bring him back, it won't happen. David says the site manager is great at his job but is only four years from retirement so it's not easy to find a job at 61. I've decided I like David even more than I did three days ago.
Starting point is 00:08:37 Update 3. It's 2 a.m. here. We've just got back from the pub. David got a call while we were out from the SAC site manager. David updated the architect on the situation this afternoon. The architect contacted the SAC site manager to tell him about a company who need a site manager. The SAC site manager phoned David just before 9 p.m. I had to sit through the phone call, only hearing one side. I must have looked childishly excited like I got an ass full of sparrows.
Starting point is 00:09:11 Then David filled me in. The site manager rang to thank him and to find out his favorite drink so he can send him a bottle. He hasn't got the new job yet, but he is seeing them on Friday. Apparently, the architect's recommendation carries some weight so he's optimistic. David refused at first. I didn't get you a job, the architect did. The site manager said, but you said all this shit in motion and told the architect that I've been fired. Because of you, I never need to deal with that obnoxious pillock ever again. David wasn't specific. about who the obnoxious pillock was. We'll have to guess.
Starting point is 00:09:52 David said his drink is Cardo Gold Reserve. He said he will accept a bottle only if, A, the site manager gets the new job and, B, if the site manager will come over and drink the Cardo with David. It looks like the handsome scribe who did the enormously difficult time-consuming job of skillfully writing this saga down on Reddit isn't included in the whiskey consumption. As David poetically put it, piss off knobhead, you can buy your own fucking drink. All good news, hopefully, except that nobody gets to see that toss pot, noisy gobshite, eat shit when he has to apologize.
Starting point is 00:10:30 I was so looking forward to that. Additional information David and the fired site manager know each other outside of work. Each are members of charity organizations in the same town. Two different groups but they work together a lot. Site manager is in Rotary Club and David is in Roundtable. I don't think he's a knight but you never know. Operations Director for ACC Limited Phone David to suggest that they take the site manager back and generously renegotiate the money. David says they've missed the boat.
Starting point is 00:11:05 There is no way he can finish the job on his own before he starts his next job. There is an absolute minimum of 11 days work left if everything goes without a hitch. David's next job starts November 4th. Only 10 days left if he works both weekends. Too late. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when noisy gobshite is told. The most common question, many are asking what David does. If I said what it was it so identifying that I might as well give you his real name and his address.
Starting point is 00:11:39 Sorry. The reason there are very few of them is it takes five years to become just competent and at least nine years to be a master craftsman. The jobs need at least one master present when the work is done. Update 4. Bad news. The fired site manager didn't get the other job. He met the new company but they're not taking him on. The reasons aren't clear. David is meeting him on Sunday to discuss it. I can tell David. David feels like shit about it even though it's not his fault. Site manager says he's going to take action for unfair dismissal. I thought this was going to be win, win, win, but I suppose life isn't like that. News about the SAC site manager. The situation isn't as bad as we first thought. I think we misunderstood what happened on Friday. David talked to him yesterday.
Starting point is 00:12:35 The company he saw on Friday are not employing him in a normal way, that part was correct. But they have offered him a fixed term contract for 18 months on a distribution center billed. It's not perfect, but on the bright side it's slightly better paid than ACC. It's only 18 months, but that's better than nothing. There is also the chance that the new company might extend the contract if another project comes in. David has heard that they're getting a Bulgarian to come over to do the job. David was grinning when he told me. He He thinks he knows what will happen. There is a similar but different technique that was used on some 19th century buildings in
Starting point is 00:13:16 Sofia. David thinks that the guy will use that technique. It looks similar but two very important materials are different. David has decided to wait. He plans to let the Bulgarian finish the job and get paid. Then David is going to suggest to the planning department and the client that they check the two components. the Bulgarian knows the 17th century English method he will have used the wrong materials.
Starting point is 00:13:44 It would mean ripping it out and starting again. They are incredibly strict with this type of work. I shouldn't want this so much, but I really hope this happens. I'm a petty man. More info, many people are asking when will David know if the Bulgarian has done the job right? David might know fairly soon since there are very few suppliers of one of the materials. If the Bulgarian contacts them, David will be told. David's words, it's a tiny incestuous part of the industry, and they gossip like old women. Correction, we all gossip like old women. If he doesn't go there, David is leaving it alone until he is told that the work is finished
Starting point is 00:14:25 and the Bulgarian is paid. He doesn't want to put the guy's money at risk. In David's words, I don't want the Bulgarian to drag his money. arse over here and go home empty-handed just because I can't wait to drop silly bollocks in the shit. The man's got a living to earn. I'll wait. Just in case of confusion, silly bollocks is the same person as noisy gobshite. It should take the Bulgarian about three weeks to finish the job unless he works weekends. David knows plenty of people on site and a few at ACC head office so he'll know when the job is finished. So I've got to sit on my hands. I've got to sit on my
Starting point is 00:15:04 for three to four weeks and pretend I'm not an excited seven-year-old girl pissing her pants about Christmas coming. Update 5, David has been told that the Bulgarian got straight to it and started work. He's had materials delivered but from an ordinary building supplier. The stuff he needs to do the job properly is too bulky for him to bring with him even if they sell it in Bulgaria. He hasn't ordered it from the UK supplier. There are three but only one has enough for this job because they got it in for David. So, unless it is coming by road and ferry he is not using the right materials. David wouldn't allow it to go unreported even if he wasn't annoyed about noisy gobshite. He's got a genuine passion for looking after all these
Starting point is 00:15:49 buildings he works on and he is a purist when it comes to historical accuracy. So now I have to hold my water for three to four weeks. David says that if he's using more modern materials he might finish sooner. Three weeks is the time it takes if you stay in the 17th century. I've turned into a bit of a weirdo about this job. When I phoned David earlier on a pretext, he realized I was after info again. David, fuck me. Do you want me to fit a body cam so you can see and hear everything as it happens? Me, if it's not too much trouble and you can link me into your phone calls. That'd be nice, David, after laughing. You fucking knob cheese.
Starting point is 00:16:34 Is it okay if I cover the lens when I'm shitting and shagging my wife? Me, personally, I don't do those two things at the same time, but whatever floats your boat, David, you're telling me you do them separately. When are you shagging my wife? Me, right after she's cleaned all the shit off the sheets from doing you. Some of us are fussy David piss off. You're an uptight clean freak hangs up. No goodbye no see you see you. soon. English manners aren't what they used to be. I know it doesn't look like it, but
Starting point is 00:17:07 honestly, I do have a life. I promise. When I first started writing this I would never have believed I was going to type. Update 6. Lots of News. The Bulgarian finished the job and went home two weeks ago. According to the people who met him Stefan, the Bulgarian, was a good guy in a very hard worker. He did 12-hour days and weekends so he could cut the cost of staying in the UK. Based on what he learned about Stefan, David is happy that he waited until Stefan got paid before he reported the work. David was already fairly sure that Stefan was not doing the job correctly. He had checked the three firms who are the only UK suppliers of the most obscure material involved in the job and none said they'd had an order for the site. Of course, it was
Starting point is 00:17:58 possible that Stefan imported it but nobody on site had seen an overseas material order. So, as planned, David contacted the local authority planning department, the client and the architect and an organization called Historic England. He explained his concerns and the easiest, least intrusive way of testing. Then he waited for them to look into it. It only took a couple of days, but I can honestly say that I've never been so anxious or felt so invested in something that is none of my pissing business. First report came from the architect. Wrong method used. Wrong method using the wrong materials. He'd used a 19th century Bulgarian technique not the 17th century English that is demanded. The architect was enormously pissed off.
Starting point is 00:18:48 David said he's never heard the architect use bad language before, but this one. phone call was blue. Apparently noisy gobshite is called that ignorant fucking cockwamble by the architect. David asked me what a cockwamble is. I had no idea. Suggestions welcome. The architect said he was going to contact the local authority because he doesn't want them to think this has anything to do with him. Most of the rest came to David's second or third hand. He knows some of the staff from ACC. I asked if it was difficult to get them to tell him anything. He said they can't pick the phone up fast enough. The local authority planning officers visited the site and inspected the work. They told the contractor that the work was entirely wrong and must be cleared and done properly.
Starting point is 00:19:38 Then it got interesting. The inspectors had a look around the site. They found an issue. I can't be specific about this because it would be too easy to identify the buildings involved. The contractor has destroyed part of the building. There was an internal feature that didn't look particularly important but is part of the roof structure. They removed it and put in a much better modern support. But they are not allowed to. Neither the project manager or the new site manager or staff knew the importance. Guess who ordered it to be replaced?
Starting point is 00:20:15 Cheap quick option instead of repaired, slow expensive option. Of course, it was noisy gobshite. It's a criminal offense to destroy anything on this type of property. Jail time type of crime. Even if they don't go to jail, it's a massive fine. So now everybody in that company is pointing fingers at each other and claiming no responsibility. Noisy gobshite has claimed that he did not give the order to take out the internal parts of the roof structure. The project manager's email evidence he did.
Starting point is 00:20:49 On Tuesday 19th the client ordered all of the contractor staff off the site. They're having everything examined. It's almost certain they're firing the contractor. They've issued instructions for bids from new contractors. They'll also sue the contractor for the cost of repairing and replacing everything they've done wrong. The architect's estimate was £800,000. The local authority planning department wrote to the contractor outlining what they've done wrong and advising them of their plans to inspect and the possibility of prosecution.
Starting point is 00:21:23 According to the staff, noisy gobshite disappeared to the lawyers on the day the letter arrived. David had three different people from ACC phone him within an hour when the news of the letter circulated around the staff. So now we're waiting for a few things. 1. Clients inspection. If that confirms that ACC have damaged the site, then the client has the right to fire the contractor. ACC doesn't get paid and they have a massive repair bill. 2. Local authority inspection by conservation experts. If they've destroyed features in the property, the local authority will prosecute ACC as a company and the person who ordered it.
Starting point is 00:22:05 David is very unhappy because the internal structure that has been destroyed can't be replaced. In his words that Wood has been sitting there doing its job for 400 years until that fucking gistain comes into the picture. Then it's gone and that's it, never again he seems genuinely sad. I'm betting that noisy gobshite is wishing he got his own coffee on that day last month. Edit The letter to ACC, not their real name, did not threaten to put it. prosecute. It only made them aware of the planning department's intention to send a specialist to inspect the building and in particular the area affected by the change. Apparently, prosecution,
Starting point is 00:22:48 if it happens, takes forever. My sincere apologies for misleading you all. Like everyone else I was too keen to pick up my pitchfork and believe the worst. A combination of wishful thinking and Chinese whispers meant that by the time the story got to David it was much more serious and advanced. Noisy gobshite might actually be prosecuted, but if it happens it's more likely to be six months than six days. That's the second correction since I started. I promised to try to be a bit more conscientious on future updates. My fault not David's. David warned me. Everything that goes in your ears doesn't have to spill straight out of your mouth. You're too keen to feed the masses.
Starting point is 00:23:34 They might think you're farting rainbows right now, but that won't last if you make abolics of the info. He's right. As usual. As fucking usual. As annoyingly fucking usual. Requested information. A few people have asked what happened to the original site manager who was fired, but I couldn't answer until tonight. We, me, David, site manager and two others met in the pub.
Starting point is 00:24:01 He definitely has the new job, subject to Fidelity Insurance checks, which he'll pass. He starts on February 9th. He got paid off in lieu of notice by ACC. It's standard practice for firing. His contract gave three months notice and he was owed 12 holiday slash vacation days, so they paid him just over 3.5 months pay in one lump. He also gets to keep the car until March. He said when he fired me I was shaking like a shitting dog but the wife reminded me that I could take my pension early and how much I hate that company and especially hate that dodgy pillock.
Starting point is 00:24:40 Then, architect, called me about the distribution center job and I stopped worrying. He has got Christmas off and he is starting the new job on a slightly higher salary. The only downside is that the job is only guaranteed for 18 months. There is the strong possibility that the company will keep him after that if they have work. It's just not definite. Initially he was planning to take noisy gobshite to an industrial tribunal for unfair dismissal. Now he can't because he isn't going to suffer financially. He said obviously I'm glad I'm not losing money but I was looking forward to beating that Watsok in court.
Starting point is 00:25:20 Right now he is using the extra time to build a better sleigh and some reindeer. Yep, a sleigh. It's to go on the back of a truck. His group walk around the area dressed as elves and snowmen, with Father Christmas on the sleigh, playing Christmas carols at window-rattling volume collecting donations for a charity. I've been roped into it many times. He brought David the whiskey he promised. David said he shouldn't but sight managers said Yorkshire men keep their word. Even to a shower of soft shandy sipping southerners like Yulot. Besides, I'm not risking breaking this lucky streak. Even the whiskey was half price. Both me and David pointed at him simultaneously and said a real Yorkshireman. For the unaware, Yorkshire folk have a reputation for two things. Very straight talking and being careful with their money.
Starting point is 00:26:17 So, after bollocking him for suggesting that I was a southerner, we left the pub and went to site manager's garage so we could drink the whiskey and admire his work on the sleigh. If I tell you all how good Cardu gold reserve tastes will they send me some freebies. I'm Welsh. Born near Kanagin. S-A-Z-N-A-G-U-F-L-E-F, Simru and Bith. That's why you've probably noticed some poor grammar. I'm waffling now because I'm full of whiskey. It's 1 a.m. so it's past my bedtime.
Starting point is 00:26:50 Bye for now. Update 7. I think there might be some karmic justice on its. way. Noisy gobs hide has been interviewed under caution. It doesn't mean they're definitely taking legal action against him, but it means they are preparing for the possibility. They also did the same with the project manager and they're going to do it with the fired site manager next week. The site manager is confident he has nothing to worry about. The decision to remove the roof support sections was made after he was fired. He said he was confident that if he'd
Starting point is 00:27:24 been there at the time of the illegal alteration the Noisy Gobbs Hyde would have tried to pass responsibility. Or as site manager put it that cowardly sloped shouldered turd would have shat all over me to save his own skin. Can turd shit? Luckily, the project manager has proof in the form of an email that Noisy Gobshide ordered the work. Noisy Gobshide tried to persuade slash bribe him not to pass it on to the people investigating this for the local authority planning department. When that didn't work he tried to threaten him. That backfired because not only did project manager ignore the threats, but he told the investigators that Noisy Gobshide told him to lose the email. I have a lawyer friend who tells me that interfering with a witness and
Starting point is 00:28:11 destruction of evidence are offenses in themselves. Noisy gobshide won't stop digging himself a deeper hole. I am going to be so disappointed if he gets away without legal consequences. He is definitely suffering, though. The big news of the week. Noisy gobs hide has been fired. David announced it yesterday, Saturday, after he was told by no less than four different employees of ACC. He said they couldn't wait to tell him. Then the conversation went like this.
Starting point is 00:28:44 Me, how is that fucking possible? How does the owner get fired? Did he walk up to a mirror and say you're as much use as in Frank's story? drum kit, you're fired. David, nope. You know he inherited the business from his dad and uncle. Me, yep. David, you know his brother and cousin own a slice each. Me, yep. David, well, their combined share is over 50%. So they fired him. According to Louise, the accounts manager, they are pissing their pants. They were happy to leave noisy gobs hide in charge. They were happy to leave Noisy Gobshide in charge as long as the money rolled in but now their golden goose looks very sick.
Starting point is 00:29:28 They're terrified that losing this contract and the penalties and fines will finish the business. So, they're appealing to the client slash property owner to take ACC back to finish the contract. Part of that involves convincing the building owner that Noisy Gobshide will never have anything to do with the company. Obviously, they're throwing Noisy Gobshide under the bus. Louise said there were screaming and threats of violence from noisy gobs hide when they fired him. He had to be escorted off the premises. He's been phoning employees asking questions and seem surprised when people don't want to help him. According to Louise, he actually thinks the employees like him and want to be loyal to him.
Starting point is 00:30:12 She said the man is in cloud cuckoo land. Me, he's going to be so pissed off, I wish I could see that Numpti's face as it was happening. David, it's nothing that the skruch doesn't deserve. There is something else, but I can't tell you because I promised the person who told me that I wouldn't tell anyone yet. Me, you fucking tease. How important is it? David, it's huge. Life changing for the subject.
Starting point is 00:30:41 I wish I could tell you because it nearly gave me a heart on. Me, fucking hell, it must be big if it can get that ugly appendage to do anything except hang there like the last chicken in the shop. Your wife must have been pleased. David, what a drama. She thinks I should tell her this thing I was told in confidence. She thinks I should be able to tell her everything because we're married. I explained it's not my secret to share.
Starting point is 00:31:09 I was hoping I'd get I appreciate you have integrity dear husband, but no, I've got an angry Mrs. who thinks I'm a knobhead. Louise and her job title have been changed to protect the innocent. It seems like it will be a couple of months before he can give me this awesome news so I don't want any of you holding your breath. The client slash building owner has done their inspection. Two areas are unacceptable as expected. The damaged area and the part that David should have done but was done by Stefan. They are very unhappy.
Starting point is 00:31:43 When listed buildings are damaged, the local authority normally assumes it's the owner taking shortcuts, but in this case the owner is a crusty old institution dedicated to preserving important buildings. They're not used to being accused of anything shady so they did not like having to prove they had nothing to do with the damage to the building. David said it looks like they've written off ACC because they've issued a type of request for tenders to several other contractors who specialize in conservation. He then spilled a lot of jargon I neither understood or remembered. me, in simple English they have asked a few companies to quote a price for the job. David, that's a very simplistic way of describing it, but I don't have the time or the crayons
Starting point is 00:32:26 to explain it to you, so okay, let's say they're asking for prices for the job. Condescending twat So I was hoping this story would build up to a crescendo with noisy gobshite suffering something horrible, but it's just sort of fizzled out with a whimper while we wait to see what legal action is going to be taken. Real life is inconveniently slow. January 21st, 2020. Hi, this is Mark's wife.
Starting point is 00:32:54 The idiot asked me to apologize to the internet for his silence. He was heard in a car accident on January 7th. We're sure he's going to make a full recovery, but he won't be online for a while. I said it's just Reddit, but he's an obsessive lunatic about not letting people down, so I promised I would add Reddit to the list. So here I am telling all the people that he doesn't know why he hasn't finished telling them something they're probably not reading anyway. March 2nd, 2020 Hi, Mark's wife again there were over 200 direct messages.
Starting point is 00:33:29 Thank you all for your comments and for wishing him well. I've read them all to him that I'm going to answer the three most common questions. One, what happened to Mark? He was stationary in his car and acute a leave the motorway when a large, Lorry drove straight into the back of him. His car was crushed between that Lorry and the Lorry in front of Mark. He has several broken bones. Nose and left orbital and cheekbone, left radius and ulna, forearm, for bones and left hand, right tibia and fibula lower leg, for ribs, one of which punctured his left lung. There is some damage to the central vision
Starting point is 00:34:09 of his left eye which we hope is temporary. He has some damage to the tendons in his right hand which need more surgery. Lots of cuts. Total of 112 stitches. He looks like a mess, but there is a chance that he might recover without any permanent damage. If it was me I wouldn't cope, but he has always been as tough as nails for as long as I've known him. When I first got to the hospital and he was lying there covered in blood and wires and tubes and he couldn't speak properly, I went to pieces. He had me laughing within minutes. He's He's always been good at knowing the right thing to say. The thing that is bothering him most right now is not being able to use his hands.
Starting point is 00:34:53 2. When will he update the story? It could be a while. I could ask the friend he has called David for an update, but I definitely can't tell a story like Mark can. Obviously I'm biased, but I think Mark is the funniest man I've ever met. When he and David get started I laugh so much I can hardly breathe. For now, I've told him to forget about everything except getting well, but if it starts to bother him I've told him I'll do some secretary roleplay and he can dictate the story to me. I know he will finish it. He always finishes what he starts.
Starting point is 00:35:30 I wish I had a tenth of his self-discipline. Three. A few have asked if they can send him cards or gifts or money to help with medical bills or lost earnings. Thank you so much for offering, but it's not necessary. We're in the UK so, thankfully, health care is free. He doesn't want anyone's money. If anyone feels the need to do something there is a charity that we have supported for a long time called Macmillan Cancer Support. Final update, do you know who I am backfires on business owner?
Starting point is 00:36:04 The David versus Noisy gobshite story. May 22, 2020, this username slash you slash mostly gruntled belonged to my husband Mark. He wrote the story about his friend David and a business owner he called Noisy Gobshite. Mark had been updating the story until he was involved in a car accident in January. At that time he asked me to let everyone know that he was injured and he would update the story when he had recovered. Unfortunately, just over a week after my last comment Mark passed away. Everyone thought he was recovering but without warning he suddenly became unconscious and died very quickly. The staff tried everything they could to save him, but he had suffered a ruptured aorta.
Starting point is 00:36:49 They said it had probably been damaged during the accident and isn't uncommon in car crashes. I'm sorry I didn't update this sooner, but to be honest, I completely forgot about this website. It was only when I came back to read Mark's words again that I saw how many people were waiting for Mark to finish the story. I don't know how many people will see this update, but if you know anyone who was waiting for Mark to report, would you please pass this news to them? Thank you. Thank you to the hundreds of people who left Get Well messages for Mark. I'm so sorry that I ignored you all for so long,
Starting point is 00:37:25 but I've been dazed for the last three months. Mark would most definitely have disapproved of my leaving everyone in limbo and would have told me off. Many thanks to the people who made donations to McMillan Cancer Support, although it seems strange to see money donated in the name of mostly Gruntlet. Finally, thank you to the moderators, particularly slash you slash Mirari Zero One for helping me by explaining how I could inform everyone. May 24, 2020, I can't thank you all enough for the lovely words and virtual hugs that I have seen over the last day. I have cried for hours. It's hard to explain what good crying is when you lose someone.
Starting point is 00:38:06 Anyone who has lost a loved one will probably understand. Because of your posts and messages most of today has been good crying. Your words have made me think about all of Mark's wonderful qualities and all the reasons I loved him so much that I started writing the update and then abandoned it about eight times before finally finding some bravery. I'm so glad I did it. Thank you again to the moderator slash U slash Mirari Zero One for the last little push I needed that it's also made me realize that I want to do one more thing that Mark would have wanted. He always finished what he started. I'm going to speak to his friends and find out what has happened. I know some of it already, but I'll try to get myself up to date with everyone's outcomes.
Starting point is 00:38:51 I warn you in advance it will not be like Mark's writing. It will just be the facts. I haven't got an ounce of Mark's flair for telling a story, but it's obvious from the comments that a lot of people were waiting for a conclusion. The plain facts will have to do. Please be forgiving. I'm going to speak to the person he called David, who has been an absolute rock for me this year. Hopefully he will be able to tell me everything. I'll enter the update as soon as I can thank you all so much.
Starting point is 00:39:22 You have no idea how much this has helped point 25-05-20-20 yesterday I was having a better day, mainly because of what you all wrote. Today I woke up angry and I can't shake it. Today is a public holiday in England and I keep thinking about. what we would be doing if Mark was here. He never wasted a holiday.

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