Joser and Malcolm met on 5 January 2001, but because Malcolm lives in Austria, any relationship seemed very unlikely. However he remembers getting the flu a month later, and Joser took the very next flight to Vienna to come and look after him. It was then that Malcolm realized this might be someone rather special. A couple of months later they took their first holiday together, touring by car around northern Italy. They made no exact plans about where to go, what to see or do, or where to stay. Normally this might be a recipe for disaster, but they revelled in each other’s company and interests, never argued, and when something didn’t turn out right, they just laughed it off together. In Milan, they talked seriously, made promises to each other, exchanged rings and never looked back. Their interests complemented. Joseph loved art, history, museums, biographies (especially of royalty and the aristocracy), celebrity magazines and shopping; Malcolm loved mountains, lakes, nature and theatre. Malcolm remembers Joser climbing his first mountain in Mauritius, Le Pouce, shaped like a thumb. It was very windy, and as they neared the top, Malcolm thought they should probably go back, but Joser insisted they continue. It was scary, and afterwards he said he had wanted to prove that he would do anything for Malcolm – who will never forget that. Malcolm had the opportunity to meet his great friends and he Malcolm’s; Joseph was welcomed into Malcolm’s family and Malcolm into his. They all clearly loved him very dearly. He was intelligent, fun, thoughtful, hospitable, and always happier caring for other people. On 21 October 2006, Joseph Angeles and Malcolm Crick became civil partners at a ceremony in the Dexter Room at the Oxford registry office. This was a proud day that acknowledged formally their love and commitment to each other. They both said that the last eight years had been the happiest years of their lives. They went to some wonderful places, a favourite being Bellagio on Lake Como, but they were really just so content revelling in each other’s company. Even in the last few weeks, when Malcolm asked whether there were things he would like to do, Joser said no, he was doing them, simply being with Malcolm. Malcolm is so very grateful and privileged to have been his partner.