Our first meeting 2009
Kim and Rogan
Rogan and Pat
The Visitor
I seem to have known Kim all my blogging life – ten years next
January. For a while – just seeing his
name on comments - I thought he was a girl – we didn’t have avatars then. We didn’t actually meet until 2009 when he and
his son Rogan joined me in a Minehead café for coffee. Coffee turned into a long chatty lunch and by
the time we were turfed out I think we both realised we had found a new friend.
Since then I have seen him most years when he visited family
in Devon .
A special time was when our French son Mark was here and Kim took what
turned out to be the last photos of Alastair both with me and with Mark. After a day of fun shooting – a lasting
memory is the five of us sitting, totally relaxed – ages varying form teens to
eighties and talking freely about the world and his wife.
It was a comfort to have Kim and Rogan visit the first year
without Alastair but last year Kim had too much happening to make the long
journey.
This year would be the first time I had been alone with Kim
and I wondered if we would feel constraint without Rogan and Al. Would there be awkward silences?
All I can say is I feel compassion for that hind-leg-less
donkey.
It was a treat to be taken to the nursery so I could stock
up with plants and potting compost and a treat to wander down to the town in
the evening and eat out at Mullions.
The last morning was special – sitting on the balcony in balmy
weather with the delightful whispering of the trees, bird song, wine for me and
elderflower cordial for Kim. We looked
at some of his stunning new work, chatted about exciting new projects he is
embarking on and I was grateful to be able to tap into his fount of wisdom for
the odd issue I have. You probably know he has wisdom beyond his years.
As we waved good-bye Kim to rejoin his beloved family and me
to nip up the hill to visit Joy - inevitably I wondered if this would be the
last time.
But hey! We play scrabble almost every day. Aren’t I the lucky one?
Kim and Pat July 2015
Kim kindly took this for an up to date avatar and put it on F.B. for me. Even he had some difficulty with my chaotic files.
12 comments:
How truly lovely Pat.....It's so nice that you and Kim and your
families have had the wonderful pleasure of the Virtual friendship becoming the "real live" friendship. His pictures are so wonderful and you look as beautiful as ever, my dear.....
I can't tell you how often I wished I could come on over for a real visit with you---for all of these years......I envy Kim, in the nicest way....! A sweet special time for you and for him....! And by the way, he has such a kind and handsome face....! I hope you get to visit very soon again.
Kim seems to be the best sort of gentleman and friend - hasn't blogging changed our lives for the better?
And another beautiful picture of you, Pat!
Sx
I know how wonderful it can be to meet with a treasured blog friend. I am so happy that you and Kim have found each other and seem so sympatico.
It was an absolute delight, as always, to see you again, Pat. I'm sure I left half a stone heavier than when I arrived too ;)
I don't know when I'll next be down your end of the country, but you can be sure I'll not miss the opportunity to stop by and say hello again :)
How lovely - and what wonderful photos. I'm sorry it hasn't worked out for us to meet yet, but I will get to you as soon as I can, I promise.
Beautiful photos of you, as always. How wonderful to have such a good friend that you met through blogging. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and I'm glad the conversation flowed so easily. That's always a bonus.
Oh how wonderful.
I remember when Kim came to take some photos of you and Alastair.
It is wonderful that he can still come down.
Your photos are lovely. He is such a talent.
cheers, parsnip
Lovely photo Pat, and what sounds like a lovely friendship.
Naomi: it was a lovely bonus and makes up in some way for the sadness of not being able to meet old friends like yourself. Still blogging is the next best thing.
Scarlet: and he's fun too.
Judy: he is younger than my youngest son but manages to make one feel a contemporary. Maybe I'm just a case of arrested development.
Kim: don't mention the word stone:) So you have to come again:)
Z: no-one comes in the winter months. Different story in the summer - as you can imagine.
Joey: ir only all house guests were so easy.
Parsnip: it's my good fortune that he has family south of me.
Helen: and it is so nice to have a real friend of a younger generation. In spite of being an old lady I don't enjoy being treated like one. There there, dear dear gets me spitting fire:)
That is such a neat story. Happy to know you guys share this friendship.
Just lovely stuff.
This is one of the reasons I love blogging, that there are people like you and Kim, with your wisdom [yes, Kim can be so soothingly wise...you too, Pat], your generosity, kindness.
You're both so lucky to have each other there, to be able to meet.
I hope you and Z get to meet.
Look at Rogan with his baby-face then, I can't believe it was all the way back in 2009!
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