Farewells

 

On the blackboard at the 'Botanist'  

 

Friday 13th February  was my last day at Kew - my  main leaving do  at the 'Botanist' on Wednesday  was lovely,  with touching speeches ( I hadn't thought about  my legacy  in  growing plants),over 80 messages in cards with numerous inserts  and emails  and  generous  gifts of books  for my  UCert Course and some very special wine.  I also had lunch and drinks with my close colleagues in the  lab -  they'd cunningly sussed out my interest in a 'weatherwriter'   which they'd found useful in  Madagascar   and I was  delighted  to receive one  of my own  along with a scarf, bag and earrings ( they know me so well!)   I can see it's use for sketching as well as recording in the field!

With going in at weekends I managed to sort out  things  more or less to my satisfaction. It will take a little while to sink in I think  but at least I can still pop into the Gardens whenever I like as I received  a Life Pass.

Now it's on the next phase - an estate agent is coming on Wednesday  to value our property.



 

 

 My last days annual leave allowance was used  a couple of weeks ago  to travel up  to  Warrington for the funeral of   Nigel Haynes  who I knew at school. We were both  on the German  school exchange trip to the Black Forest in 1976  and  in the 6th form production of 'I have Five Daughters' ( based on Pride and Prejudice). I'd only gone to the auditions to offer help painting scenery but ended up as Charlotte Lucas   while  I still think of Nigel as  the definitive Mr Bingley.

A lovely man , the Facebook page brought  so many of us together  in  some cases for the first time in 30 years ( even my closest friends there I haven't see in 5 ) it was  good to catch up even though in such sad circumstances.  It was  such a  special occasion in so many ways,  remembering the people we were as well as honouring Nigel, the years just melted away. At  a time when I'm facing up to huge changes and saying goodbye to friends and colleagues  at work, meeting up  with old friends means such a lot to me.  We exchanged contact details and are determined that we'll meet more often in future.

One friend , Julie Scott,  who I did A level art with,  went to art college  while I went to university and I've been thinking seriously about paths not travelled and the opportunities  now to take them up again.

 Melanie  kindly collected me from  the station and took me back to lunch with her mother  who still lives in the village. Pip Sumbler was one of my mums best friends  and  it was lovely to see her, still stitching (  she has a quilt in book by Dilys Fronks ) and we found we had some quilting contacts in common.
I don't believe much  in  a physical  afterlife  but  the power of  retaining   memories of people you know and love,  both living and dead.  and sharing and passing on their stories,  has been reinforced and amplified  over the last few weeks.
 

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