A walk for Christine

Christine and Stuart, happy on their holidays

Christine and Stuart, happy on their holidays

Like many of you, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach, reading Stuart’s brave post this morning.  His lovely wife, Christine, ended their 45 years together in his arms.  Tears are not far away but I need to write this post.  Losing a friend is terrible, but losing a partner, thankfully, is unimaginable till it happens to you.

I know that Christine would want us to celebrate her life, and I’m doing that in the only way I know how.  This morning I took a walk in our English countryside, with Christine looking over my shoulder.  So often she has done just that, here on my blog.  She loved the beauty of nature.

The sheep were indulging their usual antics

The sheep were indulging their usual antics

And against a garden wall, the sweetpeas were climbing

And against a garden wall, the sweet peas were climbing

Following the footpath out of the village

I followed the footpath out of the village

And down the lane, peering in the hedgerows

And down the lane, peering in the hedgerows

For beauties such as this

For little beauties such as this

And this

And this

And gossamer drifts, like these

And gossamer drifts, like these

The elderflowers have been prolific this year

The elder flowers have been prolific this year

There's a farmyard smell or two

There’s a farmyard smell or two

It's not all beauty when you look over the farmer's wall!

And it’s not always pretty when you look over the farmer’s wall

But there's beauty enough if you look for it

But there’s beauty enough if you look for it

And, like Christine, I always do

And, like Christine, I always do

The insects always seem to find it, too

The insects always seem to find it, too

It comes in all shapes and sizes

It comes in all shapes and sizes

And not always easy to capture

And is not always so easy to capture

However could I have imagined, when I woke up this morning, that I’d be writing this post?  Was it only Monday we last exchanged greetings and she left me a link to Glastonbury Tor?  I can only be thankful for her friendship, and regret that we missed each other by just a day on her recent holiday.  I’m so glad that she had that happy time.

Such a wealth of memories Stuart has to look back on.  I know him very little, and of his drawings, only through Christine.  But what a thoughtful and amazing partner to have said goodbye, on her behalf, as he did this morning.  My thoughts are with him and the family she so loved.  She was a warm and caring person, who touched my life and that of many others.  Whenever I take this English walk now, I know who I’ll be thinking of.

Just one last English rose, for Christine

Just one last English rose, for Christine

 

 

145 comments

    1. Thanks, Tobyo. I tend to assume everyone knows everyone else because it feels so much like family sometimes. She was a lovely lady and I will really miss her presence.

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    1. Thanks a lot, David. We kind of feel like one big family sometimes, don’t we? It’s odd but very nice to have made so many friends this way. I appreciate the support.

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  4. Although I did not know Christine, I share your sentiments in that I have met so many wonderful people through my blogging, people I have come to think of as good friends. It reminds me of my younger days when we had pen pals to write & share with.

    Wishing you a peaceful heart. A lovely tribute to your dear friend Jo.

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    1. Thanks, Lynn. It’s amazing how close you can feel to someone you’ve never met, isn’t it? I met Christine very early in my blogging days and she has always been there for me. It’s a sad loss. Her poor family!

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  5. Your post has brought tears to my eyes again today Jo. Like you I couldn’t believe what I read this morning. It has been such a shock, and I can only think that Stuart must be in total shock to be able to think about writing on her blog and posting her final photos, though I am glad he has managed to let her blogging friends know. Such a traumatic way to go, and it brings home to all of us how fragile life is and how we must make the most of every day. Thank goodness she had that time overseas with her friends and family. Though she is going to leave a huge hole in all their lives. Beautiful tribute.
    xx

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    1. Hi Jude 🙂 I was in free fall for a while this morning. Not in the happiest frame of mind early on, then I read about the fire in Viveka’s basement (which they think is arson!) and then Christine! I didn’t know what to do with myself. I couldn’t believe Stuart’s post. Then a friend picked me up to go to t’ai chi. I really wasn’t in the mood. I grabbed my camera as I left and walked back from the village, my mind full of Christine. We so nearly met, but it wouldn’t have changed anything. I hoped Stuart wouldn’t mind me posting this, Jude. I feel so sad for him.

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  7. Jo I did not know Christine however I can appreciate how I consider many of my blogging contacts now true a friends. My sympathy to you. What a wonderful tribute you have given Christine this morning. I can not imagine Stuart’s loss.

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    1. Thanks, Sue. How foolish we are sometimes. This morning I was full of the miseries over Rafa’s exit from Wimbledon and a few small personal issues. Then I read about the fire in Viveka’s basement. And then Christine. And I should thank my lucky stars, and live for NOW. She was a really lovely lady who I met very early in my blogging days.

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      1. These terrible tragedies leave us with powerful messages about what we should do and value in our lives. In what I read about Christine from you and the comments on Stuart’s post she seemed like a wonderful person and one who would want you to live fully. Again my heartfelt sympathy to you my friend. Hugs across the miles.

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    1. She would be so proud of him, Viv. I could not assimilate what I was reading this morning but what a beautiful thing to do. I imagine he’s still numb. She will be a huge loss.

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    1. She was a lovely lady, Elisa, and we’d been friends almost from the beginning of my blogging. You get so attached, don’t you? Thanks for the kind words. 🙂

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  11. A wonderful tribute, Jo. Like you, I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. Christine was such a lovely woman. We have to live in the moment, be happy in the moment because it is gone in an instant.

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  13. What a lovely tribute to such a gentle soul. I too was shocked beyond measure when I opened Stuart’s message to us all. We will miss her cheerful post and comments here. I feel very privileged to have ‘known’ her. Thanks for doing this walk especially for Christine. I feel sure she would have loved to be walking right there beside you. xx

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    1. I hope so, Ad. We had tentative plans to meet in May/June but our dates just missed each other.
      Really, such a shock this morning! Right after I read about the fire in Viveka’s basement. She really will be a miss.

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  14. A lovely warm tribute to a lovely warm woman, Jo. I feel particularly sad to be so far away from the south coast: and the time-difference and babysitting make it difficult to connect with mutual friends. I too walked this morning in Christine’s company, trying to collect lions, but collecting other stuff I didn’t expect, as she always did.

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    1. I had thought that, about your distance from home, Meg. I know that for Christine it’s a good ending in some ways, but tragic for her family. How wonderful that she’d made that journey.
      Hugs, Meg. Be safe!

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      1. coming along slowly still hoping to wrestle the car back from me! As you know Dad was born in Leeds and was a keen walker himself when he lived in Halifax so enjoys flicking thru your pics, obviously with one hand he struggles to comment or like but he likes to see his home county

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    1. It’s funny the connections we make, Debbie, isn’t it? I’ve known Christine almost since I first started blogging. She was an English lass ‘down under’ who would comment on my Yorkshire posts and I was fascinated by her world. It grew from there. 🙂

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  17. Jo, I’m so sorry. I did not know Christine, but I do know how quickly and fondly we can become attached to our blogging frirnds around the world. Your photo tribute and dedicating your walk to Christine are a lovely way to honor her. I will keep all of you in my prayers.

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    1. Quite unbelievable, Madhu, isn’t it? The illness on the way home and then she was fully recovered and chatting on the blogs. I couldn’t take it in. Poor Stuart!

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    1. I got such a shock, Colline! One minute I was reading about the fire in Viveka’s basement and then Christine. We were trying to set up a meeting. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had a t’ai chi class and I walked home with my camera.

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      1. I agree. When I read the post written by Christine’s husband I was shocked. As you said, we just saw he pictures of her walk 😦

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