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
And against a garden wall, the sweet peas were climbing
I followed the footpath out of the village
And down the lane, peering in the hedgerows
For little beauties such as this
And this
And gossamer drifts, like these
The elder flowers have been prolific this year
There’s a farmyard smell or two
And it’s not always pretty when you look over the farmer’s wall
But there’s beauty enough if you look for it
And, like Christine, I always do
The insects always seem to find it, too
It comes in all shapes and sizes
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
restlessjo 
Reblogged this on morselsandscraps and commented:
Christine had a very strong presence in the world of blogging. Friends from that world are paying tribute on their own blogs. I re-blog to honour Christine and to acknowledge the warmth and reality of friendships cultivated in the blogosphere.
LikeLike
Thanks, Meg. This is a typically kind thought from you. What a wonderful friendship you two might have had, given a little more time. We none of us know ‘how long’, do we, but Christine certainly lived her life. I’m in bits again this morning reading all the comments. Take care, Meg.
LikeLike
I didn’t know Christine, but I feel I missed someone very special. Your walk in her memory is a beautiful way to recognize her many talents and to find some personal comfort in taking the time to do so. And her husband and family must know how respected she is in the blogging world and are touched by these tributes.
LikeLike
I am amazed that as many people who didn’t know Christine as the ones who did have left such lovely comments, Lynne. I thought she might have been known to you and Ron. You would have loved her. Thank you.
LikeLike
A beautiful tribute for such a wonderful woman, Jo. I had just started to get to know Christine and was really looking forward to spending more time with her posts. Now I’m so sorry…
LikeLike
Shocking, the suddenness, Lisa. I can’t imagine how Stuart will cope.
LikeLike
I didn’t know her…but I’m sure she loved the walk you took for her! Reading through the comments, I could tell how shook up you were when you first heard.
LikeLike
I think we were all totally unbelieving, Sherri. She was so full of life! Thank you.
LikeLike
Oh Jo, Christine is smiling, what a beautiful tribute to a talented photographer, loving wife and obviously a friend to many. My thoughts and prayers go out to Stuart and his family. Christine was certainly blessed with a loving husband.
LikeLike
You never know what’s coming next, Jill, do you? At this time yesterday morning I still had no idea! Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLike
No we don’t, Jo. I know you’re hurting and I’m very sorry.
LikeLike
A beautiful walk in memory of Christine, Jo. I love your remembrances of her and the sights you saw in her honor. I know she would have been perched on your shoulder for the walk, and she would have marveled at every bit of nature. Lovely, Jo. What a sad piece of news this morning. xxx
LikeLike
Hi Cathy! Sorry I announced it to you in such a fashion. I was still in shock when I found your post. What a morning! The comments on here have me in bits all over again. Hugs, darlin.
LikeLike
It really is so sad, isn’t it, Jo? Especially considering that she wasn’t sick and had a perfectly normal day. It could happen to any of us. You’re right, we have to remember to love each other and to appreciate each day. Hugs, Jo. xxx
LikeLike
Dear Jo, I am so glad you did this walk for Christine. I was stunned when I read Vale Christine; punched in the stomach is right, and I hadn’t a clue what to do. She loved participating in your Monday walks so this was a great tribute. In fact it was through one of her walks that I came to your blog. Hugs to you.
LikeLike
I didn’t know where to put myself yesterday, Ann. It was such a shock! A friend was picking me up at 9.20 to go to t’ai chi, my normal Wednesday routine, and the last thing I wanted to do really. I threw some clothes on and took my camera with me, thinking I might walk back and ‘clear my head’. The idea came to me during the class and I couldn’t wait to get out and do it. It is a very simple walk, but full of beauty. I lingered a long while. Hugs to you, too. She touched a lot of lives.
LikeLike
ho letto incredula, ed ho seguito la passeggiata tra i fiori che la tua dolce anima le ha dedicato, penso sì, che anche Cristina ti fosse accanto, con la sua grande vitalità, la sua grande intelligenza e simpatia che tutti noi blogger abbiamo amato ed apprezzato
ti abbraccio con affetto
Annalisa
I read incredulous, and I followed the walk among the flowers that your sweet soul dedicated, I think Yes, that Cristina will be next, with its great vitality, his great intelligence and kindness that all us bloggers we loved and appreciated
I embrace you affectionately
Annalisa
LikeLike
Annalisa, I know Christine loved you too. She was always in your Comments whenever I visited. Such a sad thing to happen, and still so hard to believe. Hugs, cara.
LikeLike
So sad to read this news this morning, Christine seemed like a wonderfully caring person, and will leave a hole in the lives of a lot of people.
It will be a comfort to Stuart to read your beautiful tribute to her. She will still be with you on your nature walks that she enjoyed so much.
LikeLike
So many comments, Barb! Such a lovely lady and so sudden that it’s still shocking to me. I think she would have enjoyed our little walk.
LikeLike
A very touching way to celebrate Christine’s life – her death so terribly shocking and she only left me a blog message yesterday. I shall miss her even though we only communicated virtually – lovely lady.
LikeLike
I had a busy day yesterday and didn’t spend too much time around the blogs, Laura. When I saw Stuart’s post this morning I could scarcely believe it. There was a post after the one she sent me (of Glastonbury Tor) and I wanted to leave a comment. But she had already gone. I am glad that she lived her life so fully and so well, but I will miss her. Thanks for your comment.
LikeLike
thank you for drawing my attention to Stuart’s post – I was away much of today and missed the shocking news. My reply to her comment yesterday seems so misplaced now.
Christine has left a big void amongst her virtual friends – shows what a special person she was
LikeLike
Oh Jo, I am just catching up with blog posts now after a crazy day and I am so shocked and very sorry to read this post but my oh my, what a beautiful tribute to your dear friend. I didn’t know Christine and all I can say is my prayers go out to her husband and her family at this terribly difficult time and to you too for your loss. Hugs to you my friend… xx
LikeLike
A shocking day, Sherri. I’ve just read Madhu’s tribute to her too. She was so full of life, only yesterday! Thank you so much. Poor Stuart!
LikeLike
A terrible shock…
LikeLike
Meine Gedanken sind jetzt bei Dir und Stuart. Ich wünsche ihm ganz viel Kraft, den Schmerz zu ertragen.
G. l. G. Jochen
LikeLike
Danke, der Berliner 🙂
LikeLike
Beautiful tribute, Jo. I didn’t know Christine, but she was clearly a very valued blogging friend, and your images and walk are a lovely way to honour her.
LikeLike
It’s strange, the blogging world, isn’t it, Sue? I’ve been surprised at how many people in my circles didn’t know Christine, yet each and every one of you ends up feeling a little like family. I met Christine right at the start of my blogging journey and she’s been a friend ever since. Thanks for commenting, Sue.
LikeLike
I agree, the blogging world is curious, I do feel I’ve got to know so many interesting people, yet I have never met any of them yet! Blogging friends are very valuable to me….
LikeLike
Oh, goosebumpy sad and such a beautiful tribute. Thoughts and prayers go to Stuart.
LikeLike
He must be numb, Cindy. They were such a close family. How do you start again after 45 years? She’ll be there in spirit, helping him.
LikeLike
Oh, Jo. It comes as no surprise to me that you should conjur up such a touching tribute to your friend. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend hold on to your sweet memories as you walk the walk. Smell the roses, Jo. Smell the roses. ❤️
LikeLike
Lovely to have you out there, Gem. You have to be due some more owls 🙂
It all pales into insignificance, doesn’t it? Hope you’re doing ok.
LikeLike
😉
❤️
LikeLike
The sweet peas are beautiful!
LikeLike
She was a beautiful lady. It’s very hard to believe that it’s past tense.
LikeLike
What a lovely tribute to a beautiful person, Jo. Your post makes me cry, too. Christine always left positive comments on my blog and I always enjoyed her wonderful photographs from another part of the world. It is good of Stuart, who must be in shock as well, to make time to write of Christine’s passing, so all of us who exchange friendship via blogging, would know of the tremendous loss. It takes time to digest his words. For them to seem real.
Your walk and photographs are a beautiful response to this sad and awful news.
Thanks for sharing your acknowledgment of the her live well lived! We are going to miss her terribly but I can’t even imagine how Stuart and the family must feel.
LikeLike
No, Ruth, you really can’t imagine that. Wonderful that she had the holiday and the chance to meet up with them again in Paris, but her being so alive then must make it all the more unbelievable for them. I’m glad you liked the post. As always, you worry if you are doing the right thing. She was such a dear lady.
LikeLike
When I read Stuart’s very sad news, this morning, I had to do a double-take. I couldn’t quite believe what I was reading. Only yesterday, I had the usual cheery comment from Christine on this month’s CBBH Photo Challenge, when she told me that she would be sharing some beautiful wildflowers from Andalucia on her post.
I too had a little cry when I told my husband the news, because he and I met up with Christine and Stuart when they visited Malaga, last month. Like you, Jo, Christine and I have been blogging friends from the beginning and we swapped many emails as she planned their trip to Europe. She so wanted to make the best of her time in Andalucia, and I’m pleased just how many of my recommendations she and Stuart followed.
It was a joy to finally meet up with Christine and Stuart as they arrived in Malaga city on their final day in Spain. They were flying to Bristol in England the next day, but we had a precious afternoon together – taking in the smells and tastes of Atarazanas market, eating delicious tapas and then a whistle-stop tour around the Malaga Street Art, more tapas (when I got to look at some of Stuart’s delightful sketches), down to the new Muelle Uno port, into the central park and finally onto the Roman Theatre and Alcazaba. We parted company there, said our fond goodbyes and promised to accept their kind invitation to stay with them at their home in Australia, next time we visited.
Christine was a gentle soul, very caring and interested in everything around her. She took so many photographs on that afternoon we spent together, whilst unusually, I took so few.
Life is so precious, yet fragile, and we really should grasp it with both hands and make the most of every single moment.
Just like Christine.
My heartfelt sympathies go to Stuart and the family at this very difficult time.
Marianne xx
LikeLike
Thanks for that, Marianne. I knew you must be wounded by it. I haven’t seen a post about your meeting yet, but wasn’t sure if I had missed one. It puts it all into perspective, doesn’t it?
Awful for the family, to lose her like that. I still find it hard to believe and I’m sure Stuart must be in shock. I hoped my post wouldn’t be an offence to them but it was what was in my heart. Take care, hon.
LikeLike
Jo, I am sure that if Stuart and their family read your post, they will be so proud that Christine had so many virtual friends. The comments reduce me to tears, I wish I’d known her longer. It all feels so unreal, I cannot imagine how the family feel. This sort of thing truly rocks you.
Jude xx
LikeLike
You didn’t miss the post about our meeting, Jo. Because they flew back to Bristol the next morning and then moved around for a few days, Christine sent me a message to say that she hadn’t been able to write up about our meeting as she hadn’t had much wifi access (or writing time), but was looking forward to posting about it later. Bless her 🙂
LikeLike
Dear Marianne and Jo like both of you i’m devastated by this news, I’ve cried all day and don’t seem to be able to stop. It’s taken me hours to be able to write to Stuart and post about the time we spent together. Losing Christine is terrible I feel so very sad.
LikeLike
Gilly, I’m so sorry! I knew Marianne had met Christine and Stuart but I’d completely forgotten that you did too.
I’m on Meg’s blog at Morsels and Scraps. She was very close to Christine too. It’s all so sudden and an unbelievable shock. She had so much joy in her family. They must be beyond grief. Hugs, Gilly! As Meg said to me earlier today ‘Live well’. That’s all you can do.
LikeLike
Gilly, of course you will remember that Christine brought you some Spanish olive oil that she so carefully chose for you, when she was with me in Atarazanas market. We chatted about the connection that was made, being with me – yet buying a gift for you. She kept asking me to “ask the man… this … or that, in Spanish” about the oil and the goat cheese she bought. She knew exactly what she wanted 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I can see it from where I’m sitting n the kitchen, thank you. We also talked about you, she loved meeting you and wished for more time 🙂
LikeLike
Jo! I’m stunned! STUNNED! I am at work, and not reading blogs, but saw the first few words of your post in my email notification and had to stop what I was doing to read! I’m in disbellief. I just last night tried to get caught up with her. I haven’t yet read Stuart’s words, but I can imagine. They had a true love relationship. I have considered Christine my long distance friend and I, too, am fighting tears. Oh I’m so glad they just had this marvelous trip-of-a-lifetime. My heart hurts for this precious family. A BIG loss to so many people. ox Debra
LikeLike
Sorry, Debbie. It’s a terrible way to find out, isn’t it? I could not believe what I was reading as I read Stuart’s words. How could it be that this lady so full of life? You have to feel for the family, Deb. I’m so sorry.
LikeLike
It says something about them as a couple that Stuart took the time to share the sad news. He suely knew we cared about them. This is going to stay with me for a while, I think. I need to find a way to absorb what I can in much the way you did today. I have always been someone to appreciate the natural world, but Christine shared in ways that broadened my appreciation. I will remember her that way, I am certain. ox
LikeLike