Six word Saturday

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Said goodbye to a dear friend

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Vivienne Frances Blake

1.12.1937- 5.7.2016

We met through Six Word Saturday, and so I thought it would best to say goodbye this way.  I had no idea that, when I returned from the Algarve, the vital force that was Viv Blake had already departed this life.  I posted my six words last week and waited for the response that inevitably came, but this time it didn’t.  I can’t begin to describe the feeling that washed over me when I went to Viv in France to ‘tap her on the shoulder’, and found her daughter Sally’s message.  It was an invitation to the funeral, in Newcastle-on-Tyne, this Wednesday.

I went, with not a little uncertainty.  There I finally met warm and welcoming Jock, whose creativity Viv always celebrated on her blog. Abba played us in with ‘Thank you for the music’ and a very personal service began.  Sally read ‘The poetry of every day’, chosen from the hundreds of poems written by Viv.  I’ll share a snippet :

‘Agenda similar, routine unvaried

until I’m out there,

eyes everywhere

glorying in small shy hedgerow flowers

or exuberance of roses round cottage door… ‘

Just a fragment of the poetry that was Viv’s daily currency.  She could conjure a poem for any given situation, and that included her own epitaph. Not morbid at all, she’d had her health issues and was impatient with the frailties they imposed (especially if ‘that quilt’ wouldn’t turn out quite the way it ought, by Viv’s high standards).  It was read for her by close friend, Linda, who I know best as Tillybud.  Handel’s ‘Let the Bright Seraphim’ and then an emotional performance of ‘Send in the Clouds’ by Judi Dench brought the lump to my throat.  This is her resting place.

I met Viv only once, at Northumberlandia one bleak March day, but it’s a day I’ll never forget.  Those bright eyes twinkled at me with a fierce intelligence, but a love of laughter and of life.

Viv was a constant support and encouragement around my blog. Though she lived the latter part of her life in France, she knew and loved so many of the places I’ve written about in the north east of England.  Places like Hareshaw Linn and Middleton-in-Teesdale recalled fond memories for Viv.

I was in awe of her facility with words, and her desire to go on feeding her brain.  Music, I knew, was one of the loves of her life.  It wasn’t easy to write this but, as I did, what should be on TV last night?  ‘Strictly at the BBC Proms’.  Like myself, Viv was an enormous ‘Strictly’ fan. How Viv would have loved it!  It seemed fitting to watch on her behalf.

God bless, Viv!  RIP.  Six words won’t be the same without you.

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114 comments

  1. Pingback: Jo’s Monday walk : Spanish City | restlessjo

  2. I remember seeing her face on your blog, Jo. I’m so sorry to hear about her death. It was fitting that you wrote a tribute to your fellow blogger here. But also touching that you were able to meet her in person and attend her funeral.

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  5. Such sad news and such a lovely tribute, Jo. It’s wonderful how friendships are formed through our blogs. I’m so glad you had the opportunity to meet Viv in person and share a special day together.

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  6. Jo this is such a lovely tribute to your friend, I didn’t know her but I wish I had. Her personality is shining brightly in those smiling blue eyes, big hugs darling.

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  7. So glad you were back in time to go to the funeral, and what a beautiful epitaph this post will be of Viv. Huge loss for our family, friends and the blogging/creative world.

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    1. It was a huge shock, Becky! I was glad to be there to say my goodbyes, and her family were all lovely.
      I was just thinking to myself this morning that I hadn’t seen you around. Still busy with family stuff? Hope it’s working out.

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      1. Hi yes life full of social and health care assessments for my mum and dad. Nipped back home last night so got today and tomorrow to catch up on things before I’m back down to Somerset on Tuesday.

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    1. Thanks, Heather. It does feel very strange that Viv won’t be chipping in and commenting any more. We used to prompt each other about when Cate’s 6WS post was up to link to. Occasionally it didn’t appear at all and we’d just shrug and carry on. I’ll miss her.

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  10. I know you must be feeling sad, but this is a grand and fitting goodbye Jo. Viv would have been delighted with this. I didn’t know her, but often read your chats on here. She will be missed by many.

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    1. Thanks, Jude. I know your feelings on funerals but I almost felt compelled to go. Disrupted my ‘normal’ week, and I haven’t quite got it back in place yet. The cemetery is on the outskirts of Newcastle, and I’d been there once before for the Dad of my lovely friend Pam, who lives up there. I remember that day as wet and miserable. As I headed up the A19 on the bus on Wednesday huge storm clouds gathered and we had thunder and lightning followed by a terrific downpour. I smiled to myself- the Gods are angry 🙂 By the time I reached the cemetery it had ‘steam dried’ and a watery sun was out. I only knew Sally, Viv’s daughter, but everyone was very friendly and welcoming, and it wasn’t a sad ceremony. Tilly had a long way to travel and fell foul of the trains so she arrived late. I felt so sorry for her. She read Viv’s epitaph brilliantly but was in bits after. Send in the Clouds got me.
      Sorry, Jude. I just needed to share that.

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      1. Sounds like it was a good celebration of her life and that’s nice. The way it should be. Do you mean the song Send in the Clowns by Judy Collins? Never understood the lyrics, but great song.

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      4. Absolutely! Floods of tears actually, but I got a grip. Thought I was Gilly there for a moment. 🙂 Speaking of whom, I know I owe you an e but it’ll be after the famed meeting. I’m cogitating. Painful! 🙂

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  11. I was shocked (still am, actually) to read on her blog that she had died – she had just posted something a day or two earlier. You have written a lovely tribute to her and how wonderful it is that you were able to go to the funeral and say goodbye in person.

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    1. Me too, Elaine! Because she’d not been in such good health lately, I wasn’t aware that she was visiting Sally again. It was a real shock, and I just about had time to gather my wits to attend the funeral. I was so glad that I did. 🙂

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  16. I had only recently discovered Viv’s blog bit was really enjoying it. I was only just beginning to feel like I was getting to know here when I read that she was gone. This is a lovely tribute to her, Jo.

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  20. Oh, Jo… I’ve been so terrible with commenting lately but Viv was always such a solid presence nix 6WS. I’m glad you met, both online and off, and that you shared such a beautiful tribute with us. If I didn’t have much time, her posts were often ones I favored because she had such a way with words. It’s clear she will be missed by many.

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    1. Thanks, Cate 🙂 I do understand that you have a very busy life and running a challenge is hopelessly time consuming, but I owe you a lot. You brought us together.

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