Joke

I bet you think the title of today's blip is Joke, as in a gag, a funny, a humorous story and you would be wrong.

I will mention here that the photo is a last minute, find a photo for today blip. It is my little courtyard in the evening light, with some lights amongst the Wisteria.

So to Joke, actually pronounced 'Yo-ka' all in one syllable. Joke is my friend, from the Netherlands. We met at LC where we both worked as Guides for probably 12 years or more. We had a funny moment when she asked one day to borrow a book, and so that I didn't forget I put a post it on my notice board at home that simply said 'Joke - Book' . My son wanted to know why I was taking his joke book away! He still refers to her as Joke as in the gag type Joke instead of her name.

Joke has had some hard times in her life and last year she lost her husband and best friend, Bertil. He was a wonderful, witty, clever man who it was my privilege to know. Cutting the story short as she wouldn't want her life paraded in my blip, she is now back in the Netherlands and the contact we have through Face time and Scrabble online is precious.

Last week she plucked up an enormous amount of courage and made the journey over, on her own to stay with a friend over here and meet up with old friends and of course vist us at LC. I saw her on Friday and again today before she flies home tomorrow. Today, we talked about our loves and losses: we cried together and we laughed together and as we said goodbye and walked in opposite directions, I felt an immense sense of sadness that it would probably be a long time before we could share those thoughts and feelings and a hug or two.

Thank goodness for FaceTime! Date arranged for the next call on Sunday.