Just have to put up with it!

Well who'd have thought it? I certainly couldn't have imagined a more frustrating day than yesterday. Guess life is full of surprises.

Years ago, I had a studio just off the Goldhawk Road. Next door was an old laundry on it's last legs. The old fella who ran it was an Indian chap called Ray. He was a lovely fella, but always full of woes. Generally it was about the economy and how tough it was remaining in business, sometimes it was about his health and how it was a miracle in itself that he was still breathing and, now and again, it was about his daughter. He was clearly very proud of her - and rightly so - finding a way to moan about what she was doing now or next, but his tale always veiled with that pride.

He was the archetypal old Indian fella, moving his head from side to side as he spoke, gesturing with his hands adding emphasis to all the right words. He never fished for compliments. He was genuinely bathing in his own glory and simultaneously his regret at not having had the opportunities himself.

Anyhow, to the point. I was in that studio for over three years, seeing him most every day in that time. He would often dry clean stuff for me. If I were busy, I came to regret bumping into him as he would take up so much of my time. Whatever his story of woe for the day was, he had his own way of concluding it and letting me know it was time to get on with work.

His final words would always be the same as he made movements to get on with his work, and they would be "...what cannot be cured must be endured." His accent was so broken that it took me many months to get what he was saying as he said it so fast, but it became a catch phrase around the office for a while.

So whilst out taking Dilly for his walk tonight, the rain clouds cleared away and left this most amazing sky as the sun sank below the horizon. It was the best part of my day for sure and I found myself reflecting wise words, mimicking. "What cannot be cured must be endured!". RIP Ray. I miss your tales.

Best large, at least you can see the moon.