In memoriam - Molly, aka Amalarian

Having just realised that this is a minor landmark day in my blipping history, I wanted to make a small tribute to Molly.

As so many blippers have shown, she is so sadly missed since her sudden passing on May 8th, 2011. If any one reading this does not know her work, do please have a look at any of her blips. This was the last one she recorded, and there you can read the tributes we have all left.

She was one of the first blippers to welcome me, and as with everyone else, she was a daily presence in my short blip life from then on. Her encouragement, humour and observations on both our and her life was entrancing. Her photography captured her environment in the hills of Tuscany, like a small comic strip of local detail about people, plants and the place. If she was here now, I would mention to her the two kestrels that have just been flying together only 40 yards away from my window, as I write. She would have been interested and made a perceptive response, as I know she would be doing everyday for so many of us blippers. Probably she would have commented about how few birds there were around where they lived, from the pressure of the Italian's guns!

I know she loved investigating ruins, taking her camera inside odd places to let us all join in her delightful explorations. Today, I went inside this old building that we (Stroud Preservation Trust) trustees have been trying steadily to bring back to life - the Brunel designed railway Goods Shed, situated beside Stroud Station. We were showing around two people who will be responsible for advising whether another Trust should grant us about £30,000 for moving the building further forward. Fingers crossed.

Inside the old office section of the Shed was a room where the public would bring their goods, which they wanted shipped anywhere in the UK and beyond. The room was heated by a coal fire, and the fire's mantelpiece now has this box sitting on it. I've lifted the lid to show you a bit of old english life. The walls have not been touched since the building was abandoned by British Rail in 1966. The flaking distemper describes a bygone age.

My friend Bob C., who was a freelancer sometimes described his situation when he was a bit low on money as being boracic. It must have come from Borax, mustn't it? Any comments most welcome.

But more importantly, do revisit Molly's work and, without too much sadness, appreciate how much she contributed not just to the blip community but to the world. If anyone comes across Himself, please pass on my best wishes.

Blip Central kindly produced a special tribute to Molly, which you can find here , called the Tuscan Way.