Kikoy

Well, of course there was more!

So, to continue from yesterday's blip...

One morning a couple of years ago, at 5 o'clock I received a call on my mobile from an unknown number. I didn't answer.
Later that day I received a text
"Hi this is H. I called you in error I got your number from 'A', some time ago, but didn't dare call"
'A' was a member of the family I'd been staying with in deepest Africa, and she had got my number from my cousin.

I called him straight back, we talked and talked. We exchanged emails and that was the start of a new correspondence, still the same beautiful writing style, but now a daily, rather than monthly exchange. His emails always ended with the phrase 'A thousand Huge lion hugs' - which sounded perfect to me.
It was a lifetime of catching up, of families, careers and wonderful memories. He is still living and working in deepest Africa, with children - and grandchildren!!

Then, one day, an email saying he was coming to England on a business trip and would love to meet up.
I travelled to the south coast to meet him for lunch.

I didn't recognise him initially, that skinny, lanky lad had grown into a giant lion of a man, yet, in contrast, the previously big hair was greying and cut very short. As I walked towards him, he lifted me off my feet in a huge lion hug, then, we stood and just looked at each other soaking up the intervening years.

Lunch was difficult to eat as we grinned at each other continuously.
It transpired that H had come to England to study and lived only 5 miles from my home for two years!!

"Why didn't you get in touch?" I asked.
"I phoned once and your father answered and was rather rude. I didn't want to upset you and your family."
It sounded unbelievable.

We had a truly wonderful day, but as expected there is still a wife back in deepest Africa.

We're still in touch, and occasionally, I get an email imploring me to visit, but I couldn't trust myself and I wouldn't want to upset his family.


This image is of the Kikoy he gave me on that day.

It is the perfect garment to wrap myself in and wallow in all those romantic memories.