Regrets

Todays photo, taken around 1972, shows Jeff standing on the left with me sitting in front of him, middle row, the other half of the photo shows Jeff in recent happier times.

Regrets, I’ve not many but now I have a new one, when the message ‘beeped’ on my phone today whilst watching rugby informing me that my good friend had died I felt an incredible wave of sadness come over me and I’m not ashamed to admit I shed a tear.
I have known Jeff for fifty years, served together, trained alongside each other, played rugby in the same team, drunk together, been drunk together, shared lots of good times and some bad.
So when Jeff became ill I said to myself I’ll get up and see him but there was always something that clashed, I messaged him and Diane his wife but it’s never the same. Then we set a definite day for me to go up, by now Jeff was alternating between hospice and home whilst receiving his treatment but sadly on the day Jeff was too ill for visitors.
I never got to see Jeff that one last time and that’s a regret.
So for my friend:

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea;

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark;

For, though from out our bourne of time and place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.