THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT...

...chatting about old times!

Those who have been following me for quite sometime will remember Keith, Mr. HCB’s cricket buddy, with whom he spent many happy hours driving to watch their team, Gloucestershire, play cricket.

Sadly Keith died on 1st February 2023, but his son, Graham, who lives in America still enjoys coming back to England.  He often comes during the cricket season, and a couple of weeks ago, Mr. HCB had an email from Graham, with a photograph, asking if he could guess where he was sitting?  Mr. HCB knew immediately, as he recognised Lord’s Cricket Ground in London - and although he doesn’t normally feel jealous, I think he did a bit when he saw that photograph!

In the same email, Graham said that he would be in Swindon for a few days and would love either to go out for a coffee with us or come and visit - so we opted for him visiting us at home, particularly as I knew I would be tired after a morning at the Community Fridge, as I was.

He arrived spot on 2.30 -  the time arranged - and from then until he left at about 4.30, the conversation flowed - we drank tea, ate biscuits and chatted and listened in equal measure.  The subjects included cricket, football, how Keith, Graham’s Dad would or wouldn’t have liked certain things, schools, playing the piano, which Graham does really well, Graham’s 8 day walk across Dartmoor and generally reminiscing about various other subjects.  In fact, I told Graham that we speak about Keith a lot and Mr. HCB said he still misses him - such was the depth of their friendship and Mr. HCB often says to me that it isn’t the same without Keith!

It was soon time for Graham to leave, so I asked whether I could take a photograph of him and Mr. HCB in the garden because I hadn’t taken a photograph for my Blip today.  Graham knew about blipping because often when he was over in the past, he would drive Keith and Mr. HCB to cricket matches - you can see them here on one of those trips back in 2017.

I took about 35 shots and heard Graham whisper, in an aside to Mr. HCB “How many photographs is she taking?”  Well, you know me, I just kept shooting as they kept chatting in the garden!  The sun was at a strange angle, so I needed to know I had the right shot, because there wouldn’t be another chance!

I’m not quite sure what Mr. HCB was saying to Graham at the time, but I can imagine that Mr. HCB would have said something like “I just let her get on with it!”  

It was a lovely afternoon and after a quick shower of rain the sun came out, so we were able to sit in our conservatory - which Graham said was the nicest he had seen - and enjoy the sunshine, the garden and one another’s company.

We are so thrilled that Graham took time out to come and visit us and as he was leaving, Mr. HCB told him that he would be welcome to come over next year and go to a Gloucestershire match with him - and particularly the Cheltenham Festival in mid July - from the look on Graham’s face, he might just do that - and I know that Mr. HCB would be delighted.  We all know that Keith would love to know that the friendship that was between him and Mr. HCB is continuing with his son, Graham.

Graham, like us, is a Christian, so I was telling him about my little wooden hearts, so I gave him one to bless him and lots of others to bless people he meets on his travels! 

Thank you for all your lovely comments yesterday about Rachel and Dorothy - I apologise for not responding, but after my busy day and an evening out singing, I was ready for bed when I got home!  

We are at a wedding tomorrow and staying overnight, so comments might be rather sparse again, so please forgive me in advance.