Friends

01 March 2018

NEIGHBOUR AND FRIEND



An ex-neighbour, Doug, died recently.  I knew him for almost thirty years and he was a great neighbour. 

Doug had been in a nursing home for about three years. Joe used to visit him there but I didn’t go. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see Doug but I felt they needed some man talk and so I didn’t get to see much of him. Sadly, Doug died a few weeks back. He had suffered with dementia for some time and eventually it took his life.

He was a man on his own. He had been married once but it only lasted a short time, and his parents had long since died. He had cousins but no close siblings or children, so his life was a trifle lonely. He made up for being on his own by helping neighbours, particularly those with animals that he could look after. He was an animal lover through and through and always looked after our dogs when we went on holidays or days out. He did the same for all neighbouring pet-owners.

My Joe, Doug and another of Joe's friends were keen on trains and along would travel the country to see some of the old engines that were brought out specially to please the train spotters.

I was invited to go to the funeral, along with other neighbours, and to attend the Wake afterwards. At first I thought I wouldn’t be able to go because of lack of transport but a neighbour offered to take me so I was able to accept the invitation. I was pleasantly surprised to see so many neighbours there. Even the sisters who took over Doug’s house were there, though they only knew of him from neighbours.

The Wake was held in a local pub and someone had done a photo display of Doug and others. Imagine my surprise to see photographs of my Joe on display. The photographs had been taken on some of the outings Joe and Doug had, mostly at railway events. At the end of the occasion I was given some of those with Joe on. How wonderful is that? 


(Left to right - Doug and Joe)

13 comments:

  1. Always sad to lose a friend and good neighbors are a blessing.

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  2. Wow, Valerie...you knew him thirty years! Doug sounded like such a great man, giving of his time by helping others. And I think it's wonderful that you were given photographs in which Joe was present.

    Sorry to hear about your loss, dear friend. And I'm glad that you were able to attend the wake.

    X to you and Charlie

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  3. It's nice that you could catch a ride. I couldn't see the photos, but I'm sure they were a welcome sight. Hugs!

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  4. Ron, yes, it was a long time that we had Doug as a neighbour. I think he was brought up in the bungalown next door. Fortunately the new neighbours are very nice and very helpful, just like he was.

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  5. Sharon, I had trouble uploading the picture with Google but I thought I had solved the problem. Darn it!

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  6. How nice that he made friends and helped people instead of hiding away. He sounds like a nice man. I didn't see the photo of Joe - I think it didn't upload perhaps - but great for you to see them!

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  7. Jenny, the photo shows at my end but not on the blog. I have had a few issues with Google not recognising stuff. Back to work.....

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  8. Sounds like he wasn't so lonely after all.

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  9. Sadly I can't see the photo but having just discovered some photos of my Dad in my parents loft recently I can totally relate to how you are feeling about seeing new photos of Joe!

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  10. Hurts so much to lose a friend. I can imagine he really looked forward to your husband's visits.

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  11. Valerie it was so good that you got to go to Doug's funeral, he sounds like he was a wonderful man and if he was a friend of Joe's that made him even more special. I am glad that you got the pictures of he and Joe together, sorry that they are not showing up here though.

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  12. The photographs must have been wonerfulw to look at. It's good to treasure our family and friends.

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  13. My thanks to everyone for your comments. Our awful weather has put computers etc out of action so am having to use iphone to send this. Thankfully some posts are scheduled so will probably appear before I do.

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