I have lived in the same street for 52 years.
I was young, green and heavily pregnant when we moved into our house.
Our next door neighbours were a lovely couple with a young curious lad of about 4 years of age.
We always got on well with our neighbours.....helped one another out....they were like an extension of family.
Marian looked out for Nicola (she had wanted a daughter of her own, but it never happened).
Nicola went to tea every Tuesday....and skipped in and out of their house like she lived there.
The son grew up, Nicola grew up.
Marian got Alzheimer's....was looked after at home by Jim....until it became unsafe for them.
Then she went into a home.
Jim would set off each morning, take little tidbits of food to tempt her....he would sit with her all day, help with whatever she needed....and this went of for about five years....then Jim's beloved Marian died.
It broke him....we could not mention Marian without it bringing him to tears.
He missed her so much....every day.
Over the last ten years we have looked out for Jim....when I cooked for us I cooked a meal for him too.
It was my payback for the way Marian looked out for Nicola....and it was no hardship for me to chuck another spud in the pan.
Cooking for Jim meant that himself got to eat food I would not cook for just him...food that I would not eat...liver and onions, cod in prawn sauce, lamb chops, hotpot...so when Jim needed an operation earlier this year we did not give it a thought that he would not come home again.
No he did not die, but he had a stroke.
This meant he was in hospital being rehabilitated for a while.
He seemed to be doing alright and we were looking to get him home.
I told his son that I would carry on cooking and I would help.out with other care.
Why would I do all this....well over the years we have grown to think of Jim as family( he reminded me of my dad....also a Jim)...we cared about him.
His birthday came around and if he had been at home I would have made him his favourite tea...liver and onions.
I,promised that this would be his first meal when he got home.
Jim got pneumonia, twice....this really knocked him sideways....wiped out all the progress he had made.
It was decided that he should go into a nursing home for short term care.....Hope House.
He settled in well, liked the food(all home made) had a lovely room, lovely lasses looking after him, activities, days out, company...but still we aimed to get him to come home.
This was not to be.
A few days ago he was found in his room, unresponsive....so was blue lighted to the hospital.
It was clear that this time he would not be coming home.
He had sepsis.
Sadly Jim left us today....and I feel like I have lost my dad....certainly a dear friend.
Jim was the very epitome of a gentleman
In over half a century I have never heard him swear, or say a wrong word about anyone.
Today the world lost a lovely man.
We hope that Jim is in the arms of his beloved Marian.
We do know that he is at peace, his sadness and suffering ended.
Sleep tight Jim, we love you and miss you.
I was young, green and heavily pregnant when we moved into our house.
Our next door neighbours were a lovely couple with a young curious lad of about 4 years of age.
We always got on well with our neighbours.....helped one another out....they were like an extension of family.
Marian looked out for Nicola (she had wanted a daughter of her own, but it never happened).
Nicola went to tea every Tuesday....and skipped in and out of their house like she lived there.
The son grew up, Nicola grew up.
Marian got Alzheimer's....was looked after at home by Jim....until it became unsafe for them.
Then she went into a home.
Jim would set off each morning, take little tidbits of food to tempt her....he would sit with her all day, help with whatever she needed....and this went of for about five years....then Jim's beloved Marian died.
It broke him....we could not mention Marian without it bringing him to tears.
He missed her so much....every day.
Over the last ten years we have looked out for Jim....when I cooked for us I cooked a meal for him too.
It was my payback for the way Marian looked out for Nicola....and it was no hardship for me to chuck another spud in the pan.
Cooking for Jim meant that himself got to eat food I would not cook for just him...food that I would not eat...liver and onions, cod in prawn sauce, lamb chops, hotpot...so when Jim needed an operation earlier this year we did not give it a thought that he would not come home again.
No he did not die, but he had a stroke.
This meant he was in hospital being rehabilitated for a while.
He seemed to be doing alright and we were looking to get him home.
I told his son that I would carry on cooking and I would help.out with other care.
Why would I do all this....well over the years we have grown to think of Jim as family( he reminded me of my dad....also a Jim)...we cared about him.
His birthday came around and if he had been at home I would have made him his favourite tea...liver and onions.
I,promised that this would be his first meal when he got home.
Jim got pneumonia, twice....this really knocked him sideways....wiped out all the progress he had made.
It was decided that he should go into a nursing home for short term care.....Hope House.
He settled in well, liked the food(all home made) had a lovely room, lovely lasses looking after him, activities, days out, company...but still we aimed to get him to come home.
This was not to be.
A few days ago he was found in his room, unresponsive....so was blue lighted to the hospital.
It was clear that this time he would not be coming home.
He had sepsis.
Sadly Jim left us today....and I feel like I have lost my dad....certainly a dear friend.
Jim was the very epitome of a gentleman
In over half a century I have never heard him swear, or say a wrong word about anyone.
Today the world lost a lovely man.
We hope that Jim is in the arms of his beloved Marian.
We do know that he is at peace, his sadness and suffering ended.
Sleep tight Jim, we love you and miss you.