Barry James,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Barry_%28painter%29
This month has been very emotional, with Richie’s dad dying on the last Saturday in October, which was very upsetting, especially for my darling Richie.
The only positive was the fact that Tom, Richie’s dad was no longer in pain that was I think a relief for his family.
So glad he came over and spent some time with us in Amsterdam in 2000, he was a very charming and lovely man, a real gentleman.
We took him to lots of places; we ate at the Melkweg restaurant, one of the big music venues which he enjoyed tremendously, being somewhere so hip and in.
We also took him to our favourite coffee shop the Basjoe, in the Nieuwmarkt, the oldest part of town.
A lovely place run by two brothers, James and Leo, who were charmed we had brought Richie’s dad to their coffee shop and greeted him very warmly.
They organised the best spot on heir terrace for us, was pleasant sitting there with Tom, watching the boats go by on the canal and the people walking by.
Shame he could not have stayed longer than he did but it was good to meet him and spend time together.
When he left Richie was up at the bottle bank getting rid of our empty bottles and found himself wondering if his dad had enjoyed himself while he was here.
At the moment he realised he had just thrown away 6 empty Spanish bottle of bubbly and decided that his dad probably had a great time.
It is always a big shock when your parents die; mine died at the beginning of 2000, within 3 weeks of each other.
No wonder I was so happy to meet Tom, he was then 85 the same age as my dad and also very interesting to talk with.
Since Tom’s death Richie has been very worried about Spike not being able to walk and my impending operation.
What an emotional month it has been and no wonder that tears have flowed and sleeping has not been easy.
