God speed

This blog is dedicated to my father, James Alexander Webster, 16.10.1929 – 26.02.2022.

27th February 2022

After a few days of trialling my contact lenses I think we can count them a success – and not just because they highlight my beautiful eyes. Whilst they have not brought my vision up to 20/20 they are a definite improvement. Things close to are much clearer, mid-distance is still a little shaky but better while distance is pretty much as it was. A qualified success which means I will probably keep them till the operation, and maybe after if I get enough fan mail.

Whilst the week started quietly for me, it was on the road for Stephen, destination Milan and Linea Pelle. He had decided to give it a miss this year, but intense lobbying from Manuel persuaded him to change his mind, especially as his bff was going to drive him there. He also saved on accommodation as Manuel’s son is at university in Milan, so Stephen slept on the sofa in the rented studio apartment. It was maybe not the most comfortable two nights’ rest he has ever had, but not the worst either, and I think he was able to do justice to the fair before getting the train back on Wednesday (Manuel was staying for the full run). He broke his journey as usual in Bologna for a tour of the shops and quick visit to a potential customer before catching the train to Civitanova where I was waiting for him under the clock to whisk him home.

As for me, I was gainfully occupied all week, both while Stephen was away and when he came home, with a record breaking sixteen lessons over six days, including four on a very busy Thursday. I did, though, find time to squeeze in the usual Conad shopping trip on Tuesday morning, where I was politely accosted amongst the fruit and veg by a lady of advanced years. She was holding out a broken car key, the metal blade having come away from the plastic casing, and asking me if I could help. Why me? I can only assume it was because I was the only man in view and not knowing me, she didn’t know that I am to anything practical what Boris Johnson is to cogent thinking.

Still, ever willing to be of help, I followed her out to her car and did my best to open it. I put the blade in and took a firm grip between finger and thumb, and to my delight it actually turned in the lock. Unfortunately, it didn’t have any effect no matter how many times I tried. Undaunted, I tried the passenger door but that was no better. I then tried to use it by putting it back in the plastic casing and holding this firm, as there was something in the back of my mind about signals and remotes, but again there was no joy – and when I heard the case make cracking noises I thought I had better stop.

At this point another elderly lady passed by, one who obviously knew my damsel in distress, who asked why we didn’t try the remote control. “Because it doesn’t work,” was the reply – and indeed, the car did look of such an age that that assertion was hardly surprising. I had, I must admit, exhausted my ideas and looked apologetically at the lady, who thanked me. I headed back into Conad and my abandoned trolley but before I made it to the doors I heard a faint click. Turning round, I saw the woman looking triumphant as she had managed to unlock the car. She thanked me again and I said how happy I was, while quietly thinking that it was only because I had managed to loosen it for her…

After all the lovely weather we have had, things changed dramatically yesterday, a day of persistent rain, which in some ways was appropriate as it was also a day of some very sad news. My father, James Webster, passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning after a short illness. It is difficult to know how to sum up a life of 93 years in a few words, and to say that he was a decent, hard-working man who always did his best for his family, helped others whenever he could and treated everyone with respect, might somehow be inadequate – but maybe those are the very values that we all should try to emulate.

Good speed, Dad, and rest in peace.