MY TIME WITH BOB

It all began in 1990. I had been watching 'The Joy of Painting' for several months and I had fallen madly, deeply in love with Bob Ross. He was always inviting his fans to write to him and so I did. I told him how much I admired him and that I would love to meet him. To my surprise he replied and said that if ever I visited the States I should let him know and he was sure we could arrange a meeting. I wrote back straight away and said that if we really could meet I'd make arrangements immediately. His next letter made me feel as though I had died and gone to heaven: he said that it would be more convenient for us both if I visited whilst he was filming in Muncie, Indiana, then we could spend some time said that all he needed to know was the date of my flight and my e.t.a. Then he said he would be able to book me into a hotel and send someone to collect me from the airport. To finish what I was sure must be a dream, he gave me his phone number, saying it would be easier to speak rather than keep writing.

I immediately visited the Travel Agents. When I explained that I had never flown before they were very helpful. Within a few hours I had a flight booked and was due to arrive in Indiana in two weeks time.

As soon as I arrived home I rang the number that Bob had given me, my heart pounding in my ears. The phone rang for what seemed a lifetime, the truth slowly dawning on me that no-one was there. Had it all been a beautiful dream? I was just about to hang up when the answerphone piped in 'Please leave your name and number and we will return your call as soon as possible'. Suddenly my world was bright again. I gave my details and hung up. About 9.00 pm that evening the phone rang. Could it be? …. I was almost too scared to answer. …. Yes, it could . I'd have recognized that beautiful voice anywhere.

'Hello Katrina, it's Bob'.

I could hardly speak 'Hello Bob, it's so kind of you to phone back'.

'No problem, Now have you made your arrangements?'

'Yes' and I calmed my voice enough to give him all the details.

'OK, Katrina. I'll get your hotel booked and arrange for someone to meet you at the airport, and I look forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks' time'.

'It's so kind of you to do all this for me, Bob'. I was shaking so much I wondered if he could make out what I was saying!

'Nonsense. I'm flattered that you're travelling all this way to meet me'.

I wanted to say' I'd travel to the ends of the earth to meet you', but instead I said 'I'm really looking forward to seeing you'.

He replied 'I'll give you a call the day before you leave, just to finalize everything. OK?'

'Yes, and thank you for phoning'.

'My pleasure', he said, and hung up.

I had spoken to Bob! I couldn't believe it.

The next two weeks passed in a flash. There was so much to evening before my flight Bob phoned as he had promised. Everything had been arranged. I couldn't believe it. I was on my way to meet the man of my dreams. Before I knew it I was on the plane, on my way to meet Bob.

After what seemed a lifetime we touched down in Muncie, Indiana. I was suddenly very afraid. The airport was swarming with people. I was alone, halfway across the world, and had no idea of the whereabouts of my luggage. I needn't have worried. Bob was true to his word. I suddenly saw a young man holding up a sign with my name on it. I hurried over to him. I said 'Hello, I'm Katrina'.

'Hi, my name's Chris. Bob sent me to collect you. He said it's your first time in the States.'

'It's my first time flying as well. I just wanted to meet Bob.'

'Ah, he's a lovely guy and he loves his fans. Now, my car is waiting outside, shall we go?'

'I've got to collect my luggage first'.

'Right, we'll collect that, then I'll drive you to your hotel'.

An hour later I was safely in my hotel room, unpacking my suitcase. Chris had told me that Bob would pop in to see me once he'd finished filming that evening. I couldn't believe what was happening. I was convinced that I would wake up and it had all been a beautiful dream. But a dream or reality, I was determined to savour every beautiful moment. I got myself freshened up and changed, hoping that I didn't look too tired after what had been an exhausting day. But exhausting or not it was about to become the most wonderful day of my life.

Just after 8.00 pm there was a tap on my door. I suddenly couldn't breathe and I had forgotten how to walk! Somehow I made it to the door and, on opening it, there he was - all 6'2" of him!

'Hi, Katrina, welcome to Muncie' and he wrapped his arms around me. I wanted this moment to last forever. But of course it couldn't. As he unwrapped me I spluttered 'Would you like to come in for a moment?' He did - and as I was secretly hoping that he would ravish me there and then - he said 'I wondered if you'd like me to take you for something to eat ….that's if you haven't eaten already?'

'No, I haven't' I replied..

'I know a nice little restaurant where I normally go after filming. Is that OK with you?'

'It'd be lovely' I said.

It was indeed a lovely, Intimate little place. He introduced me as 'a friend he'd met through the show and who'd come all the way from England'.

I was told 'Any friend of Bob's is a friend of ours'.

We placed our orders and while we were waiting for our food Bob asked me about my flight. I told him it wasn't as bad as I'd imagined and that the stewardesses were very nice.

He said 'They usually are when they realize it's your first trip'.

He then asked about Faversham and if we had any art classes there.

I told him 'no' and he said 'Oh, we'll have to see about that then' and laughed.

Then he said 'In one of your letters you told me that you don't paint - you just watch the programme.'

I said 'Yes, I just love watching you and listening to you talk'.

'So many other people have told me that. It's strange'.

'I just love listening to your lovely Southern accent'.

'Well you'll hear plenty of it while you're here. Now come on - let's eat' he said, as the food arrived.

After we'd eaten Bob drove me back to my hotel. As he dropped me off he said 'I won't come in. It's always an early start when I'm filming. Would you like me to send someone round tomorrow to take you on a guided tour of Muncie, and show you all the sights?'

'I'd love that. Thank you, Bob.'

'OK. I'll get them to give you a call first to arrange a time, then perhaps we can meet up again about the same time tomorrow evening?'

'That would be lovely. Thank you so much.'

'My pleasure. See you tomorrow.'

He gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, and sped off in his car, leaving me tingling all over.

He was as good as his word. Next morning a young lady with a beautiful Southern drawl phoned me. We arranged a time, we met up and she showed me all the sights. It was a lovely day … even better, knowing I was seeing Bob that evening.

Just turned 8.00 came the tap on the door. I'd had my hair washed and blow-dried that afternoon at a salon Susie, my guide, had recommended and I was wearing one of my favourite dresses. I saw the look of appreciation in Bob's eyes as I opened the door. 'Shoot, Katrina, you look a million dollars.'

'Why, thank you, Bob. You look pretty good yourself'. I suddenly realised that I was feeling much more relaxed in his company. That seemed to be the effect he had on people.

'I thought I'd better wear slacks tonight as I managed to get rather a lot of paint down my jeans today. Jane, my wife, has the rather unenviable task of trying to remove it. The really bad ones usually end up in the trash.'

'Doesn't your wife mind you taking other ladies out to dinner?'

'Heck no, she's used to it. She's down there in Florida looking after the business with Walt and I'm up here, or travelling around with Walt's wife, Annette, who laughingly calls herself my manager. We film here four times a year but we manage to get home for a few weeks in between. It's hard, but it's good - for me at least. I get to do what I love doing - painting.'

'Don't you ever tire of it?'

'No, it's something I've always wanted to do, and now I get to do it all the time. Well, most of the time' and he gave me one of his cheeky grins. 'Come on, let's get going, gorgeous, I don't know about you, but I'm starving.'

I felt that he was completely at ease with me now, and I was beginning to feel the same. It almost felt as though we had known each other for years.

We went to a different restaurant this time and had a lovely meal. I noticed a couple of people staring at him, but nobody bothered us.

He dropped me off outside the hotel again, and said 'Same time tomorrow'. I said 'Yes, lovely'. He said 'Would you like to spend the day with Susie again?'

'Yes please, as long as you can spare her',

'Well I daresay she's enjoying herself as well. Makes a change from the TV studio. You can spend the day shopping, or whatever it is that you ladies like to do. Spare a thought for me working hard.'

'But you love what you're doing?'

'Yes, I wouldn't have it any other way'.

He gave me a hug, a kiss on the cheek, said 'God bless - see you tomorrow' and jumped into his car and was gone.

The next two days followed the same pattern, but on the second evening as he was leaving, he said 'As it's Saturday tomorrow Susie's got the weekend off, so how about me giving you a sight-seeing tour? We've got some lovely country around here. Not as good as Alaska of course [he laughed] but not bad for the U.S. I think I can lose Annette for a couple of days.'

'I'd love that' I said, wondering if this holiday could get any better.

'Shoot. What time do you want me? Are you an early bird?'

'Not particularly' - [though I'd have got up in the middle of the night to be with him.]

'How about 10.00 - a.m. that is?' He added cheekily.

'Perfect' I said.

'OK, Katrina, see you tomorrow'. The usual hug and kiss and 'God bless' as he sped off in his car.

Needless to say I didn't get much sleep. I was up, showered, dressed and ready by 9.00 o'clock. The next hour dragged by, the tick-tock of the clock on the wall sounding like a leaden weight. 10.00 o'clock came and went, but no Bob. By 10.20 I was beginning to panic, but then came that familiar tap on the door and I let out a sigh of relief. As he freed me from his usual hug he said 'Sorry I'm late. Jane called just as I was ready to leave and I couldn't really say "Sorry, dear, I can't talk now, I'm spending the day with another woman". Don't know how she'd take that!'

'I don't want to get you into any trouble'.

'Don't be silly. She's used to me. She knows I'm the biggest flirt on the planet. I see you're all ready, looking as gorgeous as ever. Shall we go?'

I felt so proud, walking out of the hotel with him and getting into his car, knowing I was going to spend the day with him.

After a while he stopped the car and said 'If you've watched any of the recent programmes you'll know that I'm an animal fanatic, and I wondered if you'd like to visit the lady who looks after all the injured and abandoned wild animals in Muncie? We call her the Bird Lady.'

Because I knew it meant so much to him I agreed, although I must admit I would much rather have had him to myself.

We pulled up outside the sanctuary and Bob took me by the arm and led me over to the woman standing with an injured bird in her hand. 'Katrina, this is Diane Shafer - we call her the Bird Lady' … 'Diane, this is Katrina from England, who has been visiting with me all week.'

'Hello Katrina. Has Bob told you about all our little friends?'

'I've seen him talk about them on his programme and I know how much he loves them.'

'Yes, he's done so much for our little sanctuary here.. I don't know what we'd do without him'.

We spent about an hour walking around, with Bob stroking or holding every animal that he could. It made me realise just what a gentle, caring person he was.

When we left he gave Diane a hug and said 'I'll see you soon'.

She said 'Bye, Bob, see you. Nice to meet you, Katrina. Safe journey home'.

I hugged her too and said 'It was lovely meeting you. Take care'.

Once back in his car Bob said 'How do you feel about going to the woods with me? Well, it's the nearest thing we've got to the woods here!'

I laughed and said 'Will I be safe?'

'I wouldn't bank on it' he said.

Very soon we pulled up outside a large park. He said 'This is a nice place. How about stretching our legs?'

'Yes, I'd like that. We might even see a squirrel. I've never seen one close up.'

'You haven't? Well, you'll see plenty here. I've got some blueberries in my pocket and they're hungry little beggars. Might even see a rabbit. You HAVE seen a rabbit?'

'Yes, and don't be so cheeky.' I went to slap him, but he dodged my hand.

'What about raccoons? You don't have those wild in Britain, do you?'

'No. But I've been watching a programme on TV at home called 'Beauty & the Beast' and there's a raccoon in that.'

'Oh, yes, I saw that a couple of times. About a lion-man, isn't it?'

'Yes, Vincent. Fancy you watching something like that'.

'Oh, I'm an old romantic at heart. Now come on, let's go and find some squirrels.'

From that moment I think I loved him even more, if that was possible.

We walked for about an hour, stopping every now and then for Bob to squat down and take a handful of blueberries from his pocket and throw them just in front of us. Within seconds several of the little critters [as he called them] would appear. They seemed so tame - a few of them even let him stroke their heads - almost as if they knew how much he loved them.

By now it was early afternoon. Bob suddenly looked at his watch and said 'Heck, it's about time we had something to eat. There's a hamburger bar not far away - are you OK waiting here while I drive over there?'

'Yes', I said, 'but I only want a small one - I know how big your portions are.'

He looked at me and winked. He said 'Everything's big over here, Katrina'.

I slapped his arm, he laughed and was soon gone.

I suddenly felt very alone. I realised just how much I was going to miss him once this holiday was then I realised just how lucky I had been. How many other TV personalities would have taken time out of their busy schedules to entertain a fan? He truly was one in a million.

About 20 mins later he was back. He took his burger out then handed the box to me. I looked at the size of it and said 'I don't think I'm going to manage all this.'

'No worries' he said. 'Leave it in the box and I'll take it home and put it in the trash. I've got some iced tea as well. I know how you British love your tea.'

'I've never had iced tea'.

'There's a first time for everything', he said grinning.

'Bob! Anyway. I feel awful - you keep buying me meals. I wish you'd let me pay you back'.

'If I can't treat my guest - who happens to be a lovely young lady - to a few meals - then it's Agony City. For your sins I might even cook you something myself tomorrow.'

'That would be lovely'.

'You haven't tasted my cooking yet! It might just be my dastardly plan to keep you here a few more days - you'll feel too sick to travel!'

'Oh, Bob, I wish I didn't have to go back so soon.'

'All good things come to an end, my sweet. You've had a good time, haven't you?'

'Oh, Bob, it's been wonderful'.

'Well, we can keep in touch, and , who knows, maybe we can do it again one day'.

'Oh, that would be wonderful'.

'OK, enough chat. Eat up your burger then we'll go and look for a raccoon.'

We didn't find any raccoons, just a few more 'Peapods' as Bob called his favourite squirrel.

After an hour or so, Bob said 'Well, I think it's time we started back, then you can get yourself freshened up for our hot date tonight'. He put his arm around my shoulders and we walked back to the car. As he dropped me off at my hotel he said 'I'll see you about 8.00. Is that OK?'

'Yes, see you later'.

'You bet' he said as he sped off

True to his word he was back at 8.00. I said 'I'll bet you'll be glad when Monday comes and you don't have to keep running around after me'.

'No, I won't, Katrina. I've really enjoyed this week and I'm gonna miss you.'

He gave me the strangest look and, just for a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me … but the moment passed and he said 'Where shall we eat tonight? Would you prefer somewhere more classy?'

'No' I said. 'Let's go to our usual place. I like it there'.

'Probably just as well. An up-market joint might not let me in wearing jeans!'

He took me to the small restaurant where we had our first meal together. I said 'I wish we could go back to last Monday again.'

He said 'All good things come to an end. Anyway we finish filming next week and I'll be back in Florida for a while'.

'I bet Jane will be glad to see you'.

'Yes. We don't spend as much time together as we should. I'm always travelling around with Annette doing shows. I'll be in Central Park beginning of next month, then Hank Snow - I'm dropping names here - has asked me to do a spot on his show. I'm looking forward to that. I love Country music.'

'So do I!'

'Really? How about I send you a tape of the show, once it's filmed?'

'I'd love that. Thank you'.

'Just my excuse to keep in touch'.

'You don't need an excuse'.

'You probably won't hear much from me while I'm moving around, but when I'm back in Muncie I can give you a call'.

'That would be lovely'.

Our meal arrived just then so we didn't talk a lot more until he was about to drop me off at the hotel. He paused for a moment, then he said 'Can I come up with you?'

'Of course you can', I said, my heart thumping.

He was very quiet until we reached my room. He pushed the door shut, then he said 'I'm gonna miss you like hell next week.'

'I'm going to miss you too - so much. I wish I didn't have to go back.'

'But you do. That's life, I'm afraid. Now, what are we gonna do tomorrow?

Let's make it extra special.'

'I thought you were going to cook me a meal.'

'No, I was joking. I can't even fry an egg'.

' You said that on one of your shows.'

'You're welcome to come to the apartment though. It's got a big yard and there's a fish pond'.

'And a tree that chases you around?'

'Katrina, you're as mad as I am. I guess that's why we get on so well.'

Suddenly he pulled me really close to him, tilted my chin up with his finger and kissed me really hard. I could feel his heart thumping and I knew at that moment that he really wanted me. He pulled away just as quickly and said 'I must go. I'll pick you up at 10.00 - OK?'

'Yes' was about all I could manage before he was gone.

I was even more nervous than usual waiting for 10.00 that morning. Sad too…. Very soon this whole beautiful week would be over ….just a memory. I didn't want it to end. After being so close to Bob for so long how could I go back to just watching him on TV? But I knew I had to …. Real life was waiting …..my dream was almost over.

Suddenly the tap on the door brought me back to reality. He was here and we had to make the most of today.

I opened the door and there he was. The sight of him still made my heart thump.

'Come in' I said, as he seemed to hesitate.

'Are you sure - after the way I behaved last night?'

I looked into those lovely brown eyes and said 'I'm not complaining'.

He seemed to relax then, and came in and pushed the door shut. 'Do you still want to come back to Peachtree Lane?'

'Is that where you live? What a lovely name.'

'It's only a small apartment, but it's got a lovely big yard. I told you about the fish pond. I might even let you feed the fish - that's not an honour extended to everyone…..only special guests.'

'Well, thank you so much, sir. I'd be honoured'.

'OK then. Grab your gear and let's get going.'

He opened the door and we were soon in his car, heading for Peachtree Lane.

He unlocked the door and , as I walked inside, I thought my heart would burst. I was going to spend the whole day alone with him. But then it hit me …. By this time tomorrow it would all be over and I'd be on my way to the airport.

Suddenly I felt his arm around my shoulder. 'What's the matter, Katrina? You look sad. Are you wishing you hadn't come here?'

'Oh, God, no. I'm just thinking that by this time tomorrow it will all be over'.

'Well then, let's make the most of today. Shoot - that sounds like a song! Come on - let's go out the yard'.

We walked through three rooms to get to the yard. In one of them was an easel with a half-finished painting on it. Bob saw me looking at it and said 'That's a picture I'm working on for the next series'.

'So you have to plan ahead?'

'Yes, I usually get all the pictures painted before the series starts. We try to film 4 or 5 episodes in a day, so, by the time I get home at night I don't feel like planning tomorrow's painting. I'll tell you a secret. I always have a copy of the painting I'm doing in each episode hanging up just off camera, so I can refer to it. If I didn't I'd sure as hell get confused over which one I was doing for each show. Mind you, saying that, I had to paint from memory the whole of the second season.I had all my pictures stacked away in my trailer ready to drop off at the studio and somebody broke in it and got away with the lot.'

'Really?'

'Yep. So I had to paint from memory for the whole season'.

'And you managed?'

'Just about, but I wouldn't want to have to do it , enough chit-chat - let's get outside.'

It was a very large garden with a sizeable fish pond near the back. I said 'I bet there are a lot of fish in there'.

'Hundreds' he said. 'Takes all my spare cash feeding them. If I forget, they get out the pond and come marching up to the back door, demanding food'.

'You silly devil', I said.

'Takes one to know one'. He handed me a loaf. 'Here - you can go and feed the hungry little critters. They probably won't shout at you'.

I took the bread and went down to the pond. There were indeed hundreds of fish in there and they looked very well fed.

'Shall I give it all to them?' I said.

'Yes. Keep them quiet for a while.'

After I'd finished my duties I went back and sat with him on a bench. He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer. He said 'I sit here and look at the clouds. It's where I get a lot of my ideas from'.

I said ' Since I've been watching you paint I find I'm looking at clouds - and nature in general- far more closely.'

He said 'I'm glad. That's what I keep telling people to do. Nature is a beautiful, wonderful thing. Even a dead tree is beautiful - in its own way.'

'You're such a wonderful person' I said.

'I don't know about that.' He laughed. 'I just happen to be mad on nature. Some people would say 'mad' period, but I always say that artists are allowed to be a little 'different'. That's what makes us so lovable' - and he laughed.

We sat there in silence for a while. I was content just being close to him with his arm around my shoulder. After a while he said 'What would you like to do for lunch? Would you like to go out somewhere?'

'No' I said. 'How about you making us a sandwich?'

'I think I can manage that. Then we can have a slap-up meal tonight'.

'I'd rather stay in' I said.

'OK - I can order something in - but are you sure?'

'Yes. I'd rather have you all to myself'.

'You might wish you hadn't said that by the end of the evening' he said, squeezing me tighter.

'I doubt it' I said.

He looked at me and I was lost in the depth of those brown he stood up, 'I'd better go and make those sandwiches'.

He reappeared about 15 mins later with a plate of sandwiches. 'Just ham and tomato, I'm afraid', he said.

'My favourite' I replied.

He sat down beside me - very close -and I could feel the tension building between us. After we finished eating he said 'Would you like some iced tea? There's some in the fridge.'

'Yes please. I'm getting to like it.'

'Is that all you're getting to like?' he almost whispered.

'Definitely not' I said.

'What else do you like?'

'Well, let's just say that there aren't many people that I'd travel half way round the world to meet.'

'I think you need rewarding for that'.

'So do I'.

He stood up, held out his hand and taking my hand in his, he led me to the bedroom.

About an hour later, as I lay there in his arms, he said 'We never did have that iced tea!'

'Are you sorry?' I said.

'What do you think? I just think I'd better not mention iced tea on the show anymore, because each time I think of it I'll think of today'.

'Will that be a bad thing?'

'No, Katrina, it'll be a wonderful memory. I'd just better be careful where and when I think of it'. He hugged me tight and kissed my forehead. 'Come on, sexy, else it'll be too late to order our meal for tonight.'

'Thinking of food again?'

'Well, I don't know about you, but I've just managed to work up an appetite'.

We got out of bed, got dressed and he looked up the number of the local Takeaway. 'Right, what shall I order for you?'

'You know what I like'.

'Yes, I know what you like, but I'm talking about food.'

'Bob! Stop messing around.'

'You didn't say that just now!'

'Are you always like this?'

'No, only when I've had a really great time and I wish it wasn't going to end.'

'Oh, Bob'.

'Right, I've got the number. I'll just order what I think. OK?'

'Yes, please.'

I was standing in his Living Room, looking at his half finished painting, when he came up behind me and put his arms around my waist. 'What do you think of it so far?'

'I like it., but why the red in the sky?'

'It's going to be sunset. Would you like to have it when it's finished? It's not worth much now, but you never know ….perhaps in a few years' time it might be!'

'I'd love it, and I'd never part with it. But don't you need it for the show?'

'Yes, and I've got to paint it twice more once this one's done. This one will be used for reference on the show, then there's the one I paint on the show, then another, more detailed one for Annette to use in her books. By the time I've done the third one I'm sick and tired of the sight of it!'

'I bet you are.'

'I'll get Annette to send the third one on to you once she's finished with it.'

'Thank you so much'.

'You're very welcome. I'll always think of it as our painting. If you see me smiling when I'm painting it on the show, you'll know why.'

'May I touch it?'

'It's still wet'.

'I don't mind'.

'Go ahead then, but don't get the paint on your clothes. It's a hell of a job to get it out'.

I pressed my finger into the red paint of the sky, then rubbed it onto the leg of my jeans.

Bob shouted 'What are you doing? I've just told you ….'.

'I don't mind. It'll always remind me of today. Anyway I've got plenty more jeans.'

'You're mad - you know that?'

'I haven't ruined it, have I?'

'No, I'd be yelling a lot louder if you had! I can paint over it - it's still wet. Come on, let's go back into the garden. The fish'll wonder where we are!'

We sat out the garden. When our meals arrived we sat eating them on our laps. When it began to get dark Bob said 'Do you want to go inside? I don't want you getting cold.'

I said ' No, it's lovely and peaceful out here. Oh, Bob, I don't want tonight to end' and I began to cry.

He took me in his arms and he said 'But we knew it had to. I'll never forget our time together and I promise I'll keep in touch. Maybe, if circumstances were different…..'and he kissed me on the forehead.

'What do you mean?'

'I think you know what I mean'.

Ten o'clock came and he said 'I'd better drive you back to your hotel. You've got an early start tomorrow.'

I took a final look at the apartment, then got in to his car. We drove back in silence. I had the feeling he was as sad as I was. When we arrived at the hotel, he said 'May I come up with you?'

'Of course', I said. 'I'd be disappointed if you didn't.'

Once we reached my room he pushed the door shut and took me in his arms, crushing me against him. He kissed me - a kiss that took my breath away - a kiss I will never we both got our breath back he said 'I'll send Chris to take you to the Airport tomorrow. He's the lad that picked you up ….was it only a week ago?' He paused, laying his hand on my cheek 'I think I'd better go now, before I say things I shouldn't. You'll never know how pleased I am that you wrote to me all those weeks ago. I'll never forget you .' He gave me one final kiss and was gone.

I carefully took off the jeans, being careful not to smudge the red paint, undressed, washed and went to bed, but sleep eluded me. All I could think of was Bob. Chris picked me up as Bob had promised and took me to the Airport. I thanked him, he wished me good luck, and I boarded the plane.

Once we had taken off I must have fallen asleep as I remember nothing more … until …..

I woke up …in my bed. I looked at the calendar - July 2022. It had all been a dream - and yet it was so vivid in my mind. I could almost taste Bob's lips. I got up, made myself a cup of tea, read the newspaper, washed and began to get dressed. I put on a t-shirt, and then the first pair of jeans that were available. They were hanging over the back of a chair, which was unusual. However, I pulled them on and checked myself in the mirror. There, down the front of the left leg was a patch of red paint …..

Katrina Relf 20.8.22