I am really missing the support and chats with my dear friend John Elliott who has become a father figure in my life. Most months, I’d check in to hear what subjects he planned to cover for his features and to share our opinions.
Then at other times, we’d have long calls just to ‘chew the fat’.
I knew when not to ring, during the News or the cooking shows, not that he was a cook, he left that to his lovely wife, Cait. I also knew not to call him after 7.30pm when he was ready for bath and bed. Having made that mistake once when he became a ‘cantankerous old bugger’, I say this with deep love for this man having a tired and grumpy moment. Only us Kiwis will realise how much of a compliment that is to my dear friend. He followed it with an apology, and as true friends do, we forgot about it and moved on.
Over recent months when John has been unwell, I have taken it upon myself to extend my letters to the editor into some features, knowing that I am not filling John’s slippers, let alone his shoes.
It’s been weeks since our last brief call when he complained about hospital food - and no wonder, in comparison to Cait’s cooking. He has been too ill to chat with since. Hopefully, he’ll soon get back to telling stories of his days in parliament with an office next to Winston and when Muldoon was Prime Minister, or of the current woes that affect us in the community that he loves.
Gael Baldock, Community Advocate
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