The Railway Crossing
Looking south towards Ockley.
The sun shone one morning in Christmas week. David came over for a socially distanced walk. Most of Bobby’s walking is in the hills. Walking from Laurel Cottage to sandy or chalky locations means Weald mud first, or a short car journey. So they decided on a local muddy walk that encompassed this railway crossing. Suddenly the memories of 2013 came flooding back. And the realisation that Bobby hadn’t walked over it since.
In 2013, this railway crossing became part of an obsession that could have led to tragedy. You need to read our blog from 2017 that follows and realise that the alias “Jim” was, of course, Bobby himself. And note that, in Bobby’s madness, there were actually two railway locations chosen for disaster. Raynes Park Railway station and this crossing. Three years down the ‘line’, he is ever more convinced that the pills he was given were the root cause, together with GAD. The fact that the doctor came rushing round the day he got home from the hospital might suggest that he had read the records and realised that he was part of a catastrophic failure. Where two people were prescribing medication at the same time. This is now Bobby’s firm position.
He has also learned that the apparent indifference of the lovely lady was quite wrong. She had confided her fears in a close friend who finally told him quite recently. The most important section of the story is how Bobby, in his torment, for a while rang the Samaritans every single night. Sometimes twice. For weeks.
Looking north towards Holmwood.
www.mindfullybertie.org.uk/small-talk-saves-lives
Lighting a Candle for Diddley and John
John Rylett was a friend of both Diddley and Bobby as colleagues at work. She admired him for his calm, dignified attitude to life in general. Bobby admires him in discovering now that he had been a Samaritan for over thirty years. Helping people like him in their darkest moments. It was typical of him that he had never mentioned the connection.
This week’s candle is lit artistically by Kate. Who I now declare to be our “Resident Artist”.
More in the future
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Thank you for such an honest “Mindfully Bertie” this week. Thank you too for your tribute to John Rylett. A true gentleman, excellent team leader and all round jolly good chap. His team mattered to him. He will be missed by family and friends and former colleagues. RIP John
Agreed Fliss. Thank you
Thanks for championing my art! Honoured to be part of your blog/journey/life.
thanks to all those people who love and help other people… they’re the luckiest people in the world to quote barbara Streisand
Kate… you are now the Resident Artist for Mindfully Bertie. We have expectations of you to enhance the blog in future. It is us who are honoured.
What a delight discovering the writings of Bertie, Bobby and Eamonn so late in the day. I am looking forward to my regular reminders.
Dianne
Welcome Dianne. I write for a personal need and love sharing that with people who love life