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Eulogy from Nick the Bookman:
Linda Memorial 25/5-2015
It's about 1000 on 25/5/2015 and a small group has gathered outside The Bank/"Tinhead" to pay tribute to Linda who died in a horrible fire at her house on Good Friday. Today would have been her 69th birthday.
Anyway, there's Sharon and Jim, Claire, Tamara, Annie Knibb, Mike (without wife Roz) from Hung Shing Yeh, the other Roz from HSY (who can't stay), Michael and his daugher Bory and me, your humble scribe. We're all going to make our way up the hill to The Castle, which was Linda and Alan's first home on Lamma. Now occupied by Annette, who has kindly allowed us to use her little garden area for the gathering. Jim has brought along a small white hibiscus bush to plant in Annette's garden as a tribute to Linda. It's a nicer idea than mine which would be to draw a picture of a blue plaque on the wall twixt The Bank/"Tinhead". Saying "Linda sat here 2013-2015".
Anyway, our dogged little group is making its way up Tai Peng Hill where we'll be joined by Debbie, Jill, Annie (from Pak Kok), Jane and Marcus and Dee from across the road who's wandered over to see "What's up, dudes?" If I've forgotten anyone, my apologies. But you all know who you are. Jim has kicked off the ceremonies by making Bloody Marys for all who need them. There's also wine and cold beers and some lovely munchies. Good toast and a delicious banana cake. Sharon is recording the event on her iPpad and there are some beautiful photos of Linda affixed to the wall of The Castle.
Mostly they're recent photos of Linda's last few months. Coupled with the lovely head shot of her ballerina days. Taken from Alba's "Lamma, My Island" dog-umentary. There's a haunting one of Linda in a wheelchair with Jane, Sharon and Annie standing behind her. A chance for Linda to get out and about and hang with the Lamma Ladyhood. Well done.
There is also one absolutely haunting photo which I hadn't seen before. It's a shot taken at The Shrine in Tokyo in 1973. It's a beautiful shot of Linda with a million kilowatt gorgeous smile and Alan on her right. Teeth gleaming through his bushy black pirate beard. It's a couple with everything to look forward to in their lives. Although in hindsight, there's a pre-sentiment of terror in the photo, Looking ahead to the disasters yet to befall them. The picture is mostly black and white. A little greenery on the left hand side slipping into sepiablackandwhite. It's like an inner-sleeve of an old Fairport Convention LP. Bare ruined trees where late the sweet birds sang. And Linda and Alan looking like two matched parts of some old acid-folk band. Caught on the cusp of greatness. Linda is probably 27.
Alan is about 30. Prime of life stuff. And although they were considered to be the Black Sheep of their respective families, their union lasted over 45 years. Until Alan died of a possible heart attack on 7/5/2013. Linda post-survived him by a little less than two years.
And it was sad to see her gradual decline. Thanks in part to a malign friend of Linda's, who most definitely wasn't invited today.
Long term friends will know who I mean. 'Nuff said, except that it's best to remember them by this photo.
Linda and Alan were A Family. Despite being outcasts from their own families. And she really could have used some love and care from her own family. Especially after Alan's demise. I remember one time (turn of the Millennium?) when a relative came to visit.
Mostly, I remember a blonde bouffant beehive hairdo with a nice(ish) lady underneath. But I also got a sense she was "slumming". Linda and Alan were living "up the other hill" in their final home at this point. She was ecstatic about her family visiting. The house was neat and tidy. Wiz did some extraordinary carpentry work in the kitchen.
They weren't embarrassed to have friends and family popping by.
Anyway, we've spent about two hours at The Castle. Sharon has recorded a lot on the iPad. She's played "20 Million Things To Do" by Little Feat which was one of Linda's favourite songs. Jim has planted the white hibiscus bush and left a photo of Linda underneath it. We've all toasted her memory and it's about time to go. Sharon finishes off the ceremony with a lovely poem called "Three Sisters Are We". Written by Barbara Greenway and Lesley Neilson, And forgive me ladies. I'm taking your approval on trust and printing it here and now. Thank you
in advance. ntb
Three Sisters Are We
We are three sisters,
three sisters are we.
Now, we know we've had our troubles,
which we always tried to get through.
The real message is we hope you loved us,
as we always loved you.
We've had lots of good and bad times
that we'll never forget.
Sometimes we worry
and sometimes we fret.
But of God ever gave us
something special you see.
It might have been the blessing of,
Three Sisters Are We.
God has given us lots
of Happiness, Sadness and Glee.
But the most special thing he did was
make us sisters all three.
Goodbye Linda, we hope you find the peace in
Death
that you couldn't find in Life.
All our love always,
Barbara and Lesley.
(For the record, this is the Second Draft of this story. The first one was a bit richer in imagery, but the sodding auto save didn't do its job and I lost the whole piece in the electronic ether when I tried to send it to Lamma-Gung. I hope this one has caught most of the flavour. Again, thanks to everyone who turned up.) ntb
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