What a week.

My best friend in France, Anne Waterson, died last thursday night.

She had breast cancer, but only found out about it after the secondary tumor in her cervical spine was diagnosed. She has had a terrible summer, with surgery and chemotherapy but I dont think she ever complained more than to regret missing the nice weather.

She died unexpectedly, at home - her heart just packed up with the strain of the treatment. It was very quick, and she and her husband, John, were spared the nightmare of a long, drawn-out final illness. But it has been such a shock to us all. John is devastated, of course.

Ann & were planning a trip to Guingamp next week to get her a wig - that would have been a retail therapy trip with a tale to tell! It still makes me smile to think about it - should she get a dolly parton beehive? a punk crest? blonde or redhead? We had fun just discussing it. In fact thinking back over my all-too-brief friendship with Ann, joking, smiling & laughing are part the overwhelming majority of my memories. That is something to hold on to.

So it has not been the best of weeks. One to get through.