From: Ann Eagles
Sent: 07 February 2008 16:07
To: Rosee
Subject: Clare Blog Update

Hi Rosee, I hope you are well - I don't think I ever updated you on our trip out to Hong Kong and Bali for the blog- but do forgive me if I have, the old memory is not a good as it was these days. I'm also attaching some pictures for you.

Clare's Ashes

Syd , Julie and I flew to Hong Kong on 15th November, with Clare's ashes, albeit Julie was on BA and we were on Cathy Pacific.

Julie phrased it nicely I thought, she wanted to go to Hong Kong and Bali to' be on Clare's last world trip'

Being in Hong Kong without Clare seemed wrong - I have never been there without her before , when she was little and we lived there, she was an appendage to me, and later when she went back as an adult to live alone, I visited her and we explored old haunts and visited new ones. We both adored Hong Kong.

Nearly everywhere we went this time , I saw her, either as a child or an adult.We went to our 'club' for dinner - this is The LRC on Old Peak Road, on Hong Kong Island - Clare used to go there after school somedays to swim and we'd pick her up after work to go home, I still could see her standing there by the pool, a chubby ten year old, hands on hips , protesting as she wanted to stay longer. Syd's bills there, as everything had to be charged a members account, consisted of mainly, on a daily basis for 'chips, mars bar and the occasional swimming goggles' - after she grew more sophisticated (when she was eleven) chicken satay was added along with chips and mars bars!

We took her ashes out to Lantau island where she had lived on the Sunday, after arranging to meet her friend Karen at the Lantau ferry - and again we were met by Tania , Anne and other friends at Mui Wo. We had some very welcome gin and tonics at Karens , then went to Pui O beach at the end of the day to the spot where the water bullalo came down to the sea, to take it in turns to scatter her ashes. Tania had brought some white roses which we floated on the water. We then went to the beach cafe for some welcome food and drink. Syd serenaded us with his melodeon playing, which I'm not sure she'd have been too happy about, but everybody else seemed to enjoy it, and I think she would have been pleased.

We flew down to Bali after five days -and as the plane taxied into the terminal, I felt very close to Clare all of a sudden. I could see why she loved the place, the people are so lovely, it's warm, lots of flowers of every colour, Hindu temples and markets and cafes.

We were not sure which beach she had wanted her ashes scattered on, as she was drifitng in and out of her morphine induced coma when she was telling me, and it was very hard for her to summon up the energy, in fact she got irritated with me at one point as I hadn't heard her properly. Anne and Stuart thought it might be in Seminyak , so we headed there on the Sunday.

Kitty Chapman, who was an Australian friend of Clares in London,, and is now back in Australia, flew in with her Mum, Helen, and as a little group, we went to a nice spot, again as the sun was going down and scattered her ashes.This time, the gods decided to give her a spectacular send off with the best sunset I have ever seen in my life. We adjourned to the Ku de Tar restaurant close by to finish off the day.

So now the terrible year of 2007 is over, and we have carried out my Clare's last wishes to the letter - I hope my darling wherever you are , you are happy.
Take care Rosee
love
Ann & Syd
xxx

When the gin kicked in

From: Tania Willis >
Date: 19 November 2007 03:42
Subject: When the gin kicked in
To: wickrob, Joan, rosee, karen

I hope you can see from the pictures, it was a special day with some lovely moments.

There were lots of tears, stories, laughter, hugs ( &  Morris dancing)
It took a while to get over how like Clare, her mum is. Most unnerving was to look at Clare’s photo & listen to Ann talk. Her voice is identical, even her turn of phrase & accent.
It was really good to meet her parents. They are lovely people

After some serious stiff ones Karen's roof, with Clare with us on the table (see the casket too, near the photo), we walked across the paddy fields to Treasure Island just as it was getting dark..

By this time Ian, Edwina, Gill & Tania Scott had joined us.

At Treasure Island we got some more gin and walked down the beach to the bit where the Ham Tin river goes into the sea.

It was dark by now & very quiet, just the lapping of the water. No one was else around.
Cyd said a few, lovely & very dignified words and they both asked if we would like to take a handful of clare’s ashes and say a few words. This was a really upsetting moment, especially to see Clare’s mum grief.  We all cried through our words & scattered her ashes & white rose each into the river. I put one in for each of you  and said a good bye on your behalfs

The we walked back up the beach and put candles in the sand outside Ooh La La , whereupon Cyd came out with his melodian and played a sea shanty on the sand. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Treasure island turned off the music & everyone clapped & for the umpteenth time, we toasted Clare

Dinner was lovely, Anne & Cyd loved the spot & Treausure Island didn’t cock it up too much.

Julie bought Clare’s last diary & we passed it round. The atmosphere was very warm & affectionate ( maybe the quantities of booze?) Anne Hellier was being a star & we all kept hugging Anne & Cyd. Lots more tears & laughter.

Then Cyd got his melodian out & played some more & joined him on the alchies tambourine ( empty SB bottle &  a spoon)

Gill revealed a bag of chocolate & a huge bottle of Baileys from her handbag & we got ready for a long haul. In the event, we were pretty well-behaved & the lantau beserkers called it a night at 11.

I think we paid our respects in a way that Clare would have approved of. 

Re: Hong Kong and Bali - Sharing the experience

On 11/09/2007, Tania Willis; wrote:

What a lovely idea rosee- we will send pictures from Hong Kong to the blog too

On 9/11/07 1:42 PM, "Rosemary Ufot Laurence"; wrote:

Hello All

Thanks for keeping in touch with us and letting us know how progress is coming along for the Hong Kong and Bali trip.

For those of us who can't be there, if you are able, and find the time, it will be lovely if you can email thoughts and pictures of Clare and her places for uploading to the blog. The address is below.

You can mail directly to the blog. Pictures will have to be mailed to me directly and not the blogger address.

Rosee

And this is a whole HK Site

"and this is a whole HK SITE


*Ann- you might want to have a look at this site to see which names you remember clare talking about & seeing where you'd like to go

T

Tania Willis

ROSEE

"...I think it would be a good thing to use on the site, interspersed with some pics of Clare. what do you think? i will find some lantau shots too

Tania

xx

The Beginning

On 10/09/2007, Julie Off!cer < jools_o@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi Hong Kong people. (And a few others that won't be there).

I just wanted to say hello and to let you know I have booked my hotel in Hong Kong.

Because I only dreamed of having Clare's panache I have made a compromise on accommodation so for the first three night 16-19th November, I will be staying in the Silvermine beach hotel on Lantau and then will be joining Ann and Syd in the Peninsula for the last 2 nights. (I know it's what Clare would have wanted after all). I just wanted you to know where I'll be so you can find me or at least tell me where to go (please do).










This will be the first time I have been to Hong Kong without Clare being there and she, as you know, was always the best tour guide. Any tips, directions, accompanying etc is greatly appreciated. I would love to visit her old haunts once again and see where she lived.

Anyway. I hope all is well with you. I'm thinking of you and looking forward to meeting you and celebrating Clare's life Hong Kong style. Sorry for not being in touch much. I will try harder!

With love.

Julie.

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/julieofficer