Llandudno 3 pm ish



 I was walking back to my car when I heard a sing song Welsh voice say “ Hello John!” behind me.
A woman pushing an expensive looking baby buggy had just crossed the road .
She looked familiar but I didn’t know who it was at first.

Initially, I thought she was a relative of a hospice patient, but I wasn’t sure
She was, in fact,  my divorce solicitor .
I hadn’t seen her for over two years.

She asked me how I was and I confirmed that I was fine, working full time and doing ok
“ How are your dogs ?” She asked “ The Scottie who was so poorly? “ 
I thought it strange that she had remembered George so well and I updated her briefly whilst keeping things light
“ Do you know that you worried me more than any other of my clients have ever done ” she admitted, suddenly serious. 
I laughed nervously and asked her why that was
You were so crushed when I first met you “ she said.  “all you were worried about was keeping all those dogs safe at home” 
And she squeezed my arm when I told her I had a “new” rescue bulldog 
I’m not surprised…..” she said, before we parted, “You do look so different now….so much lighter”

She didn’t resemble the “cut throat “ solicitor described by my mediator either.

This meeting caught me on the hop,so to speak…….to see yourself through someone else’s eyes, especially by someone who doesn’t really know you is always a tad emotional .

I shook her hand and said thank you.
And remembered that I had not managed to thank her before

My favourite photo of George, the year he died 


84 comments:

  1. that's pretty wonderful and poignant. i too think you seem so much lighter than you did during that time. but of course you are.

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  2. You have a big heart, John. Worrying about your dogs when going through the trauma of divorce. It's no wonder she remembered you. Glad you got to thank her, too. xx

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    1. I remember now crying in her office and her secretary ( who had a bulldog) who kept me topped up with tissues and coffee lol

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  3. How nice that she remembered you and wanted to say hello. She sounds like a caring person and concerned about your well being. I'd want her on my team any day.

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    1. She was very kind
      My first free interview was for 45 minutes
      It , lasted, as I recall 2 hours

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  4. I suspect husband divorcing husband made you pretty memorable.

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    1. Yes, I guess that was rarity so soon after gay marriage was legal ….

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  5. That says a lot about you as a person that, in pain emotionally, you thought not of yourself, but the dogs. You are a rare breed, my friend.

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    1. I had four at the time three old dogs too

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  6. All pet owners think of their animals first.

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    1. I remember how frantic I felt

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    2. I remember you sitting in the church and the Decon (?) came over to slip you a tissue and tell you were the coffee was.
      I cried with you.
      My divorce was painful and just still new enough to me that i understood you.

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    3. Lovely photo of George joyous running.

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    4. It was a volunteer coffee lately in the cathedral x

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    5. Anonymous1:41 pm

      Oh yes, I remember sitting in church and crying, week after week, after my divorce. It's good to look back and realize how seldom I cry now, despite a holiday season spent mostly alone this year. Maybe the occasional tear comes from some scene in a movie, though.
      Nina

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    6. I will always be grateful to that open cathedral door

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  7. See Solicitors can be human and most will remember their clients, especially after being so involved in sorting out the minutiae even if they do not remember exact details. A husband "divorcing" husband is more common than you would think.

    I am pleased that you have come so far - you didn't think you would but you are achieving what you set out to do and which I knew you could do. Proud of you John for holding on in there. Hugs Pattypan xx

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  8. My life would have been very different if not for my dogs-they always are my priority x

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    1. I was so frightened I may of lost them

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  9. It's not like they're tripping over each other in rural N Wales, husband and husband divorces is it John, and most same sex divorces are lesbians anyway.

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  10. "To see yourself through someone else's eyes" is a bit scary but fantastic after you've taken yourself through a difficult time and come out on the other end. We, are both butterflies, although admittedly my wings are slightly damaged. I can still fly.

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  11. Seeing myself through other's eyes usually turns out to be very moving...I'm always surprised that others usually view me more kindly than I view myself.

    I'm glad you received such a sweet affirmation today.

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    1. The whole meeting left me feeling quite vulnerable , but in a good way.
      I remembered how I felt when I first went to see her.
      I felt very alone

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  12. John that photograph of George brought tears to my eyes.
    I knew you would end up at the sea today. Did you have fish and chips while you were there?

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    1. No, the coffee was just enough to ward off the cold and gave me enough to do with my hands

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  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I worked closely with the legal profession for 25 years and trained in law. I can assure you that there are many many compassionate and kind people in law and to make a sweeping statement that one does not expect to find them there is both ridiculous and insulting.

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    2. YP, just as I was about to chisel a finely honed, indeed diplomatic answer to your assertion you had the good sense of taking your comment down. I do hope you did so because you saw the error of your ways, not because it was Rachel who pulled you up short. Let the personal never stand in the way of reason (Code of Conduct - not least in the legal profession).

      U

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    3. It was about as good as I could expect Ursula. I thought an apology and something along the lines of "how stupid of me to say that" but that would have been too much to expect but would have meant more to me. At least the thread being here means that my comment was published. On YP's blog comment moderation means that informative observations, checks such as this one and sharing of experiences is not allowed through by the moderator.

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    4. Oh late to the replies
      I think Rach, you have never really gelled with YP and his humour.
      I hope things can now just be left quiet between you both.

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    5. As anybody who read the comment that Yorkshire Pudding left about solicitors they will know that it was not a humourous comment.

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    6. Perhaps you are right but you’ve already made your point
      At length . Points that I have left
      I’ve deleted your previous comments for hopefully obvious reasons

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    7. I think this has all got out of hand Rachel
      I don’t deserve this vitriol

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    8. I didn't deserve tgis. The matter was closed. YP deleted his comment, as I said to Ursula it was better than nothing and the least I could expect. The matter was closed.

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  14. You have come so far, who knows what the future holds

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  15. Barbara Anne2:07 am

    Wish that all folks who need a solicitor would find someone like yours - a worthy woman, indeed.
    Love the photo of George and the terriers of Trelawnyd picture is still a favorite.
    Lucky you, John, who has had these wonderful dogs in your care and in your life. Lucky Mary, Dorothy, and Albert, too, that they have you.

    Hugs!

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    1. Yes, I never saw it at the time. I was worried about money so very much

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  16. I did a lot of separation and divorce work when I was a young lawyer in private practice 40 years ago. It's a brutal area of practice. Client emotions run so high and some people can really get out of hand with anger and hurt. It's a million times worse when there are kids. I was glad to leave that practice area behind.

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    1. I never lost it in mediation, but I so wanted to

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  17. Your final sentence brought a lump to my throat. It's surprising how emotional we become about our animals.

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    1. Losing animals is a real tear jerker Cro. I remember the loss of your critters... definitely hits the heart strings.. of you and me when I read about it.

      Jo in Auckland.

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    2. Horrible experience. I miss them all still.

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    3. I miss my darling one-and after 3 and a half years just the thought of him makes me unbearably sad-I can't fill the gaping hole even though I tried by bringing another 2 to join us here xx

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    4. There’s always a dog that needs you from somewhere

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    5. I know-I would really like to get a 5th dog as I can manage to feed them and care for them and exercise them all but the expense of anothers vets bills is too scary-So I shall await a pot of gold x

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  18. Wonderful photo of George, airborne. You are airborne too, and have the steely determination of a Westie, and the devotion of one too. We felt your trauma, and are proud of how you've come through it. Go John!

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  19. It is so strange sometimes to see how others see us. You probably hadn't even realised at the time that caring for the future of your dogs was as big a worry as your personal pain. What an awful time that was. Glad you were able to thank her.
    I love that photo!

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    1. I’m glad I could thank her, I never did , even in writing

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  20. Anonymous7:08 am

    This seems auspicious. A nice "book-ending" closure to the year. Look forward with a big smile and hope to 2022

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    1. I never thought it like that , thank you

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  21. Nice to be seen through someone else‘s eyes as looking ”so much lighter.” A reminder of how far you’ve come.

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    1. Yes my friend …I’m still shaky at times but the trend is up x

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  22. What a lovely make your day and hers as well encounter no wonder she remembered you and no doubt she was happy to reconnect under happier circumstance just like you remembering patients you once knew and making a difference in their lives, you have weathered the storm
    well done !!!
    George was a favorite of mine it's lovely that all the dogs are in your side bar.

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  23. Beautifully written, as always. Thank you for sharing that story. You have come such a long way and it's good to be reminded of that. Hugs. Jan x

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    1. Thank you jan , forgive the long reply

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  24. A mediator describing a solicitor as 'cut throat' doesn't sound very professional to me.

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    1. The mediator was underlining just how tough solicitors can get when sparing

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  25. A random meeting that seems "meant" somehow, just what you needed.

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    1. I was quite emotional on the way home

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  26. George looked so happy and carefree

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  27. A photo of George came up on my Facebook memories only a few days ago, he made me smile again ... he was a beautiful gentle, steadfast dog.

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    1. You described him so well , I miss him mr diplomat

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  28. Divorce lawyers always see people at the worst times of their lives, I think.
    I do not really believe in "closure" but I believe you may have gotten a little with this short encounter.

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    1. Yes..and I’ve recently made my own closure too xx

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  29. My ex and I saw a divorce mediator and when my husband left the room, she asked me if I was being abused. No, but I guess I looked like it.

    Glad she got to see you in a new light.

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  30. We think we are hiding from those around us, but they can see that which we sometimes are ignoring. Glad you are lighter now.

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    1. I’m up and down but yes much lighter x

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  31. It's nice to hear from another person how noticeable the change is -- and how positive.

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    1. I don’t remember seeing her for the first time, I think I was too shocked

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  32. I remember when ready your blog back then how sad your writings sounded to me. I can imagine your fear at losing your animals; I couldn't live without mine. I'm glad that you feel lighter and it shows to someone else. You have come so far!

    Jo in Auckland

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  33. A fascinating encounter...and the fact that she would remember your dog. I'm glad you look lighter in spirit.

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