My friend Jim

A year ago I lost one of my closest friends. He was my adopted Granddad and I loved him very much.

I always knew Jim played an integral part of my life over the last five years, but I didn’t quite realise just how much until he wasn’t there anymore.

He’s the man who gave me my office role at the Conservatives. Former Council leader himself and a very well known, likeable person with a Black Country sense of humour that never went away. Within weeks of working in the office we’d become firm friends. He knew how low my self-confidence had been from being out of full time work for a year, and also being crushed by a former bully of a boss. He mentored me and showed me how to adapt to a very random office job; taking every challenge in my stride.

 

He also suffered from Lupus, which again gave us both a mutual understanding as he knew how I suffered with my M.E. We’d forever be discussing how many “spoons” we had left, chat about the world and politics… he’d come out with silly sayings like “She’s all fur coat and no knickers” and tell me stories about his life and experiences and how much he loved his wife, Joy.

 We came to a quick understanding of my weak points; my dyslexia and my passionate loathing of minuting meetings. To the point he’d specifically make sure he’d come in the office a day after to write them up with me. . (I still bloody hate taking minutes now, and I make sure everyone knows about it!)   I used to tease him and call him the Grammar Nazi, which is hilarious as I’ve seemed to have adopted the nickname at my own work now. I think he’d be proud of me for that. I’m the one people come to proof read their work. Never once did I dream that this would happen! It was all down to him.

 

He taught me to trust my instincts and to not take any hassle. We dealt with some difficult people over the years and he showed me how to work with and not against anything that came in my path.

He threw me in at the deep end at election time.. from Office Secretary to Agent in the space of a few days. However, I’m quite sure he did it knowing that I could swim. He gave me back a confidence that at the time was very much needed. He was always there to support and give advice so long as I’d had a big hug and made him his cup of tea in his over-sized Wolves Mug first. (I would say I learned something about Football. Unfortunately the only thing Jim managed to teach me is that the Wolves are orange and black. I like orange, and I love Wolves therefore I remember.)

 

I think of him every day, and regularly come across decisions in work, or home and think to myself “what would Jim say or do?”. Normally I sit and grin afterward, knowing full too well he’d be telling me off, or teasing me. But no matter what, he was always there to support me.

 

He’s still a constant influence in my life and I’m very sure he always will be. The most loveliest part is that I find that whenever I meet someone who knew him, they say the same thing

You're missed Jim. x