Follow your Calling

Still From ‘Inspector Lindsay’ -  ‘The Cottage Stores’ transformed into ‘The Sea Locker’ 

John Barley was one of my first customers when I took over the ailing Cottage Stores.

I have a vivid memory of him picking a tomato from the outside Fruit and Veg display, catching my eye, taking a bite from it and then walking off giving me a thumbs up.

That was many years ago, and when I became homeless, it was he who came to my rescue without a moments hesitation, offering me a four-poster bedroom at his guesthouse.

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For six weeks, as I struggled with solicitors, running the shop, weekly visits with my young son, while wading through the mire of a harrowing divorce, he cooked for us each night, and kept me sane.

I’m not the only one who has been in receipt of his generosity, but this is my story, and others will no doubt have their own.

Many times we’ve shared a few bottles of red – telling each other stories, and joking on his veranda, as below the river carried our thoughts out to sea.

He taught me to tack, threading our way through the harbour on Falanda, a boat that would be made famous by it’s new owner.

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When Johnny bought Pettifox with the help of John and his partner Tina, we shared some great times on her, and I well remember Pettifox being the star of an episode of ‘Doc Martin’.

But life has a way of tripping us up. 

One day, he told me, in an uncharacteristically somber moment, that he’d been diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. The prognosis was not good. “You’ll get through it“ I told him – as sure of my intuition as I have ever been.

After many months of treatment, he was given the all clear, and vowed to give up the alcohol – but there are times when we all succumb, and one night, the grandfather clock happened to be in the way. 

 When losing your balance, it’s unwise to reach for something with the stability of an upended coffin, and so it was that he presented me with a box of bent and battered bits,

Even the movement was beyond redemption, but there’s always a use to be made of what remains when things reach the end of their life.

I’ve made a start, and my favourite plant now resides on a purpose made shelf, to remind me of happy times.