Back in 1980, my boyfriend and I met Les in Tonga while traveling through the South Pacific as we headed to Australia. He was heading home to Oz after a 'round the world journey. We got along really well and as it is with travelers, and not tourists, you swap info in case the person makes it to your neck of the world.
As it happened, upon arrival in New South Wales, the prearranged plans we had did not come to pass and we called Les. He gave us directions to take the train and reach his home. Upon arrival he made us feel so welcome.
We had come in from Fiji and my boyfriend came down with the worst case of flu I had ever seen. I came down with it a couple days later. It was miserable. Les totally took care of us. I hate to think what we would have done without him. New place and all.
We ended up living with Les off and on, and worked and saved our money for various journeys. Using his home as a hub for our treks. He was kind and generous and a good friend to us. We had such a wonderful time with Les. Cooking meals and sharing wine and laughs and stories.
We all met in Queensland and explored together. We became part of his extended family and part of his social circle.
We met his mother once. He had been married years prior and divorced. He had no children.
Les was something of a typical Englishman. He nurtured a magnificent garden on his side of the building and also in the back. He loved the garden and it loved him back. The seasons are reversed so it is winter in Australia in May. I remember waking up on my birthday in May and seeing a massive bouquet of flowers just outside our bedroom. It was packed with Poinsettias. They were huge blooms and so red. I then walked into the lav for a shower and found another massive bouquet. Being so far from home, Les made me feel so special on my birthday. We had a lovely dinner and my flowers were all the blooms I associate with Christmas so I will never forget them. He was so sweet. I was 21 that day and I as far from home but he made me feel so good.
Les and I kept in touch several years through the mail. We wrote long informative letter. I remember 10-15 page letters. So informative and always exchanged Christmas cards then the communications ceased. I never knew what happened but my letters went unanswered. I knew that he was considering a move and thought perhaps he had done that. I wrote a few letters to the address requesting whoever got them to communicate with me in case someone else had taken over the flat. I never heard a word and finally stopped writing.
Years have passed and I have done numerous searches trying to locate people from the past, well before the internet made the world so reachable. I did some searches for Les and believe I have finally found the answer to the unanswered letters.
Les had a "bad ticker" and I found an obituary that matched his name, which was unique. The timeline and location also made sense. It stated that he had passed due to heart attack.
Les was a lovely man and a good friend and I have kept him in my heart all these years.
Thank you for the laughs and good times had by all. it was a pleasure to share time with you.
Cheers Les!
As it happened, upon arrival in New South Wales, the prearranged plans we had did not come to pass and we called Les. He gave us directions to take the train and reach his home. Upon arrival he made us feel so welcome.
We had come in from Fiji and my boyfriend came down with the worst case of flu I had ever seen. I came down with it a couple days later. It was miserable. Les totally took care of us. I hate to think what we would have done without him. New place and all.
We ended up living with Les off and on, and worked and saved our money for various journeys. Using his home as a hub for our treks. He was kind and generous and a good friend to us. We had such a wonderful time with Les. Cooking meals and sharing wine and laughs and stories.
We all met in Queensland and explored together. We became part of his extended family and part of his social circle.
We met his mother once. He had been married years prior and divorced. He had no children.
Les was something of a typical Englishman. He nurtured a magnificent garden on his side of the building and also in the back. He loved the garden and it loved him back. The seasons are reversed so it is winter in Australia in May. I remember waking up on my birthday in May and seeing a massive bouquet of flowers just outside our bedroom. It was packed with Poinsettias. They were huge blooms and so red. I then walked into the lav for a shower and found another massive bouquet. Being so far from home, Les made me feel so special on my birthday. We had a lovely dinner and my flowers were all the blooms I associate with Christmas so I will never forget them. He was so sweet. I was 21 that day and I as far from home but he made me feel so good.
Les and I kept in touch several years through the mail. We wrote long informative letter. I remember 10-15 page letters. So informative and always exchanged Christmas cards then the communications ceased. I never knew what happened but my letters went unanswered. I knew that he was considering a move and thought perhaps he had done that. I wrote a few letters to the address requesting whoever got them to communicate with me in case someone else had taken over the flat. I never heard a word and finally stopped writing.
Years have passed and I have done numerous searches trying to locate people from the past, well before the internet made the world so reachable. I did some searches for Les and believe I have finally found the answer to the unanswered letters.
Les had a "bad ticker" and I found an obituary that matched his name, which was unique. The timeline and location also made sense. It stated that he had passed due to heart attack.
Les was a lovely man and a good friend and I have kept him in my heart all these years.
Thank you for the laughs and good times had by all. it was a pleasure to share time with you.
Cheers Les!
Back in 1980, my boyfriend and I met Les in Tonga while traveling through the South Pacific as we headed to Australia. He was heading home to Oz after a 'round the world journey. We got along really well and as it is with travelers, and not tourists, you swap info in case the person makes it to your neck of the world.
As it happened, upon arrival in New South Wales, the prearranged plans we had did not come to pass and we called Les. He gave us directions to take the train and reach his home. Upon arrival he made us feel so welcome.
We had come in from Fiji and my boyfriend came down with the worst case of flu I had ever seen. I came down with it a couple days later. It was miserable. Les totally took care of us. I hate to think what we would have done without him. New place and all.
We ended up living with Les off and on, and worked and saved our money for various journeys. Using his home as a hub for our treks. He was kind and generous and a good friend to us. We had such a wonderful time with Les. Cooking meals and sharing wine and laughs and stories.
We all met in Queensland and explored together. We became part of his extended family and part of his social circle.
We met his mother once. He had been married years prior and divorced. He had no children.
Les was something of a typical Englishman. He nurtured a magnificent garden on his side of the building and also in the back. He loved the garden and it loved him back. The seasons are reversed so it is winter in Australia in May. I remember waking up on my birthday in May and seeing a massive bouquet of flowers just outside our bedroom. It was packed with Poinsettias. They were huge blooms and so red. I then walked into the lav for a shower and found another massive bouquet. Being so far from home, Les made me feel so special on my birthday. We had a lovely dinner and my flowers were all the blooms I associate with Christmas so I will never forget them. He was so sweet. I was 21 that day and I as far from home but he made me feel so good.
Les and I kept in touch several years through the mail. We wrote long informative letter. I remember 10-15 page letters. So informative and always exchanged Christmas cards then the communications ceased. I never knew what happened but my letters went unanswered. I knew that he was considering a move and thought perhaps he had done that. I wrote a few letters to the address requesting whoever got them to communicate with me in case someone else had taken over the flat. I never heard a word and finally stopped writing.
Years have passed and I have done numerous searches trying to locate people from the past, well before the internet made the world so reachable. I did some searches for Les and believe I have finally found the answer to the unanswered letters.
Les had a "bad ticker" and I found an obituary that matched his name, which was unique. The timeline and location also made sense. It stated that he had passed due to heart attack.
Les was a lovely man and a good friend and I have kept him in my heart all these years.
Thank you for the laughs and good times had by all. it was a pleasure to share time with you.
Cheers Les!
As it happened, upon arrival in New South Wales, the prearranged plans we had did not come to pass and we called Les. He gave us directions to take the train and reach his home. Upon arrival he made us feel so welcome.
We had come in from Fiji and my boyfriend came down with the worst case of flu I had ever seen. I came down with it a couple days later. It was miserable. Les totally took care of us. I hate to think what we would have done without him. New place and all.
We ended up living with Les off and on, and worked and saved our money for various journeys. Using his home as a hub for our treks. He was kind and generous and a good friend to us. We had such a wonderful time with Les. Cooking meals and sharing wine and laughs and stories.
We all met in Queensland and explored together. We became part of his extended family and part of his social circle.
We met his mother once. He had been married years prior and divorced. He had no children.
Les was something of a typical Englishman. He nurtured a magnificent garden on his side of the building and also in the back. He loved the garden and it loved him back. The seasons are reversed so it is winter in Australia in May. I remember waking up on my birthday in May and seeing a massive bouquet of flowers just outside our bedroom. It was packed with Poinsettias. They were huge blooms and so red. I then walked into the lav for a shower and found another massive bouquet. Being so far from home, Les made me feel so special on my birthday. We had a lovely dinner and my flowers were all the blooms I associate with Christmas so I will never forget them. He was so sweet. I was 21 that day and I as far from home but he made me feel so good.
Les and I kept in touch several years through the mail. We wrote long informative letter. I remember 10-15 page letters. So informative and always exchanged Christmas cards then the communications ceased. I never knew what happened but my letters went unanswered. I knew that he was considering a move and thought perhaps he had done that. I wrote a few letters to the address requesting whoever got them to communicate with me in case someone else had taken over the flat. I never heard a word and finally stopped writing.
Years have passed and I have done numerous searches trying to locate people from the past, well before the internet made the world so reachable. I did some searches for Les and believe I have finally found the answer to the unanswered letters.
Les had a "bad ticker" and I found an obituary that matched his name, which was unique. The timeline and location also made sense. It stated that he had passed due to heart attack.
Les was a lovely man and a good friend and I have kept him in my heart all these years.
Thank you for the laughs and good times had by all. it was a pleasure to share time with you.
Cheers Les!
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