I seem to be suffering from friendship blues today. I have waved goodbye to Chris, who is on his way back to Australia as I write this. I spent ten minutes in the office with Patti knowing that she’ll be gone soon, back to the USA and her family. I had a deeply depressing coffee in Starbucks with one of my oldest friends within the company who is going through a hard time at the moment and I am unable to affect any change to her circumstances. Finally, I have to say goodbye to Hilary today.

I’ve spoken of her before, she’s the friend of mine who I helped with her dissertation and she lived here, in my home for a number of months while she was a new girl at work.

Today was her last day and it fills me with so much sadness, I am actually tearful as I write this. She has been such a pleasure to be with over the five or six years that I’ve known her and I have no idea how or when I will see her again.

Everyone loves Hilary. There are no exceptions to this, that I have encountered. Her leaving speech was emotionally charged and there were many tears shed over our loss of this kind, sweet soul. We will all miss the cheery, happy person who never stops smiling and never has a bad word to say about anyone. I don’t think it would be possible to find a more generous and giving person in the world. It’s so refreshing in this cut-throat world that we live in to find people who actually don’t have anything bad to say so I think it’s vital that we hang onto those precious people, like Hilary who just radiate warmth. I find myself more and more wanting to surround myself with people like her and shunning those who don’t know how to say a nice word.

Time will tell if we will manage to remain in touch. Interestingly this diary has helped me to stay in touch with a number of people that I might not otherwise have remained in contact with. Beth is a good example of someone who I’d probably not have been in such close touch with now were it not for her keeping up-to-date with my activities through this.

Anyway, Hilary ‘till we meet again, my friend!’.