I remember standing in the car park at Foxgrove Kindergarten with Jackie. We were both pregnant at the time. She was having George and I was having Caroline. We chatted for ages talking about our pregnancies whilst sharing our hopes and dreams for our babies.

 

One spring Jackie and I visited Bath for a few days. We shared a room at the George Hotel. We toured the Roman baths and had tea in the Pump Rooms.  She had booked a swim for us at rooftop public pool. We ran up the stairs in our swimsuits feeling freezing cold. We hadn't thought to bring our towels. We laughed in the heated pool and didn't want to get out. We watched the sunset which was exquisite. On our last day in that beautiful city we saw many university graduates walking around the streets. We found the Russell and Bromley shoe shop to our delight where we stocked up for the season ahead. We had spent days together laughing like school girls.

 

Jackie had an amethyst stone tiara on her kitchen shelf. I loved it. Sometimes she'd put it on. She wanted to be a princess really. I used to sit on a high stool at the kitchen bar drinking endless pots of tea talking about families, jewellery, diets, 

and beauty treatments. I've never known anyone to have such a big emerald. Or anyone who had such a generous heart. 

 

 

I asked her to model for me for my final graduation show.  Nine paintings were based on my friends' interpretation of a prostitutes outfit. Jackie was happy to pose for me and I painted her wearing a white dress which had buttons down the back. She looked perfect in the high heels and black tights. We had a great day in my studio. She was a true friend to give me her time when she so busy was running her business.