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great Uncle King, RIP

10th of Aug, 2006ce* in: diary

In-between masses of emails from clients, I got a rather sombre and sobering email from my mother notifying me of my great Uncles death. He was involved in a car crash some weeks ago in New Zealand, when an oncoming motorist had a heart attack and veered into Bob’s car, hitting him and his wife.

He had been making a recovery after surviving the induced coma that the doctors administered, even sitting up and eating, however a few days ago he suffered a massive multiple organ failure and passed away. It’s very sad and hasn’t really hit home yet, I only met the guy once when I was a kid, while he was on holiday in the UK.

Bob King setup his own company in New Zealand a very long time ago, selling computers. His company is now run by his son. Bob also has a two brothers(?) and a sister (his sister being my grandmother) who survive him.

I’m saddened because not long ago he sent me an email asking how I was getting on in Japan and if I would like to come to New Zealand to meet the estranged tangled limbs of what is the King family. He also talked of my blood-relative now deceased Grandfather, who I only met once. I grew up knowing my step-grandfather. Bob said I shared similar characteristics to him, and as my fathers blood-side isn’t so strong in defining my features (certainly doesn’t explain my beer-belly!) I was deeply intrigued. I wrote a reply to him, however this must have been after he was involved in his fatal accident, as I get family news last, being distant as I am. He took the secrets of my grandmothers first husband with him!

Not being able to contact him before his death is of great pain to me.