1965 A year later Tina decided to train as a cook in St Thomas hospital. Her vacancy at the house in Esher would become vacant and with much regret I took her position for I was paid more and could attend school for longer hours.
The adultery issue I was telling you about earlier, led to separation, and a new home was rented for this beautiful woman and a man twice her age. She was from Germany, 28 years old and had a long blond pony tail plus a sensual body that she displayed generously to all and merry. She met him working as a nurse in a hospital in Kingston, he was one of the patient suffering from psoriasis.He was being treated by her and one thing led to another until she convinced him to leave his wife, who was suffering from cancer.
This couple had no children. She was a real bitch, at the time it was fashionable to walk the house nude, and she drove him mad. She would not sleep with him unless he found £50. He was a rich man. His family had started an innovative system to pack potatoes in plastic bags. He also owed a club in Hampton Court by the river and he was doing very well. Still £ 50 in 1965 was a lot of money.
This man was infatuated by her beauty. Many a time after she had gone to work, he would go to her room and take one of her shoes and come to show me how delicate, pointed and colourful they were, or he would smell her dresses, or he would take the car and drive all the way to Southampton hoping to see her during her break. More often than not he would come back disappointed not having seeing her.
I expect she gave instructions in order not to be found, she had move that far in order to see less of him. At one point he came back saying that she was having an affair with a young doctor. Well, she probably was, any way they would have a holy row and I would always be the beneficiary of the aftermath result. They would make up and take me for very nice treats. To see the airport in her sports car, and for a meal in best pubs, to the theatre, for a meal at the club, or to the best restaurants. I remember once I had the audacity to ask for turtle soup, and I enjoyed it.
I was a fast learner! I, represented normality to their abnormal relationship.At that time I was naive and actually attended mass ever Sunday. On one occasion, it was raining and she offered to take me in her new bright red sports car he had recently bought for her. I wasn't to sure of her motives, but at the church´s door I actually asked her to come in with me. She looked at me in total disbelieve and said that no church on earth could forgive her sins. Had it been today I would have understood her comment. There are bigger sins in this world than seducing silly old men.
I some times think Tina's recommendation for me to live with this family must have appeared somewhat questionable, but her assessment was correct. He was nothing but kind, respectful and always demonstrated a high regard for both Tina and for me.
Tina and I continued going to school and meeting mostly at week ends for long chats and meals. Tina was trainee cook in one of St Thomas' nursing homes, Chetney House in Chetney Walk by the embankment. It was all very English and proper. The midwife's and nurses were well provided for. All services were available for their comfort.Tina worked in this beautiful well equipped kitchen and had free hand to feed me as she pleased. I enjoyed great meals cooked by her there.
We also had some sort of telepathy going on, I expect it was our youth showing through, but for some years we had nothing but laughter. Tina had a especial talent for languages and she picked expressions and phrases very well and she used to say in a very English way " honestly" this for some reason I found very funny, and would start laughing uncontrollably, until Tina started giggling in her particular way that was very contagious and we would fall over each other in complete happiness. Our only nostalgic moments were our thoughts of every one back home.
The saga between these two people continued and I attended my lessons and improved my vocabulary and communication skills. She, Carol, continued withdrawing money from him, for different reasons. When she had a reasonable bank account in Germany, she decided to go back for good. This poor man was distraught as one can understand. His wife had passed away and he was an old man. He had regrets, we all do, and to kill his time he used to drive all the way to Germany to see her. His visits were short. He never said much, but I could tell that she continued demanding money and he complied to keep the lines of communication opened. At the end he had not much to sell, he finally sold the washing machine to purchase a tape-recorder to sent her tapes full of loving words, memories and lost love. I too deserted him as with her gone my services were not needed.
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