I spent the last month visiting and sitting with my nearest neighbour (about 1/2 a kilometre away).
he's 84 and his wife died a month ago, he's Greek, she was Austrian and they worked together in a hospital in Austria before they retired. She had serious hip problems and got around on a Zimmer, but was always cheerful.
Whenever i sat with him he talked about the fact they had been together 58 years and what would he do now.
I did my best to bouy him up, he went back to austria for 2 weeks to sort out STUFF, and arrived back in Athens four days ago to start life on his own here.
He stopped off, half way back, at a friends house on the way from the airport. they ate and drank together and he went to bed. he never woke up.
Did the fact he was home without her and he realised this become the reason he quit life?? don't know but i really wish, with my big mouth, i could have found some important words.
That is so sad Pav. I think when you have been with someone for as long as your neighbours had, then I think you can die of a broken heart x