Kez!

This is my friend Kerry. She was one of the first proper friends I made on Twitter, back when I had a handful of followers and she had, I don't know, a couple of thousand probably. She was, for me, Twitter at its best; she was sharp, smart and very funny (and slightly daunting). 

When she came to visit the UK - she was based in Boston - we met up in London. One day we went for a ride in the front of an Underground train and then next we had tea on the terrace at the House of Commons. She was every bit as much fun in person although perhaps a bit more gentle than her Twitter persona might have led one to expect.

A few years ago - I can't work out how many but it must be about four - she moved to Manchester. I think it was always her intention to keep copywriting but to get herself started she took a job at M&S fitting bras. I can imagine that she was brilliant at doing this, not because I think she is some kind of boob specialist but I can imagine her putting customers at their ease and making them laugh.

The last couple of years have not been so easy as Kerry was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and when I've seen her she's been tired and, understandably, not quite herself although still lovely and also brave and determined and unbowed. This evening, though, she was back on fine form, just how she was when I first met her; funny and interesting.

We were meeting up because she's taken a job in Edinburgh and I thought it would be nice to have a farewell to Manchester drink. Here she is, then, in Common in the Northern Quarter, framed, unfortunately, by the relentlessly unfunny 'Donut Boy', whose posters are a blight on the bar.

But I digress. Bon voyage, Kerry. I think you'll love Edinburgh and I hope to see you there soon.