A New Bowl

I don’t know what to do too much of the time or even what to post. Celebrating the England win last night I noticed the Italian girls, they were devastated, their eye’s full of tears while their hands clapped well done.

It’s almost a year now since Roland Manuel’s body lost its battle with a disease and the friendly fire from the drugs that fought it.

Ro’s day would often begin with a new way of poaching eggs, sourdough bread, plus either avocado, bacon or French duck sausages, tomatoes, red lettuce, balsamic glaze, red pesto etc.

This changed in 2022 when we moved to an extremely strict low protein kidney friendly regime to try and prolong his survival. It was quite a loss to Ro as one of his delights was eating and trying new foods . We didn’t fuss just sat down to draft out our new regime.

We sat down one morning to one of the bland cereal’s breakfast poured into new ceramic bowls Ro had just purchased. A fan of bland food I was happily tucking in. Ro’s eating slowed as he listens then looked at me and said with some amusement. ‘I brought those new bowls because I thought they’d be quieter.’ As a sound engineer looking at a future of clattering breakfasts with an artless partner must have been quietly alarming. Why is this only clear in retrospect?

Ro’s response to his devastating health problems and everyday irritations hadn’t been to despair, get angry, or even frustrated but to buy new bowls.

Ro was a wonderful companion who was barely aware of the warmth he gave to those near him finely-tuned in its acerbic frame.

The Sand-turner in his Grace rotated the hour-glass another few times for us and we got two more trips around the Sun.

In imitation of last nights Italian women’s team :

I know I’ve lost, but will post to Ro, for those that knew him, well done.

Rachel Searle 23 July 2025