Indeed, it's hard being so far away at this time, and knowing that all the people who knew Jim and Mimi, and know what we've lost, are so far away, and one's only contact with them is by email. Jim's openhearted, simple enjoyment of life was one of the things that I found most endearing about him. He was surrounded by objects with stories and loving associations. One of his most telling habits was when he had visitors to the cottage, he would go through his collection of national flags to hoist the appropriate ones for his guests. I always thought that said so much about him and his wholehearted enjoyment of life, people and new experiences. My first memory of Montreal is coming out of the immigration area, tired and stressed after being quizzed by officials, and seeing Jim towering over all the others there, waiting to take me, Amalie and Basu home, his wholehearted welcome warming the grimy airport. It was a welcome to the city, to the programme and also -- as I later learned -- to his life, home and family. He defined Montreal for me. I can't begin to imagine Sauve House without Abbu Jim. Fatima