Glasgow writer's touching tribute to friend who died

This is no “misery memoir”, however, states the Ruchill writer.

“It captures the grief caused by Sharon’s death,” she explains. “But it’s about wringing the most out of our short lives…”

Basia’s first memoir, From the River to the Sea: Aquitaine, A Place for Me, followed the ups and downs of life as she and her partner Gerry renovated a house in France.

Her second includes many of the same characters, but flits back and forth between Aquitaine and Ruchill, where Basia lives by the canal.

Basia Gordon (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

It will appeal to Glasgow readers, because it includes lots of local history, and memories of a city childhood, playing games in the streets, like racing bogeys and skipping.

The real story, though, is about Sharon, Basia’s friend since their teenage years, who died of lung cancer in 2020.

Basia and Sharon (Image: Basia Gordon)

After visiting her friend in France, Sharon had returned to the UK complaining of a sore side.

In the book, Basia – a former modern languages teacher at Shawlands Academy - explains: “When she returned to London, she was given the jaw-dropping diagnosis: stage four liver and lung cancer.

“’What the **** just happened?’ said Sharon. ‘I’m a vegetarian that has looked after body and soul! I demand a steward’s inquiry into this, I don’t accept this.’

“I countered that it was just greed on her part: just one cancer was not enough. ‘This is going to be a tough paper round,’ she conceded.”

Basia recounts Sharon’s last few weeks of life, in which she married her long-term boyfriend, Rob, and the struggle to cope with her loss in the days, weeks and months after her death.

Smithereens is Basia's latest, moving memoir (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest)

It is searingly honest, and very moving, but it is also extremely funny as, switching between past and present, Basia shares stories of her friendship with Sharon in Scotland and in France.

The book also touches on topical events – Brexit, Covid restrictions, political activism – and the joys of literature, food and wine.

Nature – particularly the swans on the canal at Basia’s home – also features strongly, particularly when lockdown restrictions mean working from home is a necessity.

And there is a very funny moment, when Josette, one of Basia’s French friends, says she loves the name of the place where Basia stays in Glasgow.

“I looked at her sceptically,” says Basia. “You are joking, right? Ruchill? Are you having a laugh?”

“You are not pronouncing it correctly,” Josette replies. “Roosheel….”

Basia counters: “Bien sur – just on the border of La Colline de Marie….Maryhill…”

Basia Gordon’s new memoir, Smithereens: Aquitaine, Scotland and Other Meanderings, published by Matador, is available now.