AN ELDERLY man received an alternative Christmas message when he spoke to his wife using Skype despite being 10,000 miles apart.
Ken Cole,80, who lives at Highcliffe Nursing Home in Christchurch, made contact with Jeni from her home in Queensland in Australia.
The couple, who have been married for more than 20 years, were parted after Jeni moved from their Zimbabwe homeland to Australia to live close to her sons, while Ken moved across the pond to Dorset due to his deteriorating health.
The former Royal Rhodesia Regiment officer, who went on to have a career as the manager of a gold mine, has lived in Highcliffe Nursing Home since November 2011 and maintains regular Skype contact with his wife.
His son, Grant, who is the dog warden for Christchurch and East Dorset councils, said: "It’s wonderful how modern technology is enabling them to keep in touch."
Tracey Millar, manager of the Kingsley Healthcare run home, said: "Jeni always Skypes us and we take the call on an iPad. She always sings You Are My Sunshine to him and he joins in."
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