I guess it will never be a final goodbye, because I know that I will still talk to you at times when I am on my own, especially when a situation reminds me of you... and also because we shall meet again soon, perhaps sooner than we both realise.

I bought new clothes for your funeral... including a purple shirt and tie... you would have liked them I think - especially being that purple was your favourite colour. Everyone else was wearing dark clothes, which I think might have annoyed you a little, especially considering you wanted them to play 'Hip Hop Hooray' at your funeral... The priest kept calling you "Mariarosa" too, which from memory you hated. You would punch me when I called you Mariarosa. It made me laugh though, because when you finally meet that priest, you totally owe him a crapload of punches and kicks... which I totally expect you to dish out.

Your white coffin looked so small out the front of the church... it made me realise how little you were, and how amazing that such a huge amount of energy, love and excitement could come from something so small. You spent your life punching above your weight, taking on the world in your many random adventures, and i'll miss that. I wrote you a poem, and printed it onto a little piece of paper which I folder into an envelope... I gave it to you at your burial. I hope you liked it.

So a few small updates... Two of your friends went for job interviews today, and both of them were successful and got their respective jobs... I like to think you might of been involved, although I know it's not likely. But at least I know you would have squealed in delight for them both, and celebrated the achievement with hugs and the giving of some (extremely) random gift.

As for me, I went for a walk through the bush today, and walked to that little overhang / cave we hid in that time when it started pouring with rain while we were out walking. I don't know if you remember it, it was on my birthday when you brought me a cornetto and a berry flavoured 'V' as birthday gifts. They weren't big gifts, but they were the first I actually received on my birthday so they meant a lot. It was sad seeing all the places where you had been so recently.

But we can't be sad forever right? So although its been the toughest week of my life to date, I am trying to get on with it, and get on with living how you would have wanted it. Oh, and I have started to take your little project under my wing too, so keep an eye out for it!

Finally, I'm letting you know that I am playing at the Greenwood in a few Saturdays time... I just know you would have loved to have been there, coke can dancing away, or flirting to get free drinks off the 40 year old doctors... either way I know you would have come along considering the very first time Regiment played you were side of stage, not dancing with the other 700 people, but bringing me cups of water so I didn't overheat.

Anyways, I'm sure you are busy up there teaching them all how to do the 'coke can dance', so be good, don't stay up too late and don't forget us down here, okay? Glad we have that sorted. So now I guess it is time to get back to normal life.

Speak soon.

Will