One Year on...

Well this time last year I was rudely awaken by a call from my mum - 3 o'clock in the morning to say that Dad had died of a heart attack shortly after coming home from chess club the evening before... He was waiting for a double herat by-pass, but his departure at 67was a heck of a shock to us all.

Obviously mum misses him the most - but we all miss him badly.

And I guess I just wanted to say as much.

Since last year I know full well that people you love can die a lot earlier than you would have liked... and even when you know that they were going to die - ie after a long term illness - it is still a shock and nothing really prepares you for it.

At dad's funeral service which I was privilidged to take - I did my best to be positive - but it was hard.

We were the lucky ones - those who shared part of a wonderful man's life... and yes we miss him.

But I am comforted by the idea that he is now simply out of sight - that we wave him off in his boat - and as it disappears from view - as the curve of the horizon obscures our seeing him - yes we feel sadness that he isnt on our shore any more... but there is excitement too as his ship (I dunno whether I can convert his boat to ship so quickly) is spotted... A buzz of anticipation and delight from those crowded there waiting for him to land... lucky beggars -

I was particularly lucky to have really spent a much greater amount of time seeing dad in the few years prior to his death... my darling Maria thought he was great and we drove up to see him and mum more times than when I had been with my somewhat bitter ex-. And the game of koc for all its faults - gave us an excuse to talk - about King of Chaos initially - but about everything else too... for which I am forever greatful.

SunnyHeirReborn3 arose - cos I used to sign off my emails Sunny Heir - instead of sonny... When I join under dad with a small account back in Age 3 Beta I called my SunnyHeir3 - when Age 3 started I decided to keep the name but add Reborn to it... I finally deleted the SHR3 KOC account to concentrate on the Archangelat account in Age 6.. I shall pass the Archangelat account back to the original owner when Age 7 finally grinds to a halt...

I might bore you with the reasons for playing an online - realtime game... but thats for another time.

Hey Dad - I know you are doing well - love you
SHR3