Dear Simon

It’s been awhile, sorry about that, but I’ve been busy you know raising these daughters you left behind, dealing with this house (yes I know the house was all my idea, clearly you were right it was a bad idea to build I can hear the “I told you so” booming down on me) and working full time.

You would be so proud of our girls, they have an awful lot of your stoicism.

Hippie Child has completed Year 12, despite her loss and grief she kept ploughing on and she got an ATAR of 75 which got her early entry into her first choice uni course. In February she heads off to Newcastle to study Natural History Illustration.  She was accepted into Fine Arts as well but it was a bit too “arty abstract” for her – when you draw things they should look like what they are meant to be! So with your practicality in the genes she will be studying art and science and doing very detailed, realistic drawings!

I am so very proud of what she managed to achieve, and the dignity she displayed even at the most difficult of times.

Her body of work was amazing – it nearly drove us all over the edge but it was amazing.

Interconnection -click on the first picture and the gallery will open.

Princess Child grew up before my eyes. As tall as me now she’s shown a courage and maturity in these last 21 months that has been astonishing. She’s still trying to organise us – seriously how did we end up with a child who likes everything structured and ordered?

As for me, well I went back to radio producing full-time. A juggling act that at times had me questioning my sanity. I’ve been producing the Statewide Drive show with Fi, so we go to all of regional NSW with the exception of Newcastle. Not sure if you can catch it in heaven but tune in if you can. That’s what I miss the most you know, getting home and talking about what happened during the day with you. You always tried to listen to the shows I produced and had a wry comment or two to offer every night.

I work until late now so my Mum, god love her, has stepped in and cooked every night. So many people have done so much to help us we are so deeply grateful.

I notice you haven’t gotten any quicker at doing things since you moved on. When Hippie Child lost the only key to the car at school and the locksmith explained it was one of the first Toyota’s to have the computer chip keys and it would cost oodles to replace it I had a bit of a meltdown at your grave. I asked for your help and you did give it, the key was found EIGHT DAYS later, on the basketball court which hasn’t been frequented by Hippie Child since year seven. Really, EIGHT DAYS, you left me hanging (and stressing with the car parked at the school) for EIGHT DAYS. Surely with all that astral power now you could MOVE A BIT FASTER!!!

By the way, I’ve put in a pool. Really it’s not appropriate to use that sort of language in front of the angels Simon, you will get kicked out. Look we had a massive hole in the ground I had to do SOMETHING. Your mate Adam tried very hard to talk me out of it, he spoke about the cost and the maintenance and fought very hard … his wife, Tracey, my best friend, on the other hand supported me 100 per cent. You have a giant hole … the house is incomplete without it (never mind at that stage we had no architraves or flooring so the house was far from complete anyway) … you must have a pool. So I put one in. The girls then decided I had put it in the wrong spot and it didn’t get enough sun, it was too COLD. So for a little while I had built a very expensive bird birth. I just sat and watched as the birds dipped in and out of the water, while my children sat inside on their computers!  Thank god for climate change – as it’s heated up they have finally ventured into the water.

So here we are, almost two years on. They say it gets easier but frankly I think that’s a crock. It seems like you are slipping further away, things are changing and we don’t have you here making memories with us in these new circumstances.

Shortly I will pack Hippie Child up and send her out into the world. Who knows what the future holds for us all? I wish you could see her excitement and be here helping allay her fears, leaving home for the first time is a bit scary. I think we did a really good job, but I hold my breath and hope it was enough as I prepare to wave goodbye.

Keep an eye on her from up there will you?

love

Janine