For Alison

[island_sands]

Dear Alison

There are no words to describe what I feel right now. But I will attempt to put them in some sort of way.

Two weeks ago I received your last pm. October 21st to be exact. It was a Friday. It was about one of our many conspiracies about DB guests that we used to giggle about over our morning coffee.

You were always up early. Sometimes, you were as hung over as a donkey with the after effects of your homemade wine. We would chat for a while, and then you would cook Colin his brekkie. Mid-morning (my time) you would be back, and we would be off again, pointing out to each hilarious posts, characters of different people. We would chat about our own personal lives, thoughts, ideas.

Since we met last year in the Contest thread (which was deleted) you have been a constant inspiration, source of comfort, friendship, laughter. During that month I can’t remember having laughed so much – even if it was at poor Sven’s expense (sorry Sven). The photos you posted, the comments, it was side splitting.

I remember being “interviewed” by you constantly in the beginning, to make sure I wasn’t some kind of internet freak Our friendship progressed, and before long, my PM box filled up with over 1000 PMs, and my email box, and you became one of the best friends I have ever had. You listened, comforted, gave sound advice. You told me your own concerns. We ranted together, laughed until we ached, and confided in each other. Those secrets that we imparted will remain with me always.

Since October 21st, I have looked for you every day. You never appeared. I thought it was strange, because even though you were going to classes you always came online briefly before you went out. I sent you a couple of PMs/emails, no reply. I couldn’t understand it. I knew you weren’t going away. I knew that you were busy with studies, but I also knew that you always connected with your friends, whatever. I was thinking about contacting Pastor, as during the middle of the week, I saw him looking at your profile, and then Dick Splash's. I knew something was up. i knew that you were friends, and was thinking about PMing to ask him about you, but something held me back.

On October 31st, I received a PM titled “Terrible News”. I knew immediately. I didn’t want to open it. I knew that you had gone. I could feel it. A sudden desperation came.

And then it dawned on me. I was unable to say those last words. Unable to tell you what I wanted to tell you. Unable to continue our last chain of laughter. Unable to do anything. It was over. Unable to say anything more. You were gone. Finished. I couldn’t’ even tell you how I much I loved you as a friend, even though I know that you knew it.

Since you have been gone, a piece of my heart has disappeared. A piece of my life is missing. The constant laughter has gone from my eyes. The next mischievous deed that we were always plotting, has been erased. I am generally totally lost without one of the best friends I ever had.

What I do know is though, that you are somewhere with your big love, Colin. The man who you loved for years on end, the man who saved your life, the man who had magnetic shoe straps, the man who built you a hut in your back yard which turned out to be almost the size of a normal house and you stuffed yourself on tortilla chips and apple wine in there , the man who was in the next bed in hospital after you came back from Sri Lanka (now remember our giggles about that??) Bed pans and all….

I am sad Alison, but happy in a way that you are together with Colin. I know how much you loved him and how he adored you, girl. I guess you are both out in the ocean somewhere and you are catching all the fish And I definitely know what you’ll be doing once you get back to shore! the barbie will be on the go, the wine flowing and the fun.

I know that you are probably looking at me saying what you always said-
“Stand in front of the mirror, pull in your stomach and stick out your boobs – there, you’ll feel much better”

I miss you Alison, I miss you terribly. I look out for you every day even though I know you are not coming. I think about you constantly. I read your pms, think about your posts, think about your advice, think about everything that we have experienced together.

You were my morning coffee laugh, my mid-morning stress and boredom break, my post-lunch gossip check, my mid-afternoon mischief, and my early evening entertainment. I never tired of all our 100s of pms, belly-aching laughs (remember the Swedish chef?), and all of Aunty Alison’s advice will never be forgotten. Right now it’s a matter of coming to terms with the fact that you are gone, but I have all your memories, letters and laughter stored. Will treasure those forever.

Alison and Colin, rest in peace both of you. See you there someday, and look forward to tasting your apple wine. Colin look after my friend!!! (Alison will know what I mean)

And I promise, that before I see you out there, I will try out a spear-gun while remembering the towel and wetsuit advice that we laughed so much about in private

Your friend always, miss you
Sara

[samdive]

Hugs, Sara. That's beautiful. Alison gave me the towel and wetsuit advice for spearing too! Let's learn to spearfish somewhere together in her honour. xxx

[Donna]

I had the same advice, and thought it was hilarious! Seems Alison was determined to get us women spearing - be rude not to! xx

[samdive]

OK - who wants to teach a bunch of girls with towels down their jumpers to spear???? preferably somewhere warm with excellent viz so it's easier.

Alison would have liked this thread : )

[Pastor]

Thats beautifull Sara. She would have liked that
The following is a post from the British Spearfishing Association forums in a post about the passing away of their chaiman Adrian Worley

Originally Posted by Alison

Its not every day that something tragic like this happens thank goodness, Adrian sounded a real character and one his family and friends will miss I'm sure. Well I'm sure some of you will have thought and talked already about this but why dont you (the BSA) have some sort of memorial trophy in his honour? Not something serious but something that you can all have a good laugh about on the beach, for the worst shot of a fish landed during a comp, the ugliest fish or the fish that most looks like the guy who shot it? Stupid? Oh definately but from what Ive read about him from your tributes, he might have apreciated being remembered with a laugh.
I hope this is taken with humour and I havent caused any offence, thats the last thing I would want to do to his memory.
Ali

[Donna]

In honour of Alison....

Who can stuff the most towels down their wetsuit trophy??

[Almostafish]

Nice one Sands. Alison was also a good email friend to me and was one of the big forces behind my little spearo school. You are much better with words at the mo than I so I will leave it at that.

I will meet them on that beach one day.

[shaneshac]

Very nice words Sara.

I am sorry i was the bringer of the bad news but i knew how close you two were.

I hope we all learn from this and appreciate the time we are on this planet. We are here for a few seconds and then its all over.

Alisons humour was very similar to mine and i would laugh for days on end about hilarious comments of her leather suspenders and her comical partnership with Colin.

u will both be sorely missed.

Shane xxx

[island_sands]

well, the day i learn to spearfish with Sam, i think we should both wear suspenders in Alison's honour.

[johnny]

Peace Sara,

beautifully written. your friendship showed strongly on DB, you were the first person i thought of when i heard the terrible news....

love life Johnny

[island_sands]

Originally Posted by Pastor

Thats beautifull Sara. She would have liked that
The following is a post from the British Spearfishing Association forums in a post about the passing away of their chaiman Adrian Worley

i read somewhere that we should have a permanent fixture on DB for Alison and Colin. i think it's a brilliant idea, but Pastor should ask the family maybe first.

it should be a banner of some sort. Papa Smurf what do you think?

[Memo]

It is written soo beautiful Sara, cant stop the tears of my eyes... Alison will always be our Ali as a sign of joy, humor and kindness...

[shaneshac]

Hey if it helps keep Alisons memory alive and kicking, i'll wear whatever

[island_sands]

Originally Posted by shaneshac

Hey if it helps keep Alisons memory alive and kicking, i'll wear whatever

I'll second that.

And Pastor should bring some of their homemade wine over for a post-dive celebration.

[Spaniard]

From what I know about the pair of them, their love of all things 'underwater', deeper blue would be a fitting place to have some kind of memorial for them. They obviously had many friends here.