I'm writing this now, because of the ashes, Adam was into his cricket and we always had good banter. I am sorry to be experiencing it now without him. It made me think of him and that made me sad and want to write something. I don't know if this will be too much. 

So Adam and I didn't see each other after school, we linked up on facebook and interacted a bit, mostly about cricket. 

Then, one day I said I was struggling with some stuff and Adam sent me a private message. He reached out to support me privately. He did so with compassion, humility and generosity and sensitivity. 

We talked more over the years. He told me about his life, his family, his struggles and that led into the cancer. He faced it with grace and courage. I hope should I be faced with such a challenge I'll have half of the strength he did. 

He told me about his family I never met: 

"My girls are weird and geeky and fantastic. Charlotte is a geek, she loves Minecraft, Marvel movies and action packed stuff. Our friends say Amelie should become a diplomat as she is able to diffuse even the most difficult situation. "

I know he loved them both and Carol-Ann and they were his life. The disney trip this summer meant the world to him. His excitement when he told me he was going to do it as a surprise was wonderful and palpable. 

When he told me about the cancer, I asked if I could do anything. He simply said:

"Nah, apart from live your life for today. Tomorrow might never happen. Just be the best Dad you can and give them the best life possible. You never know what the future will bring. I have loads of support up here. "

I am sorry I didn't get to see him in his later years. I know he was a great man, husband and dad, architect too. He worked hard, sometimes struggled but had humour and intellect in spades. Love you man. May your family have strength in the years ahead. You are and will be missed forever, but your legacy is awesome too. Thanks for being part of my life.

I hope this isn't too much.

Attached are 3 pictures, one Adam sent me he loved of his girls and the others from a holiday we were on in 1991. This is the Adam I remembered from then.