Its difficult to think of the right words to say when we lose someone we love. Annie was so special, sincere, kind, funny, straight talking and wise.
She lived life to the max but always had time for those who needed her. It didn't matter how long the interval between our meetings we always picked up where we had left off
I first met Annie on arriving in Val d’Isere after a particularly difficult journey. Sensing my troubled frame of mind she was so warm and welcoming that she made me feel like I was her best friend after only about 10 minutes.
Annie taught me a lot over the years
Simple things like how to ski – especially off piste, how to bake very calorific cakes, make very strong cocktails and prepare gourmet picnics and how to win at scrabble by fair means or foul But also the bigger things like, how to organise my life, how to get the best out of my holiday but most of all the value of friendship.
She had a wonderful sense of fun and adventure.
Skiing with Annie was never for the faint hearted – mostly off piste or negotiating areas of avalanche danger (or so she said – I was never quite sure if she exaggerated the dangers!).
I never could find the Piste Perdu (the lost piste) without Annie even though I have tried many times.
Once in Mexico we were in one of the water parks that had a high cliff, which people were jumping off. She encouraged me to have a go saying it was great fun and very exhilarating, leading me to believe she had jumped off it sometime in the past. So of course I had a go. Afterwards she admitted she had never done it!!!
Over the last few years my family and I have been lucky in having Annie to stay but she was never just a visitor. She arrived and put the kettle on then started opening cupboard doors saying, “Sues where’s the biscuits”, or “Phil I cant find the chocolate!”
We all looked forward to her arrival even the old cat who would follow Annie round the house until she sat down and then jump on her lap. The cat never sat on anyone else’s lap!
She was often critical of how we all spoilt our children but then arrived bringing sweets cakes and played games with them, generally ruining them. She gave my daughter, Emi, plenty of no-nonsense and Emi loved Annie as much as I did.
I am grateful to you, Annie, for all the happy times we have had together. For the crying and the laughing we have done even when you have been feeling poorly. For the advice and the adventures we have had.
I will miss your wicked laugh, your beautiful smile, our long walks along the beach and your down to earth advice.
I read somewhere this week that a raindrop landing on your check is a kiss from someone who is watching over you.
So from now on when it’s raining I will run out to catch your kisses, Annie.
Thank you for being my friend and the friend of my family
Goodbye from Phil, Emi and me xx
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