Dear Gerry and family, and Dear Shane, It was lovely to be at the celebration of Nicki’s life today. It was a beautiful service, well arranged and thoughtfully done. I am sorry that we were unable to stay long afterwards, to socialise and offer our condolences. And so I will do this now, with a happy heart( but poignant ), as I know she would have wished us all to remember the good times. Of course, Ruth was pregnant with Nicki, when we arrived back in nz in 1968, ( from our 2years OE in Europe),and our family friendship blossomed, with so many interests in common(esp travel and food). Many amazing social and family events have peppered our lives,but two I will mention as they are deeply engrained in the memory. Firstly, the incredible camping and communal holidays at Pauanui. My kids still talk avidly about those experiences and replicate them often. Nicki was the oldest and “ big sister “ of a tribe of excitable children enjoying a beautiful freedom that comes with that living outdoors experience. And Gerry, they do remember being on potato peeling or dishes duty. I remember Ruth and Gerry always being the last parents awake, waiting for Nicki to come home from some social event at the surf club! The other major highlight for us, in the very busy social life of the Hodgson family, was Nicki and Shane’s wedding- never seen two people more in love. And that never changed. So Thankyou to you all for a lifetime of friendship and for sharing the life of such a remarkable and beautiful person- dear Nicki. Our fondest love to you all.