Saturday 12th October 2013 ... Sharon to Barry Peace

Ronda Peace ... RIP
Hi Barry
What an awful time this is for you ... we are so sad for you
She showed such courage ... a very classy lady
When Scot was younger and we were all at the baseball, Tanya used to say ... "I like talking to Ronda ... she is so down to earth and funny !!"
Well, Tanya knows her way around heaven now and I know she was there to greet Ronda ... I know in my heart they are both fine
Wishing you strength for the days ahead

Note from Barry
Thanks, Sharon

Sunday 13th October 2013 ... Sharon to Lars Kalland

Hi Lars
We are just heading off to the baseball finals ... it's a hot sunny day
This time last year you and Tanya were just getting to know each other and we were introducing you to the great game of baseball !!
We are so sad today because 'Our Girl' won't be there with her own special way of supporting her brother's team
Cheering and yelling and heckling the opposition and the umpires and getting a little tipsy as well !!
We are missing her so much
We are also so so sorry that you are not coming back to Cairns ... we were all very much looking forward to your return
We hope you can make some great new plans for your life and make the most of every minute
Love to you and your family

Note from Lars
Hi Sharon
I miss those days sooo much ... it was a really special time in my life
Getting to really know Tanya ... I really think we had something good in store ... and I will cherrish the time we had forever
Even though my life has started over here in Norway, I think about and miss my life in Cairns every day
And my special CrossFit family ... and it's great to hear and read about you guys and that you are keeping up with it all
And good luck with your running ... you are a true inspiration ... just like Tanya !!
Lots of love right back at ya

Sunday 27th October 2013 ... Jacqui Searson ... "Point to Pinnacle"

Hello Geoff and Sharon
You guys are on my mind this morning
Just checking in to say hi, and hope you are both okay and that life is being kind to you
Three weeks till my Mountain Adventure
Training is a little off schedule as I tore a large muscle in my back trying to go from 'zero to hero' !!
Anyway, I am still determined to conquer it ... and recovery is on track now !!
Much love to you both

Note from Sharon
Thank you, Jacqui, and you were also on my mind this morning
Tanya's friend and her daughter, both of whom are involved in basketball in Sydney, came to visit
They went to her Bike Site and then out to Trinity Beach to her Special Spot "in a warm spot near the water with a great view"
I told them all the things you told us and they were amazed and pleased
My Half Marathon is next Sunday ... starting to get both nervous and excited
Looking forward to hearing about your Mountain Adventure too
Ha, ha ... 'zero to hero' ... I like that !!
Love to you and yours

Note from Geoff
And now click HERE and scroll down the page to see all the details on Jacqui's Mountain Adventure aka "Point to Pinnacle" !!

Wednesday 27th November 2013 ... Vince Askey

Hi Sharon, and thanks for your birthday wishes
I hope you and your family are doing well
I think of you often and feel sometimes like I am there with you and everyone who loved Tanya ... I guess Facebook helps to create that
I hope I can be there again in 2014 ... I will look forward to giving you a big hug !!
My best to Geoff and Brett, too ... Cheers

Note from Sharon
We are all doing okay ... but miss her so much and just take it day by day
Some are terrible though, like her Birthday on the 9th November ... HERE
"Big Hugs" are good so you better get here next year !!

Saturday 30th November 2013 ... Jacqui Searson

Hi you two
Hope you are both doing okay ... you have been on my mind a lot this last week
My next goal will be realised tomorrow ... I am taking part in the Mark Webber 6.5km Adventure Run in Hobart
Not sure if I will be able to run the whole thing, but it's my first attempt at running in a Fun Run as opposed to walking
Will let you know how I go
Lots of love to you both

Note from Sharon
Best of luck to you, Jacqui !!
6.5km is a good distance to try and run
My first 'proper' race/run was 6km
Tanya entered us both and I was terrified ... the only running I had done was in our cross fit sessions ... nothing like that distance !!
Every time I wanted to walk a little she would let me walk long enough to take five deep breaths and then poke me in the back to get going again !!
I am so so proud of what you have done and Tanya would be delighted for you too ... she might poke you in the back tomorrow too !!
The days are going by so quickly and we are doing okay
The alternative would be to give in to despair and that would not be honouring Our Beautiful Girl's Life ... it's damn hard though
Love to you and your family

Tuesday 3rd December 2013 ... Richard Olfen

Hello Geoff
Hoping that you and Sharon are going okay and all the best for the Christmas ahead and the pain that it will bring

Note from Geoff
Appreciate very much and understand your note about Christmas
It has always been "Tanya Mary's Day" and it's going to be sad for all of us ... we are going to miss her so much
Her Birthday on the 9th November was also so hard to get through
Sharon and I just take one day at a time

Sunday 15th December 2013 ... Andrew Perkins

Monday 16th December 2013 ... Brooke Devine

Hi Sharon
Just wanted to say how lovely it was to see you yesterday and to hear you talk about Tanya
It was good to see you looking well
I know many people have told you but she was always a lovely lady and you brought her (and Brett) up so well
You are always in my thoughts, prayers and heart and I know it won't be easy but I do hope you and the family have a nice Christmas
I will be thinking of you
Much love to you all

Note from Sharon
Thanks, Brooke
I do like to talk about Tanya !!
We miss her so much
Many people take the time to contact us and let us know they are thinking of us and we appreciate it ... we really do feel loved
We will keep going as best we can with Tanya giving us a gentle push when we need it

Monday 23rd December 2013 ... Sharon to Ric Doo

Hi Ric, and remember the 1954 sixpence I found in my till the day before my birthday ??
On the 10th December (the day before the 11th - I hate the 11th of every month ) I was counting my till and I saw a sixpence
I thought ... "If that is a 1954 sixpence I will have a heart attack"
I picked it up, turned it over and there it was ... 1954 ... I couldn't believe it !!
I have both of them at home now
My girl is okay !!

Note from Ric
Sharon
You're sending me chills ... I truly believe in these little signs and that gives us hope
And I believe Tanya is smiling down on us all

Wednesday 8th January 2014 ... Jodie Bradley

Some kind words for all

Note from Sharon
Thank you, Jodie, and that is lovely to read
I really believe Tanya is okay
I feel her around and talk to her all the time
I have had specific signs and for me I know she is fine
I miss her so much and hate that she is not here where she should be, living her life, but I know she is safe and that is important to me
Geoff thinks I am a little kooky but I will convince him too one of these days !!
Love to you and your family ... I love seeing all the photos

Note from Jodie
I truly believe that those who are loved so much stay with us always

Wednesday 8th January 2014 ... Sharon to Tom Lee

Hi Tom, and it was nice to see you today
I meant to tell you that I love seeing your 'morning' photos on Facebook
I regularly received texts from Tanya with a pretty sunrise taken while she was out riding or running
So I like seeing yours now ... as she kept telling me ... "mornings are best" !!

Note from Tom
Sharon, it was so lovely to see you today ... thanks for stopping and saying hi
I'm glad you are well
The sunrise is such a special time of day, and it means a lot to me that you are making and taking positives away from the photos
I have been taking strength from the positivity of your posts
Keep well and filled with love

Sunday 19th January 2014 ... Jacqui Searson

Morning you two
I hope you're well
I am a bit sleep deprived as Sammy is not well still after his operation
However I am still managing to go for a daily run ... don't seem to be getting any faster but I am getting a little further each time
I have another 5km Fun Run next weekend, then in March I have entered an 8km one, and I plan to do a 10km in May
Anyway, as you know, I draw great inspiration from "Your Girl"
I had one of those funny moments yesterday and I will attach a photo below
But I came back from my run and I created a "Healthy Me" Board on Pinterest ... HERE
I was looking for inspirational quotes for running
One really took my fancy, so I clicked on it and look who had posted it !!

TYNA REHBERG ... could you get a more similar name !!
I'm sure she is coaching me from up there ... I have been smiling about it all night and I just had to share

Note from Sharon
That is pretty amazing !! ... cause it was a bit blurry I had to look twice
The sentiment of the quote is good too !!
I am a little weary at the moment
We are having a takeaway dinner and having a very early night
Really missed Tanya today at the CrossFit Competition ... HERE
She loved all that stuff and I bet she would have done a Personal Best as well !!
Good luck with your running too
I have not done much of late except if it is part of a crossfit routine so need to get moving again
Hope little Sammy gets better soon

Note from Jacqui
You deserve a takeaway dinner and an early night ... both of you
Being the world's biggest supporter is also a very exhausting job as well as doing a 'PB' in weight lifting !!
I can't imagine how much you miss Your Girl ... I really can't
But as you say she was very much with you today ... if you can't see her, I hope you can feel her
As for Sammy, he will be okay ... I just hate seeing him in pain and not being able to do anything for him ... he will get there soon
Lots and lots of love

Friday 24th January 2014 ... Geoff to Tennille Denman

Hi ya, and just letting you know that CrossFit tomorrow is at "The Stairs" at Trinity Beach ... HERE
Supposed to be a 6.30am start, but I don't think that will happen, eh !! ... maybe around seven
This will be the first Beach Workout since the c*** murdered my daughter
God, I hate that bastard, and as your post said yesterday ...

... I will soon be turning into his Karma
Thought I'd tell you about the Workout in case there are spiders, cockroaches and ants in your bed and you need somewhere to go
It's gunna be tough for Sharon to run up and down the stairs and there will be a tear or two from both of us
If you can't make it, enjoy the weekend and have a drink for 'The Girl' ... she loved Australia Day, as you can see in this shot ...

Note from Tennille
I'll be there
He is a c*** !!
I hate him with every f****** part of me !!
I hope that p**** rots in hell !!

Monday 27th January 2014 ... Jacqui Searson

I now have lots of photos like this one !!
This shot was my first ever Fun Run in May last year ... took me sixty one minutes to do seven kilometres
Yesterday I did four kilometres in twenty one minutes ... supposedly was five kilometres but that just can't be right
Thank you for your ongoing encouragement and thank you to Tanya for the inspiration
Hope things are going okay for you this week
Sending much love

Note from Sharon
We found some stuff of Tanya's ... she had printed out and written on some 'inspirational quotes' she found
One was ... "Who would have thought how much I love running ... just me and my thoughts"
She would have been so delighted for you and we are proud of you too
Tanya may have had something to do about getting you started but you have done the hard work !!
I agree with you in that the first five minutes hurt the most
I watched a movie last night about Cliff Young who was sixty one when he entered the Sydney to Melbourne Ultra Marathon
And won !!
What they called "The Cliff Young Shuffle" (which is how I run !!) has been adopted by Ultra Marathon Runners because it expends less energy
It seems you are vastly improving your times but if you do a "big one" again, now you know what to do !!
Australia Day ... HERE ... was worse than I thought it would be to be honest
Tanya was the most patriotic person I knew ... she always had all the gear to celebrate the day and watched all the sports
We missed her a lot but we do anyway ... some days are just worse than others
Good on Scott for getting involved as well ... it is so much fun and so rewarding doing that kind of stuff as a family
When you visit you will all have to come to one of our CrossFit sessions !!
Love to you all

Note from Jacqui
God loves that Girl
And it's obvious He did, and decided he needed her up there to do something really important
She is probably the 'second in charge' !!
I'm really pleased Scott has jumped on the bandwagon
He enjoys the good life but it's taken a toll on his health so I'm really relieved that he's doing something positive
And yes it is easier if the whole family does it
CrossFit would kill me I think !!
I would definitely like to visit Tanya's "Spot on the Beach" though ... HERE
I did think of you both yesterday
And everytime I see 'Commando' on television I think of her too ... HERE ... and scroll down to Tuesday 24th September 2013
Chat to you soon

Wednesday 29th January 2014 ... Geoff to Kelly Richardson

Hi Kelly
And I am getting the "page not available" message when I look at your Facebook Page
Hope all is okay ??
Are you just taking another break from Facebook ??
Our very best wishes to you and yours

Note from Kelly
Hi Geoff and Sharon
Thanks for your email
I am doing okay ... I always find the new school year tough ... the clicking over of numbers
But the boys started back this week and Ethan started preschool today, so that is all over with
I realise I have become quite bipolar with Facebook !!
When I am stressed I find it a bit exhausting taking in what everyone is up to, especially when what I really need is to quiet my mind
So I find having a complete technology break, including deactivating Facebook at those times, works for me and helps me to relax a little and get control of my thoughts
But as I said, the boys went back this week, so I will be back in in a day or two
I was thinking of Tanya a lot on the 28th ... Brett and I met on 28th January 1994
Myself, Tanya, Melissa, and Felicity all went out on the Friday following Australia Day
I remember Tanya minding my drink at the Playpen whilst I was in the ladies, which took forever as the queue was long !!
Anyway, when I came out, the girls were gone and it took me ages to find them
They were up on the balcony at Samuels which overlooked the Playpen ... yeah, easy to spot when I finally looked up there after searching the whole Playpen ... haha !!
When I went around to Samuels and got to them, Tanya had drunk my drink, lol !!
I remember saying to her that I will go to the bar and get another one, and then an English guy standing next to us said to me ... "I will buy you a drink"
I remember Tanya asking him his name, and he replied 'Brett', and she told him she had a brother named Brett
Anyway, he bought me the drink, we got chatting, and twenty years, three kids, two dogs and two cats later ...... !!
I was unable to message her to say "it was twenty years ago today that I met Brett that night"
When I left for the UK in October 1994, that was the last time we lived in the same city together
We lost contact for a bit ... before the internet and emails, but when we were back in contact, I have always texted/emailed her and Melissa saying "it was 'x' amount of years since I met Brett that night, can you believe it !!"
I didn't get to text her this year, and I didn't contact Melissa, but Tanya was in my thoughts all day, and I know that every year, on the 28th January, I will always think of her, Melissa, and Felicity, and that night, just as I have done ever since
If I had have found the girls sooner and Tanya hadn't drunk my drink, the English guy next to us probably would never have bought me a drink !!
See you on Facebook soon !!

Note from Sharon
Hi Kelly
What a great story of how you met Brett and it was good of you to share it with us
Good thing Tanya stole your drink !!
I figured you may have 'gone to ground' when you left Facebook for a while ... don’t blame you one bit
I think of you and your boys all the time ... time just keeps ticking over ... very hard sometimes
Not sure if you have seen the posts on my Facebook Page ... probably not
If you scroll down you can see we entered our first CrossFit Competition ... HERE
Brett and I did our 'personal bests' in weightlifting
It was fun but all I could think of was how Tanya loved lifting weights
She had just started doing power lifting ... she would have loved the day
There are a couple of other nice posts as well
Australia Day was tough too ... harder than I thought ... HERE
She was so patriotic with her flags and crop tops and banana cakes and lamington trifle !!
Still, we have to get through these days and with the help of each other and lots of very kind friends, hers and ours, we do
Karen Turner mentioned in her post that she wanted to text Tanya about the Notting Hill Gardens ... HERE
I understand you missing being able to text between yourselves about a special memory
I miss her texts like crazy ... I still have heaps of them on my phone
Some are quite funny ... discussions of various contestants on The Biggest Loser and also The Commando
I said to Geoff that Tanya is on my mind every minute of the day
When I am working, driving, running, eating lunch ... all the time ... and that’s how I want it to be
I am not sad every second of the day and I think that I can go on and try to live as best I can because she is with me all the time
I need her close and I feel her close and that is how it is
I have a lifetime of memories and a fabulous website to help me
We are having "Lunch for Tanya" tomorrow at L’unicos at Trinity Beach ... HERE
All Tanya’s affairs and estate have been completed
Brett and one of Tanya’s friends were her Executors ... what a sad chore for them
Her workmates at MacDonnells Law sorted it all out ... Brett said they were wonderful but it is not something he thought he would have to do at this stage of their lives
He has been terrific through this tragedy ... always looking out for us and trying to take care of us
We thought a special lunch with two of Tanya’s friends would be nice
Also, this a beautiful photo of you and the boys in the pool

It's definitely a keeper but then all your photos are keepers !!
Love to you all

Note from Geoff
From Kelly's email above ... "Brett and I met on 28th January 1994" ... and here is an old shot of The Playpen !!

Sunday 2nd February 2014 ... Bethany Knights

Hi Sharon, and it was so nice to see you yesterday
"Lunch for Tanya" was delicious and the company was great ... HERE
I've been thinking about how you said you always asked Tanya for her opinion on clothing
Feel free to send me photos via Facebook or text of any outfit and I can give you my opinion ... I'll be honest like Tanya would be
Thinking of you each day

Note from Sharon
I am just so glad we asked you and Andria to come to our lunch yesterday
I can't tell you how happy it made me to hear two of Tanya's dearest friends talking, laughing and telling stories about her
You two probably knew her better than anybody
That is the kindest offer you could make Bethany ... I confess it made me cry
I rarely go shopping cause I don't really need anything but when I do I tend to panic and definitely need help
I have a dress at the moment which looks nice but I think it is a bit short
I wore it a couple of years ago and I was worried then but Tanya said it was okay
I will get round to taking a photo and you can tell me what you think ... I will value your opinion and know you will be honest like Tanya
You are a lovely girl, Bethany, and Tanya was and is lucky to have you as her friend

Note from Bethany
I am so glad you invited us !!
Yes, send me the shot of the dress ... I will help out whenever I can
Thank you for your kind words
You are so lovely ... Tanya was lucky to have a mum like you