The 9th of June 2014, 9.45 am. The day I said goodbye to my father, my hero, my best friend. I have, since that day tried to find a way to put into words what he meant to me, words that everyone can understand and relate to and I think the only way I can do this is to write my farewell letter to him: Dear Dad, One of my favourite memories of you is the day that I convinced you to take me to one of the most important football matches in Swaziland because I couldn’t bear the idea of spending the day without my father, and how after only 20 minutes of being in the stadium I convinced you to take me swimming at the hot springs instead…..i can still see your face….a look of panic at the idea of missing the game but also a look of love of just wanting to make sure that I was happy. You took my hand and off we went. There is so much more that I want us to say to each other, so many more rugby games and formula ones that I want us to see together, and just a few more concocted meals I want to cook for you but it is not meant to be. So for now, I am just going to tell you how proud I am to have had you as my father, my dive partner, my hero and my best friend. Thank you for teaching me so many of life’s lessons; how to be tough and still be compassionate, how never to fold the corner of a book and if I have to, to say sorry to the author, how to listen not only with my ears but with my heart and what it means to be real, dedicated and hard working. Thank you for always being there when I needed you even when I was too stubborn to realise that I did need you. Most of all I want to thank you for showing me what it means to be brave, because that is what you have been. I am proud of you. I am so grateful that I could be there to hold your hand. I miss you so much. We had some great times and I have some wonderful memories. So dad, hamba kahle, give mum a hug and a kiss from mbuso and I and leave a little light on for us. Love you always