Today was an unusual, special and beautiful day.

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For the first time, today, I attended a funeral. It's for my dear colleague, Gavin Philip Harry. Last night I was thinking a lot about today. I didn't know what would happen exactly. I even googled about 'British funeral'. It's scary that I searched for this kind of information. I wanted to make sure that at least I was paying respect at this so special occasion.

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This morning our company hired a coach for us to go down to Dorset where the funeral was held. It's around 2.5-hour drive from West London. Most of us wore in black. It was odd to see everyone in black and yet good to see some old familiar faces again. No one expected to gather together on this kind of occasion.

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We arrived at around 11:30am. There're already quite a lot of people - most in black and young. I walked into the pub and saw photos and albums with Gav and his friends. It's phenomenal… it still seemed unreal.

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The service started at noon. There’re lots of people (maybe 200) and my colleagues and I were standing outside the room. We’re distributed with a white booklet with Gav’s photo on the front and dated his lifetime which is far too short. I received the paper and felt it’s incredibly heavy. I looked at Gav’s photo and couldn’t stop crying and so did most of us…

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Through the broadcaster, the lady who was in charge of the service said: "There're a few seats at the front rows. Come to take the seats. Be brave." I didn’t think much. I walked into the room and seated in the front. At that time, I just wanted to be closer to him and be brave…that’s all I could do at that point of time.

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It's a very touching occasion. People looked at each other, smiled, and gave comfort to each other.

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The service began with the hymn “Now Thank We All Our God”. It’s a beautiful hymn and I burst into tears again. I’d love to sing but I just couldn’t… it’s far too sorrowful.

Then there’s a tribute session. We learnt about Gav’s lifetime story. It’s funny. It’s real. It’s touching. I felt especially sorry for his parents, grandma and his girlfriend Bea who have spent so much time and joy with him. His experience with salt has become a history. Gav has indeed touched our lives dearly and we’ll always remember how he made us FEEL. He’s a true legend.

Then there’s a poem about “Death is nothing at all”. It’s overwhelming.

Death is nothing at all.

I have only slipped away into the next room.

I am I and you are you.

Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.

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Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which you have always used.

Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

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Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.

Let my name be ever the household word that it always was,

Let it be spoken without effort, without a trace of a shadow on it.

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Life means all that it ever meant.

It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity.

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near,

Just around the corner.

All is well.

…. How revealing.

Indeed, “I am I and you are you…Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?”

Then we sang the hymn “The Lord’s My Shepherd”. I knew this hymn when I was at secondary school but didn’t really get it at all. Today when I sang this hymn again, I felt different. It’s especially meaningful and comforting, at this occasion, for Gav.

We then had “The Lord’s Prayer”, followed by the closing music, “What a wonderful world”. It’s a beautiful moment.

The service ended. We’re guided to a piece of woodland nearby where Gav’s body would be buried there forever. It’s a very peaceful, greenery, and best place to rest. People were giving their final tribute. Soil signals growth and hope.

We proceeded back to the pub area where people had drinks and lunch and chatted with each other. I am not very sure if this is a British tradition but I guess everyone just needed to gather together and in the end we all toasted for our beloved Gav. We will always, always remember you.

What a special day. I shall never forget today.

This whole incident really made you/me think of L-I-F-E.

Thinking of You.