Oh Tunde, I actually can't believe you are gone. It has been so hard to create closure or feel any finality, I think because I live in Australia. I talk to you though, a strange outcome from knowing you have passed. You have become omnipotent Tunde for me now:)) 

I met Tunde at a Bikram yoga retreat in Turkey in 2010 (I met Catherine there too). The three of us quickly became thick as thieves and since we were all living in London at that time, our friendship was able to grow and cement. Which it did very much. Tunde became my staunch Bikram buddy, and with this daily contact, he became one of my dearest friends. He liked that word.... dear! He would ask me, how is my dear friend? And I would tell him. We talked of everything and his good counsel and love I cherished. He used to pick me up from my house weekdays and we would go to yoga together. For those that don't know much about bikram, let me just say, those in the know joke that it is ONLY FOR THE HARDCORE! It is seriously challenging and Tunde was one of the stronger yogis I know. His form was perfect and strict. He was a truly disciplined yogi. I admired him and we motivated each other with the internal struggle that often happens in the yoga room! 

I remember once I moved back to Australia, he put me onto this calorie counter app. I still use it today and it has actually given me a real education about what I eat. I really had no idea. But I loved the way he explained it to me....so, the trick is to just keep your calories under your goal and then you can just decide, hmmmm do I want that chocolate cake instead of lunch. Yes I do!! Hahahaha. 

I used to say that Tunde channelled the smiling buddha himself. He genuinely loved and he genuinely cared and OMG THAT LAUGH! Warms the cockles of my heart forever. Such a uniquely Tunde laugh, high and ringing and heart felt and hilarious. God did we laugh. What a great sense of humour and sense of play he had. Yet, he offset the silly with the serious with a depth and insight that enabled a long and true friendship with me. 

Tunde and I came from very different walks of life and yet, without judgment, we had a meeting of minds and then hearts and he touched my life forever. When I returned to London years after I lived there, Tunde was one of the first people I caught up with. And all that distance between England and Australia made no difference to our friendship. WhatsApp thank you! Facetime, thank you! We had always talked about him one day affording the big trip down under with his family so that I might finally meet them.

I am so happy to say that Tunde met the man I believe I will grow old with, albeit through Facetime but still.....I love that my partner Mathew and Tunde met briefly on the phone. We are happy and Tunde really wanted that for me. Cath sent me her eulogy that she spoke at Tunde's funeral, and I really related to that. The way he took an almost fatherly interest in both our journeys into love and romance and finally to one that lasted. 

Even as I write, I imagine Tunde is reading this. Tunde, thank you for being my beautiful friend, and thank you for believing in me even when sometimes I did not. I need to cry now. It's hard to say goodbye from here. Thank you for allowing this opportunity for loved ones far away. 

Sharon xxx