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Those were the days my friend...

September 29, 2020
So many adventures, so many memories 

We jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. And I almost died from a tangled chute. 

Parasailing 500’ above the boat not strapped in. I still remember the boat captain laughing at us.

Our first 100’ dive off cayman and Feeding the stingrays.

Hanging upside down for a shot of tequila at the giggling marlin (I think Therese did this too)

Riding scooters around koh samui

Being left alone with a 5’ shark diving off Tioman island

Actually standing on the Taj Mahal

Almost crash landing in Calcutta on our way to Darjeeling

Crashing on your futon in Hong Kong after riding the Iron rooster alone.

Those were the days my friend...

June 28, 2019

Ok, I’m not gonna lie.. I’m pissed!! The only reason I got on FB was to find you!! And I saw your page butthought, this can’t be her.. I saw your house in Thailand but no face... shit!! It WAS YOU.. when I went back to friend you, I was a year late. You were gone! I feel you sweet Gypsy Girl, I’ve cried and thought.. ok, she’s gone and that makes me really sad but rummaging through your pictures makes me remember your sarcastic funny way, your soulful energy and wisdom! When we meet again let’s Rule the Kingdom.. blasting 70s tunes eating salami and cheese and drinking troughs of Margaritas!! We didn’t get enough time down here, but your energy is eternal.. I feel your presence!! I just wished we could have 1 more marathon chat session!! We will. GET READY GIRL, I got a  lot of questions!! Love you ♥️ Lizzy  

June 18, 2015

July 10, 2015
From: Chantal Fernandes <chantal.fernandes@gmail.com>
Subject: My dearest Friend
Date: 18 June 2015 00:49:17 GMT+7
To: Paula Ahtye <p_ahtye@hotmail.com>

  To my dearest friend, Paula,

From this hotel bed in Sri Lanka, where do I start ...

Well we started on my husband’s birthday down on Laem Sing Beach.
It was March, 23, 2003, because it was his 30th birthday and you brought him a present. It was such a strange present. So weird, but the next day, it was a taste of heaven.

You baked bread.
That wonderful fresh smell permeated your kitchen, making if feel so comforting, each time we stepped inside.

It was like a haven from all the craziness of work and people and life.

We stepped into your kitchen and were treated to so many wonderful breakfasts, lunches, dinners and sleepovers.

Warmth and laughter, gossiping and crying, chopping and stirring. 

Our tradition .. Roast Lamb, creamed spinach and not forgetting those roast potatoes and gravy.

We did it all .. with a quick toke just to keep things mellow.
Remember your mum and my mum and I couldn’t smoke in front of them. Seriously!

Last year, you nursed me back to life ...  making me your green shake and we would walk and talk and .. walk and talk ... up and down the hills.

Our trips to the Hotsprings, Phang Nga ... North Sulawsei - diving.

Your invaluable advice about my love, my kids, my work, my life.
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
Every kids birthday, helping out, then laughing with a few glasses of sparkling at the bar counter.

I want to scream and shout and demand that this is NOT FAIR.

But instead, there has to be acceptance and most of all, thanks.

Thanks .. that you stepped into our lives with that loaf of bread.
That you are such an amazing, brave, beautiful woman, an inspiration and most of all .. a wonderful friend.
That you are a part of our family.

My dearest friend, Paula, I miss you so very much.
I love you, more than words can say. 

Know that we are always thinking of you and most of all, you are always in our hearts.

Chantal  XXxx  

Naming the Beach Dog!

July 4, 2015

When Paula first found this beach dog, she was trying to figure out what to call her. We had quite a few discussions about the right name - then I came up with the name Gypsy -  because she was originally a dog that just wandered the beaches until life changed for her and she got to live in one of the best villas in Phuket and sleep on Paula's bed. It was a pretty good life for a Gypsy!

my little headbanger

July 3, 2015

my little headbanger –

In my younger years, the Ahtye household is where I hung-out.  It became my home away from home.  It was a 2-story house at the end of a cul-de-sac on a street called Valley High (and very long), in Thousand Oaks, CA.  And in keeping with the name of the street, Paula’s older sister, Kathleen, and I would retire to her bedroom at night after Dr. and Mrs. Ahtye had gone to bed (  After all they had to be tired trying to corral 7 kids without going insane themselves). So seizing the moment, we holed up in Kathleen’s room, lit the incense and, well , … got high. That’s what you do on Valley High.

Late one night I hear this very quiet rhythmic thump…..thump……thump.  I look at Kathleen and asked, “what’s that noise”? It seemed to be coming from the bedroom next to Kathleen’s.  This was the bedroom that Kathleen’s two little sisters, Therese and Paula shared.  Oh course about this time, I am not sure about which senses are firing properly- the real or the imaginary.  Kathleen confirmed that “no Lea” you’re not hearing things.  She went on to explain that the noise, the thump, I was hearing was her littlest of her little sisters, Paula, who was just rocking herself to sleep.  Kathleen said that Paula rocks back and  forth in her little girl bed.  Three back and forth rocks and on the fourth – “thump”, her little head gently colliding with the wall every 4th beat.  In that moment she became My Little Headbanger, tapping out her own miniature Morse Code” as she willed herself to sleep.  This little girl, who I swear was born with her very own cherubic Buddha smile; shy and as quiet as a church mouse, was working out her life’s plan- a life that sitting here now, seems to be the stuff of legends. 

As I read the many tributes from close friends and family, I recognize a few, mine included, where we seem to preface our nicknames for Paula with two words- “my little”.  Maybe it’s because this little girl was so damn embraceable. We took her into our hearts and we simply will never let her go…. Never.

So what can she possibly be up to now?  I can’t be absolutely sure, no one can, but I’ll wager a bet that she’s buzzing around the Great Kitchens of the Heavens, reserved only for the earth’s most humble and creative spirits who gave such nourishment to those of us here on earth. She’s rockin and rollin with The Ancients, sipping wine and breakin bread.

So My Little Headbanger, your beautiful spirit continues to give us our daily bread. Let it sustain us until the time comes when we meet again. Bake on…

 

 

Misha_Paula_Andy_Carly

July 2, 2015

On one Valentines Day in Singapore I was treated to dinner with the three women closest to me. My wife (by marriage), my daughter (by birth) and Paula (by friendship). 

Girls playing up!

July 2, 2015

Paula and the girls decided to raid the cigar box in our suite at my 50th Birthday at The Fullerton in Singapore. They got caught on camera hiding in the bathroom having their cigars!

Paula with Carly Wilkinson

July 2, 2015

Paula with my daughter Carly at my 50th birthday party at The Fullerton in Singapore.

Paula with Dean Wilkinson

July 2, 2015

Paula with my son Dean at my 50th birthday at The Fullerton in Singapore.

At Misha's 50th Party

July 2, 2015

Paula was Misha's work buddy, our neighbour and dear friend. She came to our parties and knew all our friends. She was so popular. In this photo at Misha's 50th birthday party in Singapore she is with Richard Chin and Annabell Warren

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