I was trying to remember how long I knew Carol but I really don't know because it feels like I have been going to swimming lessons with my kids forever! That's where we met you see. I got chatting with Chris first actually in the spectator gallery (always nice to hear a familiar accent!) and then when Chris started working Carol took over the swimming run and we then met too.

I got to know her better when she started singing with us at choir and we'd spend most Mondays during swimming chatting. Sometimes, Oscar, we might even remember to watch you and Joe for a bit too! In the last year we also started going for walks to Dekamarkt or the library to escape the sweat box that is Zwembad Het Planeet! 😅 Joe and Oscar have become good friends too but I don't think they got much time to chat during the lessons.... there was no stopping you in the changing rooms! I think the conversations were mainly about Minecraft, am I right? Or lego?...

Carol loved singing in the choir I think and got immediately involved in organising things, she organised our last summer concert in a now-disused greenhouse cafe, maybe some of you were there. Very cool place. Carol was not well that day but the show must go on and she performed with us as planned anyway. Very few people would have noticed anything was not right though, what a strong amazing lady! She had to be strong to stand up to the owner of the place to be honest too! Not the easiest customer I think it's fair to say, but Carol took her in her stride.

The choir practised two songs for the funeral. We had two rehearsals, at the first on Monday we just had to try and get through the songs, it was very emotional but also very beautiful, to have the chance to do this for her felt like the best tribute to her from us. The second rehearsal was calmer and we could focus more on doing a good job. I hope we did that but we know you all understood when any of us stumbled. Even old members of the choir came back to sing, Carol really brought the choir together and showed us what a community we have become in the three years we have been going.

Maybe in time others will share their stories here, I was always sorry that I was never able to make it to Carol 's Eurovision Song contest parties....maybe someone here can tell us what they were like... were you also up until 4am? 😁