Tamsin causer

Aged 10, dropped off at boarding school for the first time, I was sitting on my newly made bed watching a similarly nervous 10 year old girl deftly turning small squares of paper into flying birds. Over a flock of paper birds and a few packets of fruit pastilles, a firm friendship was born. Origami was not Tammy's only skill; having lived in Japan for a number of years, she was also able to teach me a few words of Japanese.
Years passed and we both changed schools, keeping in touch only sparodically. However, Tammy's passion for Japan left me with a so far unrequited desire to visit the country and see everything that Tammy had described to me first hand.
My chance finally came last month to spend a week in Tokyo. Somehow it didn't really meet the 20 years' worth of expections that had build up, but the Bullet train to Kyoto and the amazingly fresh food made the visit well worth it. I couldn't quite get over the astronomical cost of everything and was glad that I was there on business and not on my own yen.
My thoughts turned to Tammy many times during that week as I was able to show off the few words of Japanese that she had taught me, much to the appreciation of Japanese collegues. The trip left me with a resolve to get in touch with Tammy on my return and pick up a sadly neglected friendship.
Firing up my laptop at home, I logged into the BBC website and idley clicked on links to minor news articles. One caught my eye: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/5023108.stm
I guess I don't need to explain my reaction.
My heart goes out to her family, but particulary to her mother; a mother that treated me as a third daughter for a number of years, who gave me more attention than my own family. I doubt that she even remembers as this was a family that welcomed all of Tammy's freinds, treating everyone with love and offering friendship and support in what ever way was needed. But they had a huge impact on me and have helped to shape the way I raise my own daughter. This is a family who doesn't deserve a tragedy like this. But then I guess that no one does. I am only glad that Tammy died doing something that she really loved and suffered no pain.
Rest in peace Tammy xxx.