Hi all,
I got home last night and checked my email and cried. I can’t belive you all put together such a huge kind gesture! 
The money will be used for a holiday to take the kids mind off things. We plan to use it to go to Shrilanka with the kids. Lara is desperate to swim on a reef and there will be turtles and dolphins there.
Thank you to all those who I met yesterday at Aces funeral. I was gutted I did not get to spend more time with you. There were so many people there and it was very overwhelming. I hope you all know how much I appreciate you guys for looking after Ace online. He always talked about you and how cool you all were. It was nice he had somewhere to come and be his authentic self.
I will be trying much harder now the dust has settled to join in on here and keep Aces flame alive. You all have been so welcoming and kind. If there is anything I can do in return. Let me know. I would be happy to host any of you in Oxfordshire and swap Ace stories with you.
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Els, I still have no words. But I can at least return the “Thank you!” Thank you for sharing Ace with us. I am nearly 20 years older than Ace and have a daughter who is now in college. Ace motivated me to do better. Primarily by striving to be present and “in the moment” with my family. And to be a be a better mechanic. Recently I messed up quite spectacularly on an expensive project I have long been working on. When I assessed the aftermath of my ineptitude I asked myself, what would @Victork2 do? The Ace who will forever reside in a corner of my brain answered. I promised him that I’ll wrench better next time.
Last year I posted several long criticisms of (a country). Ace reached out to me privately to say that I was missing the extreme challenge that country faced just to exist. The note was polite but forceful. It is still the most reasoned, convincing defense of that country’s actions that I’ve read.
Eric
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Thank You for being so Kind and Courageous in such a Difficult time.
To Open up to us and let us share a special farewell to Ace,It was Huge to us all here…It helps so much with The Grieving Process…To not go through it alone.
Thank You…
And God Bless your Family…We’re always here when you need us.
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I’ve started to type, erase, type again. I’ve formed answers in my head and nothing feels right. I’ve always had trouble forming my thoughts when confronted with these situations.
So I will just say thank you for reaching out. Ace shared so much of his life with us here that it truly feels like losing a friend. Yesterday my thoughts were always with you, Obi Lara and Ace.
Mario
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It was marvellous and a great consolation to see such a turnout. That was amazing.
Another thing that Ace would have loved was seeing those dinky little speakers that are used to the cliche tones of Albioni get totally wrecked by his favourite music. That was epic.
The letters read, so well done. I wouldn’t have though that having the crow read them would work so well but it did. The lady read them very well and full of understanding. The bit about shoving him back into the moshpit moved me deeply, that is true love and understanding right there.
And then to top it all off the flying club did a fly by. A traditional pilot send-off with the formation split.
I noticed how in this huge crowd there were people of all walks of life, from the posh and conservative to the tradies proudly wearing their dusty dungarees. I wish I had brought my work clothes. Ace made friends everywhere he went. He was like that. A golden retriever of a man (except not quite as dim. And not as hairy.) 
We’ll miss him Els, but I am overjoyed and relieved of a great worry to see you have so many caring people around you, not the least of them Deb and Peter. You guys will be alright.
Thanks for throwing that party. You guys did exceedingly well. I needed it.
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I am finally about to buy the car I was discussing with Ace some time ago. Gone with his advice too. I fookin miss him now, would have loved to share the enthousiasm and giddyness and plans I have for the thing. I would have thanked him for his sage advice as well. Dammit Ace, I miss you 
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