Al and I met at Total Media; I was a Data Analyst and he was a TV buyer (that’s an in joke.. even when Al was a Director I’d still call him a TV buyer). We started dating eventually after a year, both of us having spoken endlessly to our mutual friend Caroline about each other. 
Our timing was impeccable, as Al had already decided to travel round the world with his friend Jim for 6 months. I joined them in Fiji for a few weeks, and we enjoyed island hopping, sea fishing and stayed in beautifully romantic locations - Jim had headed back to Oz by this stage. 
When Al returned we moved in together and 4 years later Al asked me to marry him. We had already decided to get married and the details of our elopement to Zambia had been finalised, but Al still planned a weekend of surprises for me then proposed before we went to the Lion King musical. 
In the years before and after our wedding we visited so many places together, and I am so lucky to have so many wonderful memories of travelling with Al. Playing cards, drinking a beer, eating crisps and watching the sun set was our perfect end to a holiday day. 
After our experiment of getting another cat went wrong (the first one moved over the road in protest) we decided to have a baby instead and in June 2017 our beautiful son Felix was born. 
Lockdown has been so difficult in many ways for so many people, but one thing I will always be thankful for is that Al and Felix got to spend so much time together this last year, especially when Al wasn’t able to do the things he normally would have done with Felix. I would regularly find the two of them snuggled up on the sofa reading a Thomas encyclopaedia, learning about dinosaurs (Felix reminding Al how to pronounce parasaurolophus) or watching Farmageddon for the umpteenth time. 
I hope other people share their memories of Al so I can share them with Felix and show him what a wonderful man his Daddy was. 
To Al, we love you all the world. Xx