Hi Dad, It was my 40th birthday last Saturday. I can't believe I am 40 already. Seems only a short time ago you were carrying my new chrome snare drum into Wroughton Junior school for my 'show and tell' I thought about you a lot (I always think about you). The Sunday before I went to see Kiss in Birmingham, they were amazing and incredible show! Then Kelly surprised me with a trip to Amsterdam. I kept thinking about my stag do in Prague and how we were all still together. We went to the Hard Rock Cafe and had a meal one night and the music made me realize that you and I are still connected. Last Saturday we went for a meal with mum, Brent and Jamie's family. The kids are all growing up so fast and I know how proud you would be of them all. I had some amazing presents. Mum got me some news headlines of when I was born, I didn't realize that Hotel California was topping the charts in 1977.......... still brings the house down when i play it at gigs........... still get a twinge in my heart and a tear in my eye when I play it too. I hope you can still hear me sing it for you. Jamie has arranged another surprise trip to London soon where we can visit our old haunts, I know that you will be missed and talked about a great deal while we are there. I managed to convert a marching drum into a base for mums memory tree. It looks amazing and I even got a special light to go inside to make it look even more magical. I always knew you wanted a 'proper' marching drum! I really hope you like it. Jamie and I are still busy working on your charity concert in October. It has stirred a massive interest among many people who followed the band and who knew you. We are all really looking forward to it! I am also working on a Shadows Tribute show called 'One Shadow'. Your tribute guitar again has caused such a stir that I feels right to have a show dedicated to playing it. Like I said, we are still very much connected through music and to be able to play the guitar that was bought solely to represent you, my dad...... is a real honor! Thank you for still guiding me, helping me and being the voice in my head driving me forward. We all miss you and hope that you can still feel our love coming your way. Darren xXx