Our dear old Dad, John Fitzwater (Snr), died suddenly from a heart problem on Sunday, Mother's Day of all days....

Mum and Dad had spent a nice morning together and were just relaxing when he suddenly complained of chest pains. In in less than 3 hours the man whose motto in life was General Joe Stilwell's "Nil Illegitimi Carborundum" ( Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down ), and who raised us on the tenets of Rudyard Kipling's "If" was gone.

Though it was a shock to us as he has been in apparent good health and was certainly in very good spirits, the sudden manner of his departure was just as he'd always said he wanted.

Dad always feared a slow demise, and in fact made us promise to "pull the plug" should he ever be hooked up to a machine to sustain his life. It's comforting to know he had the departure he always wanted. We know that if Dad had been presented that Sunday morning with the option of 5 more years but with declining health, or a fast exit that day, he'd have said, " Right then. Just give me 5 minutes to say goodbye and pack a bag..."

Mum (Lilla) is with us now in Nelson, and is in good spirits. She's a tough cookie, and though sad at the loss of her partner of 50 years, is peaceful and happy, and enjoying having family and friends around her.

The funeral is today (Friday 13 May ) at 11am, and we're expecting quite a few of Dad's old friends and acquaintances to attend and celebrate his life. As he was in The Merchant Navy Service, The Returned Services Association will be farewelling him with a tribute and The Last Post, something he'd have probably been embarassed about, but nevertheless humbly enjoyed.

We know a great many of you enjoyed Dad's company at Nikau Lodge, listening to his tales of his life's experiences while sharing a single malt and a cigar on the verandah. We've never seen Dad happier than his time at Kaikoura with Lilla running the B&B. He genuinely enjoyed hosting, meeting people - it was clearly a rewarding experience for him. Dad was never one to talk much about himself, and it was as spellbinding for us as it was for those of you lucky enough to hear him talk. Many of the tales Mum, Ian and I heard him tell on the verandah at Nikau Lodge we've never heard before, so for that we have to thank you all for coaxing them out of him.

Though his departure was sudden and unexpected, Dad has in truth being preparing us and saying goodbye for some time now. Each time Ian and I visited Kaikoura he'd insist on taking us to the pub on the pier at Kaikoura to buy us a beer and upon leaving he'd shake our hands and tell us how great it was to see us again, and that he hoped he'd be around to see us again next trip.

We'll miss him greatly.

John & Jo, Ian & Robyn and Lilla Fitzwater