i have to remember that rick is not dead - he is still alive.

i've known rick since i was 3 years old. we have always played in bands together. the first one was called neeroy. we were 16. we did weezer and nirvana covers. i remember him unpacking his first ever drum kit, and feeling bummed out that he couldn't play like dave grohl straight away. it took him a few months to get to that standard. rick was there when i lost my mind in spain. rick was there when i crashed our tour van in america. rick was there when i knocked my face off on a fairground ride. he walked me home that night and stayed level headed as blood was pouring out of my mouth. he was there when i kissed my first girl. he wasn't there when i lost my virginity, but i kinda wish he was. we bought a motorbike together and called it kurt. we used to drive it around the local football pitches at the weekend. i was there when he ate shit and broke his collar bone. i didn't walk him home because i was scared his mum would shout at me...

that is the difference between me and him. he is the most genuine, kind-hearted, solid person i've ever met, and if you know him, then you are a lucky person.

gonna miss you buddy. hope your new life in spain doesn't work out so you come back to me....



for rick's last weekend in london he dressed up as the sofa to celebrate:



and me, robin and rick watched "there's something about mary"



rick missed the end as he had to go out and say his goodbyes to his other friends. he got drunk. robin got drunk too, found rick alseep on the sofa in the early hrs, and forgot how to text properly:



i didn't ride carefully and fell off my bike twice. by the time i got in, rick had made it to his bed.

on sunday we had a goodbye meal at our local pub, st john's.





and we ate expensive food:



i mirrored rick's meal in tribute. it was the last time i'm going to eat meat:



and we had pudding



and went home and watched films.

thanks for being my friend rick.