As family backgrounds go, the Hancock’s and the Margheriti’s may as well have come from different planets. So when Barbara first came to Australia to visit, I did worry about how it would all go. I needn’t have. She just walked right in with her big smile and twinkling eyes and it was as if she’d known everyone forever - parents, brothers, sister, nephews, nieces, aunties, uncles - the whole clan. Though what she talked about with my grandmother, who was in her 90’s and didn’t speak English very well, I will never know. That’s one of the things I loved about Barbara – she could talk to and get along with anyone and wherever she went she seemed to draw people to her. Barbara always came over in December and the first Christmas she came was very special, especially for her and her grandchildren Marcus and Leah. I have a lovely Christmas morning memory of Barbara and Leah dancing around the lounge room to the CD of the latest pop sensation. Barbara would come with us to the Parish Family Christmas Mass. It’s a happy and chaotic affair, with toddlers running around and everyone singing Christmas hymns off-key at the tops of their voices. One time, to Barbara’s great amusement and ours, she was actually asked out during the sign of peace by the gentleman parishioner sitting next to her! She politely declined. See what I mean, everywhere she goes.... Barbara was a great traveller. Once she had explored all the regular tourist haunts in and around Melbourne, she set about discovering the more obscure attractions, mostly Art Galleries. She’d navigate our public transport system and got herself wherever she needed to go. She even praised the trains as being quite efficient – something which no self-respecting Melbournian would ever do. My parents live relatively nearby and on the days Barbara wasn’t exploring she would often wander up to their house mid-morning, be persuaded to stay for lunch, and end up staying till early evening. This gave my parents great joy, though she never ate quite enough to satisfy my mum. And once she had gone back to England, everyone was always asking when she was coming back. We’re all going to miss your visits Barbara. Rest In Peace with John. All our love The Margheriti’s